Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball is often only as strong as its villains. Dragon Ball’s villains successfully light a fire under the heroes and often prompt major events that irrevocably change the world. There are dozens of memorable villains who have all caused their share of devastation in Dragon Ball, but Frieza is the closest thing that the Dragon Ball franchise has to a main antagonist.
Frieza’s evil has coursed through multiple storylines – and series – as he refuses to give up on the idea of controlling the universe. Frieza takes on a surprisingly big role in Dragon Ball Super, the likes of which have left him with greater power than ever before. As Dragon Ball Super prepares for an epic battle against Black Frieza, it’s time to accept that this is the villain’s last chance to make a difference before his likely retirement. The next time Frieza comes back will almost certainly be his last.
Frieza Is The Only Dragon Ball Z Villain Who Can Be The Series’ Final Boss
Image via VIZ Media
Dragon Ball has never been afraid to take advantage of its decades of characters, history, and legacy. Many of Dragon Ball Super’s villains are echoes of the past, with Frieza being the most prominent example of this. Dragon Ball Super has the potential to culminate in something truly special if its last battle – and villain – manage to double as resolution for the franchise as a whole. At this point, nostalgia on this level is only possible through Frieza. Kid Buu is reincarnated into Uub, which takes him out of the running, and Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero already introduced (and killed) a stronger version of Cell. Frieza is not just the only option left, but the most fitting choice considering what he represents in Dragon Ball’s history.
Frieza is not merely a villain – he is the villain who has left his mark on the franchise. Frieza’s wicked actions destroy the Saiyan’s home world and thin their numbers to near-extinction levels. He’s the Saiyans’ eternal scourge. Frieza is the rare case of a villain who shares a personal grudge with basically every member of Dragon Ball’s cast, including newer additions, like Broly. It’s one thing to take Frieza carries such a degree of history that his death would actually prompt development and change in the cast. But this is only possible if Frieza dies for good and Dragon Ball finally moves on, accepting that Frieza should stay in Dragon Ball’s past.
Frieza Has Been Given Too Many Chances & Has Nowhere Else To Go
Golden Frieza dropkicks Gohan during Dragon Ball Super’s Tournament of Power.
Image via TOEI Animation
Frieza is revived on more than one occasion in Dragon Ball Super, but he’s been coming back all the time if Dragon Ball Z movies, OVAs, and Dragon Ball GT are taken into consideration. It’s safe to say that everything that could possibly be done with Frieza has been exhausted at this point, including his temporary redemption into a reluctant ally during the Tournament of Power. The best direction for Frieza would have been to permanently make him an ally after he’s changed by the Universe Survival Saga.
Black Frieza is about as far as Frieza should go. Nobody needs to see Platinum Frieza after he puts in 15 years’ worth of training. It also makes sense to end Frieza’s arc since everyone else’s Power Level seems to have reached its apex. Transformations like Ultra Instinct, Ultra Ego, and Gohan Beast should be enough to take down Black Frieza. Either way, Black Frieza should be the apex of Frieza’s power. It’s a fitting place to bring him to his end. Frieza has accomplished far more than anyone ever expected and any future appearances would only run the risk of weakening his legacy.
Dragon Ball Super Can’t Do Anything Else With Frieza Without His Family
Cooler revels in destruction in Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge.
Image via Toei Animation
Frieza is such an important villain, even Dragon Ball’s non-canon movies and stories have gotten a lot of mileage out of fleshing out his family. Dragon Ball Z introduces King Cold, Frieza’s father, before he’s quickly killed by Future Trunks. Cooler, Frieza’s older brother, is one of Dragon Ball Z’s more popular movie villains and even takens on a significant role in Super Dragon Ball Heroes where both he and Meta-Cooler have their own Golden forms. Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock also introduces Chilled, Frieza’s ancestor, while Neko Majin Z somehow rationalizes Frieza’s son, Kuriza. All these extended family members were only possible because fans were so invested in Frieza. They’re a testament to his success as a villain.
Unfortunately, Dragon Ball Super has shown zero interest in canonizing any of these extra characters and using them as ways to deepen Frieza’s backstory. Dragon Ball Super: Broly’s treatment of Broly had many fans hopeful that Cooler would similarly enter the mix, but it never came to pass. The existence of these characters in Dragon Ball canon would give Dragon Ball Super more places to go with Frieza by exploring him through his family. He’d have a longer shelf life. These characters’ neglect leaves Dragon Ball with nothing else to do with Frieza. It’s still technically possible to have a situation in which Black Frieza dies and then Cooler comes forward as a stronger obstacle. Cooler’s debut would carry less weight in this context and feel misguided and desperate.
Dragon Ball has successfully set Frieza up for one last epic fight, but his lack of purpose beyond this brawl is exactly why Frieza’s time is over.