Torishima "Son Goku and Blooma should fall in love"

[theherodjl]

This is why DB should have it's own "What-If...?" or Elseworlds series: it would be great to see the hypothetical futures of various points in the story and where things could've gone, especially with all the new source material introduced in the past decade.
I like the idea of Goku's ship somehow going on a detour and landing on Beerus' World, where Goku falls down a gorge and hits his head but is saved by Whis and then raised to be a candidate of destruction.

[Yosheets]

Goku and Bulma meeting each other in the beginning of Dragon Ball honestly reminds me of Meliodas and Elizabeth meeting each other in the beginning of The Seven Deadly Sins. And Oolong is like Hawk. LOL.

[Demon Prince Piccolo]

Honestly, I would have been a fan of the pairing, specifically if the clueless Goku had shown any inkling of a crush toward Bulma early on (say, around the 22nd Budokai or King Piccolo arc). It wouldn't be acted on/realized by Bulma until Goku comes back physically mature during the 23rd Budokai arc. It's hinted that Bulma has a slight crush on him when she sees how much he's grown.

I'm not a Chi-Chi hater or anything, quite on the contrary, but Bulma inevitably understands Goku better since she's known him for most of his life. Had they gotten together, I feel like there would've been a way for Bulma (with her intellect) to take a more direct involvement in some of the action.

It's clear that it wasn't the intent, but if the writers had wanted Bulma and Goku to end up together, I believe it could have worked.

[Magnificent Ponta]

In addition to the scan given by the OP, it's worth noting that the cover for Dragon Ball Chapter 2 has the text:

"The Monkey and the Princess...But They're Still Boy and Girl
ALOFT in the ULTRALIGHT of LOVE...Or ARE THEY?"

If that's an accurate translation of the catch-copy, and not just a set of Viz-isms, then I guess that might speak to something of a push from editorial to at least keep this as a potentially relevant element of Goku and Bulma's relationship from basically the very beginning of the story, despite Toriyama's discomfort on this (and regarding romantic matters generally).

[PurestEvil]

In addition to the scan given by the OP, it's worth noting that the cover for Dragon Ball Chapter 2 has the text:

"The Monkey and the Princess...But They're Still Boy and Girl
ALOFT in the ULTRALIGHT of LOVE...Or ARE THEY?"

If that's an accurate translation of the catch-copy, and not just a set of Viz-isms, then I guess that might speak to something of a push from editorial to at least keep this as a potentially relevant element of Goku and Bulma's relationship from basically the very beginning of the story, despite Toriyama's discomfort on this (and regarding romantic matters generally).

I assume that was before Toriyama came up with Chichi

[ThunderPX]

I wonder if Toriyama's reluctance to do this pairing is why he decided to age down Goku from 14 to 12.

[Cursed Lemon]

If Bulma can put up with Vegeta, she could put up with Goku. It could work.

[SlashHaiden]

Ah yes Bulma should fall in love with a kid who pet people’s crotches and took her underwear off in her sleep.

Hey, Chichi married Goku BECAUSE of his crotch-petting.

[King Bogo]

If anyone here is wondering how it could've played out MasakoX made an 18 part What If series based on it https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... CCg_fDZwFS

[Trouser]

It could work. She even wondered about Goku during team's trip to planet Namek. Honestly, I'd like that to happen. Everything started with them, so everything should end with them too. Gohan being their first born, and Future Trunks being their second child is an idea I'd take the risk of telling/reading/seeing.

If you think about it, Bulma x Goku has much more sense than Goku x Chichi or Bulma x Vegeta.

[miguelnuva1]

I see Torishima taught George Lucas about pairings. In 90% of other media I'm sure after Goku grew up he likely would have marries Bulma as that is usually what happens.

Had we gone down this route Inwonder if Chichi would have left the stroy or we should be a Z warrior instead.

Trunks being Goku's son would make the entire Android arc more emotional and Goten and Trunks being brothers would also explain SS3 Gotenks a little better.

[BootyCheeksJohnson]

Then again, Blooma herself said main reason she collect balls, is so she can get a boyfriend With make me wonder, would Shenlong grant such wish? Is it allowed to mess with emotions and make someone love against their will?

I always figured he would just find someone who would already be a good match for Bulma and bring him to her.

My crack scenario would be Shenron having clairvoyance and just zapping a psychotic 17-year-old Vegeta to Earth, who either kills everyone out of rage or realizes the kid in the blue-gi has a tail and freaks out.

That would be a hilarious one off gag what if manga.

[lancerman]

Before Toriyama retconned Goku's age, he said he was 14 at the start of the manga and Blooma is 16. So it was a 2 year age gap that turned into a 4 year age gap.

The reason it probably didn't happen regardless was because Toriyama doubled down many times over on Blooma being character flawed for comedic value (constantly offering to trade peeks at herself for gifts/favors, throwing herself at villains like Blue, having a strong jealousy streak when it came to Yamcha).

By the time Goku grew up, it probably wasn't an ideal match. Then you had Chi Chi who was sort of a naive and pure character much like Goku that could fly the Nimbus and was the daughter of Grandpa Gohan's peer/rival. It was a much easier and ideal fit. Had their been a time jump earlier on, it could have went down different.

[Big Black Sayian]

I would like to see an example what if scenario . But I imagine it’s something only a small portion of the fanbase would be into

[Cure Dragon 255]

Before Toriyama retconned Goku's age, he said he was 14 at the start of the manga and Blooma is 16. So it was a 2 year age gap that turned into a 4 year age gap.

The reason it probably didn't happen regardless was because Toriyama doubled down many times over on Blooma being character flawed for comedic value (constantly offering to trade peeks at herself for gifts/favors, throwing herself at villains like Blue, having a strong jealousy streak when it came to Yamcha).

By the time Goku grew up, it probably wasn't an ideal match. Then you had Chi Chi who was sort of a naive and pure character much like Goku that could fly the Nimbus and was the daughter of Grandpa Gohan's peer/rival. It was a much easier and ideal fit. Had their been a time jump earlier on, it could have went down different.

Citation needed on Chichi being "A Better Match".

[GokuHater]

To be honest this sounds like a horrible idea.
For one, Toryiama just didn't do romance and it shows. Apart from Kuririn and 18, all of the other relationships were written up for a purpose. Mainly Trunks and Gohan.
Bulma and Goku were made to be friends, albeit unlikely ones in the beginning.

Other than that, they would make horrible pairing as they just don't fit together, there is no chemistry.
I am aware of the Bulma's line at 23 Tenkaichi but this only shows a bit of Bulma's tendency to "wander" (let's not forget how in 21 she was thinking if Jackie Chun was hot before even seeing him). And after the tournament, she never ever shows signs of being attracted to him again.

The only reason I feel Torishima said this, is because of main hero/main heroine schtick but this is a very lazy form of storytelling.

[lancerman]

Before Toriyama retconned Goku's age, he said he was 14 at the start of the manga and Blooma is 16. So it was a 2 year age gap that turned into a 4 year age gap.

The reason it probably didn't happen regardless was because Toriyama doubled down many times over on Blooma being character flawed for comedic value (constantly offering to trade peeks at herself for gifts/favors, throwing herself at villains like Blue, having a strong jealousy streak when it came to Yamcha).

By the time Goku grew up, it probably wasn't an ideal match. Then you had Chi Chi who was sort of a naive and pure character much like Goku that could fly the Nimbus and was the daughter of Grandpa Gohan's peer/rival. It was a much easier and ideal fit. Had their been a time jump earlier on, it could have went down different.

Citation needed on Chichi being "A Better Match".

Problems with Goku and Blooma
-Goku is pure of heart. Blooma is pretty deceitful and willing to lie and manipulate to get her way.
-Blooma already had a long established love interest who was friends with Goku and I really don't see Toriyama wanting to approach any of the implications of that.
-The charm of Goku being simple and not knowing much about the world would be undermined if you put him with the literal smartest person on the planet. After any time jump, Goku should be dramatically more well informed.

Reasons Goku and Chi Chi work.
-Both are simple and pure characters. Chi Chi can ride the nimbus. She is just as naive as Goku.
-Both have similar values being trained martial artists who were raised by one or Roshi's disciples.
-Both are more rural characters that haven't experienced much of the world outside of their little bubbles. With Blooma you basically have to move Goku to Capsule Corp for extended periods of time.
-Unlike Blooma who would heap expectations on Goku, Chi Chi just wants a husband in a very conventional sense.

Chi Chi is introduced in many ways to be a female reflection of Goku. When she returned in the 23rd Tournament arc, she was basically a clean slate with no baggage that you could easily pair with Goku without having to do much creative writing and changing pre established character dynamics.

[miguelnuva1]

Opposites attract. Characters that are different and come together are usually always better then two peas in a pod.

As for chemistry Goku and ChiChi have none passed the saiyan saga anyway. The stroy wouldn't be better or worse had Goku married Bylma because atleast Bulma would let Goku do what he wants.

ChiChi was written the way she was for gag purposes not saying she's bad but Toriyama didn't develop Goku and ChiChi together at all.

[Saiya6Cit]

Bulma thought Goku was handsome once he saw him as an adult, but then Chichi married him that very same day hahahaha


I suppose Bulma could not see him as a boyfriend because when she met him he was a kid.

I think Goku is more handsome than Vegeta, hence it is natural Bulma would feer some sort of attraction, but Yamcha is said to be even more cute, I guess on the face and his hairstyle.... who knows, it is an animated universe, but Bulma met Gohan and she is not a homewrecker she is better than that. Plust there is the fact that Goku´s personality would not have worked with her. Same as Yamcha, Bulma was too dominant with both of them, even with Krillin. In the case of Vegeta things were different. They both posses a strong character therefore there can´t be a dominant side, they are the kind of couple that stays together for deepter and complex dynamics, which I am not willing to discuss here since the main topic if not Vegeta and Bulma but Goku and Bulma.

I think Goku would have adapted to the life with Bulma as a wife but Chichi's cooking is one of the things that I have seen that makes Goku happy, and so does Gohan, so it is easy to say that if those two things would not be present in Goku's life he would not be the happy saiyan we all know. Kudos to Chichi for being the best DB wife of them all.


Bulma loves Goku, as a friend. Which is a very deep and powerful kind of love and in my opinion it is possible to exist between a man and woman, specially if they are both married to their own spouses. Sometimes the friendship is before the marriage. Their kids play with each other, things that happen in real life.

[gobul]

I really *like* Goku x Bulma. I think there is a very sweet “childhood friends to lovers” aspect behind them, and Bulma shows a lot of concern and love for him as a friend that I think translates into more quite easily.

To be clear I’m NOT on the Chi-Chi hate train, because I think there are valid af reasons for her acting the way she does because of who she is as a person. There are times when she is annoying, yes, but these are exaggerated and flanderized to stupid levels by “fans” (and also by the show itself from time to time — the Cell Games arc springs to mind).

The thing is, I think because of who Bulma is, these things would just… not be present. Chi-Chi needs Goku to work and her kids to study because that’s the idyllic family life she wants and you do need to work to make money to live, even in the weird, quasi-feudal world of Dragon Ball.

But that problem… doesn’t exist for Bulma. She’s like…Tony Stark. She’s heir and later president of Capsule Corp, she’s the richest woman on the planet. Vegeta doesn’t work or do chores, why would he? So… Goku would be free to live the life he wants AND live it with his lifelong friend. I don’t remember it being mentioned that she’s an incredible cook for him like Chi-Chi, but who cares, she’ll just hire fuckin’ Dragon Ball Gordon Ramsay to cook for him every night. Or she’ll build a robot that can do it. She’s Bulma, she’ll manage.

I also think Goku would be affectionate back to her. First off, he does like spending time with his wife in canon and gets a little sweet with her, so Super’s odd notion that he doesn’t know what kissing is aside, I think we can assume he can be affectionate. Maybe not MASSIVELY so, but he can be.

Secondly moments with that are often undercut with Chi-Chi being angry for comedic reasons. See the Flanderization of her character I mentioned above. And while I do think that’s still going to happen with Bulma—she can whine rant and bitch with the best of ‘em and I love her so much for it — there’s going to be… less of that? To a degree? Goku coming in from training will probably be met with a “GO SHOWER, YOU STINK” but there likely won’t be too much upset about mud or setting a bad example for his son. She’ll watch him go and admire how hot her husband looks.

That brings me to the main reason I like to muse about this pairing — in Dragon Ball, when couples hook up, they have kids. Every major main character couple has done it. So obviously “Gohan” would be born to Bulma.

See, after Bulma, Trunks is my favourite Dragon Ball character. Specifically his future self, but I liked grown up GT Trunks too (in theory)… so thinking about the character that would replace him gets me thinking…

I’m imaging a son (though a Daughter would be cool AF but anyway…) and I like to think they’d be called a play on “Fundoshi” (traditional Japanese Underwear) or “Mawashi” (Sumo Wrestler Underwear) or something that blends the Asian Mythology from Goku with the Underwear theming of Bulma… or we could just call him “Singlet” or hell… maybe he’s just “Trunks”— I think it’s obvious Bulma isn’t that interested in letting her husbands name their kids (see Super with Bulla/Bra).

And he fundamentally changes just about every part of DBZ and Super when you think about it. Namek especially. But all of it. And you gotta think while the kid WILL have a study program it’s gonna be so different to Chi-Chi’s “HIT THE BOOKS” approach, and Bulma would for sure be like:

“Huh? What? Yeah sure sweetie, go train with Dad. Mom needs to finish fixing this perpetual energy generator. Here, actually, take the radar and tell Dad he needs to bring me the Dragon Balls! Call it a boys day out! Father-Son bonding!… Mamma needs a facelift anyway…”

It’s that. That gets me. That question: “What would be different about this series of Bulma and Goku had a kid instead of Gohan existing?”

I’ll spare you my thoughts on that but basically I think Bulma and Goku would make not just a cute, but very interesting couple narratively.