Dragon Ball Z’s Vegeta is one of the most popular villain-to-hero characters in all of anime, and has inspired countless other characters who’ve attempted to emulate his development. But it’s really Vegeta’s greatest moment that sets him apart from his slew of copycats, establishing just how critical the Saiyan’s sacrifice is to his overall character development.
Most fans consider the peak of Vegeta’s arc inDragon Ball Zto be his Buu Saga death. After allowing himself to be turned into a Majin by Babidi in exchange for power, Vegeta returns to his dark ways, killing many innocent people as he demands a match with Goku. But despite the power, Vegeta soon finds himself feeling… empty.
Vegeta’s Character Arc Comes to a Head
All of Vegeta’s Growth is Put to the Test
Vegeta has spent many years on Earth by this point in the story, and while he’s loath to admit it, has already changed quite a lot throughout their struggles with the Androids and Cell. Vegeta has a family now, and has proven that he really does care for them, even though he’s not one to show it.
But Vegeta is growing tired of playing second fiddle to Goku, and he still thinks of himself as a villain, despite all the heroic deeds he has done by this point. When Babidi offers power,Vegeta assumes that he’ll be able to act the way that he used to, leading to his devastating attack on the World Martial Arts Tournament.
Vegeta, however, soon finds that these evil acts aren’t as easy to carry out as they once were. Facing off with the dead Goku, back on a day pass, he slowly realizes that his new life on Earth really did mean something to him. As Babidi tries to control him, Vegeta starts to recognize he’s made a mistake.
Vegeta turns to fighting Buu as penance, defying Babidi’s control. Even with his newfound Majin power, though, Vegeta is losing to Buu. Vegeta realizes that if he’s to win, his only move may be to sacrifice himself… and given what he’s done recently, he’s ready to do just that.
Vegeta has a touching goodbye with Trunks, hugging his son for the first time before knocking him (and Goten) out to get them to safety. He speaks to Piccolo briefly, wondering if he may get to see Goku in the afterlife. Piccolo tells him that his evil past is too much, and he will never see Goku again.
Vegeta accepts his fate calmly and without protest.He bids farewell to his family, and Goku, and dies in a massive explosion, although it tragically isn’t enough to stop Buu for good.
Vegeta’s Majin Turn Reveals the Depths of How He Has Changed
While Vegeta Refused to Acknowledge His Growth, It Happened All the Same
Vegeta’s willingness to become a Majin isn’t a backsliding moment for his character arc. It instead highlights the fact that even Vegeta himself hasn’t fully appreciated how much he has changed over the course of the series. When Vegeta was a villain, he had no one and nothing, not even caring much forhis comrades Raditz and Nappa.
Vegeta’s anger and inferiority complex are still brewing within him, and these things make him feel like a villain still. Vegeta’s acceptance of Babidi’s influence is a tragic failing, one that took advantage of his most sensitive feelings of inferiority. Vegeta thinks being evil and callous brought him strength, not recognizing how much stronger he grew as a hero.
Vegeta’s decision to sacrifice himself is an acceptance of who he has become. He does care for his friends, for his family, and for the Earth. He’s not the evil man he once was anymore, and he can never be that again. Internally, Vegeta is furious with himself for falling into Babidi’s trap.
In a lot of ways, Vegeta’s sacrifice in the Buu Saga isn’t the culmination of his redemption arc; it’s the beginning.It’s when Vegeta realizes that he isn’t evil and doesn’t want to be. It’s when he understands that there are things more valuable to him than himself now, and that his recent actions have been a terrible mistake he must atone for.
Vegeta’s Sacrifice Shapes His Character Arc in Dragon Ball Super
The Buu Saga’s Greatest Scene Changes Vegeta’s Character Forever
Despite his brief fall back to villainy, this scene really serves to show that Vegeta is a man who does, now, want redemption for his past sins.Vegeta’s behavior from this point forward is subtly different in bothDaimaandSuper, as he works to make up for all the mistakes he has made in his life.
InSuper, Vegeta is willing to do anything and everything to humor Beerus to avoid having the Earth destroyed, even debasing himself in ways that are extremely out of character. But the moment Beerus threatens Bulma, all bets are off, and Vegeta is willing to battle even a God of Destruction in defense of his wife.
Later, in the Tournament of Destroyers, Vegeta drags out his villainous persona again for Cabba, another Saiyan from Universe 6. But he does it for a reason this time, and that’s to set Cabba up for a breakthrough to Super Saiyan. It’s all just talk, and Vegeta does take pride in Cabba’s success, feeling like a real Prince of Saiyans for once.
While Vegeta never completely sets his rivalry with Goku aside, there are countless moments withinSuper(especially the manga) where Vegeta steps back to help Goku rather than insist on solving the problem himself. He even gets to a point where he’s making amends to the Namekians, acknowledging his horrible past and working to atone.
WhenVegeta attempts to use the powers of a God of Destruction, he realizes once again how much he has grown; the callousness needed to use destructive power to its full extent is beyond his reach now. Though he maintains his aloof personality, Vegeta is a man who cares deeply, and he’s finally no longer afraid to acknowledge it.
Whether one looks atDragon Ball Superand Vegeta’s future there, or simply focuses on his arc throughoutDragon Ball Z, there’s no denying that Vegeta’s tragic sacrifice in the Buu Saga is a turning point for the character, and one of the greatest scenes in the entire franchise.
