Was Raditz wasted potential?

[Dragon Ball Gus]

So, Raditz is one of biggest jokes in the Dragon Ball community, up there with Yamcha. People always like to make fun of how weak he was compared to Vegeta and Nappa, and how he was only around for 5 episodes. But then, one year ago, MasakoX made a What if series on if he turned good. In that series, he gave Raditz the redemption he deserved. He even gave him a family by hooking him up with Lunch/Launch, another joke in the community, and have 3 kids named Ranch, Daikon, and Mooli. And when I watch it, I always think, "Man, Raditz had so much potential, and Toriyama just squandered it."
This is literally the brother of the main character. He could've had so much more than what he got. He could have been the second main character behind Goku (No offense, Vegeta fans). He could've went Super Saiyan. He could've hooked up with Lunch/Launch. And Ranch could've been an awesome edition to the Half Saiyan group. He had so much potential to be one of the most iconic characters in the franchise, but he never did and instead, was just around for 5 episodes and then got killed off like a coward. *sigh* Such a bummer.
So what do you guys think? Do you feel the same way as me in thinking that Raditz was completely wasted, or do you think "Nah, served his purpose"?

[Grimlock]

I will never understand the "already served their purpose" argument, such a weak one, mainly and specifically for characters that need more development. That argument is only valid for characters that keep returning for no reason (looking at you Freeza).

Anyway, yes, Raditz is indeed a wasted potential. As the brother of the protagonist, one could expect great deeds from him, but nope, it was treated as if he was nobody like everyone else was that is not part of the "main cast". If Dragon Ball Super movie's flashbacks were not to be set too much in the past, Raditz is actually a character I want and expect to see in the movie, for a greater character development at least, this may redeem him.

[ABED]

Raditz isn't a joke in the community and yes, he served a purpose. He comes in, makes one hell of an impact and is in one of the best fights in the entire story, and leaves one hell of an impression after only a handful of episodes. How anyone can claim with a straight face that the guy who was responsible for Goku's first death was treated like a nobody is beyond me. He doesn't go out like a chump either. It takes everything the two strongest fighters have and more just to stop him.

Giving him a redemption arc is a bad move. Been there, done that.

[mahakaishin1991]

So, Raditz is one of biggest jokes in the Dragon Ball community, up there with Yamcha. People always like to make fun of how weak he was compared to Vegeta and Nappa, and how he was only around for 5 episodes. But then, one year ago, MasakoX made a What if series on if he turned good. In that series, he gave Raditz the redemption he deserved. He even gave him a family by hooking him up with Lunch/Launch, another joke in the community, and have 3 kids named Ranch, Daikon, and Mooli. And when I watch it, I always think, "Man, Raditz had so much potential, and Toriyama just squandered it."
This is literally the brother of the main character. He could've had so much more than what he got. He could have been the second main character behind Goku (No offense, Vegeta fans). He could've went Super Saiyan. He could've hooked up with Lunch/Launch. And Ranch could've been an awesome edition to the Half Saiyan group. He had so much potential to be one of the most iconic characters in the franchise, but he never did and instead, was just around for 5 episodes and then got killed off like a coward. *sigh* Such a bummer.
So what do you guys think? Do you feel the same way as me in thinking that Raditz was completely wasted, or do you think "Nah, served his purpose"?

I feel he definitely was wasted, and thing is, I have a theory on his design that actually Toriyama recycled his appearance in part into vegeta ( that forehead and widows peak is unique to them both, and there were introduced within quick succession) which makes it even worse.

I find as Raditz fan, the what ifs masako did, along with tenkaichi budokai 2's Fateful Brothers gives him development he deserved. Even bits pointed out in the Xenoverse games helps him a lot

[ABED]

This is literally the brother of the main character.

So? One of the most interesting parts about Raditz is he proves that just because you're blood doesn't make you family.

[Zephyr]

I will never understand the "already served their purpose" argument, such a weak one, mainly and specifically for characters that need more development.

Absolutely with ABED on this one. Why does he need development and redemption? Just because he's the main character's brother doesn't make him special. It's bad enough that they had to make Bardock special just because he's the main character's father.

Making all of the main character's family members special makes the main character feel too special. It makes his accomplishments feel retroactively more like a foregone conclusion, rather than things that were earned, rendering them more cheap. It makes Vegeta's constantly being second banana to Goku all the more puzzling, since he's actually from an important and potent bloodline.

[Forte224]

I mean, can anyone be informative as to what his potential that's been wasted is? Like, what's unique about him that makes his permanent death so unfulfilling? He's Goku's brother, and, that's it. He had the same...attitude I guess as Vegeta and Nappa where he could care less about wiping out entire planets, probably hated Freeza, etc. etc. so nothing was really unique outside of "He's related to Goku" which was shocking and couldn't really serve any other purpose. Not unless people just want to see him go Super Saiyan since his hair is already similar to the length of SSJ3. But that's not exactly a good argument.

[FoolsGil]

Raditz is in that weird place. He did his job well rebooting the mystical adventure into a sci fi thriller. But all media tropes tell us that an evil relative isn't supposed to be a normal mook, and that as brother to the main character, he should be where Vegeta is in rank and power.

[OhHiRenan]

Raditz served such a specific purpose in the overall narrative that bringing him back would only serve to hurt the series. There is absolutely nothing to be gained from him sticking around any longer than he did. For whatever reason, Dragon Ball fans have this bizarre habit of wanting characters who have already played their role in the story to stick around and do more. What is there to do with Raditz after his death? Absolutely nothing.

[ABED]

But all media tropes tell us that an evil relative isn't supposed to be a normal mook, and that as brother to the main character, he should be where Vegeta is in rank and power.

But doesn't that suggest the more unexpected and better move is to subvert expectations?

[FoolsGil]

But all media tropes tell us that an evil relative isn't supposed to be a normal mook, and that as brother to the main character, he should be where Vegeta is in rank and power.

But doesn't that suggest the more unexpected and better move is to subvert expectations?

Unexpected? Yes. Better? Depends on who you ask, a lot of fans like the original poster query the decision.

[nato25]

Looking back it feels insane that the brother of the protagonist has never been mentioned again after his very short initial appearance. Yeah he kicked off Z which is a big deal I guess, but considering how people are always coming back to life and how crazy this world is now, for the brother of the central character to just be MIA is crazy. Think how celebrated Luffy's brother is for instance.

In contrast Bardock is celebrated heavily. I guess people appreciate a father more than a brother.

[ABED]

Unexpected? Yes. Better? Depends on who you ask, a lot of fans like the original poster query the decision.

I understand so that's why I'm asking what you think.

[Grimlock]

Why does he need development and redemption? Just because he's the main character's brother doesn't make him special. It's bad enough that they had to make Bardock special just because he's the main character's father.

Because I believe every character has potential and a little need to shine, and Raditz is no exception. Also, making every member of the family a no-one would also be bad. Gine was no special, someone else had to be. Raditz could get a treatment just a slightly better than what he got for being the brother, but why you are understanding this as if I was asking for the best, over the top treatment is beyond me.

[ABED]

Absolutely with ABED on this one. Why does he need development and redemption? Just because he's the main character's brother doesn't make him special. It's bad enough that they had to make Bardock special just because he's the main character's father.

Because I believe every character has potential and a little need to shine, and Raditz is no exception. Also, making every member of the family a no-one would also be bad. Gine was no special, someone else had to be. Raditz could get a treatment just a slightly better than what he got for being the brother, but why you are understanding this as if I was asking for the best, over the top treatment is beyond me.

He did shine. It's more about quality than quantity and Raditz' time, though brief, was well spent.

[FoolsGil]

Unexpected? Yes. Better? Depends on who you ask, a lot of fans like the original poster query the decision.

I understand so that's why I'm asking what you think.

I'm neutral myself. I'm more to argue for the humans' wasted potential, than the Saiyan's. But I get where all sides are coming from.

[Grimlock]

In contrast Bardock is celebrated heavily. I guess people appreciate a father more than a brother.

I would say it's because Bardock was better used. Actually that goes for everyone, if a character is well used, gets his moment to shine, has a cool development, he will be remembered/more celebrated. A character just needs a chance.

You don't see King Vegeta with the same treatment as Bardock even though he is the father of the deuteragonist only because he didn't get a chance, but once he gets, you'll see his popularity and his relevance skyrockets.

It's more about quality than quantity and Raditz' time, though brief, was well spent.

It wasn't, too much of a one-dimensional character. He has more to offer other than just being a ruthless person.

[Zephyr]

Why does he need development and redemption? Just because he's the main character's brother doesn't make him special. It's bad enough that they had to make Bardock special just because he's the main character's father.

Because I believe every character has potential and a little need to shine, and Raditz is no exception. Also, making every member of the family a no-one would also be bad. Gine was no special, someone else had to be. Raditz could get a treatment just a slightly better than what he got for being the brother, but why you are understanding this as if I was asking for the best, over the top treatment is beyond me.

I think he got more than a good enough showing. And, yes, every character technically has the potential to be something more, but it's often the case that the story doesn't need them to be something more in order for them to serve it well. Raditz, as he lived and died on the pages, serviced the story magnificently. He wasn't a nobody, as ABED perfectly explained earlier:

He comes in, makes one hell of an impact and is in one of the best fights in the entire story, and leaves one hell of an impression after only a handful of episodes. How anyone can claim with a straight face that the guy who was responsible for Goku's first death was treated like a nobody is beyond me. He doesn't go out like a chump either. It takes everything the two strongest fighters have and more just to stop him.

He was certainly capable of development and (I'm assuming moral) redemption, every character is. But you can't expect to give every character an in depth character arc just by virtue of their existing. In any story, that someone writes and publishes, or that you tell to a friend, some characters are meant to exist in the background, some characters are meant to come and go, and some characters are meant to be the center. You can't give zero in on every living and breathing character who inhabits the world of a story, because it ceases to be a story at that point.

So why does Raditz need this focus, over anyone else? There's the potential to have a murderous, evil Saiyan join the cast and redeem himself...but, the "potential" that his hypothetical evil-Saiyan-redemption arc would have was actually already tapped, by Vegeta's actual evil-Saiyan-redemption arc.

Him being the main character's brother is meaningless, because a major theme that Raditz helps underscore is the idea that blood =/= family. Up to this point, Dragon Ball had already been showing that much. Goku had amassed a huge family of non-blood-relatives before Raditz comes in, reveals that he's an adopted alien, and demonstrates that his biological brother is a genocidal barbarian.

Raditz being an evil Saiyan turned ally....who is also the main character's brother, in Dragon Ball, is just another evil Saiyan turned ally. And we already had an evil Saiyan turned ally. What potential exists was tapped, and the well of "main character's brother" is dry. Therefore, there's no reason to conclude that he's in need of being anything more than a quite notable "comes and goes" character.

And that's not to say that you couldn't make a story centering on Raditz (or Bardock) interesting, distinct, and worthwhile, and I'd obviously read/watch one if it ever happened. But the premise itself just doesn't have enough promise to guarantee such a story would result from such a venture. There's nothing that makes it a must-tell story. I wouldn't mind one, but I don't see how it's something that needs to happen.

[ABED]

It wasn't, too much of a one-dimensional character. He has more to offer other than just being a ruthless person.

Based on what? He made more of an impression than some characters who lasted longer. Why does he have to be anything other than a ruthless bastard?

It seems your view is limited to showing a good side. Not every character should develop. If every bad guy does it, when it does happen, it won't mean much. Bardock isn't remembered because he had development. He's remembered because he had his own TV special. Raditz is also remembered because of he comes in and changes the story in a big way, has one of the best fights of any DB series, and gets taken out in a very memorable and brutal manner. Goku has to die and Piccolo has to eviscerate both of them in order to kill Raditz.

[Toxin45]

It wasn't, too much of a one-dimensional character. He has more to offer other than just being a ruthless person.

Based on what? He made more of an impression than some characters who lasted longer. Why does he have to be anything other than a ruthless bastard?

It seems your view is limited to showing a good side. Not every character should develop. If every bad guy does it, when it does happen, it won't mean much. Bardock isn't remembered because he had development. He's remembered because he had his own TV special. Raditz is also remembered because of he comes in and changes the story in a big way, has one of the best fights of any DB series, and gets taken out in a very memorable and brutal manner. Goku has to die and Piccolo has to eviscerate both of them in order to kill Raditz.

But still he was a weakling compared to other villains like vegeta and Frieza latter which became a recurring villain. Cell and buu were more threading than raditz and he was compared to a saibamen. Plus goku came back to life anyway getting stronger.