Community thoughts/reflections on Tenshinhan as a character

[TobyS]

I think Ten is a fantastic character.

He's unusual, he trains forever even though he is outclassed by the saiyans and even apparently Kuririn, which is stupid but apparently canon.

He has that cool Jay & Silent Bob-esque hetero life mate thing going on.

I thought maybe he was gay or asexual but Toriyama implies that Launch went and stayed with him for a while before realising relationships were never going to be his thing, and she just visits him periodically thereafter. I feel like the implication is they probably banged a bit but he kinda just cared more about martial arts, and lead a kind of ascetic lifestyle what with the farming and all. Really admirable, I wanna get a permaculture project going one day so I relate to that.

His designs are kinda cool, sometimes he rocks the shirtless look, he has that cool one sided top thing, and then he has that badass Buu saga cape thing.

I like what TFS did with him too, he's a BAMF there.

[Marco Polo]

He's unusual, he trains forever even though he is outclassed by the saiyans and even apparently Kuririn, which is stupid but apparently canon.

Well he trains because that's his way of life, not because he expects to outclass the Saiyans.

[Lord Beerus]

A nicely developed character that should have gotten at least one more character centred arc to properly conclude his rival and overall arc with Goku. I just feel like their battle at the 23rd WMAT didn't provide enough closure.

[ABED]

A nicely developed character that should have gotten at least one more character centred arc to properly conclude his rival and overall arc with Goku. I just feel like their battle at the 23rd WMAT didn't provide enough closure.

In what way? Goku wins a very definitive victory.

[404FILENOTFOUND]

I think the big green dub accurately describes how i feel about tien
nazly and nerdy

[Lord Beerus]

A nicely developed character that should have gotten at least one more character centred arc to properly conclude his rival and overall arc with Goku. I just feel like their battle at the 23rd WMAT didn't provide enough closure.

In what way? Goku wins a very definitive victory.

It just felt like... another match. There was never really any substantial build-up to rematch between Goku and Tien. I mean, the between then at the 23rd was good and had definitive victory, but I just wish that the battle as a whole carried more weight on it than just friends having another fight.

[Jaetinh]

Because I grew up with Dragon Ball, I'm very fond of Tenshinhan and the other humans (Chaozu, Yamcha, Krillin). That scene where he broke Yamcha's leg though, I still fucking hate that scene.

[ABED]

It just felt like... another match. There was never really any substantial build-up to rematch between Goku and Tien. I mean, the between then at the 23rd was good and had definitive victory, but I just wish that the battle as a whole carried more weight on it than just friends having another fight.

Well, Goku had him completely outclassed. That was the story being told since Goku's rivalry was now with Piccolo. I get your point, but it's not a throwaway battle, it told the right story and served as an effective lead up to the main event by showing Goku defeat the man who beat him in a match he lost due to a random car. There is absolutely no question who the better man was.

I still fucking hate that scene.

Hate like "Tenshinhan's a son of a bitch, I can't wait to see him get what's coming to him!" or "I hate this and I want to change the channel"?

[B]

I'd say one of the most appealing things about him were his competitive aspirations; it was in that sense he felt like a real "rival" character. His replacements, Piccolo and Vegeta, never cared for fighting or martial arts as a sport(or even mental or spiritual betterment) the way the Earthlings did/do, but as a means to exert their dominance over others; they are significantly less interesting because of it.

Also, he just looks a lot cooler. his coolness is understated. Piccolo's got a lot of colors and a cape; there's too much going on. Vegeta is just bland looking(remember he was not destined to stick around before fan demand).

[ABED]

I'd say one of the most appealing things about him were his competitive aspirations; it was in that sense he felt like a real "rival" character. His replacements, Piccolo and Vegeta, never cared for fighting or martial arts as a sport(or even mental or spiritual betterment) the way the Earthlings did/do, but as a means to exert their dominance over others; they are significantly less interesting because of it.

Also, he just looks a lot cooler. his coolness is understated. Piccolo's got a lot of colors and a cape; there's too much going on. Vegeta is just bland looking(remember he was not destined to stick around before fan demand).

Piccolo has a cape and three colors: Purple, green, and white. That's too much? Vegeta's bland? Who else do you know that looks like him that wasn't inspired even partially by him. And Piccolo wanting to assert dominance over others is only there as long as he's evil.

[kinisking]

Piccolo's rivalry with Goku wasn't really interesting besides for the fight with Raditz imo.

It's not as psychological as Vegeta's or even Tenshinhan's, but both fights against Piccolo are amongst the best in any DB show.

For some reason I never really liked Piccolo. The only fights I liked him in was the piccolo vs 17 and king piccolo against kid Goku. The one in the last tournament arc bored me when I tried to watch it a few months ago. Maybe I should read the manga version and see if I like it.

nazly and nerdy

How is he nerdy in any way?

Piccolo has a cape and three colors: Purple, green, and white. That's too much? Vegeta's bland? Who else do you know that looks like him that wasn't inspired even partially by him. And Piccolo wanting to assert dominance over others is only there as long as he's evil.

Brown shoes, and blue/red belt.

[nite_jay]

Piccolo has a cape and three colors: Purple, green, and white. That's too much? Vegeta's bland? Who else do you know that looks like him that wasn't inspired even partially by him. And Piccolo wanting to assert dominance over others is only there as long as he's evil.

Brown shoes, and blue/red belt.

And pink or yellow arms.

[Boo Machine]

I feel like Tien was a character set up to do great things, but those things never really happened for him.

[Lionel]

Tenshinhan is essentially the early precursor to what would become a staple in DB where a new anti-heroish rival appears for Goku only to be surpassed as they're gradually weaned off the screen time experienced by the core cast of characters. At this time Tenshinhan is the sole fighting enthusiast from the humans who continues to train despite having been outclassed by the aliens over a decade ago. Some find his commitment to the practice to be respectable while others believe that his single-minded commitment stunts any potential growth as a character since he hasn't been actively challenged in any non-physical way since Tao's appearance at the 23rd tournament.

Personally, I like Tenshinhan a lot. He's in my top five favourite characters from the show. I'm one of those people who wishes that we could have seen more from the humans during the Z portion of the series.

[ABED]

The one in the last tournament arc bored me when I tried to watch it a few months ago. Maybe I should read the manga version and see if I like it.

It's the best fight in the entire series. It's six episodes, it's action packed, and it's brutal. How is it boring?

[TheQuazz]

He figures out that in his heart what he truly desires is to be the best martial artist he can be, much like every other boring martial artist character in the series.

FTFY

[nite_jay]

The one in the last tournament arc bored me when I tried to watch it a few months ago. Maybe I should read the manga version and see if I like it.

It's the best fight in the entire series. It's six episodes, it's action packed, and it's brutal. How is it boring?

I agree^

The animation is solid throughout, and it's so fun watching him and Goku show off every technique they have to try and 1 up each other and win.

[Doctor.]

He's a very bland character, in my opinion. I wouldn't like him very much if he wasn't from Dragon Ball. None of his fights are particularly good, either.

[ABED]

He figures out that in his heart what he truly desires is to be the best martial artist he can be, much like every other boring martial artist character in the series.

FTFY

That's so obnoxious. First, why must everyone on the net create a new set of initials? Is it so difficult to write things out? And no, not every other martial artist wants to be the best. A big difference between Tenshinhan's revelation and Vegeta's is that Vegeta doesn't realize he truly desires to be the best martial artist he can be. And neither did Gohan, he figures out in his heart that he doesn't want to be the best fighter he can be. So not only is your "fix" not a fix, it's also not true.

And for your information, the vast majority of the characters are martial artists, but you've just called them all boring.

He's a very bland character, in my opinion. I wouldn't like him very much if he wasn't from Dragon Ball. None of his fights are particularly good, either.

Both of his matches against Goku would say otherwise. There's also his fight against Jackie Chun.

[kinisking]

The one in the last tournament arc bored me when I tried to watch it a few months ago. Maybe I should read the manga version and see if I like it.

It's the best fight in the entire series. It's six episodes, it's action packed, and it's brutal. How is it boring?

I agree^

The animation is solid throughout, and it's so fun watching him and Goku show off every technique they have to try and 1 up each other and win.

I really should try rewatching it then. I just wasn't into it.