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.