Dragon Ball Zis one ofthe most popular shonen animeto ever grace the airwaves, and part of that is thanks to well-developed characters and storylines. Sure, a large part of it is due to tremendous battles between Earth’s greatest fighters and monsters threatening to end all existence, but the characters make them what they are. Dialogue is important, andDragon Ball Zdoesn’t let that component fall behind.
None of the characters inDragon Ball Zgo through more development or change thanthe Prince of all Saiyans, Vegeta. Arriving on Earth at first to collect the dragon balls and become immortal, Vegeta would change from a selfish, egotistical character to one that cares for others, and is willing to risk his life to protect them.
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10"Higher Than 8000!"
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 28, “Goku’s Arrival”
Strange… His battle power is completely different from when he fought Raditz.
During the Saiyan Arc, Vegeta and his right-hand man, Nappa, went head-to-head with Goku. To this point in the story, nobody that stood up to them could take down Nappa or Vegeta, and had it not been for Goku’s return to Earth, things looked dire. Luckily for them, Goku had trained his body through a rigorous regime and became much stronger than anyone could have anticipated.
Sure, the English dub of this iconic line has Vegeta shouting “It’s over 9,000!” but in the official Japanese dub of this scene, Vegeta actually remarks that Goku’s power level is higher than 8,000. The revelation catches Vegeta off guard, as Goku was nowhere near this level during the battle against Raditz. Goku’s win over Nappa spellsthe end of the bald-headed Saiyan, and the beginning of one of the greatest rivalries inDragon Ball Z.
9"T-Trunks… N-No…! He–Cell Is Not Going To Be Defeated By The Lower-Class Warrior Kakarrot, Nor His Son!"
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 189, “Cell Returns!”
It’s going… It’s going to be by me!
While Vegeta was considered selfish and self-centered duringhis introduction toDragon Ball Z, nothing captures his switch in personality better than his reaction to Trunks' death at the hands of Perfect Cell. As the good guys were believed to have defeated Perfect Cell, his return not only caught the entire squad off guard, but one single attack was enough to kill Trunks and turn the tables.
In a fit of anger and fury, Vegeta rushes into a confrontation he knows he can’t win yet cannot hold back his emotional outburst. This excellent character development plot allows Vegeta to leave his bubble of selfishness and show his ability to care for others.
8"I’m The One Who Released Majin Buu, And I Will Be The One To Put Him Away"
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 233, “The Losses Begin”
Settling up with you will come afterward… If I’m still alive!
During the Majin Buu arc, Vegeta comes to terms with the fact that the release of Majin Buu was in large part thanks to his own desires. Knowing he had fallen behind Goku in every regard, Vegeta allowed himself to be taken over by Babidi, becoming possessed and unlocking more power within. His only goal, at least at this point, was to best Goku in battle.
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It was a step too far, as Vegeta had become who he once was — a self-centered, egotistical maniac, hell-bent on being the absolute best. Once he snapped out of his crazed state, Vegeta took it upon himself to be the one to finish what he had started, even if it would be the death of him.
7"I, Vegeta-Sama, Am The Greatest In The Universe!"
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 104, “Frieza Defeated!!”
I’ve been waiting for this day. Having endured the humiliation, being at Frieza’s side… At last, that time has come. Kakarrot and Frieza are going down together!
If you’ve come back from literal death, there’s a chance you’ll appreciate life just a little more than you did before. For Vegeta, his re-emergence from the grave was another shot at taking down Frieza and becoming the number-one fighter in the universe. Had it not been for a wish to transport him from Namek to Earth, Vegeta would have at least gotten a final shot at Frieza before it was too late.
Back on Earth, when the news is delivered that both Frieza and Goku were caught up in the explosion that eviscerated planet Namek, Vegeta was elated. Not only did he get rid of a Galactic Emperor that tormented him and his people for ages, but his biggest Saiyan rival, Goku, was also gone. The realization that he is now the strongest being in the universe had Vegeta laughing out of pure joy as everyone else looked on in horror.
6"There’s Something I Want To Know. Do Even You Artificial Humans Tremble With Fear?"
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 129, “Upgrade To Super Saiyan”
My heart was calm and still. Still and pure. However, it was purely evil.
There are so many moving parts in the Android saga that it’s easy to forget a moment or two.Trunks' arrivaland warning of the androids, Goku’s struggle with a heart condition, and the androids themselves, there was a tremendous amount of plot happening in a short time. Perhaps the biggest was Vegeta’s struggle with his own shortcomings of not unlocking the Super Saiyan power like Goku and Trunks had.
One faithful day, while blasting asteroids,Vegeta finally turned Super Saiyanout of pure anger towards himself. He wasted no time returning to Earth and confronting the androids, using his newfound power to turn the tables. Some believe Vegeta is at his best when he has his cocky demeanor turned up to eleven, and when he asked if androids felt emotions like fear, you knew they were in for a bad time.
5"I-I Beg Of You…! Frieza… Defeat Frieza…!"
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 86, “The End Of Vegeta”
Please… By your Saiyan hand…
After being pummeled by Frieza during the struggle on planet Namek, Vegeta took a single beam directly to the chest, which would signal the end of his life. Staying true to his personality, Vegeta was going to go down before stating how he felt, and the one person that needed to hear his words was Goku, the only remaining Saiyan.
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With tears in his eyes and blood splattering from his mouth, Vegeta poured his heart out to Goku, re-collecting all the trauma and damage Frieza had caused the Saiyans. He also reveals to Goku thatplanet Vegeta was destroyed by Friezaand not by an asteroid, begging Goku to kill Frieza. For if nothing more, Frieza’s death must come at the hands of a Saiyan.
4"This Is Everything To Me! It Does Not Matter To Me What Happens With Majin Buu Or Anything Else!"
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 229, “Vegeta’s Pride”
He… He surpassed my strength! He is a Saiyan, same as me, yet he outpaced me! Me! The prince, at the height of his overwhelming power! I-I’ve even had my life saved by him! I cannot forgive him for that! Absolutely not!!
As mentioned earlier, Vegeta’s development throughoutDragon Ball Zis possibly one of the most fleshed-out stories in the entire series. Being brought back to life, undergoing many other difficult fights, and creating a family all in a short period can change any man. Vegeta had grown as a character, but in a sense, had lost a part of him in the process.
When the chance arose for him to unlock that sinister side, Vegeta allowed himself to be possessed by Babidi, making him stronger and returning him to the way he was before he met Goku. After continuing to see others surpass his strength,Vegeta snapped, grew desperate, and sank to a new low in order to catch up to Goku. In the short term, Vegeta had something to gain, but he ultimately lost the other part of him he had developed over the years.
3"I… Wanted To Return To The Way I Was Long Ago!"
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 231, “Magic Ball Of Buu”
I wanted to return to the brutal, cold-blooded Saiyan that I was, so I could fight all-out with you and not worry about anything!
Paired together with the previous Vegeta quote is the yin to that yang, the very bottom of the feeling he had gained through Babidi’s possession. Duringhis fight with Goku, Vegeta reveals that he knew what he was doing the moment he allowed Babidi to take control. Unlike the other countless foes that succumbed to Babidi’s influence, Vegeta was still strong-willed enough to control the possession.
Vegeta would not allow Babidi to order him around, and instead, he used the newfound powers to his advantage. While having Goku bound to a large cliffside, Vegeta made it ever so clear that his true intentions were to return to his old self in order to battle Goku at his fullest potential. He wasn’t evil, but desperately seeking to even the odds against the only Saiyan to ever surpass him in power.
2"Farewell! Bulma… Trunks… and you, Kakarrot!"
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 237, “Final Atonement”
ForDragon Ballfans and even casual observers, if there’s one moment in the entire series that everyone will remember, it’s Vegeta’s sacrifice. Realizing that Majin Buu was much too powerful to take head on, Vegeta resorted to the one strategy he believed would absolutely take care of the pink monster. The only problem was, it would also mean the end of Vegeta, and for the second time in the series.
As the lore goes, a second death meant the dragon balls could not revive him, which makes this send-off much more emotional. As Vegeta set up his Final Explosion attack, and knowing his end was near, Vegeta bid farewell to his wife, his son, and Goku as well, recognizing those he held dearest to him. It’s the ultimate character change, as Vegeta went from a cold-blooded killer to one that sacrificed himself for the greater good.
1"Hang In There, Kakarrot! You Are Number One!"
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 280, “Vegeta’s Respect”
In the end, you never did kill me. It’s as if you knew that I would now come to have the slightest bit of a heart. It’s so maddening! That there should be a Saiyan who loves to fight, yet is kind!
The final spot and top quote of this list would have gone to Vegeta’s Final Atonement, had it not been for this one. It’s one thing for Vegeta to use his body and life to save others, but it’s another to fully admit that he is number two to Goku. That’s exactly what happened in the episode beautifully titled “Vegeta’s Respect”, as it’s somethingDragon Ball Zviewers thought would never happen.
Observing Goku’s battle with Kid Buu, Vegeta remarks on how much Goku has grown, both as a fighter and a person, and can’t help but smile. Despite undergoing otherworldly training sessions and many power level increases,Vegeta knew he’d never get to Goku’s level, but to admit it out loud was unheard of. It’s the perfect final sentiment for a Saiyan Prince that spent his entire life trying to be number one, as he settles for the second spot with no bitterness in his heart.
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