Summary
Dragon Ballintroduced Bardock during a TV special that grew so popular that his character became integral to a lot of stories. The story of Son Goku, to the games, and especially getting his own second special where Bardock became a Super Saiyan in the past. Along with the TV special, and theDragon Ball Minusmanga special, Bardock is a popular character that many seemed to love even more than the actual father figure, who was Grandpa Gohan. However, there is a question that remains to be asked, one that might be controversial or not depending on Bardock’s actions inDragon Ball.
Is he an overrated character, or is Bardock a truly underrated character? Did he contribute to most of the story just by being the Saiyan father of Goku, or is he overrated in the sense that he didn’t do much, regardless of the TV special at all?
What Exactly Did Bardock Do?
And Did It Matter?
A lot of people are willing to argue that Bardock isn’t overrated, but one thing that must be factored into the discussion are his actions. Bardock was introduced as a lower-class Saiyan warrior who wasn’t much different than the conquering species they were known for being. However,what made Bardock interesting, aside from being the father of Son Goku, was that he was the first andonlySaiyan who rebelled against Freeza in any meaningful way. Bardock only fought his way to Freeza and barely managed to hurt him at all, but the resistance he put up would remain in Freeza’s subconscious for the rest of his life.
Bardock’s Conclusion
And The Answer
The Saiyan warrior Bardock certainly could be said to have had an immense popularity rise ever since his first TV Special. However, how could he be overrated? There are a lot of reasons he could be overrated:
While these reasons don’t ultimately ruin the character of Bardock, it does contribute to the idea that Bardock may or may not have been too popular for his own good, due to the fact that he looks and touched a huge relatable point for many fans. His determination, rough exterior, as well as his involvement in otherDragon Ballproducts have made Bardock somewhat of a fan-favorite compared to other characters in the series. The funny thing is, Bardockisn’t known for being stronger than his offspringor even the younger generation of Saiyans. So, is the answer to his character that he is overrated? Or has he earned the right to call himself underrated?
There are no good answers to that question, although overrated could be very much a possible answer. The reason for that being that Bardock’s overexposure and popularity with the audience has made him a character too good to throw away or not include in any games, new material, or even to not call back on him, especially in the manga. This is a major reason why Bardock hasbecome a bit overratedby all intents and purposes, which makes it unfortunate considering he is a favorite for good reasons. His rebellion, however short-lived, is not the reason he is overrated.Dragon Ballsimply may have made him too prevalent and too important in the series that it affects how it presents itself.
