The Saiyans inDragon Ballwere a race that was annihilated by Frieza after he used his power to destroy Planet Vegeta. While they were a warrior race known for their strength and conquering planets, the story often portrays them as tragic victims who were overwhelmed by a force they could not overcome. However,a retcon inDragon Ball Superchanges that narrativeafter King Vegeta exiles Broly due to his immense potential.
When examined closely, this new detail completely changes the entire story of Planet Vegeta’s destruction. Instead of being doomed by an unbeatable enemy, King Vegeta could have challenged Frieza sooner.It changes the story from a tragic defeat to one of internal failingsand oversights, resulting in the downfall of the Saiyan race.
King Vegeta Feared Suffering Any Further Loss of His Control
King Vegeta, like all Saiyans, valued power and was incredibly prideful. It’s only natural that his greatest fear would be losing that power, especially in the shadow of Frieza’s dominion. He had already been forced to kneel to the evil tyrant, andany further loss of authority would undermine his rule. That’s why, when it came toBroly, a Saiyan born with unprecedented strength, the king viewed him as a threat rather than an opportunity. His actions were aimed at eliminating any challenge to his reign, and in doing so, he lost what could have been the ultimate weapon against Frieza.
By exiling Broly, King Vegeta deprived the Saiyans of their most powerful warrior at a time when they faced an existential threat. His paranoia and mistrust led to a miscalculated decision that had massive consequences for the fate of Planet Vegeta.Broly was more than a powerful fighterbecause he alone held the potential to change the course of events. If King Vegeta had embraced Broly’s latent potential and integrated him into the Saiyan military,they could have harnessed his raw power to challenge Frieza. Instead, his shortsighted choice took away what could have been his greatest advantage.
Broly was unmatched among the Saiyans and broke every record there was. His latent abilities were enough to suggest that he might one day become the Legendary Super Saiyan, and this caused King Vegeta to react out of fear and jealousy. While it’s true that Broly could have potentially grown into a threat or been driven mad, as the king claimed,with proper guidance and training, he likewise could have grown into a controlled and strategic weapon. The conclusion ofDragon Ball Super: Brolyproves that Broly was fully capable of developing into a disciplined and controlled fighter.
While King Vegeta feared that Broly would someday undermine his and Prince Vegeta’s authority, he failed to recognize how Broly could strengthen both of their reigns and propel Planet Vegeta into a brighter future.
Unfortunately, the lack of mentorship left Broly’s strength largely untamed and unstable before then. His exile isolated him from culture, society, and the chance to have proper, controlled training. Had he grown alongside Saiyan fighters,he could have evolved into their strongest asset and become a capable leaderwith the ability to inspire and unite the Saiyan people against their oppressors. While King Vegeta feared that Broly would someday undermine his and Prince Vegeta’s authority, he failed to recognize how Broly could strengthen both of their reigns and propel Planet Vegeta into a brighter future.
The retcon involvingBroly’s exile pushes viewers to reconsider the fall of the Saiyans from a new angle. Rather than a tragic defeat at the hands of an evil tyrant, their near extinction can instead be framed as a result of poor leadership and misguided internal decisions. King Vegeta’s choice to exile the one who could have been their strongest warrior was driven by fear and jealousy rather than vision. Broly’s growth throughout theDragon Ballmovie and manga serves as proof that he could have become the Saiyans' greatest asset.
