Most poorly written part of Dragon Ball

[Michsi]

I always felt like Toriyama wrote himself into a corner with the extent of the Dragon Ball's power.

[Senzu_Bean]

"I don't like this and that" is different than poorly written. Poorly written is Trunks naming the cyborgs #19 & #20 and in reality they are #17 & #18 or Raditz descriptions of the surviving Saiyans not correlating to what they actually are but not Gohan being weaker than Goku in the Majin Buu arc.

[Rory]

Most of the Boo arc feels quite sloppy (in terms of writing) if you ask me.
People have brought it up here already, but it seems to just be good ideas with bad execution.

[caejones]

I always felt like Toriyama wrote himself into a corner with the extent of the Dragon Ball's power.

Yes. Very yes. Especially once the Namekian dragon balls come into the picture.
Not that I have ideas on how it could have been done better...

[dbgtFO]

"I don't like this and that" is different than poorly written. Poorly written is Trunks naming the cyborgs #19 & #20 and in reality they are #17 & #18...

Blame his former editor for that one.
Also if Trunks said #17 & #18 it would be even more stupid, since Gero claims that he is #20, which undoubtedly would confuse the ever so observant Piccolo and make him realize that something's wrong.
That's the reason why they didn't change it in the Kanzenban, because it would be pretty stupid to do so.

[Michsi]

"I don't like this and that" is different than poorly written. Poorly written is Trunks naming the cyborgs #19 & #20 and in reality they are #17 & #18...

Blame his former editor for that one.
Also if Trunks said #17 & #18 it would be even more stupid, since Gero claims that he is #20, which undoubtedly would confuse the ever so observant Piccolo and make him realize that something's wrong.
That's the reason why they didn't change it in the Kanzenban, because it would be pretty stupid to do so.

Considering this , another example comes to mind but this one actually saved Toriyama.

When Trunks warns them about the androids he leaves a few essential details aside: like for instance how they look. Kinda important if you ask especiall since they look completly human and wouldn't stand out until they revealed they revealed they're (poor Yamcha)
This was probably before the editors butted in and decided to change the main villans from a fat clown and an old geezer to 2 teenage twins. The fact that Trunks didn't descibe their appearance from the very beginning made the switch easier. STILL, you go to all that trouble to travel back in time and you do such a lousy job.

[dbgtFO]

"I don't like this and that" is different than poorly written. Poorly written is Trunks naming the cyborgs #19 & #20 and in reality they are #17 & #18...

Blame his former editor for that one.
Also if Trunks said #17 & #18 it would be even more stupid, since Gero claims that he is #20, which undoubtedly would confuse the ever so observant Piccolo and make him realize that something's wrong.
That's the reason why they didn't change it in the Kanzenban, because it would be pretty stupid to do so.

Considering this , another example comes to mind but this one actually saved Toriyama.

When Trunks warns them about the androids he leaves a few essential details aside: like for instance how they look. Kinda important if you ask especiall since they look completly human and wouldn't stand out until they revealed they revealed they're (poor Yamcha)
This was probably before the editors butted in and decided to change the main villans from a fat clown and an old geezer to 2 teenage twins. The fact that Trunks didn't descibe their appearance from the very beginning made the switch easier. STILL, you go to all that trouble to travel back in time and you do such a lousy job.

It's funny how he actually managed to avoid any plotholes/inconsistencies with that one, because of Trunks not being specific enough.

[Eire]

I always felt like Toriyama wrote himself into a corner with the extent of the Dragon Ball's power.

He did it too witting Boo Saga. I personally HATE the moment when Dabura appears. I don't know if he intended to make Supreme Kai an asshole or main protagonists bunch of masculine Mary Sues. He did booth. The challenges they face are so overdrawn that we can't involve emotionally.

[AgitoZ]

I have to agree with that stuff about the Buu arc. But what bothers me most of all in the Buu arc is all the jerking us around about who the hero is going to be, especially after building Gohan up as the new main character. And I'm not just talking about before the Buu arc starts, but in that arc, too. I can understand Toriyama deciding Gohan isn't charismatic enough to be the hero, whatever, I get it, but then to continue building him up for so long and then slapping the reader in the face with this convenient (though the way to it is very inconvenient, as its been mentioned), "Oh look, turns out Goku is the hero again after all" ending is laughable.

Not that I disagree with your point, but I don't think Goku becoming the hero again was Toriyama's fault, well most of it. I seem to recall it was the Japanese fanbase wanting Goku back.

[dbgtFO]

Not that I disagree with your point, but I don't think Goku becoming the hero again was Toriyama's fault, well most of it. I seem to recall it was the Japanese fanbase wanting Goku back.

Although plausible, it's a rumor at best.
And Toriyama thinks you shouldn't trust in rumours..

: "...I don’t remember saying a single thing about any energy supplement. You really can’t go by rumors (laughs)."

[Michsi]

I have to agree with that stuff about the Buu arc. But what bothers me most of all in the Buu arc is all the jerking us around about who the hero is going to be, especially after building Gohan up as the new main character. And I'm not just talking about before the Buu arc starts, but in that arc, too. I can understand Toriyama deciding Gohan isn't charismatic enough to be the hero, whatever, I get it, but then to continue building him up for so long and then slapping the reader in the face with this convenient (though the way to it is very inconvenient, as its been mentioned), "Oh look, turns out Goku is the hero again after all" ending is laughable.

Not that I disagree with your point, but I don't think Goku becoming the hero again was Toriyama's fault, well most of it. I seem to recall it was the Japanese fanbase wanting Goku back.

I don't have a link to an interview to back up this claim, but I also remember something about the readers not liking Gohan as the main hero that much.

However the popularity poll that was conducted during the Buu Saga showed how much Gohan had dropped in popularity, so this can be seen as an explanation as well . I think Herms made a thread with those polls.

But to be honest, I for one was happy that Goku got the center stage again. As much as I like Gohan, he is not as fun to read about as his father, at least for me. And you cannot deny that for the most part Goku IS Dragonball. I kinda think this was something Toriyama realised it himself afterwards.

[Ussj Future Trunks]

I never liked Gohan as the hero. He didn't convince me vs Cell since he needed Cell to toy around and Vegeta/Goku's help to win and such a reluctant incapable hero gets annoying, whereas you're with Goku every step of the way. Gohan convinces more as a secondary hero ie Babidi arc.

[NeoKING]

Well, because this thread is about the most poorly written part of Dragon Ball, I must say that the Super 17 saga has to be the worst. Not because of the inconsistencies, but because of the pacing. It was just... dumb. Not that I cared that much about the plot. I mean, enemies coming back from Hades is just Toei doing that remixed plot trope that they do with movies and stuff, and the weirdness of the Super 17 saga is pretty Dragon Ball-esque already, so I was fine with it, but the pacing, was...ugh.

And the Number One Under the Sun tournament before that was horrible, too.

[coola]

I always wondered,why after Piccolo vs Dr. Gero "Get senzu bean after you get beat up = massive power up" plot never worked again for heroes {Like Vegeta vs 18}

[dbgtFO]

I always wondered,why after Piccolo vs Dr. Gero "Get senzu bean after you get beat up = massive power up" plot never worked again for heroes {Like Vegeta vs 18}

Becuase there weren't any stated power levels they had to surpass.

[Michsi]

I always wondered,why after Piccolo vs Dr. Gero "Get senzu bean after you get beat up = massive power up" plot never worked again for heroes {Like Vegeta vs 18}

I'm not sure I understand this. Piccolo didn't receive a power up after eating a senzu. He explained that when Gero latched on to him, his ki was pushed down at it's lowest level (probably to keep from being sensed). When Gero caught him and started draining his energy he probably couln't raise it anymore to fend him off but once freed and healed he raised his ki to full power. That was it, the senzu bean did nothing more than heal.

[coola]

Sorry, my bad. Piccolo just said that with each fight their powers rise up.

[Michsi]

Are you sure? I remember something along the lines of how they can change their power level depending on the situation/fight, probably meaning they can lower or raise it accordingly. It's what caused Gero to misinterpret Piccolo's power. Or so I remember....

[dbgtFO]

Are you sure? I remember something along the lines of how they can change their power level depending on the situation/fight, probably meaning they can lower or raise it accordingly. It's what caused Gero to misinterpret Piccolo's power. Or so I remember....

That is true.

[Savage68]

Most poorly written part...?

For the larger end of the spectrum, the Android arc was just downright terrible (like... the entire thing, damn near). For the shorter end, Babidi's ship was utter nonsense.