If You Could Permanently Kill Off One Character...

[kinisking]

Goku dying doesn't mean gokus out of the show. He could give advice from the heavens or even have his own stories there. I personally don't think gokus necessary to carry the show anymore. In the beginning goku was just a new character too and people came to lose him. A new dragonBall series with other characters could become just as popular

[Saikyo no Senshi]

Unless it is a spin-off or something i don't think DB would work without Gokuu. He is the perfect protagonist of the series but thats just my opinion.

- Travis

[Marugoto]

Vegeta on Namek. While I don't mind the character, I feel like he never brought anything new to the table after his resurrection (minus Trunks of course). More often than not he actually made things worse. I found his first death very well...executed. It was a good ending for his character arc.
It would have also been interesting to see what direction the manga would have taken, if Toriyama had less Saiyajin to work with. Maybe the earthlings would've actually stayed relevant a bit longer.

[ABED]

Vegeta on Namek. While I don't mind the character, I feel like he never brought anything new to the table after his resurrection (minus Trunks of course). More often than not he actually made things worse. I found his first death very well...executed. It was a good ending for his character arc.
It would have also been interesting to see what direction the manga would have taken, if Toriyama had less Saiyajin to work with. Maybe the earthlings would've actually stayed relevant a bit longer.

Doubtful as Super Saiyan already put them out of the running. The only one with hope of keeping up was Piccolo.

In the beginning goku was just a new character too and people came to love him.

But the whole story was new.

[TheGreatness25]

It's a tough thing because at some point, either the characters are vital to the story (the Gokus and Vegetas) or become so minor that killing them off wouldn't really affect anything.

Personally, I'd keep the rule about only getting one freebie for being brought back to life. Thus, Chaozu would stay dead (because really, it's not much of a sacrifice is it?) and his last moment would be a noble one, sacrificing himself for his friends. Unfortunately, Kuririn would be dead, but that death its effect would be a lot more heavy. Then, Goku would also die by the Cell Games, which would shift the entire arc. Vegeta would ultimately die and that would leave Gohan and Gotenks to save the Earth one last time. Seems like kind of a good way to go out and finish the series.

[ABED]

Greatness, only one character. My one would be Vegeta. He completes his arc and helps defeat Buu, but dies in peace having resolved his inner turmoil.

[TheGreatness25]

Sure, but he'd go to hell and we can't have that. He's gotta be a good guy... even though earlier that day he killed a bunch of innocent people. But yeah, I'm glad he resolved his inner turmoil. I mean, sure, that doesn't really atone for his sins of not only what he did years prior to that, but just mere hours before, but whatever. I think that his portrayal as the noble, kind warrior before he blew himself up against Boo was too much. It shouldn't have been "I love, I care, I will try to stop him so he doesn't hurt my family!" and it should've been "I'm a piece of shit, I got nothing to live for; maybe I can stop him so here goes!"

[Captain Strawberry]

They should have all the attendants rebel againdt Zeno and kill Zenooo

[ABED]

Sure, but he'd go to hell and we can't have that. He's gotta be a good guy... even though earlier that day he killed a bunch of innocent people. But yeah, I'm glad he resolved his inner turmoil. I mean, sure, that doesn't really atone for his sins of not only what he did years prior to that, but just mere hours before, but whatever. I think that his portrayal as the noble, kind warrior before he blew himself up against Boo was too much. It shouldn't have been "I love, I care, I will try to stop him so he doesn't hurt my family!" and it should've been "I'm a piece of shit, I got nothing to live for; maybe I can stop him so here goes!"

His arc wasn't atonement, it was getting over his insecure BS. Vegeta is a piece of garbage, but "I have nothing to live for" isn't satisfying either. That isn't thematically on point with him. Him giving his life didn't make up for anything nor do I think Toriyama was portraying it that way to show him as noble and kind. I take it more like, I've done nothing good in my life, but if I die, I can at least do something good by dying to protect my family.

[TheGreatness25]

Yeah, but like... he chose to do something really evil hours before then. So... bipolar?

[ABED]

Yeah, but like... he chose to do something really evil hours before then. So... bipolar?

No, it was his last desperate gasp to prove to himself that he was his old self.

[Gokuto]

Goku. He's just a plot device at this point.

Or Piccolo. Give him one last touching moment with Gohan and put his character to rest...Before Super ruins him any further.

[ABED]

Goku. He's just a plot device at this point.

Or Piccolo. Give him one last touching moment with Gohan and put his character to rest...Before Super ruins him any further.

How is Goku a "plot device"?

[Gokuto]

Goku. He's just a plot device at this point.

Or Piccolo. Give him one last touching moment with Gohan and put his character to rest...Before Super ruins him any further.

How is Goku a "plot device"?

"Ohh no this enemy is too strong, what're we going to do??
Save us Goku!"

the second he steps into action all tension is gone, we know he's gonna save the day one way or another.

[ABED]

"Ohh no this enemy is too strong, what're we going to do??
Save us Goku!"

the second he steps into action all tension is gone, we know he's gonna save the day one way or another.

That's not a plot device, that's a main character. And it's not even always the case that he saves the day one way or another. If you applied your logic consistently, there would be few shows you could watch because the main characters damn near always solve the problem. "Jack Bauer's here, we know he's going to save the day. There's no tension!"

[iiMajinVegitoii]

Tenshinhan (Tien). He's such a boring character, and I genuinely don't see how Toriyama considers him his favorite. In fact, back when he was first introduced in the manga, fans actually wrote letters and COMPLAINED that Ten was such a boring character

[SSJ Human]

Even in killing Tien or Piccolo off which people are suggesting here, I fail to see how that would matter since they are not the focus at this point. It'd make more sense for Goku or Vegeta honestly since we've seen them more and they've had heavier contributions to the plot. One of those two, Trunks or Black should be the next person to die.

[TheGreatness25]

I still stick with my idea that they should've kept the rule about bringing the character back only once. Every death would be important from then on and it would really make it feel like there are consequences to dying. I literally watched the entire Earth get blown up in the Boo arc and didn't even react. "Oh damn; well they better go get the Namek Dragon Balls" is probably not the reaction that was sought. Then I'd just follow what was already established: Chaozu permanently dies against Nappa, Kuririn permanently dies against Freeza, Goku permanently dies against Cell (of course he returns the same way he did in the Boo arc), Vegeta permanently dies against fat Boo, and... I'd probably take out the whole planet being blown up at the end because really, that would mean everyone dies. I'd probably just have the Z Warriors safe (I'm assuming the innocent people that Boo wipes out haven't been wished back by the Dragon Balls yet) and have Goku and Vegeta divert Boo away to another planet.

[ABED]

Bringing back someone once is a great idea, though I'm not averse them coming back some other way than the Dragon Balls, like Elder Kaioshin giving his life in exchange for Goku's. There should be a cost.

[TheGreatness25]

Of course. And the drama of death would still be there. The thing is that I feel all of those characters' second deaths were a good point to keep them dead. Chaozu didn't do anything after he was revived and Kuririn was kind of sidelined. I'm glad Kuririn found happiness, but that's what would've made his death at the hands of Freeza have that much more impact: because we knew that he had more to live for.