Goku, from the Dragon Ball franchise, is one of the most iconic characters in fiction and a cornerstone of the anime industry. Known for his incredible strength and charisma, Goku has become an inspiring figure celebrated for countless virtues. However, he is far from perfect, with one of his most notable flaws being his role as a father. Goku’s unwavering ion for fighting often takes precedence over everything else, including his responsibilities to his children.

As a result, fans of Dragon Ball have made Goku infamous for being a bad father. However, it is none other than one of his closest friends, Piccolo, who perfectly summarizes just how flawed Goku is in this regard. Goku’s most imperfect and widely criticized act as a father is depicted during the climax of the Cell Saga, when Gohan is forced to face Cell in the ring. Piccolo becomes the voice of reason, delivering a harsh truth that even rattles Goku, making him realize the gravity of his mistake.

Piccolo’s Simple Words Made Goku Realize His Mistakes as a Dad

Piccolo Was the First to Point Out Goku's Questionable Parenting Methods

During the Cell Games Saga, Perfect Cell challenges all the Z Fighters to face him in battle for his own entertainment. Goku, the strongest among them, steps into the ring. After an incredible display of skill, with Goku holding his own against Cell throughout the fight, he unexpectedly concedes. This shocks the Z Fighters as Goku reveals that someone else among them is even stronger: his son, Gohan. Goku encourages Gohan, explaining that his ability to keep up during their training wasn’t a fluke but a testament to his immense potential.

Trusting his father’s words, Gohan steps onto the battlefield to face Perfect Cell, with Goku even handing the villain a Senzu Bean. However, almost immediately, Gohan begins to be overwhelmed by Cell, leaving the Z Fighters deeply concerned while Goku remains calm. He repeatedly assures them that Gohan will rise to the occasion when pushed to his limits. But it isn’t until Piccolo confronts Goku, pointing out that Gohan cannot live up to his expectations, that Goku begins to grasp the gravity of his mistake and starts to worry.

In Episode #183 of Dragon Ball Z, titled "Android Explosion," after Cell brutally beats Gohan, he takes Goku's words about Gohan's hidden potential to heart and decides to push him to his limit by inflicting maximum pain. Cell traps Gohan in a spine-crushing Bear Hug, causing immense suffering. Unable to bear watching Gohan in agony, Piccolo moves to intervene, but Goku stops him, once again standing by his belief in Gohan’s potential.

However, Piccolo points out that even if Goku is right about Gohan being the most powerful fighter with immense potential, he fails to see that Gohan lacks the spirit of a warrior and does not want to fight. Piccolo makes Goku realize that Gohan is likely questioning why his own father is forcing him into something he doesn’t want to do. These words hit Goku deeply, pushing him to recognize his mistake and act quickly. Piccolo’s statement also puts Goku’s parenting into perspective, making not just Goku but even the viewers realize that Gohan is just a child who longs for peace.

Piccolo’s Quote Highlights Goku’s Exact Shortcomings as a Parent

Goku Failed to Realize His Son Was Different

While being a good parent is often subjective, it’s easy to see a parent’s shortcomings when they fail to understand what their child truly needs. Goku’s inability to recognize that Gohan, only ever desired peace and aspired to become a scientist rather than a warrior is a glaring oversight. Having been a fighter his entire life, Goku’s failure to consider that Gohan might want a different path is perhaps his greatest mistake. This is especially significant since Gohan had repeatedly expressed his feelings about not wanting to be a warrior.

Even as a four-year-old, Gohan had clearly expressed his desire to become a scholar, but his reluctance to fight Cell was the clearest sign that Goku failed to understand. In Episode #182 of Dragon Ball Z, Gohan begs Perfect Cell to stop his violent act, telling him that fighting is not in his nature. This moment stands out as one of the few times in the series that highlights how fundamentally different Gohan is from the other characters.

With so many powerful characters in the series on the way to becoming more powerful, it’s easy to overlook that Gohan, during his fight with Cell, was just a child who wanted nothing but peace. Goku's failure to realize Gohan's needs and his keenness on making his son a warrior has fueled the debate among the Dragon Ball fans about his shortcomings as a father, often turning into a recurring joke. However, none other than Piccolo’s words perfectly encapsulate this sentiment, starting and concluding the debate ages ago, making even Goku realize his greatest mistake as a dad.