Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball has worked incredibly hard to be one of the biggest anime properties of all time. The long-running shonen series has kept fans entertained for nearly four decades with non-stop action and thrilling showdowns between unbelievable powers.

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Dragon Ball embraces many staples of the shonen genre, but it's also not afraid to forge its own path and develop a unique voice that's gone on to influence the industry. There are endless milestones in Dragon Ball that are worthy of accolades, but it's far from a perfect piece of storytelling. In fact, there are even some regrettable Dragon Ball decisions that fans would like to completely forget ever happened.

10 Dragon Ball Z's Abrupt Ending

Goku talks to Uub in the World Martial Arts Tournament in Dragon Ball Z

Dragon Ball's fans have hundreds of episodes to enjoy and dozens of classic moments that will forever stand out in their minds. However, endings aren't easy, and Dragon Ball Z's conclusion feels both sudden and inauthentic.

Dragon Ball Z's end looks at Goku's fascination with Uub, Buu's reincarnation, and the potential that he possesses. Out of nowhere, Goku pledges to mentor Uub, which is a decision that sees him leave his friends and family behind. It's a stark shift that isn't necessary and still feels hollow to fans.

9 Super Saiyan 4 And Unnecessary Super Saiyan Stages

Anime super-saiyan-ultra

Goku's first Super Saiyan transformation still ranks as one of Dragon Ball's greatest moments. A wealth of greater transformations have slowly entered the series, most of which are met with equal celebration. However, new Super Saiyan reveals have hit diminishing returns and can feel desperate at times. 

Dragon Ball GT's Super Saiyan 4 is a radical step in a different direction, which has gone on to clash with fans of Super Saiyan God and Super Saiyan Blue. However, Dragon Ball Z's Advanced Super Saiyan state is a bulky and lethargic placeholder that just feels manipulative until Super Saiyan 2 formally appears.

8 Frieza's Five-Minute Promise

Frieza gives a five-minute warning on Planet Namek in Dragon Ball Z

Shonen series have a natural temptation to make each climactic showdown feel bigger than the last, but a longer fight isn't always a better battle. One of Dragon Ball's most egregious altercations occurs between Goku and Frieza on Planet Namek, which plays out over nearly 20 episodes that test the audience's patience in terms of filler.

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This battle is even harder to tolerate because Frieza brazenly boasts that Namek will explode in five minutes' time. What could have been a very suspenseful finish instead spans across nine episodes.

7 Master Roshi's Lecherous Past

Master Roshi gets embarrassed over a nosebleed in Dragon Ball Super.

There's a long tradition, not just in anime, for prolific martial artists who balance their skills with an unrepentant lewdness. Master Roshi trains Goku and many of Dragon Ball's characters to become legendary heroes, but it seems as if his twilight years have awakened lecherous tendencies.

Roshi's willingness to train Goku and company is contingent upon vile bribes, and he never misses an opportunity to meet a pretty lady. This regrettable behavior has largely become Master Roshi's defining trait, which is disappointing and diminishes his actual accomplishments.

6 The Whole Fake Namek Escapade And Manipulative Filler

Fake Namekian pink alien smiling

Most anime fans, especially those that frequently watch shonen series, understand that anime-only filler content is a necessary evil. Filler doesn't need to be an overwhelming issue, and the original Dragon Ball is quite capable in this department. However, Dragon Ball Z has dozens of filler material, and the existence of Dragon Ball Z Kai is even to help create a more manageable series.

Not all of the filler in Dragon Ball Z is frustrating, but Gohan, Krillin, and Bulma's foray to "Fake Namek" is a true test of patience. It's a stretch of episodes that audiences want to forget, but they're also representative of the series' growing problem with filler.

5 Krillin's Daughter Might Be Named After an Ex-Girlfriend

Android 18 watches a fight with Krillin and Marron in Dragon Ball Super

One of the joys of Dragon Ball's later episodes is that many characters mature and start families. The union between Krillin and Android 18 initially comes as a major shock, but it blossoms into one of Dragon Ball's most tender relationships.

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Krillin and 18 later have a daughter together, Marron, who is a bundle of joy and doesn't get pushed in the direction of martial arts. This family unit is so sweet, but fans would like to forget the fact that Krillin used to date someone named Maron and that his daughter might inexplicably get her namesake from this former flame.

4 The Majority Of Dragon Ball GT

Vegeta with a mustache and different hair in Dragon Ball GT

It's easy for Dragon Ball fans to blindly attack Dragon Ball GT, but the flawed sequel series isn't a complete misfire. There are some very satisfying callbacks in GT, as well as the return of neglected characters, and a truly inventive take on the Dragon Balls. That being said, the series begins with an emphasis on comedy and adventure over action, which even results in Goku being turned back into a kid.

Dragon Ball GT's introductory arc is so contentious that the anime's dub completely skipped over it in favor of the action-heavy episodes that follow.

3 The Emergence Of Uub

Anime Uub

Villains don't have many options when they face defeat in Dragon Ball. These threats are vanquished more often than not, but there are still occasions where redemption is possible. The defeat of Kid Buu attempts something different with Goku's Dragon Ball wish to reincarnate the purity within Buu into a new hero.

This culminates in Uub, a young boy with tremendous potential, who Goku views as the Earth's next protector. Uub isn't a bad idea, but Dragon Ball has been reluctant to feature too much of the character. Uub's brief scenes in Super are electric, but he still feels like sloppy plotting that the series doesn't know how to handle.

2 The Original Series' Objectification Of Bulma

Anime Dragon Ball Master Roshi Bulma Teen

Dragon Ball Z solidifies the anime series' status as an iconic action program, but the original Dragon Ball is much lighter and isn't afraid to lean into broad comedy. Dragon Ball's fantastical world lends itself to humor, but a frequent source of entertainment comes from the world's obsession with Bulma.

Bulma is just a young teenager, but Master Roshi and other figures of authority lust after the character or attempt to take advantage of her beauty. It's not a good look for the series, and it's even more awkward on a rewatch.

1 Dragon Ball Z's Peaceful World Saga Time Jump

Anime Dragon Ball Z Time Skip Peaceful World Saga Pan

There is always danger right around the corner in Dragon Ball, but it might seem somewhat unrealistic if a new villain appears as soon as the previous one is defeated. At the same time, a series like Dragon Ball struggles to function if there's no conflict. The final episodes of Dragon Ball Z involve a drastic time jump that moves the series forward ten years and in the middle of a period of extended peace.

The events of the Peaceful World Saga aren't a problem, but this ten-year window ultimately limits the series since Dragon Ball Super takes place within this pocket of time.

NEXT: Dragon Ball Z Kai: The 5 Best Episodes (& 5 Worst)