Which other timeskip could work as a midquel?

[Yuji]

It's more difficult to imagine a different time period as EoZ was so vague and left a lot to interpretation whereas we know exactly what happens before and after with the other timeskips, but I feel the 5 year gap between DB and Z or the 7 years between Cell and Buu could work for a short series.

[DB1984]

The seven years between Cell and Majin Boo?

[Koitsukai]

I like the 3 year gap between Freeza and the androids. They are all looking to improve themselves, so they could be looking for trouble, or welcoming trouble at least.
Vegeta could get his own little mini-arc, going back to Freeza's HQ or something, trying to unlock SS. Goku and Piccolo could deal with some type of low-level threat off planet, all with the androids on their minds.

I also like the one-year gap between Freeza and Mecha Freeza. TOEI used Garlic Jr, but I think I'd like to see Geets is in space looking for Goku. Not a midquel, but at least more than what the anime gave us.

The 7 year gap seems great on paper for many things, but it's mostly a peaceful time and must happen on Earth. So I wouldn't like it to become like DBS where during THE peaceful time had more things happened than in the actual story. If there was yet another threat or something after Cell, and Gohan still slacks off, then somethings is way off about him.
Something about Vegeta would work, though. Copying with Goku's loss, with Gohan surpassing him, with him coming to tears with his new life.
However, Goku and Paikuhan could do something together.

The DB-DBZ gap is the best one I think, threats for Goku and Krilin to deal with. Some Goku and Gohan time, well like an extended pre-Raditz DBZ episodes with Goku, Gohan and Kintoun. The fear of encountering Piccolo. Some easter eggs or cameos, like two twin teen robbers or a young Mr. Satan getting ready for a TB, with his young daughter by his side.

[Zephyr]

One of the few things I feel the original story lacked was more exploration between the grudges that certain characters may have had with each other, and the rematches (or first time matches) that such grudges may have naturally motivated. That's probably the main thing I'd like to see explored in a hypothetical midquel, so my preferred time periods are those where such grudges would have been alive and well, and also relatively reasonable to pursue.

The first rematch I'd like to see is between Chaozu and Kuririn. This could happen pretty organically during two different "timeskips": the first while training with Karin for the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai, and the second while training with God for the fight against the Saiyans.

The second rematch I'd like to see is between Yamcha and Tenshinhan. This could happen pretty organically during three different "timeskips": the first two being the same as above (with Karin and with God), but a third opportunity presents itself during their time on Kaio's. Obviously this isn't exactly a timeskip, but a side story set on Kaio's while the four of them are there would still be a midquel.

The third "rematch" I'd like to see is between Tenshinhan and Piccolo. Obviously the two have never fought, so this wouldn't be a "re"-match, but I can imagine Tenshinhan wanting a stab at the reincarnati-son of the bastard of who killed his best friend, this time without someone like Drum getting in the way. This could happen pretty organically, again, during the training with Kaio.

The fourth rematch I'd like to see is between Piccolo and Goku. The most organic place for this to occur would be while training for the Androids.

There are other grudges, rematches, and "rematches" I'd like to see. Tenshinhan and Piccolo each have good reason for wanting a stab at Vegeta, and Tenshinhan clearly wanted another bout against Goku after the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai (which is presumably why he tells everyone they'll never see him again once Goku decides to stay dead), but there aren't any moments where they were already training together during the main story which would serve as organic places for that to happen. All things considered, a side story midquel set during everyone's training with Kaio would be able to facilitate 3 of the 4 grudges outlined above, so that's what I'd most want to see, probably.

--

All the grudge stuff aside, I'd probably most enjoy one set between the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai and the Saiyan arc. That's my favorite between-arc status quo: everyone's alive, Piccolo is around, and Goku is grown up but not a Super Saiyan. I have no idea what kind of story I'd like to see set there, but I just know this is where I'd be the least picky for one.

[Koitsukai]

After reading Zephyr'spost, I might like to see a collection of stuff that happened during all of those timeskips, instead of focusing on just one timeskip.

[Zephyr]

After reading Zephyr'spost, I might like to see a collection of stuff that happened during all of those timeskips, instead of focusing on just one timeskip.

I like that idea. An anthology of smaller side stories could be really cool.

[funrush]

The seven years between Cell and Majin Boo?

Then Gohan being rusty during Boo arc wouldn't make much sense.

I like the idea of a timeskip midquel inbetween DB and Z. Can make old characters like Krillin/Yamcha/Ten/Chaozu/Yajirobe/Launch relevant again as well as bring back more of a focus on choreography.

Some easter eggs or cameos, like two twin teen robbers or a young Mr. Satan getting ready for a TB, with his young daughter by his side.

I love this. A couple episodes or an OVA centered on "The Rise of Mr. Satan" could be very fun.

[Civic]

I like the idea of a timeskip midquel inbetween DB and Z. Can make old characters like Krillin/Yamcha/Ten/Chaozu/Yajirobe/Launch relevant again as well as bring back more of a focus on choreography.

That's probably the most interesting time to explore.

I'd also like to see the year Goku spent on Yardrat.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

I always wanted to see the timeskip between the Wedding Dress arc and Raditz' arrival being explored. Some nice slice-of-life episodes with Goku learning to raise Gohan as a baby, Piccolo would be out there still trying to take over the world, and as mentioned Chaoitzu, Tenshinhan (Tien), Yamcha and Kuririn (Krillin) all in their prime.

I remember when the Wedding Dress arc ended during original Dragon Ball's run on Toonami UK back in 2004 I really wanted another story arc before Raditz. I was sad it never came.

[MrSatan2099]

It's already been mentioned a couple of times, but I too would like to see what took place between DB and DBZ. Maybe even find some way to tell an in-canon version of the Garlic Jr. Story like Super did for Broly.

[ABED]

Not sure any of the time skips work. There's a reason storytellers use timeskips instead of exploring those periods.

[MasenkoHA]

The three year timeskip training for the Androids seem to make the most sense. The 5 years between Dragon Ball and DBZ made it clear that Goku hasn't seen anyone since the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai so you'd be hard pressed to do much with that. I think someone else pointed out the issue with doing much with the 7 year timeskip between Cell and Boo is it's going to be hard to justify how Gohan still slacked off if there was conflict going on in that interim.

It's a problem with Super too. Even after the stuff Gohan goes through to inspire him to pick up back on his training and fight again he's still retired from fighting by the epilogue, even after Goku has met fighters whose powers far exceed Majin Boo, he's still going to treat Oob like the kid who is going to give him the best fight of his life.

[Yuji]

The three year timeskip training for the Androids seem to make the most sense. The 5 years between Dragon Ball and DBZ made it clear that Goku hasn't seen anyone since the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai so you'd be hard pressed to do much with that. I think someone else pointed out the issue with doing much with the 7 year timeskip between Cell and Boo is it's going to be hard to justify how Gohan still slacked off if there was conflict going on in that interim.

It's a problem with Super too. Even after the stuff Gohan goes through to inspire him to pick up back on his training and fight again he's still retired from fighting by the epilogue, even after Goku has met fighters whose powers far exceed Majin Boo, he's still going to treat Oob like the kid who is going to give him the best fight of his life.

I definitely think you could have some human-centered stories in that timeskip without having them interact with Goku. Goku himself could have another rematch with Piccolo before the Raditz event as DBZ Kakarot implied for example.

[Majin Buu]

Then Gohan being rusty during Boo arc wouldn't make much sense.

Not necessarily. Being rusty isn't the same as being incapable of fighting period.

You can use Gohan for fights and use said fights to establish that he's become weaker, the issue is making sure his opponents are scaled appropriately so he can deal with the threat without looking stronger than he should be.

Or you could take the Movie 10 approach and just keep Gohan out of most of the action.

[Yuji]

Then Gohan being rusty during Boo arc wouldn't make much sense.

Not necessarily. Being rusty isn't the same as being incapable of fighting period.

You can use Gohan for fights and use said fights to establish that he's become weaker, the issue is making sure his opponents are scaled appropriately so he can deal with the threat without looking stronger than he should be.

Or you could take the Movie 10 approach and just keep Gohan out of most of the action.

I think Gohan could work in the Goku role of being out of commission for most of the arc. Considering the entire cast is weaker than his SS2 (at least before Vegeta unlocks his), Gohan could serve as the plot device to show up at the end to defeat the villain. This doesn't necessarily mean he's keeping up his training, nor that he sees the necessity in doing so if SS2 is enough to deal with the threats of Earth. You can play into his arrogance of thinking he doesn't need to train because he's strong enough as long as he can transform into Super Saiyan 2.

[Koitsukai]

A decent but at the same time not-too-serious threat could work.
Gohan's SS is still way above Vegeta's, and he probably wouldn't even take part in whatever could happen. The next best thing would be Piccolo, so something similar to SH: a guy trashing Piccolo (and the rest of the guys) and needing Gohan to save his ass but without going SS2.
That experience could cement Gohan's arrogance and work as another reason as to why his training takes a back seat: threats are not Cell level and he is strong enough for his rage to not be needed.
There's no need for this, of course, but there are ways to come up with something without stepping all over the next arc.

I'd rather see the Cell arc squad instead of the 2nd Broly movie formation, with a younger Gohan. And a baby Goten around, too. Like the Bojack movie but better.
But I'd also like to see a Geets' mini-arc and see how he deals with Goku's passing and Gohan being the apex saiyan.

Goku and Paikuhan could take care of stuff in the afterlife, with Goku showcasing his brand new SS2 form, if the main plot isn't that attractive.

[TheGreatness25]

I don't think another gap could work quite like the one that Super chose. Every time gap that came before that one just had too much story after, so there is really a tiny little corner that they'd be painting themselves into. No new transformations, no radical power-ups, no need characters (unless they die), etc.

[super michael]

I believe another midquel is a terrible idea, it will just be another disaster. There will be more contradiction and worse writing.

[funrush]

Then Gohan being rusty during Boo arc wouldn't make much sense.

Not necessarily. Being rusty isn't the same as being incapable of fighting period.

You can use Gohan for fights and use said fights to establish that he's become weaker, the issue is making sure his opponents are scaled appropriately so he can deal with the threat without looking stronger than he should be.

Or you could take the Movie 10 approach and just keep Gohan out of most of the action.

I'm saying if in Boo arc characters like Vegeta say Gohan hasn't been training because of peacetime, it doesn't make sense to do a series where he had to fight a bunch, or else he should be stronger than he was in Cell arc.

[Edwardmatthew]

It's more difficult to imagine a different time period as EoZ was so vague and left a lot to interpretation whereas we know exactly what happens before and after with the other timeskips, but I feel the 5 year gap between DB and Z or the 7 years between Cell and Buu could work for a short series.

You're correct that the End of Dragon Ball (EoZ) left a lot to interpretation, which might make it more challenging to imagine a different time period compared to the more defined timeskips in the series. However, I second you that the 5-year gap between Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z or the 7-year gap between the Cell and Buu arcs could work well for a short series.