Trivia / Dragon Ball Z Android Arc

• Executive Meddling: This is the entire reason Androids 17, 18, and Cell exist, and why Cell transforms.
• What Could Have Been: Goku was originally meant to stay dead with Gohan taking up the mantel as the new protector of Earth. However, Toriyama ultimately realised he can't make Gohan work as the main protagonist and, after awhile, Goku ended up being brought back to life halfway through the Majin Buu arc where he takes back the protagonist role for the remainder of the series.
• Writing by the Seat of Your Pants: It is plainly obvious that these arcs weren't thought out ahead of time. The conflict begins with Trunks arriving and warning Goku that Androids 19 and 20 are going to show up in 3 years and destroy the world. Then, in 3 years, he clarifies that that was wrong and the androids he's concerned about are 17 and 18. And then we find out there's another Android, called 16. And all this is before Cell is finally introduced with almost no buildup.