Akira Toriyama Dragon Ball introduced many unforgettable heroes and villains. However, it’s hard to argue that the franchise fundamentally changes once Vegeta enters the picture. Vegeta became one of Dragon Ball’S’s most popular characters and part of the reason he is so beloved is due to the rich and thought-provoking character development he has experienced since his first appearance.
Each saga in Dragon Ball Z Radically develops Vegeta’s character and his actions during the Frieza Saga become particularly significant. Vegeta first heads to Namek with plans for immortality, only to become a reluctant ally of the Z-Fighters as they pool their strengths and skills against Frieza. Vegeta is pushed to the limit during his confrontation with Frieza, which culminates with an exceptional speech. Vegeta’s emotional monologue in Dragon Ball Z Episode 86, “The End of Vegeta,” still hits hard as a quality anime quote almost 35 years later.
Vegeta’s Deathbed Speech Properly Humanizes a Villain into a Hero
Vegeta experiences epic highs and lows during his time on Namek. Vegeta is pushed to the brink of death several times, but he is able to bounce back stronger and more determined each time. Vegeta eliminates Frieza’s right-hand men and does his best against the Ginyu Force. However, all of Vegeta’s growth and courage are in vain when he faces Frieza’s overwhelming power. Oddly enough, the fight against Frieza has some standout moments for Piccolo and Gohan, but not so much for Vegeta.
Instead, The Saiyan Prince Showcase comes at a crucial turning point when the fight against Frieza goes from a group brawl to an apocalyptic duel. Vegeta is knocked out of the running by Frieza’s fourth and final form, only for Goku to finally arrive on the battlefield after his extensive healing from his fight against Ginyu. Goku arrives with just enough time to hear Vegeta’s final words, which beautifully set the stage for the saga’s final fight. They also become Vegeta’s first real opportunity to let go of the bravado, speak from his heart, and be seen as a real person.
Vegeta has managed to talk his way out of many situations, but his words to Goku are not a ploy to buy more time or fool anyone. This is an attempt to praise himself as he correctly accepts the fact that he is out of his league and is going to die. Vegeta faces and accepts the fact that he has failed not only himself, but also his Saiyan people, by failing against Frieza.
His emotional words are rich with anger and a desire for Goku to succeed where he failed and get revenge, but they are also laced with humility at what happened to him and the Saiyans. Vegeta sheds tears during this speech, which Goku doesn’t even do. Dragon Ball Z (although he does in the original Dragon Ball And Great). Vegeta’s open and honest monologue ends cruelly with Frieza finishing him off and killing Vegeta.
Vegeta has helped heroes before then, but it has always been a means to an end and for his personal gain. Vegeta never helped Gohan, Krillin, or Goku because he wanted them to survive. This is because they were essential to his great plans. Vegeta’s role as an ally was transactional and still drawing on the Saiyan Saga’s version of the villain. Everything changes with this speech, which drops all airs and bares Vegeta’s soul in a way truly rare for Dragon Ball Z.
Vegeta’s crude words trump Piccolo’s death speech to Gohan, which was a previous climax for Dragon Ball monologues. Vegeta’s speech on Namek also establishes the framework for Vegeta’s second death speech during the Buu Saga. The sacrifice of Vegeta’s final explosion is also very heavy and full of powerful words, but it is an echo of that larger earlier stage. It’s a turning point when a convincing Dragon Ball The villain evolves into a classic anime icon.
Vegeta’s speech is different – but just as impactful – between translations
Anime fans continue to debate the unique advantages and disadvantages of dubs versus subtitles when it comes to how a series is watched. The anime dubbing industry has made huge strides over the past few decades and there is now pressure for the English dub of an anime to have dialogue that more or less matches the English subtitles of the original Japanese version. Dragon Ball is a curious case in the sense that many liberties were still taken with its English dubbing during the Frieza Saga.
This led to four different versions of the same speech. The dialogue of the original anime is quite close to Toriyama’s original manga. This includes a speech from Vegeta in which his pride, anger, and humility are the takeaways from his speech. He is angry at Frieza for the destruction of Planet Vegeta, the near extinction of the Saiyans, and finds comfort in the idea that Goku – a Saiyan – will at least be responsible for Frieza’s demise.
Alternatively, Funimation’s English dub pushes Vegeta’s speech in a different direction. The general idea of the speech remains the same, but the emphasis is on Vegeta being a victim and Frieza being responsible for his transformation into the killing machine who first faced Goku on Earth. Vegeta here feels sorry for himself and equates his death with his moral failings throughout his life. One of Vegeta’s lines during this speech, “Kakarot, please destroy Freiza, he made me what I am”, is one of the most popular and most quoted parts of this monologue.
However, this enlightening line is completely original to the dub and changes an important aspect of Vegeta’s backstory, at least on a psychological level. The Saiyans – Vegeta included – were already conquering planets and gleefully taking lives before Frieza arrived. Their great ape forms are even a direct response to their innate desire to destroy. This dub speech has become popular in itself. Purists may be opposed to these changes, but they provide a fascinating insight into Dragon BallThe evolution of Vegeta, including understanding Vegeta’s fandom and the larger role he plays.
Finally, Dragon Ball Z Kai’The English dub strives for a storyline closer to the original anime and manga. This version of the speech is not identical to the original version and is more like a hybrid of its predecessors. It drops some of the bolder changes that were made, but still stands out as an emotional speech in which Vegeta is conflicted about his life, his regrets, and how he ended up here.
Vegeta’s speech also helps Goku develop into more than Vegeta
Vegeta’s speech becomes an enlightening look at Vegeta, but it’s important to remember that he’s saying these words to Goku. In many ways, Vegeta’s speech is a way for him to pass the baton to Goku and give him his blessing, as a Saiyan, to do what he couldn’t and finish off Frieza without showing any mercy. Vegeta’s speech is a raw release of emotions that clearly affect Goku and influence how he approaches Frieza in the upcoming fight.
It’s no coincidence that before Goku fights Frieza, he gives Vegeta the dignity of a burial. He doesn’t take Vegeta’s actions – and honesty – lightly. He makes sure he gets a hero’s burial if he has to die. Vegeta’s burial makes his heroic resurrection even harder, as if he were truly reborn.
Vegeta is incredibly popular Dragon Ball character, but he’s someone who is often at his best when juxtaposed with Goku. Vegeta and Goku’s competitive rivalry and implicit understanding is one of Dragon BallThe most entertaining relationships of. These two bring out the best in each other, and Vegeta’s speech here – as well as Goku’s response – builds on the foundations of their dynamic.
Vegeta’s words help Goku better understand not only Vegeta, but Saiyans as a whole. Goku continues to struggle with his Saiyan heritage, but his lineage makes sense in this moment where it is distilled to these underdogs who stand against a galactic tyrant. Vegeta helps Goku understand this and it’s a lesson he carries with him to this day. This is why Vegeta’s last words on Namek are such a strong and meaningful speech that highlights the evolution of a villain and how Dragon Ball sees the best in everyone.