Now, I'll begin things by saying that I like Dragonball, and that I do not like DragonballZ. This is the exact opposite of how it was 10ish years ago.
As a younger man, I was apparently all for screaming and explosions and dudes without shirts. Now, it seems, I prefer plot and substance.
Bear with me, it has been some time since I've seen either.
Watching DragonballZ now, I don't see a story that resonates with me. It's all the same thing. Villain shows up, kills supporting cast, find dragonballs, beat villain, wish for supporting cast to be alive again. And this is rehashed time and time again, with stronger villains and more supporting cast lost in the crossfire.
At least in Dragonball, Bulma was looking for the dragonballs for enitirely selfish reasons, and Goku was just along for the ride. He was a more likable child, at any rate. The trials and tribulations were more innocent, and when the first character actually died, I felt something, you know? I wasn't entirely sure, at least at first, that everything was going to be okay in the end. DragonballZ did not have this emotional link with the characters. 'Oh hey, everybody died! Well, let's go get the dragonballs and wish for everything to be okay!'

Next time, on TfaBP:
Clothes make the man!
I, Prophet's Wardrobe!