Yamcha's Epic Triumph Crushed: Dragon Ball Exposes a Major Series Flaw

Super Dragon Ball Heroes provided Yamcha with a significant victory, allowing him to find love with an alien named Vidro. This relationship was a refreshing change for Yamcha, who had often been portrayed as a comedic character. Unfortunately, in episode #50, their romance was abruptly ended when Vidro informed Yamcha that she had to return to her people and would not be able to marry him for another 1200 years. This unexpected twist negated the potential impact that Yamcha's relationship could have had on the Dragon Ball universe, which is disappointing considering the positive development it brought to his character.

Yamcha's Relationship Could Have Shaken the Status Quo

Yamcha & Vidro’s Relationship is a Massive Missed Opportunity

The breakup of Yamcha and Vidro, forced upon them by Super Dragon Ball Heroes, was a major blow to Yamcha's character. However, despite this setback, Yamcha has managed to showcase his abilities and prove his worth in recent years. Apart from his doomed relationship, Yamcha notably excelled in the Super Space-Time Tournament, where he emerged victorious over Chilled towards the tournament's conclusion. Additionally, in Dragon Ball Super's Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga, Yamcha demonstrated his strength by defeating some of Moro's henchmen, solidifying his position as the third strongest human. While the missed opportunity with Vidro remains disappointing, it is worth acknowledging that Yamcha has had his fair share of triumphs in recent times.

One major downside of Super Dragon Ball Heroes failing to fully explore Yamcha and Vidro's relationship is that it exposes a recurring problem in the Dragon Ball series: its reluctance to deviate from the established norms. Throughout the years, Dragon Ball has occasionally toyed with the idea of shaking things up by allowing Vegeta to triumph over a primary antagonist or by centering the story on Gohan, but in the end, it consistently reverts back to its tried-and-true formula. This tendency significantly hampers the quality of many story arcs, and the Yamcha and Vidro relationship is simply the latest casualty of this trend.

Dragon Ball continues to follow this pattern, most likely because it provides convenience for both the creators and the audience. The creators can rely on a familiar formula, which in turn assures the audience that their beloved characters will not undergo any major changes. However, this approach disappoints those who wish to witness significant growth and development in the story and characters. If Super Dragon Ball Heroes' unwillingness to advance Yamcha and Vidro's relationship is any indication, it is unlikely that this will change in the near future.