Goten and Trunks, Your Opinion?

[Kroni_Hunter]

How do you feel in general about Goten and Trunks in the story? When the Saiyaman saga began, I was very interested in seeing what the younger version of Trunks and Gohan's random little brother would be like. Maybe I was used to the more serious attitude Gohan had as a kid, but I have to admit I was a little disappointed to see that Trunks had changed from a dedicated driven hero to a cocky, unmotivated boy with access to an unfair level of natural power. From a story standpoint it makes sense since he lived out his a childhood with Vegeta, but it just felt...unappealing.
Goten on the other hand seemed not to have any unique characteristics at all, rather he seemed like a poor attempt at recreating Goku who wound up being the "Yes man" to Trunks and his uninteresting childish shenanigans. Compared to the intense tone set by the rest of DBZ, they just felt like a let down.
I apologize to any Trunks and Goten fans for this thread.

[Gaffer Tape]

No need to apologize to me, but I actually found them to be quite refreshing. For the first time in Dragon Ball, we actually had kids who acted like kids. Goku was an adolescent, idiot feral child who was his own boss from a very young age. Gohan was a child prodigy who hung out exclusively with adults. The thing I like about Goten and Trunks is that it actually makes some of the insane power jumps and SSJ biases in the Buu arc worth it to me. Sure it screws over all the other characters who didn't happen to just be born special like they did, but their attitude is exactly what I would expect from kids who are born with godlike powers but don't possess any of the maturity or responsibility to obtain it. Everything's just a big game to them, and can you blame them for feeling that way? They didn't have to work for anything. It just came naturally to them. And the results are rather hilarious and silly. However, if you want to take a more serious track to this, you could say it pretty much confirms the Muten Roshi's fears earlier in the series. They did think they were hot shit. They did become arrogant. And, when they got older, they had no desire to work to maintain that level of power.

[Rocketman]

Trunks is a necessary evil, as he was born in the Android arc. While I hate the bratty punk, it's not out of comparison to Future Trunks. Goten is a non-character. He only exists to have a Goku with Goku dead, but then the real Goku comes back so he's irrelevant.

Also I hate kids.

[Kroni_Hunter]

However, if you want to take a more serious track to this, you could say it pretty much confirms the Muten Roshi's fears earlier in the series. They did think they were hot shit. They did become arrogant. And, when they got older, they had no desire to work to maintain that level of power.

This..is one of the most insightful things I have read about those two characters.

[Michsi]

I liked seeing them and Gotenks drive Piccolo up the wall. And Gotenks fight was the most entertaining and fun out of the whole Buu Saga, I hadn't laughed or enjoyed something from DB to that extent for while before that.

Aside from that I agrre with most of what Gaffer Tape said. They did tend to get annoying but I think that was their anime counterpart mostly.

However you are right regarding Goten. He himself doesn't really stand out much.

[dbgtFO]

However, if you want to take a more serious track to this, you could say it pretty much confirms the Muten Roshi's fears earlier in the series. They did think they were hot shit. They did become arrogant. And, when they got older, they had no desire to work to maintain that level of power.

This..is one of the most insightful things I have read about those two characters.

I was thinking the exact same thing

[CatouttaHell]

I don't mind Goten at all but Trunks is incredibly annoying to me and I absolutely DESPISE Gotenks (sorry, Gotenks fans.)

However, if you want to take a more serious track to this, you could say it pretty much confirms the Muten Roshi's fears earlier in the series. They did think they were hot shit. They did become arrogant. And, when they got older, they had no desire to work to maintain that level of power.

I never thought about it like that. Very good point there.

[Chibi Gohan]

Goten was really uninteresting to me and had nothing unique about him. Trunks is a more childish, immature Vegeta. Both these characters would have the same relevance as Yamcha or Kuririn if it weren't for Gotenks. Gotenks was a fun character to watch, but did get a bit annoying at times.

[caejones]

Goten is adorable. That... ur... might be all he's got going for him, but it's enough for me.

Trunks is a bad influence on him!

And the throwback-to-the-beginning analysis is made of win.

[Kaboom]

Two words: "Fusion fodder."

At least, insofar as their role in the plot. As far as my impressions of their character goes, I think Gaffer Tape's brilliant post is all that really needs to or could be said.

I do kind of like how they were the "stars" of Movie 11 (along with 18 and Kuririn, no less!), rather than having ~GOKU~ steal the show again.

[Ahiru77]

Chibi Trunks = excellent firewall.

Goten is okay. He didn't bother me and.......I believe I don't even have the right to give my opinion since I didn't watch the Buu saga completely.

[Chibi Gohan]

I do kind of like how they were the "stars" of Movie 11 (along with 18 and Kuririn, no less!), rather than having ~GOKU~ steal the show again.

It's a shame that Movie 11 was horrible though.

[dbgtFO]

I do kind of like how they were the "stars" of Movie 11 (along with 18 and Kuririn, no less!), rather than having ~GOKU~ steal the show again.

It's a shame that Movie 11 was horrible though.

Ey, that's your opinon.
I think it's nice and refreshing as opposed to the movie before it.
Reminds me of the Battle Royal, which was good fun IMO.

[Nazi Cola]

I didn't think it was too bad. I actually found some of the other movies to be worse.

As for the OP, I hated Trunks, but I didn't mind Goten. Trunks was a cocky little chode, and while I can tolerate it with Vegeta at points, I absolutely cannot tolerate this little punk's attitude.

[Super Saiyan Turlast x4]

I like both of them. They're over-powered bastards, yes, but still cool.

[ricemonkey]

Agreed, Gaffer Tape's reply nailed it, especially the last bit regarding Muten Roshi. Brilliant.

I feel like Goten & Trunks really highlight the contrast between the old days & the Buu era. Times change, & all that's come before resulted in the world in which they grew up – a relatively peaceful (before Buu, anyway) world w/ a few ridiculously powerful people, & a world in which kids can be kids. They also have each other as playmates, & they kind of feed off of each other. Would Trunks be as much of a troublemaker w/out his yes-man? Maybe – I think he'd get bored more frequently, but his antics might play out differently if he didn't have someone to boss around. And Goten w/out Trunks? Even more cries of "Goku clone!" I'd say.

I like Goten & Trunks & find their antics entertaining. I like Trunks's spunk, even if he is a brat, & I'm glad he's different from his future counterpart in that way – it's appropriate to his upbringing. Goten is adorable, but I like him best in relation to other characters, like the sibling dynamic w/ Gohan. Otherwise he's kind of bland. Trunks & Goten overdoses can be annoying, though, & the gap between them & my favorites is pretty wide.

[Dabooyaka]

I would have enjoyed the series better if Trunks had died in the plane crash, and Goku would have gotten kicked in the balls so hard that he never could have had more kids.

[Gaffer Tape]

As far as my impressions of their character goes, I think Gaffer Tape's brilliant post is all that really needs to or could be said.

et al...

Dawh, shucks, thanks, everyone. I guess I have to say something that justifies my existence here every once in a while.

[batistabus]

I love the kids. I'd like to see more with them as the main characters.

[In Brightest Day]

Can someone show me when Roshi made that comment, the context and who it was directed at?