Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball remains one of the biggest shonen success stories of all time, but it's far from a flawless piece of storytelling. Goku's heroic adventures gradually evolve from a relatively grounded place to superpowered individuals who fight with godly powers across the multiverse.
Dragon Ball knows how to increasingly raise its stakes and create grander spectacles to entertain audiences. It's always exciting when a new transformation reveals itself or a familiar face returns. However, the series occasionally learns from its mistakes along the way and there are plenty of developments that don't properly pan out and leave the audience confused and frustrated.
10 The Ending Of Dragon Ball Z
There are frequently even loftier expectations in place for the series finales of beloved shows. Suddenly these concluding installments need to be huge events that can match the level of spectacle that's been present throughout the series' entire run.
The ending of Dragon Ball Z isn't necessarily bad, it just comes across as lackluster and Goku's motivations behind training Uub seem abrupt and undeveloped. It's possible that any small stakes finale would feel like a disappointment for a show that's as big as Dragon Ball Z, but that doesn't solve the unresolved feelings that audiences experience.
9 Backtracking On Making Gohan The Main Character
The earliest episodes of Dragon Ball Z tease Gohan's inner potential and how he's destined to surpass his father. This comes to pass when Gohan ascends to Super Saiyan 2 strength, which coincides with Goku's death. When the series returns, Gohan is front and center in the opening credits while Goku's reduced to a supporting player in the afterlife.
Gohan's trajectory continues to build with his Ultimate training, yet the series gets cold feet in this department and allows Goku, once again, to come out on top. This decision has led to lackluster development for Gohan's character that's only recently been addressed in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
8 Goten & Trunks Become Comic Relief Characters
It's quite exciting when Dragon Ball Z introduces Goten and Trunks, the half-Saiyan offspring of the planet's strongest heroes. Goten and Trunks enter the series with incredible promise, and they master the ways of a Super Saiyan far faster than anyone before.
Furthermore, their fused form, Gotenks, is the only character in the anime besides Goku who can become Super Saiyan 3. Goten and Trunks devolve from one of the best threats against Super Buu to comic relief who must sit out the series' biggest battles. This transformation becomes harder to accept since Goten and Trunks initially accomplish so much in a short span of time.
7 Dragon Ball Super Begins With Two Arcs That Adapt Old Movies
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The announcement of Dragon Ball Super, a new addition to Toriyama's long-running shonen franchise, had the fandom understandably over the moon. Dragon Ball Super covers some of the best material from the entire franchise, but its first two arcs are spent re-telling the events of the previous two movies, Battle of Gods and Resurrection "F."
It's not until the 28th episode of Dragon Ball Super that it begins to explore entirely new material. Many still view this as a waste of time that could have been better spent on new story arcs.
6 The Lack Of Stakes That Surround Death & Dragon Balls
Most shonen anime fans understand that death is par for the course and even Dragon Ball's strongest characters have met their ends on multiple occasions. The problem is that a wish upon the Dragon Balls used to be a rare experience, but it's become a foregone conclusion with increasingly relaxed rules and limitations.
These new rules make things easier in the moment, but they erase any sense of tension in the long run. The audience understands that Dragon Ball rules will change as needed and that even deceased villains will find their way back to life.
5 Frost & Other Multiverse Mirror Fighters
The multiverse becomes one of the biggest changes that Dragon Ball Super introduces to the franchise. Goku and the rest of Universe 7's finest face off against the strongest fighters from across the multiverse, but certain elements of this concept fail to meet their potential.
The series initially has fun with the idea that Universe 6 contains mirror versions of Universe 7 characters, such as Frost. It turns out that Frost isn't that different from Frieza after all and the "mirror" concept is dropped. Additionally, Universe 7's team hasn't gone to visit other universes and instead waits for these fighters to come to them.
4 The Repetitive & Predictable Formula That Frequently Takes Over Battles
Dragon Ball deserves endless accolades for its ability to continually fuel new stories after several decades. The series continues to discover new abilities and enemies, but there's by and large a common formula that the series subconsciously embraces.
This graduated approach to combat where transformations are a heavy part of the battle has become increasingly common and typically affects pacing. It's always a disappointment when a new enemy with tons of potential ends up resorting to the same tactics that the likes of Cell and Buu have used previously.
3 What Happens To Chi-Chi's Character
Some touching romantic partnerships form throughout Dragon Ball and Goku's marriage to Chi-Chi is one of the first significant examples of what happened to her character. Admittedly, it doesn't seem as if Goku fully understands what he's getting himself involved in when he marries Chi-Chi, but she's still a worthy martial artist that challenges him and appears to be a good influence.
It's deeply disheartening when this momentous union between characters becomes the beginning of the end for Chi-Chi. She's relegated to the role of a stubborn housewife that Goku sneaks around and lies to in order to carry out his combative passions.
2 The Poor Reception That Continues To Surround Dragon Ball GT
It's been more than 25 years since Dragon Ball GT ended, but it's still viewed as a "failure" in the larger scope of the franchise. There were understandable reservations when TOEI revealed that Dragon Ball GT would tell an original story that didn't have Toriyama's narrative involvement.
The release of Dragon Ball Super has also made the sequel series even more irrelevant. That being said, if Dragon Ball GT's reception had been different then Super would likely be building upon it instead of ignoring it. Dragon Ball GT explores many worthwhile ideas, but it takes too long to find its footing and never fully recovers.
1 Uub Failing To Meet His Potential
Uub, the human reincarnation of Kid Buu's evil, has seemingly unlimited potential. Uub is recognized as such an important player that Goku is willing to leave behind his family and friends in favor of training him into the next great hero.
Dragon Ball GT picks up from these threads and turns Uub into a decent supporting player, but he's still someone who slowly fades out of the picture. Dragon Ball Super has also been left in an awkward position where they can't do much with Uub's character either. He's gone from one of the most interesting Dragon Ball characters to someone who's now off-limits.