Piccolo and Vegeta redeemable, Freeza and Cell not?

[Thanos6]

Why were the first two able to settle down, turn good, and in Vegeta's case, start a family, while it's generally accepted that no matter how many chances they got Freeza and Cell would stay evil?

All four are/were cruel sadistic murderers. What was it that separates them?

[Victator Supreme]

Piccolo changed after dying and being reborn. Begeta simply is not nearly as evil as Freeza and Cell.

[Thanos6]

But that's my point. Vegeta slaughtered an entire Namek village. He was quite willing to blow up the Earth with the Galick Gun. We saw him literally eating the corpses of his victims in his very first appearance.

What in that separates him from Freeza?

[Taku128]

But that's my point. Vegeta slaughtered an entire Namek village. He was quite willing to blow up the Earth with the Galick Gun. We saw him literally eating the corpses of his victims in his very first appearance.

What in that separates him from Freeza?

Vegeta was given a chance to settle down on Earth and not kill and he did. Goku gave Freeza energy to leave and not kill anyone anymore and he used it to attacck Goku. Then, when Freeza survived, he decided to go destroy the Earth. Doesn't seem like he diserves any more chances.

[Kaboom]

Yeah. Piccolo Daimou was pure evil. But somehow, his clone/offspring, the Piccolo we know and love... wasn't... completely. And Gohan helped.

Vegeta, I think, was kinda evil out of neccessity. Sure, he sorta enjoyed it, but being raised and forced to work for Freeza, he didn't really have a choice. And besides, everything he did was working towards the ultimate goal of growing powerful enough to overthrow Freeza. Either way, both him and Piccolo were considered good enough at least for Porunga to revive them in the battle with Kid Buu.

Freeza, however, was just plain bad. I mean, he didn't have any reason for what he was doing, other than simple greed and conquest. He was selfish and conceited, and worst of all, a tyrant. He was the most poewrful being in the universe, so he thought he could just do, command, or destroy whatever he wanted. Completely by choice, too. If he decided he wanted to do good, he would have noone to contest him, not even his own family, since they were weaker than him (unless you involve Cooler's 5th form, then it's debatable) Practically no hope for any degree of redemption with this guy.

And Cell was frikkin' created and programmed to kill Goku, everyone else, and be overall evil. 'Nuff said.

[Mr.Piccolo]

Why were the first two able to settle down, turn good, and in Vegeta's case, start a family, while it's generally accepted that no matter how many chances they got Freeza and Cell would stay evil?

All four are/were cruel sadistic murderers. What was it that separates them?

Piccolo
Well Piccolo was basically forced to join the warriors in the beginning. He opted to team with Goku to fight Raditz. It was the only way Raditz would be defeated unless Piccolo fused with Kami. Knowing that more powerful foes were coming, Piccolo was smart enough to plan ahead by training Gohan. When the saiyans arrived, Piccolo knew that Goku would still be needed after training 'in hell'. He died saving the kid that he grew affectionate to. When he is revived, he wants to fight with the heroes against Freeza and to protect Gohan. From there you see that the redemption(sp) comes through training Gohan. He thought about the future and it was basically an ultimatium for him.

Vegeta
Vegeta lost the battle on earth and went off to space to heal. His intention was to come back to earth asap and finish what he started. He was informed by Kiwi/Qui('sup Juilian) that Freeza was searching for the dragonballs on Namek. Vegeta's plans changed and was forced to fight alongside the heroes or die, much like Piccolo. He obviously still wanted to kill Goku but Freeza was the bigger problem. Once Freeza killed Vegeta and he was revived, his goal was to defeat the Super Saiyan. He still had ambitions to beat Goku but his goal for immortality wasn't in the picture anymore. When he saw Trunks and heard about the Androids, his goal was to surpass Goku. When the androids eventually attacked, Vegeta wanted to secure Goku's defeat with his own hands and fight as many opponents as possible. He is humiliated by No.18, Cell's existance, and the fact that Piccolo was the strongest organic being. His goal was to surpass the super saiyan. He went to basically show off how powerful he became and allowed Cell to become complete. Once he was embarassed yet again,and then the Cell Games were underway. Vegeta knew Goku was stronger than him but it was even a bigger shock when Gohan was stronger than his rival. Vegeta settled down and for a short time lost his will to fight. When Goku came back and the events of Buu happened, he realized that Goku was truely better than him. Thats when Vegeta finally joined the crew IMO. *PHEW*

Freeza
Threatened Gohan. Big no-no. Made the mistake of coming back to earth. Goku gave him many chances to walk away but he was "just so stupid..!"

Cell
Goku gave him the senzu and everything but after seeing that Cell can come back from almost everything, you realize that Goku and friends aren't that dumb.

[DaemonCorps]

Well, I think a big difference between (Vegeta and Piccolo) and (Frieza and Cell) is that they had a chance to retreat after their battle with the good guys. Of course, you could say that Cell had time to think aboutwhat he was doing, but as SSJ Kaboom said, he was programmed to be straight up evil from the start.

Also, as Kuririn mentions after Trunks leaves for the future the first time, Vegeta and Piccolo were able to spend more time with the bad guys because they had a common enemy. I'm sure Frieza would team up with Goku and become a little less evil if Buu was resurrected at that time.

Sure, the idea of bad guys teaming up with good guys is derivative, but DB does it gradually, so that it isn't viewed that way.

[Great Saiyaman]

Piccolo was not pure evil like his father as he soon relized.

Vegeta...though evil, a lot of that was due to him not having a choice in the early days.

As stated, Freeza had been given chances & failed to make good with them.

& Cell.....well he was kinda made as a pure evil being.