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| (Image Source: DaizenshuuEX) |
While I enjoyed watching the story of Dragon Ball Z up to the Cell arc, I did not have as much enjoyment of the Buu portion of the storyline. I feel that Cell's defeat at the hands of Gohan made a perfect ending for the series, with the now deceased Son Goku passing the torch to his son, and the world enjoying a much needed era of peace. The Cell arc completed the development of many members of the main cast; Gohan finally broke out of his pacifistic shell and saved the world like his father, Krillin finally found love in the form of Android 18, and Vegeta learned to stop being so narcissistic and self-centered. The series could have ended perfectly at this point and there would be no problem. However, due to editorial mandate, series creator Akira Toriyama was forced to continue the series even further with the Majin Buu story arc. As a result, the aforementioned arc feels both tacked-on and as if it is an "extended epilogue" to the series. Aside from introducing new characters, reconnecting with old ones seven years after Cell, and resurrecting Goku at the end (matter of fact Goku does little in this storyline, as it opts to focus on his sons, Gohan and Goten), this arc contributes very little to the franchise as a whole.
Matter of fact, Buu is not as interesting of an antagonist as Vegeta, Frieza, or Cell were. While the aforementioned three had dynamic personalities that slowly developed, Majin Buu seemed rushed and one-dimensional (you could tell Toriyama was wanting to be done with the series at this point). The character seems infantile, acting only like a destructive, spoiled child as opposed to the calm and interesting villains that came before him. However, I will give Buu something positive, he is somewhat more sympathetic and adorable (especially his first form).
He is also a more formidable foe to the cast, going so far as to literally destroy Earth itself. Another positive to this arc that I will add is the further development of my favorite character, Son Gohan (even going so far as giving him a romantic interest known as Videl). While during the seven year timeskip between Cell and Buu, his power was weakened drastically, he manages to hold his own during the battles he faces in this storyline. However, he is once again quickly knocked to the ground in favor of his father, since he's the "main character". I feel after this, Gohan is drastically underutilized for the remainder of the franchise, being demoted to a small supporting role rather than the protagonist he was hyped up to be in the first half of the series.
This arc was also the introduction to the most useless (and ugliest) of transformations, Super Saiyan 3. The form serves only to be flashy during action sequences and is utilized poorly in Z, with Goku losing a significant amount of time and power while in that state (it essentially becomes the new "Yamcha"). SS3 feels once again like another instance of Toriyama saying "I need to get this series over with as soon as possible and appease my editor".
The Majin Buu arc of Dragon Ball Z is not a bad way to end the series by any means, but the overall execution is rushed, fan favorite characters are tossed aside, and the titular villain of the storyline is severely lacking in development (being essentially the equivalent of a spoiled man-child, rather than an intimidating entity like his predecessors). Buu was an absolutely unnecessary and tacked-on addition to the series, serving as one final villain in Toriyama's extended epilogue to Dragon Ball.
What did you think of the Buu arc? Feel free to discuss in the comments below, and be sure to follow for future updates on the site! Next time, we will be looking at my favorite installment in the series, by going back and taking a look at Goku's childhood in the original Dragon Ball.
