Kinokima wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 8:30 am
I think one of my biggest disconnects about Goku being excited about Moro’s strength is Moro is actually NOT a strong opponent. Goku himself brings it up in this chapter when he lectures Moro for never training
I understand Goku’s character being excited by an evil opponent who is actually a strong warrior but that is not Moro. Moro has never fought with his own strength and has only fought with the strength of others. What is there to get excited about?
Even Goku saying Moro is the strongest opponent he ever fought is objectively false. Moro would be nothing without all the power he stole. I guess it depends on how you look at it but I don’t see why Goku would be impressed by Moro’s power in the way he was Freeza or Vegeta for example. The argument seems to be that if Moro trained he would be much stronger, maybe so but you could say that about any Opponent.
I like the theme of earning your power vs stolen power this arc has going for it. But using this arc & this villain to show that Goku sometimes spares opponents doesn’t really work for me.
What you call that 'disconnect' is actually why it's well written.
It's an ironic situation, with thorough understanding of Gokus character.
It appears to be, when taken literal Moro is 'Gokus strongest challenge' and 'Goku wants to redeem Moro and talk him into prison'.
But there is actually more going on 'behind the scenes' here: Moro is no longer able to put up a challenge for Goku. First and foremost he wants to fight him when he's at his strongest, because he knows of the damage he received during his fight with Merus. That's Gokus honour as a martial artist.
But moreover and that's where the irony kicks in: he could
potentially become Gokus
strongest challenge, if he would train. If he combines training with magic, he may be able to fight on pair with MUI Goku.
If Moro is not dead he could return one day to put up a more descent challenge. That idea excites Goku.
Otherwise, why wouldn't he simply nuke him right away, if he poses that kind of a threat?
From that perspective, it's how Goku is: he is fair and does not want to kill his opponents if not needed (like how a lot of classic superheroes are), but actually his 'ego' brings the earth and the entire universe in danger.
Unintended ... But it gives Moro a chance to come up with another plan or trick, which was the case.
I can understand the criticism why the overarching storyline of the Moro arc is rather generic and has some (maybe too many) boring chapters. Zamasus arc was in that aspect a better story with a more refined and original plotstructure.
But the characterization, unexpected turns of events are dialogues are actually pretty descent in this chapter.