If Cell was serious about his "goal" to strike fear into people before he kills them then he wouldn't have try to go easy.rereboy wrote:Cell spared Mr. Satan because, as he specifically stated in his TV anouncement of the tournament, although no one would automatically lose for killing the opponent, he would "try to go easy". In other words, when he knocked Mr. Satan out of the arena, Cell was still trying to follow what he had announced regarding the tournament, which included trying not to kill his opponent. It was only after fighting Goku that Cell decided to disregard the tournament completely and destroyed the arena.TheUltimateVegito wrote:
How are Vegeta's reasons no better? He did it for money and eternal life, those are actual goals unlike Cell who did it for no real reason. Him not striking fear and killing Hercule showed he wasn't serious about his desire to kill and strike fear in people, which added to Gohan feeling the Cell Games was pointless. It doesn't matter if Cell killed more people than Vegeta, although if you think about it Vegeta killed more people overall than Cell has since he wipes out planets.
And alright, to each his own. Although I'm positive my analyses are on point.
As for Cell's goals and personality, after Cell becomes perfect, his goal is to rub in everyone's faces how helpless and hopeless everyone is when faced with him before killing them all. He gets satisfaction from their despair, from seeing everyone's realization that he can't be stopped, that he is too "superior" to them and that they will all die when he finally decides to deal the final blow.
That's why he decides to hold a very public worldwide tournament for the fate of the planet. He's announcing to everyone: "I'm perfect, the ultimate warrior, I can do whatever I want to you and your planet, including giving you a chance to stop me, and you will still be unable to stop me. At best, you might offer me amusement, and you will still die at the end. Your skirmish and despair is delicious".
Saying that perfect Cell has no goals at all is misunderstanding what perfect Cell is about. He's a narcissistic sadist and the satisfaction he gets from people's pain and despair as he proves how great he is is his goal.
Regarding Gohan, I've already written plenty on the subject and it's clear for me that he acts out of character just for the sake of artificial tension.... Still, here's a summary:
At the very least, Gohan should have fought non-stop, without hesitating, against Cell and the Cell jrs once they started hurting his friends and family, instead of just making a feeble attempt of a punch or a kick against Cell and immediately giving up and just watching afterwards. And that's just the very least.
Here's why:
- Before the Cell games, Gohan understood perfectly the necessity of fighting. That's why he YELLED at Chichi so that he could go to Namek. Nobody told him to go, and yet, at 5 or 6 years old, he understood perfectly that he might be needed to bring his friends back. He understood that it might be necessary to fight and he volunteered to do it for the sake of his friends.
- Before the Cell games, on numerous occasions, despite the enemy being WAAAYYY stronger than Gohan, he always attacked the enemy when his friends or family were in danger. That is how he saved Piccolo from dying at the hands of third form Freeza. If he hadn't completely disregarded how much stronger Freeza was, and pulled a rage boost because of it, Piccolo would just be dead.
- Before the Cell games, Gohan allowed his fear to make him hesitate once, in the saiyan arc. And, as we saw, in the same arc, he overcame it.
What Gohan does in the Cell games is the contrary to everything that was established before in the series regarding his character and his growth (exemplified by what I mentioned). Gohan hesitates, not only due to self-doubt, but also while he sees his family and friends in danger, and Gohan also apparently ceases to understand the necessity of fighting. And this happens only to create a sense of artificial tension in the fight.
Bringing back his friends was a greater cause that was not present in the Cell Games. Everyone was alive during the Cell Games.
Gohan's attempt wasn't feeble, there was nothing that suggested he didn't went all out in that attempt. Cell stopping him made Gohan realise that the only way he can get past Cell is by getting fully mad. Thrid Form Frieza was different because his attempt actually worked. Gohan not attacking Cell constantly showed how more mature Gohan has gotten by learning from past experience. When he tried constantly attacking Recoome all he did was waste energy and nearly got himself killed, the same would've happened with Cell if he attacked constantly.
Gohan's actions in the Cell Games further expanded his character. Gohan said it himself that he wants to fight Cell and the Cell Jrs while they were attacking the Z-Fighters but knew he had to unleash his hidden powers before he can do that, so it's completely in character for Gohan.