Dragon Ball Z's “Imperfect Cell” saga is often lauded for its horror elements that were unique within the franchise, but the “Majin Buu” arc featured its own particularly gruesome death. When the childlike yet deadly Buu finally has enough of Babidi's orders and insults, he grabs his “master” by the throat and holds him up as Babidi struggles in vain to escape. A camera shot shows Buu's free hand dashing toward Babidi's head – it ends with blood splattering across the screen and Babidi's twitching, now-decapitated body as Buu celebrates his freedom.
It was a chilling reminder for viewers of what Buu, despite his humorous moments and love of sweets, was truly capable of when he was angered enough. However, perhaps because Babidi was an equally annoying and unsatisfying villain, his death and its impact on the overall story tends to be glossed over. A closer look at this event actually reveals much about Buu and Goku – and possibly even foreshadows the then-villain's unlikely friendship with Mr. Satan.
How Babidi's Death Affected Majin Buu's Character Arc in Dragon Ball Z
Babidi's demise didn't just give Buu his freedom. For the first time in his absurdly long existence, he had the choice to do whatever he wanted with his life. Whereas Babidi killed and destroyed out of sheer hatred and disdain, Buu liked decimating buildings and cities because he thought it was fun; he often didn't seem to realize the pain and suffering he was causing.
Had Babidi shown a little kindness or even tolerance for Buu's quirky nature, the wizard probably could've lived a fair bit longer. His impatience and constant anger drove Buu to the edge, but somewhere deep down, Buu also realized this wasn't the kind of influence he wanted in his own life. As shown when he befriends none other than Mr. Satan (or Hercule) and later expels the evil inside himself, the original Majin Buu had much more character depth than he got credit for – especially by the Z fighters. That said, a closer look at Goku's subtle influence in Babidi's death reveals even more.
Goku's Role in Babidi's Death Indirectly Foreshadowed the Buu/Hercule Bromance
As Supreme Kai had previously said to the Z fighters, Babidi's danger to the world stemmed from his magic rather than physical strength. As such, Super Saiyan 3 Goku surely could've offed the wizard himself at any point during his clash with Buu, but he chose not to. Instead, he egged Buu on by saying he was too powerful to be controlled and effectively teased him with the idea of freedom. Although Buu was already growing tired of Babidi, the pink villain's childlike nature ensured he could be easily swayed by statements like this.
Goku's indirect actions and their eventual result after he left showed that Buu could be reasoned with to some extent -- as long as he got something he wanted. In a way, this foreshadowed Buu's eventual bond with the champion of the world, Mr. Satan. Journeying to Buu's self-built home, Hercule attempted to kill him through toys and gadgets that were rigged to explode, only to end up having fun together as they both learned that a little kindness can go a long way. Hercule provided fun things that Buu wanted: delicious meals, games and even playtime with their new dog, Bee.
Because of this, the original Majin Buu seen in Dragon Ball Z -- even with the evil still inside him at this point -- was more open to reason when Hercule told him that killing was wrong. Of course, there's no way Goku or anyone else could've foreseen the Mr. Satan/Buu bromance, but the mighty Saiyan's indirect aid in Babidi's death did subtly hint that Fat Buu – unlike some of his later forms – was much more than a hateful killing machine.