Gohan Out of Character at Cell Games? Let's end this debate.

[Wibbs]

We do know that Goku was way stronger than Vegeta, who was equal to the juniors, and that Gohan was waaaaaaaaaay stronger than Goku.

But Gohan wasn't aware that he was stronger than Goku. So when he saw Goku losing he probably thought he would too.

[RocktheDragon]

We do know that Goku was way stronger than Vegeta, who was equal to the juniors, and that Gohan was waaaaaaaaaay stronger than Goku.

But Gohan wasn't aware that he was stronger than Goku. So when he saw Goku losing he probably thought he would too.

Yup. There is that scene in the anime (not sure if it's exclusive to it or not) that shows when Goku realized Gohan was stronger than he was. Gohan was able to momentarily power up to SSJ2 and surprised the hell out of Goku, so that was the piece of information Goku had that no one else had been able to see before (at least in the anime).

[RandomGuy96]

We do know that Goku was way stronger than Vegeta, who was equal to the juniors, and that Gohan was waaaaaaaaaay stronger than Goku.

But Gohan wasn't aware that he was stronger than Goku. So when he saw Goku losing he probably thought he would too.

Yes. He was. He acknowledged it himself. Three people outright confirmed it in front of him.

[Mystic Buu]

Well,I think that Gohan was out of character in Cell Games.He didn't tell Nappa,Vegeta,Ginyu Force and Freeza to stop fighting and that he doesn't want to fight.And the whole world is depending on him and he doesn't want to fight.I know he isn't pure-blooded Saiyan like Goku or Vegeta who love to battle but he should fight Cell to protect the Earth.I think that was a little selfish from Gohan.But he is also 9-years old and it wasn't easy time for him.He was out of character,but he was just a KID.

[Kamiccolo9]

What we have to take into consideration is that Gohan both spent one year in the ROSAT, as well as the fact that he spent several days in complete peace together with his family.
Both these factors can change a person, especially the ROSAT, which is mentally and physically exhausting.
Gohan was a kid, he grew up. Not like a Saiya-jin does, but like an Earthling would do. I could see the same words come out of Kuririn's mouth as well.
Neither the Earthlings nor Gohan have anything to prove to anyone, nor any enjoyment fighting in life or death situations.
Gohan simply took responsibility over his own power and was finally able to gauge it, instead of letting the adults make the decisions.

And when Gohan grows up, this stays the same. In Babidi's Spaceship, Gohan enjoys the thought of fighting. He describes it like a video game, and even joins Rock-Paper-Scissors.
This is considering that they all felt strong and were not taking Babidi's minions seriously.
Unlike Goku and Vegeta, though, there is not a single notion of him enjoying his fights when they go south.

So I believe that the change occurred in the ROSAT and during the days of peace.
It was not an out of character moment, since Gohan's personality changed and kept that way (a kind of reasonable change).
Gohan was in my opinion very much in character.

For some reason, everyone always seems to ignore this. Gohan had almost an entire year alone with his dad to come to terms with himself. That changes people.

[ABED]

Gohan wasn't really all that gung ho against Vegeta. He only started fighting back in the earnest after Vegeta started brutalizing his father but eventually relapsed to wussing out.

He was the one that convinced Kuririn to go back and help his dad, and in the Namek arc, he volunteered to go, and showed a lot of bravery in face of overwhelming odds, and he wanted to help against the Cyborgs. That's gung ho. He didn't wuss out against Vegeta. He was in a lot of pain.

A son questioning his father's priorities doesn't mean he's questioning his love. If Piccolo's words were "Does my father even love me?" then you got a point.

So you automatically assume that because Piccolo said what he did, that's what Gohan was thinking? I didn't know he was also a mind reader. In all seriousness, Piccolo wasn't correct, that wasn't what Gohan was worried about.

[thatdbzguy]

A lot of people here seem to not get the full picture. Reasons why Gohan was OOC:

1. He stood there like an idiot while the Cell Jr.'s attacked, knowing damn well that he could beat them without using his hidden power if he tried. When did Gohan ever just sit back and go "Yeah. That's happening." while his friends were getting beaten? Never, up until now, hence why it's OOC.

2. When was the last time Gohan asked for a villain to stand down? Never.

3. When did Gohan ever show fear of his hidden power? Never.

All of these things come out of absolutely no where, and aren't provided with any good reason as to why Gohan felt those ways. People, this is the freaking Cell saga. Expect stupid writing.

[DBZAOTA482]

He was the one that convinced Kuririn to go back and help his dad, and in the Namek arc, he volunteered to go, and showed a lot of bravery in face of overwhelming odds, and he wanted to help against the Cyborgs. That's gung ho. He didn't wuss out against Vegeta. He was in a lot of pain.

Firstly, Goku is his father. Wouldn't you act the same if one of your folks were in trouble? And he wasn't even in that much pain (just look that how he was when he regained conscious). He was the second-least hurt of the four. When Vegeta had him backed into a corner, he was scared shitless. Secondly, survivor's guilt is why he was so intent on going. Thirdly, those odds were inescapable. Better to fight back than to do nothing.

So you automatically assume that because Piccolo said what he did, that's what Gohan was thinking? I didn't know he was also a mind reader. In all seriousness, Piccolo wasn't correct, that wasn't what Gohan was worried about.

I wasn't necessarily agreeing with Piccolo's POV. And I don't see him being mind reader as a huge stretch. I mean, Goku can read minds and he doesn't exactly specialize in psychology (from what we know). Piccolo can already speak telepathically.

[Wibbs]

A lot of people here seem to not get the full picture. Reasons why Gohan was OOC:

1. He stood there like an idiot while the Cell Jr.'s attacked, knowing damn well that he could beat them without using his hidden power if he tried. When did Gohan ever just sit back and go "Yeah. That's happening." while his friends were getting beaten? Never, up until now, hence why it's OOC.

2. When was the last time Gohan asked for a villain to stand down? Never.

3. When did Gohan ever show fear of his hidden power? Never.

All of these things come out of absolutely no where, and aren't provided with any good reason as to why Gohan felt those ways. People, this is the freaking Cell saga. Expect stupid writing.

Throughout that whole fight with the Cell Jrs Gohan tries his best to force out his hidden power all because Goku had told him before hand that if he could tap into enough of it he would be able to stop Cell. He doesn't just stand there like an "idiot", he's going along with it. All those times before where Gohan had brought out his power it was because someone who meant a great deal to him was on the verge of dying. Sure the Cell Jrs had the upper hand, but they weren't close to killing anyone. When Cell does say that the Cell Jrs can kill one of the Z-fighters you can see that Gohan is trying his best to get mad and push himself beyond his limits. Cell claims it'll only take one more push for Gohan to "pop" and what Android 16 says to Gohan in combination with his death must have been that last push that he needed.

[ABED]

Firstly, Goku is his father. Wouldn't you act the same if one of your folks were in trouble? And he wasn't even in that much pain (just look that how he was when he regained conscious). He was the second-least hurt of the four. When Vegeta had him backed into a corner, he was scared shitless. Secondly, survivor's guilt is why he was so intent on going.

Kuririn is older and used to battle. I can excuse Gohan's immaturity at that time. However, he grew up quickly. It didn't take much to get Gohan back in the game.

Survivor's guilt? Okay, but he also wanted to help out.

Thirdly, those odds were inescapable. Better to fight back than to do nothing.

Good thing Cell doesn't fall into that category. Oh, wait. I fail to see how the odds are any less inescapable during the Cell Games, and YET Gohan was in fact ready to let the Earth blow up until Goku contacted him from the dead.

I wasn't necessarily agreeing with Piccolo's POV. And I don't see him being mind reader as a huge stretch. I mean, Goku can read minds and he doesn't exactly specialize in psychology (from what we know). Piccolo can already speak telepathically.

I was being sarcastic with the mind reader comment. Sorry that didn't come through in my response. I'm saying that Piccolo was saying what HE thought Gohan was thinking and he was more or less projecting his thoughts. However, it's much more likely that Gohan was beating himself up and blaming himself for his failures than thinking about Goku's motives.

[DBZAOTA482]

Good thing Cell doesn't fall into that category. Oh, wait. I fail to see how the odds are any less inescapable during the Cell Games, and YET Gohan was in fact ready to let the Earth blow up until Goku contacted him from the dead.

I think people underrated the pressure Gohan was feeling there. Gohan was blaming himself for everything that went wrong, everyone was damning the situation, and Vegeta even apologized to him.

[ABED]

I get pressure, but what other option did he have? If he's gonna die anyways, the more heroic thing in this situation is to go down swinging.

[penguintruth]

A lot of people here seem to not get the full picture. Reasons why Gohan was OOC:

1. He stood there like an idiot while the Cell Jr.'s attacked, knowing damn well that he could beat them without using his hidden power if he tried. When did Gohan ever just sit back and go "Yeah. That's happening." while his friends were getting beaten? Never, up until now, hence why it's OOC.

2. When was the last time Gohan asked for a villain to stand down? Never.

3. When did Gohan ever show fear of his hidden power? Never.

All of these things come out of absolutely no where, and aren't provided with any good reason as to why Gohan felt those ways. People, this is the freaking Cell saga. Expect stupid writing.

Gohan wasn't out of character at all. He was overwhelmed by the experience of being put on the line and unable to summon his hidden power under pressure. He didn't just "refuse to fight", he fought Cell at the beginning. He's not out of character, he's just in a state of despair. You need to re-read the manga.

Seriously, the lack of reading comprehension here is absolutely staggering. The Cell arc is extremely well plotted and characterized. It's what makes it the best arc in the series.

[ABED]

A lot of people here seem to not get the full picture. Reasons why Gohan was OOC:

1. He stood there like an idiot while the Cell Jr.'s attacked, knowing damn well that he could beat them without using his hidden power if he tried. When did Gohan ever just sit back and go "Yeah. That's happening." while his friends were getting beaten? Never, up until now, hence why it's OOC.

2. When was the last time Gohan asked for a villain to stand down? Never.

3. When did Gohan ever show fear of his hidden power? Never.

All of these things come out of absolutely no where, and aren't provided with any good reason as to why Gohan felt those ways. People, this is the freaking Cell saga. Expect stupid writing.

Gohan wasn't out of character at all. He was overwhelmed by the experience of being put on the line and unable to summon his hidden power under pressure. He didn't just "refuse to fight", he fought Cell at the beginning. He's not out of character, he's just in a state of despair. You need to re-read the manga.

Seriously, the lack of reading comprehension here is absolutely staggering. The Cell arc is extremely well plotted and characterized. It's what makes it the best arc in the series.

Gohan tells Cell fighting is pointless. How is that in character for Gohan? He knows what kind of being Cell is. What was he expecting?

[penguintruth]

Gohan tells Cell fighting is pointless. How is that in character for Gohan? He knows what kind of being Cell is. What was he expecting?

It doesn't matter what he was expecting, he gave him fair warning because he doesn't enjoy fighting like Goku does.

The Cell Games, in story, were kind of pointless. Cell just wanted to show off how strong he was and is willing to send the whole world into terror for it, like the fate of the world was just a game. He was playing with the world like human lives were a game.

He still fought him, though. Because he had to.

[ABED]

Gohan tells Cell fighting is pointless. How is that in character for Gohan? He knows what kind of being Cell is. What was he expecting?

It doesn't matter what he was expecting, he gave him fair warning because he doesn't enjoy fighting like Goku does.

The Cell Games, in story, were kind of pointless. Cell just wanted to show off how strong he was and is willing to send the whole world into terror for it, like the fate of the world was just a game. He was playing with the world like human lives were a game.

He still fought him, though. Because he had to.

I didn't take it as a warning.

I get that he fought because he had to, but Gohan's reluctance to fight comes out of nowhere. He spends the entire arc wanting to help, now he has cold feet? It didn't seem like Toriyama was implying Gohan was scared so much as he just didn't like fighting.

[penguintruth]

Of course he doesn't like fighting. But he does it. It's later on when he pauses out of being overwhelmed.

[mAcChaos]

I get pressure, but what other option did he have? If he's gonna die anyways, the more heroic thing in this situation is to go down swinging.

In this case though, Gohan was following Goku's plan. I think he knew that without SSJ2 he was not going to win. So if he just said "f this" and abandoned the plan, that would be the same as giving up since he would lose.

He was basically keeping a calm head and trying to go for the situation that would win.

And as far as him being afraid of his rage boost... in all the other situations, he never had a CHOICE over it. It just happened whether he wanted it to or not. This time he has to will it consciously. It's a lot harder for older people to get angry than younger kids. You know how kids are; they feel everything 100%. They either love you or hate you. So it makes sense that Gohan as a 5 or 6 year old would be able to fly off the handle much easier.

Plus he's a SSJ1 now. That's a whole new scale of destructive power. What if he blew up the earth by accident while going crazy against Cell?

[baneofdemon22]

Yeah you get desensitized to more things as you experience more life. When I was little I would freak out over getting blood drawn and having to get a check up from the doctor and having to show them my privates. That doesn't bug me anymore, since having catheters, skin biopsy's, a bone marrow biopsy, 5 spinal taps, having to manually clean myself out everyday, being completely naked in hospitals surrounded by doctors and their nurses, NG tubes, EMGs, colonoscopys, surgeries, broken bones, and other things I don't want to get into!

He went through so much as a young kid, it's going to take a lot more for him to snap, and it was going to make him snap HUGE! He's grown more and at such a young age, he's going to constantly change. The whole ordeal was very overwhelming. On top of that, he was shocked that his dad, who he saw as the greatest warrior, give up to Cell and put his faith in him to take over. It's a lot harder to get enraged than it is to get angry.

[goku the krump dancer]

I feel like Gohan's actions in his battle against Cell before going SSJ2 is just as much of an evolution of his character as Vegeta trying to avenge his son and then hugging him in the Boo arc is part of his.

So yes he was in character.