Did Vegeta care about Saiyans when he first died?

[SaiyanZ]

This is a question that has always confused me: before Vegeta kills Dodoria, Vegeta learns that Freeza destroyed Planet Vegeta. He responds by saying he doesn't care about the planet, his parents or his race, which seems in line with how Raditz and Bardock treated Goku since they didn't love Goku due to him being family. Later, when Vegeta is dying after Freeza pierces his chest, he tells Goku about how Planet Vegeta is destroyed; he then cries as he explains how the Saiyans served Freeza and how there is no one left except for him, Goku and Gohan (he even references both their fathers). He then begs Goku to beat Freeza, because he is a Saiyan. Did Vegeta finally learn to care about his kin after Dodoria's reveal? What do you guys take away from the scene?

An additional question too: did Bardock learn to love Goku as the 90s TV special went on? Of course, we see that he doesn't care since Goku only has a PL of 2, but it seems like towards the end, when he has visions of Goku, that he seems to care about him (stretching out to him while he hallucinates after climbing steps, yelling his name as he dies, etc.). My personal interpretation is that he viewed Goku as an engine of vengeance for the Saiyans. However, because Bardock saw Goku grow up to be so strong to challenge Freeza, do you guys think there is some sort of "love" or "respect" there?

[Marco Polo]

I think Vegeta did care about the Saiyans when he first died. However, since Toriyama never planned ahead much, I think this scene doesn't have a lasting influence on Vegeta's character after his resurrection. That is, Toriyama made Vegeta care about the Saiyans when he first died, but then he made him a selfish individual again when he revived him (because that's more interesting). It's not even something that the revived Vegeta hides out of pride, it's just something that's dropped completely. Even when Vegeta finally became a "good guy" in the Buu Saga, it was because of his attachment to his human family and the Earth in general (i.e. the attachment to his Saiyan race was never brought up again).

[SaiyanZ]

Some people have said he has felt otherwise, its a really confusing scene for me when he dies on Namek. I mean, why mention his dad? To get to Goku since he was still sentimental?

[90sDBZ]

I think Vegeta did care about the Saiyans when he first died. However, since Toriyama never planned ahead much, I think this scene doesn't have a lasting influence on Vegeta's character after his resurrection. That is, Toriyama made Vegeta care about the Saiyans when he first died, but then he made him a selfish individual again when he revived him (because that's more interesting). It's not even something that the revived Vegeta hides out of pride, it's just something that's dropped completely. Even when Vegeta finally became a "good guy" in the Buu Saga, it was because of his attachment to his human family and the Earth in general (i.e. the attachment to his Saiyan race was never brought up again).

I wouldn't say it was dropped completely. What about the line "Watch your race dwindle to a handful and tell me what has more meaning than your own strength!". And in GT when the earth is facing destruction during the final battle Vegeta expresses his frustration in how he lost his race to Frieza and now he's losing the earth too.

Really though the idea of him caring seemed inconsistent to begin with considering what he did to Nappa and turning down the chance to revive Raditz.

[SaiyanZ]

I think Vegeta did care about the Saiyans when he first died. However, since Toriyama never planned ahead much, I think this scene doesn't have a lasting influence on Vegeta's character after his resurrection. That is, Toriyama made Vegeta care about the Saiyans when he first died, but then he made him a selfish individual again when he revived him (because that's more interesting). It's not even something that the revived Vegeta hides out of pride, it's just something that's dropped completely. Even when Vegeta finally became a "good guy" in the Buu Saga, it was because of his attachment to his human family and the Earth in general (i.e. the attachment to his Saiyan race was never brought up again).

I wouldn't say it was dropped completely. What about the line "Watch your race dwindle to a handful and tell me what has more meaning than your own strength!". And in GT when the earth is facing destruction during the final battle Vegeta expresses his frustration in how he lost his race to Freeza and now he's losing the earth too.

Really though the idea of him caring seemed inconsistent to begin with considering what he did to Nappa and turning down the chance to revive Raditz.

I don't think that line of his race dwindling was in the subbed version.

[DarkPrince_92]

Vegeta's ambitions are always mixed up. He was mostly concerned for himself in regards to Freeza's rule over him, but I'm sure he couldn't relay that to Goku. "Defeat Freeza... for me". Goku wouldn't just do that. "Defeat Freeza... for our race..." I'm sure would give Goku more ambition.

Vegeta is proud of what he is, but at the end of the day, he's only looking out for himself. But that's from what I've seen in the Freeza Arc. Like Saiyan Z said that line "Watch you race dwindle to a handful..." speaks volumes on why Vegeta does what he does. It sounds like it's his job to keep getting stronger being one of the last of his kind. Feeling sympathy for his people isn't part of it.

[ParkerAL]

Perhaps deep down he cares, but he would never show such feelings outwardly (unless on the brink of death), which explains the apparently inconsistent portrayal of his thoughts on the subject. Of course he wouldn't confide with Dodoria the same inner thoughts he would share with Kakarot, the last of his race, on his deathbed. He probably doesn't even want to admit to himself that deep down, somewhere in his subconscious, he might care about his people.

[SaiyanZ]

He has shown his feelings outwardly before though, he exploded with rage when Cell killed Trunks, he hugged Trunks out in the open and he raged at Beerus when he slapped Bulma. Granted, thats all family, but isn't it the same thing here with his kin?

[ParkerAL]

Well yeah, but I assumed from the title of this thread that we were talking about Vegeta's state of mind when he died fighting Freeza.

[mAcChaos]

I figured he did care, but was hiding it from Dodoria and perhaps even himself until he was about to die.

[SaiyanZ]

Perhaps Goku's and the others' sentimental natures rubbed off on him?

Well yeah, but I assumed from the title of this thread that we were talking about Vegeta's state of mind when he died fighting Freeza.

Yeah, thats what I meant.

[Rocketman]

which seems in line with how Raditz and Bardock treated Goku since they didn't love Goku due to him being family.

Really? Raditz tries about six separate times to get his little brother to join him.

[trick007z]

I think Vegeta was proud of being a member of what was considered the greatest race of warriors in the universe. However, he was ultimately serving his own interests first, and he was too self centered to truly care about the Saiyans at any point prior to his eventual turn to the side of good.

Put it this way, when Raditz died, he wouldn't even consider using the Dragonballs to revive what was one of his only two Saiyans comrades. On Earth, he murdered Nappa because he displeased him. If he got his way, Goku and Gohan would have been murdered as well. So in just his first appearance he was would have made himself the last of his race.

I prefer to believe his dying speech had more to do with him hating Frieza for being his master and directly denying him his birthright than some love of his people.

[SaiyanZ]

which seems in line with how Raditz and Bardock treated Goku since they didn't love Goku due to him being family.

Really? Raditz tries about six separate times to get his little brother to join him.

And then turned on him and tried to kill him when he learned he was too soft and weak