I think much of the matter of fans taking it too seriously is that much of the fanbase came in at Raditz, due to the Z anime being released in the West before Dragon Ball proper. People saw how serious and gritty the Saiyans and Frieza and Cell and the like were, and things like the Ginyus, the wackiness of Snake Way and King Kai, etc. started looking like silly, nonsensical outliers in an otherwise straight-laced action drama.
Dragon Ball's always been silly, but that's easy to miss when you came in after Cerebus Syndrome had already settled in for an arc or two.
For me, the biggest surprise watching the first Dragon Ball anime was finding out that the humans were NEVER important. Krillin excepted, most of them were important for one arc, and that was it; there was never a point where the cast of protagonists were a skilled team of warriors banded together to combat evil in an effective manner; in fact, nearly everyone who gathered to fight Nappa was a villain who Goku had to defeat at some point in his career, with Piccolo being only the most recent example of this trend. The "Z Warriors" thing is total bull.
edited 26th Jul '14 6:47:48 PM by TobiasDrake
My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.Hell, at the time of the Saiyan saga, Piccolo was technically still a villain.
Up until he saved Gohan, that entire battle was one extended Enemy Mine.
One Strip! One Strip!
Well that's a perfectly good reason to beat someone's ass.
The funny thing was, at the very end, Daimou was in his way too.
Dumbass would be alive today (as in, still the original dude) if he'd just moved an inch or two to the left.
Popo knows what I'm talking about.
One Strip! One Strip!In a series that has some spectacularly nasty deaths, I think King Piccolo's might be the worst.
Goku tore his entire body right through his chest. I mean, Goku is kinda tiny, but goddam, the whole thing just blasted right through. Sabat was absolutely perfect at sounding like he was in absolute agony as well.
He was impaled on a child. That's gruesome.
My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.A live version of the new DBH trailer, which showcases Time Patrol Trunks, Dr. Kochin, Dr. Wheelo, Mind Controlled Piccolo and Nuova Shenron:
Also, here's the first pic of Legendary Super Saiyan 4 Broly.
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edited 26th Jul '14 11:38:09 PM by Rinsankajugin
@Piccolo's death: I guess it had something to do with his pride PICCOLO DAIMAO SAMA refuses to believe a MERE CHILD could defeat him in ONE PUNCH, and decided to block it head on.
Someone's pride getting in the way of their reasoning, mid battle, is kind of a Dragon Ball thing.
edited 27th Jul '14 4:14:41 AM by Mrsunshinesprinkles
"Curry killed the pussy hoping that I could kill the hate in you" - Curry, D. "TABOO | TA13OO." TA13OO, PH, 2018I think the Z portion of story was a classic case of Bloodier and Gorier. Not that the original Dragon Ball weren't graphic itself but our exposure to blood, guts and scrambled brains certainly increased in the Z portion of the story.
edited 27th Jul '14 6:27:59 AM by FireShadow
Seeing Goku sweep in in the last minute to save Gohan and Krillin and Veggetroll got me more pumped than I expected to get. I legit fist pumped when he got out of the space ship.
Sure, it's practically the same card played in the Saiyan Saga, but it's no less awesome.
"Curry killed the pussy hoping that I could kill the hate in you" - Curry, D. "TABOO | TA13OO." TA13OO, PH, 2018

Oh I see. There was still three months left before they would be active.
That is a problem.
Well, we should be surprised. It's not like we haven't pointed out again, and again, and again that this was a joke series that got a bit too serious. I'm hardly shocked that there's a continuity error.
I blame Tao Pai Pai.
edited 26th Jul '14 6:27:50 PM by HandsomeRob
One Strip! One Strip!