Dragon Ball Z always intended for Gohan to take the lead role after Goku, and the Buu Saga seemed to set him up for just that. With the focus of the series zeroing in on Gohan, it seemed like the beginning of a bold new generation for Dragon Ball. However, as the story progressed, Goku returned to the spotlight and resumed the central role, ultimately delivering the final blow against the series’ next major villain.

For many fans, this shift felt like a betrayal of the storyline’s progression. Gohan had overcome tremendous odds to defeat Cell, and stepping into his father’s role seemed like a logical step in ing the torch. Yet, the decision to bring back Goku as the series’ main hero feels entirely natural. It aligns more closely with the overarching themes and maintains better consistency within the story.

Gohan Was Originally Meant To Succeed Goku

After the Cell Games, Goku Entrusted the Future to Gohan

At the end of the Cell Games, Goku’s death felt definitive and offered him an honorable farewell to the series. By entrusting the future to Gohan, Goku perfectly closed his character arc. He fulfilled his role as Earth’s protector and made the choice to step aside. As for Gohan, after unlocking his potential through a mix of rage and comion, he defeated Cell, completely shifting the balance of power and the narrative’s direction. Everything about the conclusion suggested that Dragon Ball was preparing to move forward without Goku as its protagonist.

After the Cell Games, the series jumped ahead several years and expanded Gohan’s story and role. As a teenager, he balanced high school life with the heroics of the Great Saiyaman. The tone of the story became overall lighter and positioned him as the series’ new hero. This was reinforced during the Buu Saga when he trained with the Supreme Kai, was chosen to wield the Z sword, and became Earth’s main line of defense. Fans were led to believe that Gohan was the franchise's future until the story shifted back towards Goku, who had only briefly been left behind.

Gohan Never Took His Training Seriously Like Goku Did

Goku’s Return Felt Far More Natural Due to His Relentless Dedication Towards Training

While Gohan did have the raw potential to lead the series, it only made sense for Goku to return to the lead role. Gohan’s attitude toward training was inconsistent, and he trained reactively rather than proactively, like Goku, who wholeheartedly dedicated himself to self-improvement. Once threats faded, so did Gohan’s motivation, and he very clearly valued peace, study, and family over combat. This mindset created narrative tension, making the story's progression into greater threats feel unstable due to his reluctance to fully embrace his power. It made Goku’s return inevitable, as his relentless work ethic had always driven him forward.

For a franchise that values hard work, Gohan’s lack of commitment makes him ill-suited to lead, no matter how great his potential may be.

Even Akira Toriyama acknowledged the disconnect between Gohan and Goku. In interviews, he itted that Gohan lacked the ability to carry the story long-term. That sentiment played out visibly in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, where he was meant to take on a leading role. However, instead of Gohan, it was Piccolo, who is always disciplined and seen training, who stole the spotlight. Gohan’s brilliance as a warrior isn’t consistent, while Piccolo’s resolve remains unwavering. For a franchise that values hard work, Gohan’s lack of commitment makes him ill-suited to lead, no matter how great his potential may be.

One of Dragon Ball’s Biggest Themes Is That Hard Work Pays Off

Characters Like Goku and Vegeta Trained Nonstop To Achieve Their Immense Power

One of Dragon Ball’s central themes is about effort and striving for excellence. Throughout the series, characters are rewarded not just for their strength but also for the dedication that they put into achieving it. Goku wasn’t born the strongest being on Earth and only rose to that position through endless training, battles, and an insatiable desire to improve. Even Vegeta, who was introduced as a formidable warrior, experienced real growth when he began to embrace discipline and trained to keep up with Goku as rivals.

While Gohan has latent potential, he never actively strove to achieve greater heights after the Cell Games. That’s why Goku’s main role in defeating Buu feels earned, even if some fans believe it was meant to be Gohan’s big moment. Goku never stopped preparing, even in death, and remained alert to new threats so he would be ready to jump into the fray without hesitation. However, Gohan allowed his strength to wane after he defeated Cell, and his heart simply wasn’t in the fight until it was nearly too late.

Gohan May Receive More of the Spotlight in the Future

Piccolo May Have Carried Super Hero, but It Also Gave Gohan a Second Chance

Despite Gohan’s inconsistency with training, he still remains one of the most celebrated characters in the franchise. While his role in Super Hero leaned heavily on Piccolo, his new transformation into Gohan Beast has reignited interest in what he might still become. It’s unique compared to anything fans have seen from him before and suggests that he still has untapped potential and depth. For a character whose defining trait was precisely that, this resurgence feels like a second chance for him to embrace training and combat.

This is further reinforced in the manga, where Gohan engages in a sparring match against Broly on Beerus’ world. Rather than training out of necessity, he does so by choice. While Goku may be the face of Dragon Ball, the future doesn’t need to exclude Gohan from taking the spotlight. His path may never mirror his father’s, but that doesn’t mean it won’t matter just as much. With Dragon Ball’s main theme being hard work, Gohan’s story, with all its setbacks, discoveries, and reclaimed purpose, could become one of the series’ most satisfying payoffs.

Gohan stepping aside during the Buu Saga may have disappointed some fans, but ultimately, it was the most logical choice for the series. Dragon Ball has always rewarded hard work and the drive to push beyond limits, which is something Gohan never fully committed to. Goku’s return to the spotlight only made sense for the narrative and its themes. However, Gohan’s future is promising, and Dragon Ball is ready for him to return to the spotlight on his own in a way that reflects the true heart of the series.