Why do all of Goku's former enemies become his friends?

[precita]

This is a running theme that started with the beginning of the show and still continues to this day with Beerus, who starts off wanting to destroy the Earth but likely becomes Goku's good friend if Return of F is any indication. Aside from the two big ones being Vegeta and Piccolo, it happens with almost everyone:

- Oolong starts off terrorizing a village and tries to scare Goku away, they become friends.

- Yamcha starts off as a desert bandit who tries to rob and kill Goku, they become friends.

- Ox King tried to chop Goku's head off the first time he sees him in Fire Mountain

- Tien and Chaotsu start off as assassin's from a rival school and show no remorse about injuring and possibly killing Goku and his friends

- Piccolo of course starts off wanting to fullfill his father's dream and wants to kill Goku in the tournament. He had a change of heart after he sees Goku die and starts training Gohan

- Vegeta literally goes from one of the most evil characters of the show to being one of Goku's greatest allies

- Android 18 and 17 start off in a mission destined to kill Goku, they become good at the end of the saga.

- Fat Buu of course was evil at first but after removing his evil he became Mr. Satan's friend.


And now there's Beerus who the same thing is happening with.

[YamchaKaiokenx20]

Because it just comes to show Goku's the best at changing people's ways

[nickzambuto]

I always feel like One Piece is 'perfected Dragon Ball' in a manner of speaking. Since Oda is such a big fan of the series, he often takes concepts and themes like this, which in all likelihood were probably coincidence and accidents on Toriyama's part, and makes them into clear character traits and plot points. Goku always seems to befriend his enemies, but that fact isn't made a big deal in the series, it probably wasn't even purposeful, yet we fans notice is. So when Oda comes along and writes One Piece, he has it said that Luffy's greatest strength is his ability to get anyone on his side, or something to that effect.

A bit off topic yes but it's something I noticed that I've wanted to get out there.

[Doctor.]

I always feel like One Piece is 'perfected Dragon Ball' in a manner of speaking. Since Oda is such a big fan of the series, he often takes concepts and themes like this, which in all likelihood were probably coincidence and accidents on Toriyama's part, and makes them into clear character traits and plot points. Goku always seems to befriend his enemies, but that fact isn't made a big deal in the series, it probably wasn't even purposeful, yet we fans notice is. So when Oda comes along and writes One Piece, he has it said that Luffy's greatest strength is his ability to get anyone on his side, or something to that effect.

A bit off topic yes but it's something I noticed that I've wanted to get out there.

Toriyama said that he likes the cliché of turning bad guys into good guys because it makes the audience happy. So it seems like he did purposefully implement it into his own series. Toriyama just doesn't like to add a lot of drama and make a big deal out of certain plot points over others.

[fadeddreams5]

Frieza must have friendship immunity.

[LightBing]

Not all of his enemies become friends, in most cases Goku's only influence was defeating them. With the exception of Vegeta and Piccolo, the truly evil ones never changed side.
It's the old motto "If you can't beat them, join them". This works because Goku doesn't hold grudges, he just wants more fighting. Piccolo was mostly influenced by Gohan and circumstances. Vegeta by his family and circumstances, again.Tenshinhan saw his wrongs, after Muten Roshi influenced him. The androids were never evil, Fat Buu is just a kid now that it's evil is removed, again Mr Satan was the mainly influence. I could go on but you get my point.

[B]

The idea that Goku's innocent nature is ideal is the strongest theme in this series. He magically, whimsically wills others into behaving differently. He's the enigma that forces the other characters to question what they thought they knew.

[Dbzfan94]

Well except Freeza, and I'm so glad he stayed evil. Cell too, but he would be interesting as an anti-hero leaning towards villain of sorts. For example in Gohan vs Super Buu, he comes down and taunts Gohan and starts a free-for-all between him Buu and Gohan. (Of course considering Cell got to that strength level)

[Cipher]

The rule is one enemy/rival gets turned into a friend per arc.

Because of the power of friendship.

[Lord Beerus]

Freeza must have friendship immunity.

As does Raditz.

[precita]

Characters who stayed evil and died and never became good:

Raditz
Nappa
Zarbon and Dodoria
The Ginyu Force
Freeza (3 times over too, since he came back twice and stayed evil)
King Cold
Dr. Gero
Android 19
Cell
Babidi and his minions
Dabura
Kid/Evil Buu

[Doctor.]

Freeza must have friendship immunity.

As does Raditz.

Raditz could have used that friendship. Poor guy probably never had any friends.

[Lord Beerus]

Characters who stayed evil and died and never became good:

Raditz
Nappa
Zarbon and Dodoria
The Ginyu Force
Freeza (3 times over too, since he came back twice and stayed evil)
King Cold
Dr. Gero
Android 19
Cell
Babidi and his minions
Dabura
Kid/Evil Buu

Kid Buu technically doesn't count. He got reincarnated into a pure hearted earthling, in the form of Oob.

[funrush]

Freeza becoming good would have been a very bittersweet thing. There wouldn't have been that climactic ending and it'd be weird looking for a reason for him to become good. On the other hand him being an ally would open up potential for more cosmic based stories. Not sure if Raditz being good would even accomplish much? He seemed sort of bland and his low strength would pretty much make him the Saiyan equivalent of Yamcha.

I would say Kid Buu does count because Kid Buu and Uub aren't exactly the same person. Different lives, experiences, etc.

[irreality]

Kid Buu technically doesn't count. He got reincarnated into a pure hearted earthling, in the form of Oob.

Reincarnation is a big deal. Your soul is entirely wiped clean. And it is not voluntary in any sense, but a part of Hell. Oob is not Kid Buu in any reasonable sense of "character".

[Lord Beerus]

Kid Buu technically doesn't count. He got reincarnated into a pure hearted earthling, in the form of Oob.

Reincarnation is a big deal. Your soul is entirely wiped clean. And it is not voluntary in any sense, but a part of Hell. Oob is not Kid Buu in any reasonable sense of "character".

Excepts in terms of strength.

[irreality]

Kid Buu technically doesn't count. He got reincarnated into a pure hearted earthling, in the form of Oob.

Reincarnation is a big deal. Your soul is entirely wiped clean. And it is not voluntary in any sense, but a part of Hell. Oob is not Kid Buu in any reasonable sense of "character".

Excepts in terms of strength.

Thus why I said "character" (ie. personality/life experiences/etc). Their life force (which ki is tied to) comes back. But for the intents of storytelling, it is a new person.

[TheUltimateVegito]

The idea that Goku's innocent nature is ideal is the strongest theme in this series. He magically, whimsically wills others into behaving differently. He's the enigma that forces the other characters to question what they thought they knew.

This is most prominent with Vegeta, who realized why Goku was always better than him by the Buu arc.

[LightBing]

Like I said in my other post, Goku's influence in turning enemies to his side is minimal, bar defeating them. Sure they become friends with Goku later, but who wouldn't?
To support my claim here's the description of everyone who turned:

Oolong- He was defeated by Goku, forced to join the journey by being blackmailed by Bulma. At the end of the arc, he goes to live into Capsule Corp since he has no other place to go.

Gyuumaou- He was never a true enemy, Goku shows up in his kinto, Gyuumaou ask were he got it, Muten Roshi name is dropped and everything is fine.

Yamcha- At the start he just stalks the gang, later he's forced to join forces when everyone gets captured by Pilaf. After the end of the arc, he goes off with Bulma since, both of them get their wish without needing the Dragon Balls.

Tenshinhan- Muten Roshi questions his choice of path multiple times. When Tenshinhan is fighting Goku and Tsuru-sennin starts with his dirty tactics, he gets sick of it because he was enjoying the fight. The last drop being when Chiaotzu gets threatened. Tenshinhan change of heart is the end result of Muten Roshi, advice and compliments. Goku was fighting to avenge Yamcha, in the end he accepted Tenshinhan apologies, post-fight.

Piccolo- Goku wins the Tenkaichi Budokai, a few years pass; Piccolo continues claiming himself evil and only joins up to defeat Raditz out of necessity. He then trains Gohan, again out of necessity. Who's is the major factor for Piccolo changes.

Vegeta- Goku saves his life to fight him again, Vegeta promises to return to Earth to destroy it. At Namek they are forced to join forces. Vegeta then stays on Earth waiting for Goku to return from space, when he returns they are warned of the androids. Vegeta's goal to defeat Goku is postponed. After Cell and Goku die, he just stays on Earth. His family is the major influence for his turn from bad to good. He tells Goku that's his family made him soft; he doesn't hold back in killing just to face Goku. Sure, he becomes a friend of Goku but only after softening up and making various mistakes.

Androids- They were never evil. Did Goku even met them during that whole ordeal?

Mr.Buu- Mr Satan turned him. He wasn't even evil after it was expelled from him.

Goku contributions are defeating his enemies and not fretting about their past wrong doings. I mean Vegeta was a mass,mass,mass murderer... Goku's honesty helps, but it isn't the definite factor. It's mostly out of necessity or luck, they all become friends. Most weren't even evil. The evil ones, Piccolo and Vegeta were mostly turned by others than Goku.

[Polyphase Avatron]

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... Friendship

For some reason this trope is so commonly affiliated with Nanoha, even though Goku has been doing it for way longer and had more success.