More than seven years on from its conclusion, Dragon Ball Super's reputation within the series' massive and ever-growing fan base has changed. While airing, many die-hard Dragon Ball fans had difficulty accepting the anime as the true canon continuation of Akira Toriyama's original iconic story. In the years since, the series has become an integral piece of the Dragon Ball franchise, gaining affection from the existing older fan base, while ushering in an entirely new generation of fans the way Dragon Ball Z did during the Toonami era of the 2000s.

Throughout its initial run and in the years that followed, however, one major criticism has been consistently thrown at the series. Despite the franchise's iconic cast of characters, many believe it to just be the Goku show. Dragon Ball's leading Saiyan dominates screen time, as expected from the protagonist, and at the end of every major battle, he stands as the victor. Beyond Super, this criticism has followed Dragon Ball throughout much of its storied history, but it isn't entirely true, and the final fight of the fan-favorite Universe Survival Saga proves as much.

Teamwork Has Always Prevailed in Dragon Ball

Despite Goku Taking the Majority of the Victories, Dragon Ball Has Always Been About Teamwork

Dragon Ball is a relatively straightforward battle shōnen series. It doesn't try to cram commentary on issues concerning its teenage demographic down the audience's throats, like many other titles do. Its themes aren't overly complex and there isn't much going on beneath the surface of fighting the next strongest foe, but that doesn't mean the series is completely void of any overarching theme. There are two present throughout the majority of Dragon Ball that pop up consistently throughout its arcs.

The first deals with the necessity of strength in order to protect loved ones. While Goku delivers this theme to the audience at times during Dragon Ball, it's more central to Gohan's character, and the struggle he faces between his gentle nature and the need to use force against foes who cannot be defeated any other way. The other theme, and the one that lies at the heart of the series, is the importance of teamwork.

Alongside becoming stronger, Goku makes friends out of enemies, and turns them into his strength either by needing to protect them, or learning directly from their fighting styles and techniques. He may score more victories in battle than anyone else, but he rarely does it alone. Battles like the one against Vegeta were accomplished with help from Gohan, Krillin, and Yajirobe. Goku defeated Frieza on his own, but was only able to achieve Super Saiyan after Krillin's death. Despite Dragon Ball Super being more criticized than other series for being Goku-centric, teamwork remains a core theme there as well.

Dragon Ball Super's Best Fight Proves the Series Is More Than the Goku Show

The Tournament of Power Was Only Won Through Teamwork

It's undeniable that Goku dominates much of the screen time throughout Dragon Ball Super. He's the first to achieve Super Saiyan God and uses it alone to fight Beerus, and he steps in after some time-reversal shenanigans, rather controversially, to get the victory over Frieza. From there, however, battles become a bit more reliant on other fighters. Trunks gets the fake-out final blow against Fused Zamasu before Zeno erases the entire timeline. The series' best arc, however, the lengthy Tournament of Power, embodies the theme that teamwork is strength.

The 48-minute Tournament of Power features 80 fighters going head-to-head, including Earth's greatest heroes. Throughout the arc, each character who has faded from the spotlight over the years, including the likes of Tien and Krillin, is given their moment to shine, eliminating powerful opponents from other universes while leaving big threats to Goku and Vegeta. By the time the tournament reaches its climax, it's Goku vs. Jiren. The battle is fought rigorously, and though Ultra Instinct seemingly gets the upper-hand, it isn't Dragon Ball's leading Saiyan who takes victory.

Instead, as the series' main overarching theme suggests, Goku cannot do the job on his own, and when his own strength gives out, he must rely on the strength of others. With the unlikely help of Android #17 and Frieza, he's able to take Jiren down, and the tournament winner is the cyborg once created with the sole purpose of killing Goku. Teamwork has always been a prominent theme in Dragon Ball, and even the most heavily critiqued series proves as much. The Saiyan may be the overall MVP, but he would be half of what he currently is without his friends and family.

Dragon Ball Could Still Benefit From Using Its Side Characters More

They May Already Be Important, But It Wouldn't Hurt to See More From Other Characters

The major criticism that Dragon Ball is little more than the Goku show isn't entirely correct, but the series could likely benefit from featuring other characters in more important roles. The introduction of the Saiyans effectively made any character without Saiyan blood less than useful in battle, even if their presence alone is often important in saving the day. It isn't exactly a problem, given that Goku is the main character and his role is to be the strongest, but having more than two or three effective fighters could help to keep the four-decade-old series fresh.

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero tried its hand at exactly that, and was able to tell a compelling story with Piccolo firmly in the leading role. Together, he and Gohan found the strength that once made them such a formidable duo, and were able to achieve new levels of power that put them on even ground with Dragon Ball's leading Saiyans.

Even so, the series has always been much more than 'Goku saves the day', despite much of the discourse surrounding it. The future of the franchise is uncertain without Akira Toriyama holding the reins, though when Dragon Ball Super returns, it's likely that a main group of fighters takes priority over one Saiyan standing above the rest. Beast Gohan, Orange Piccolo, and Broly, now just as powerful as Goku and Vegeta, will continue to prove that teamwork is what makes the series work.