Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball Z is a flagship anime that’s inspired and entertained an entire generation of anime fans. Dragon Ball Z ran for nearly 300 episodes and its chaotic clashes and superpowered storytelling has only been pushed to wilder places in Dragon Ball Super. Dragon Ball Z builds upon the original Dragon Ball’s martial arts foundation and heightens its characters and stories in rewarding ways. Dragon Ball Z introduces unforgettable villains like Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu, but none of this would have been possible without the introductory Saiyan Saga’s groundbreaking plot developments.
Goku and the rest of Earth’s heroes face unprecedented losses against Nappa and Vegeta, the latter of whom transforms into a gargantuan Great Ape who nearly destroys the planet. In the face of such evil, no one would think twice about Goku’s execution of Vegeta. In fact, it’s a decision that the heroes encourage. However, the Saiyan Saga concludes with a surprising turn of events where Goku insists that Krillin spare Vegeta’s life and show this villain mercy. Vegeta narrowly survives, flees Earth, and swears revenge on Goku and company. However, there’s a very good reason as to why Goku allows Vegeta to live, which goes on to become one of the Saiyan’s smartest decisions.
Goku Fights For The Sheer Joy Of Fighting, Not To Kill
Goku's Aim Is Rarely To Murder
Dragon Ball characters fight for many different reasons, but the series repeatedly reinforces the idea that Goku is driven by a deep love for fighting, rather than the desire to kill his opponents. The original Dragon Ball finds many opportunities to reflect Goku’s purity—such as when Spike the Devil Man’s Devilmite Beam fails to work against him—and that he embodies true heroism. Goku, despite being Dragon Ball’s main character and someone who’s responsible for many battle victories, has very few kills to his name.
Most of these fatalities are from Goku’s youth, when he lets his emotions get the better of him and he’s still coming to terms with who he is as a hero. Goku has barely any kills in Dragon Ball Z and this mindset carries over into Dragon Ball Super, too. Vegeta fails to understand what motivates Goku and how he’s become so strong, but he experiences clarity as he watches Goku battle against Majin Buu. He learns that it’s the challenge of a worthy opponent that inspires Goku, rather than him being pushed forward by ego, pride, or anger.
These are emotions that drive Vegeta and ultimately hold him back from true greatness. Goku’s love language is martial arts and a true fight gets him more enthusiastic than anything else in life. Goku is someone who’s more excited to fight against the universe’s strongest warrior than to occupy this title himself. In this sense, Goku finds greater value in the prospect of a rematch against Vegeta instead of erasing him and becoming the best.
Goku’s actions are driven by a love for the craft and a desire to better himself, which is possible through rematches with worthy opponents. Goku has no interest in holding his power over others, using it for intimidation, or to throw his weight around for nefarious purposes. Vegeta’s death would feed into this destructive philosophy and it’s antithetical to Goku’s beliefs.
It Sets Goku Up For His Progressive Path Of Redeeming His Enemies
Some Of Goku's Greatest Allies Are Past Threats
Goku relishes the pure joy of a satisfying fight. However, another important reason that he chooses to spare Vegeta is that he learns to increasingly air on the side of redemption and rehabilitation over retribution. This may even be Goku’s way of atoning for the guilt that he feels over the kills from his naïve childhood, including the likes of Demon King Piccolo. It’s very telling that Goku attempts to give second chances to some of the worst villains in the universe, such as Frieza and Planet-Eater Moro, who many would assume are too far gone for redemption.
These decisions may be viewed as foolish, but Goku can’t help but try to see the best in everyone that he encounters and give them all another shot at turning their lives around. Goku wants to help and save others, rather than cause more pain, because this is what heroes do. Goku doesn’t consider the erasure of villains to be his job, but rather a desire to find the right strategy that leads them to the light. Goku’s Saiyan Saga arrival on Earth puts him up against Nappa, who’s responsible for the deaths of Chiaotzu, Tien, and Piccolo.
One would presume that Goku would be excited to take out his aggression on such an evil villain who’s caused his friends such pain. However, Goku doesn’t kill Nappa and he even winces and feels shame when Vegeta exterminates his own partner. After all this, Goku still believes that it’s possible to get through to Nappa. So, of course, he’d have the same hopes for Vegeta. In a vacuum, Goku’s redemptive decisions may not make any sense.
However, he’s able to embrace this heroic ideology because he’s personally witnessed the rehabilitation of many former foes and knows that it’s possible. Yamcha, Krillin, Tien, and Chiaotzu are all redeemed enemies, nearly all of whom lost their lives heroically fighting to protect the planet. The same is true for Piccolo, who was previously committed to Goku’s death, but goes on to sacrifice himself to save Goku’s son. Goku sees the same potential in Vegeta and knows that even the most wicked of souls can change.
Goku Having Mercy On Vegeta Helps Instill Proper Values In Gohan
Goku's Son Is At A Crucial Crossroads
Another crucial factor to consider during Goku’s Saiyan Saga clash is that he’s now a father who’s expected to be a proper role model for Gohan. Goku’s actions in the original Dragon Ball carry plenty of weight, but there is now an impressionable child in his life who looks up to him more than anyone else. Goku finds himself at a crucial crossroads during the end of his battle against Vegeta. It might be safer on some level to take Vegeta out, especially since he’s beat up Gohan and threatened the boy’s life.
However, this becomes a vital learning opportunity where Goku can show his son how to best live his life. Gohan’s rage has already presented itself a few times at this point in Dragon Ball. It wouldn’t be difficult for this anger to metastasize into something darker that eventually consumes Gohan and separates him from his father. Goku’s empathetic act of mercy to Vegeta helps set Gohan on the heroic path of success instead of turning him into a more violent and reactionary fighter.
Goku didn’t necessarily have proper role models during his youth that could prevent him from taking lives and getting blood on his hands. Goku doesn’t want the same fate for Gohan and this perspective gets through to his son. Gohan spends a good deal of the Frieza Saga separated from his father and it’d be easy for him to regress and lose his honor. Goku’s mercy becomes a guiding beacon to Gohan while he’s away from his dad and forced to fight enemies of his own.
Gohan does occasionally take lives when he’s backed into a corner, but he largely fights with the same principles as his father. It’s fair to say that the heroes’ battle against Vegeta is one of the most important moments in Gohan’s life and it helps him understand that Earth is a planet of hope and understanding, rather than hatred.
Vegeta's Survival Potentially Protects Goku From Other Evil Saiyans
Goku Wants To Have More Alien Allies Rather Than Enemies
Dragon Ball Z immediately establishes a new status quo through its introduction of Saiyans and the idea that evil forces can invade the Earth from space. The original Dragon Ball is considerably more terrestrial in nature, which gives characters like Goku a lot to consider when it comes to more advanced antagonists who can easily throw their weight around on Earth. Goku learns first-hand how deadly and dangerous Saiyans are through his encounters with Raditz, Nappa, and Vegeta, but that there’s also the potential for more of these enemies to be out there in the universe.
After all, Raditz’s death is what brings Nappa and Vegeta to Earth. It’s entirely possible that Goku’s execution of Vegeta could trigger a comparable chain reaction that brings even greater dangers to the planet. Earth barely survives this attack against Nappa and Vegeta and they might not be as lucky against even stronger Saiyans or an attack that’s from a larger group. Movies like The Tree of Might highlight this problem and why it’s not a good idea to be the target of more alien warriors.
On some level, it seems like Goku’s mercy towards Vegeta is an attempt to save face with any other Saiyans who are out there and to prevent another future alien attack on the planet. Goku is still just coming to terms with his own Saiyan heritage, which is something that now also affects his son, Gohan. Vegeta’s survival gives him the opportunity to learn more about his people and where he comes from, which could ultimately be beneficial to both himself and Gohan.
Goku's Sympathy Shows Vegeta What A Saiyan Can Be
Goku Letting Vegeta Live Breaks Down Reductive Saiyan Stereotypes
A fascinating deconstruction of nature versus nurture plays out when it comes to Goku’s battle against Vegeta. These two are both Saiyans, but they come from extremely different backgrounds. Vegeta has utter disdain for Goku and his pacifistic lifestyle. He also views it as a personal affront that a Low-Level Saiyan is able to match an Elite Saiyan’s strength. Up until recently, Goku didn’t even know that he was a Saiyan, but his ability to become so strong and beat a warrior who’s been honing his Saiyan skills for his entire life isn’t lost on Vegeta.
Vegeta comes from a violent, patriarchal Saiyan society that purely focuses on pain, punishment, and conquest. It’s a strategy that’s worked for Saiyans in the past, but it’s become increasingly irrelevant following Planet Vegeta’s destruction. Vegeta’s old Saiyan ideals are outdated and destined to fail him, whether he realizes it or not. Goku’s ability to thrive through a completely different mindset is revelatory for Vegeta and helps him evolve.
It’s entirely possible that Vegeta’s death could be reversed with the Dragon Balls, but this would still be a violent and prideful version of the character who’s destined to fail. Goku’s humility during their first fight is a major influence on Vegeta’s morals. Goku’s execution of Vegeta would end the Elite Saiyan’s reign of terror, then and there. However, Goku is hopeful that his accomplishments will resonate with Vegeta and show him that his humanity and life on Earth have been an asset, rather than a weakness or a betrayal to his Saiyan roots.
Before Goku, Vegeta would find it impossible to believe that a peaceful existence on a calm planet would be a productive way to grow. Vegeta now understands that such a pivot is possible and that he might even benefit from such a lifestyle. It still takes Vegeta some time to properly redeem himself and become a hero. That being said, Vegeta's decision to later live on Earth is no doubt influenced by the evidence that it’s helped Goku become so powerful and that it’s not an abandonment of Saiyan ideals.
