Gokuof 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 inspirational 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 passion for fighting often takes precedence over everything else, including his responsibilities to his children.
As a result, fans of Dragon Ball made Goku famous for being a bad father. However, it's none other than one of his closest friends, Piccolo, who perfectly sums up how flawed Goku is in this regard. Goku's most flawed 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 shakes Goku, making him realize the gravity of his mistake.
Piccolo's simple words made Goku realize his mistakes as a father
Piccolo was the first to point out Goku's questionable parenting methods
During the Cell Games saga, Perfect Cell challenges all of the Z Fighters to face him in battle for his own entertainment. Goku, the strongest among them, enters the ring. After an incredible display of skill, with Goku defending himself against Cell throughout the fight, he unexpectedly gives in. This shocks the Z Fighters, as Goku reveals that someone among them is even stronger: his son, Gohan. Goku encourages Gohan, explaining that his ability to keep up during training was not a fluke, but proof of his immense potential.
Trusting his father's words, Gohan enters the battlefield to face Perfect Cell, with Goku even handing the villain a Senzu Bean. However, almost immediately, Gohan begins to be dominated by Cell, leaving the Z Fighters deeply worried while Goku remains calm. He repeatedly assures them that Gohan will rise to the occasion when he is 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 understand the gravity of his mistake and begins to worry..
In episode #183 of Dragon Ball ZTitled “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, inflicting maximum pain. Cell traps Gohan in a crushing bear hug, causing immense suffering. Unable to bear watching Gohan in agony, Piccolo moves to intervene, but Goku stops him, once again maintaining his belief in Gohan's potential.
However, Piccolo points out that even though Goku is right about Gohan being the most powerful fighter with immense potential, he fails to see that Gohan does not have the spirit of a warrior and does not want to fight. Piccolo makes Goku realize that Gohan is probably questioning why his own father is forcing him into something he doesn't want to do. These words hit Goku deeply, causing him to recognize his mistake and act quickly. Piccolo's statement also puts Goku's fatherhood into perspective, making not only Goku but even viewers realize that Gohan is just a child who longs for peace.
Piccolo's quote highlights Goku's exact shortcomings as a father
Goku failed to realize that his son was different
Although being a good parent is often subjective, it's easy to see the shortcomings of parents when they can't understand what their children really need. Goku's inability to recognize that Gohan always wanted peace and aspired to become a scientist rather than a warrior is a blatant oversight. Having been a fighter all his life, Goku's failure to consider that Gohan might want a different path is perhaps his biggest mistake. This is especially significant because Gohan has repeatedly expressed his feelings about not wanting to be a warrior.
Even at four years old, Gohan 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 ZGohan 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 their way to becoming more powerful, it's easy to overlook that Gohan, during his fight with Cell, was just a kid who wanted nothing more than peace. Goku's failure to realize Gohan's needs and his desire to make his son a warrior fueled debate among the Dragon Ball fans about his shortcomings as a father, often turning into a running joke. However, nothing less than Piccolo's words perfectly sum up this sentiment, starting and concluding the debate long ago, making even Goku realize his biggest mistake as a father.