How exactly Gohan could have been better in the Boo arc

[Rocketman]

"It goes against his nature" is a weak argument when Mystic is outright stated to change Gohan's nature. There is absolutely no reason for him to slack off again after that...except ~gokuuuuuuuuuuu~.

The manga heavily implies that it works like a transformation.

My ass it does. Unless Gohan immediately transformed after reviving and then stayed in that transformed state for the next decade.

[fadeddreams5]

Gohan in the boo arc...


Urgh...
But seriously, Toriyama made him so weak just to make Goku shine once more then comes up with that mystic ass-pull to make him relevant again then...er...makes him irrelevant again. -__-
The Boo arc was really weird.

If that was SSJ2 Kid Gohan, he'd wave his hand back and throw a tornado at Vegeta.

[SSJ2FutureGohan]

How does Ultimate work like a transformation? Old Kaioshin said transformations are the wrong way of doing things.

[fadeddreams5]

How does Ultimate work like a transformation? Old Kaioshin said transformations are the wrong way of doing things.

I assume 90% of this fanbase is confused over that form because of all the dubs, adaptations, and manga translations. In most English stuff, for example, the Old Kai tells him to transform into a SSJ to achieve it, implying he's transforming. In the Japanese manga, he says something like, "you’ll be fine if you just get the gist of that [super saiyan transformation], and throw in a kiai." Also why so many people believe SSJ and mystic cannot both exist for him. =P

[SingleFringe&Sparks]

I found all those examples you listed badass too.

But SSJ2 Gohan was uncompromising, intimidating, mean-tempered, and just awesome. Did you not see what he did to those Cell Jrs?! And that punch to the gut against Cell. He was hands down the most brutal fighter ever in this entire series during those few minutes.

That one moment in the series along with his overhyped power potential seems to be the only reason why fans actually like the character.

Gohan in the boo arc...Toriyama made him so weak just to make Goku shine once more then comes up with that mystic ass-pull to make him relevant again then...er...makes him irrelevant again. -__-
The Boo arc was really weird.

I think it was more so to give him a way to catch up because training for his power upkeep seemed too much for him to maintain, so him being able to just release all his ki at once seemed to be the alternative use of it. The only problem was that it ended up being completely useless for his character even after it was the better solution so he wouldnt have to train.

[fadeddreams5]

I found all those examples you listed badass too.

But SSJ2 Gohan was uncompromising, intimidating, mean-tempered, and just awesome. Did you not see what he did to those Cell Jrs?! And that punch to the gut against Cell. He was hands down the most brutal fighter ever in this entire series during those few minutes.

That one moment in the series along with his overhyped power potential seems to be the only reason why fans actually like the character.

Nope. I liked Gohan since he was introduced up until the Great Saiyaman saga. Then disliked him, and then hated him. Mystic moments were cool though.

[Avery]

Gohan's fight with Cell and his few minutes of glory against Super Boo were actually the only instances where I disliked him. He looked badass, and that's all. And those Vegeta faces he started making once he turned mystic...good thing Boo wiped that smirk off his face.

[DBZGTKOSDH]

My ass it does. Unless Gohan immediately transformed after reviving and then stayed in that transformed state for the next decade.

The fully outlined eyes seem to be a permanent side-effect, but his hairstyle is different when he is fighting & when he doesn't. Plus, Goku believed that he would have been able to do Fusion with Gohan, and Rou Kaioshin didn't say anything about it being impossible, the problem was that Boo wouldn't leave them enough time to do it.

[Doctor.]

I found all those examples you listed badass too.

But SSJ2 Gohan was uncompromising, intimidating, mean-tempered, and just awesome. Did you not see what he did to those Cell Jrs?! And that punch to the gut against Cell. He was hands down the most brutal fighter ever in this entire series during those few minutes.

That one moment in the series along with his overhyped power potential seems to be the only reason why fans actually like the character.

Nope. I liked Gohan since he was introduced up until the Great Saiyaman saga. Then disliked him, and then hated him. Mystic moments were cool though.

So you started disliking him when he got... weak?

[Rocketman]

The fully outlined eyes seem to be a permanent side-effect, but his hairstyle is different when he is fighting & when he doesn't.

No it isn't? What difference are you talking about?

[SMKirbyZX]

"It goes against his nature" is a weak argument when Mystic is outright stated to change Gohan's nature. There is absolutely no reason for him to slack off again after that...except ~gokuuuuuuuuuuu~.

The manga heavily implies that it works like a transformation.

My ass it does. Unless Gohan immediately transformed after reviving and then stayed in that transformed state for the next decade.

Exactly. The common arguments are that, "Gohan is not a devoted fighter, he just wants a normal life. From the start, he was forced into fighting, when he was really interested in being a scholar," and "there were no signs of any future threats, so there's no need for training." I actually got into an arguement with a guy on Youtube about Gohan character, and he repeated those exact same things.

The fact is: Gohan wanted to protect. If he so wanted a normal life and protection of people, then he should train so that he'll be strong enough to keep the peace. That fact that he isn't a devoted fighter is a problem. As for training going against his nature, I really don't understand that. As Beerus said, Gohan could've easily balanced his training and studies.

[ABED]

"It goes against his nature" is a weak argument when Mystic is outright stated to change Gohan's nature. There is absolutely no reason for him to slack off again after that...except ~gokuuuuuuuuuuu~.

The manga heavily implies that it works like a transformation.

My ass it does. Unless Gohan immediately transformed after reviving and then stayed in that transformed state for the next decade.

Exactly. The common arguments are that, "Gohan is not a devoted fighter, he just wants a normal life. From the start, he was forced into fighting, when he was really interested in being a scholar," and "there were no signs of any future threats, so there's no need for training." I actually got into an arguement with a guy on Youtube about Gohan character, and he repeated those exact same things.

The fact is: Gohan wanted to protect. If he so wanted a normal life and protection of people, then he should train so that he'll be strong enough to keep the peace. That fact that he isn't a devoted fighter is a problem. As for training going against his nature, I really don't understand that. As Beerus said, Gohan could've easily balanced his training and studies.

There's a difference between wanting to protect and wanting to fight. Often they coincide, like with Goku, but Gohan always struck me as someone who likes to help out, but otherwise is more than fine living a calm peaceful existence without fighting or doing vigorous training unless circumstances made him. He's much more reactive than proactive in this case.

I'm more than fine with Gohan not wanting to be a fighter, which is why I don't think he's best suited for the role of the main hero because it's not what he truly wants. He'd be doing it out of duty, not desire.

[fadeddreams5]

So you started disliking him when he got... weak?

I disliked his design (specifically, hair) in the Saiyaman arc and beyond. I still liked his antics in that saga, especially his first day of high school. But, when it was revealed he didn't follow up with his abilities, yeah, that turned me the hell off. It's a show about fighting, after all. Mystic is cool, but I sort of wish Old Kai established that Gohan had a special hidden power instead, and I wish he had to work hard to attain it too, instead of just sitting on his ass. And finally, post-Buu, he's portrayed even more as a nerd (design-wise), and he keeps getting weaker. Visuals and designs mean a lot to me in this show, and if something loses its "cool factor", I get turned off (e.g. SSJG, SSGSS, Fat Buu, etc.).

[jcogginsa]

It should be noted that it might not be possible for Gohan to maintain his mystic power. It could be that maintaining it is too time intensive for him to have a normal life

[Doctor.]

So you started disliking him when he got... weak?

I disliked his design (specifically, hair) in the Saiyaman arc and beyond. I still liked his antics in that saga, especially his first day of high school. But, when it was revealed he didn't follow up with his abilities, yeah, that turned me the hell off. It's a show about fighting, after all. Mystic is cool, but I sort of wish Old Kai established that Gohan had a special hidden power instead, and I wish he had to work hard to attain it too, instead of just sitting on his ass. And finally, post-Buu, he's portrayed even more as a nerd (design-wise), and he keeps getting weaker. Visuals and designs mean a lot to me in this show, and if something loses its "cool factor", I get turned off (e.g. SSJG, SSGSS, Fat Buu, etc.).

No offense, but aren't those reasons too superficial to be used as an argument? Presentation is honestly just a very, very minor aspect of a story.

[fadeddreams5]

So you started disliking him when he got... weak?

I disliked his design (specifically, hair) in the Saiyaman arc and beyond. I still liked his antics in that saga, especially his first day of high school. But, when it was revealed he didn't follow up with his abilities, yeah, that turned me the hell off. It's a show about fighting, after all. Mystic is cool, but I sort of wish Old Kai established that Gohan had a special hidden power instead, and I wish he had to work hard to attain it too, instead of just sitting on his ass. And finally, post-Buu, he's portrayed even more as a nerd (design-wise), and he keeps getting weaker. Visuals and designs mean a lot to me in this show, and if something loses its "cool factor", I get turned off (e.g. SSJG, SSGSS, Fat Buu, etc.).

No offense, but aren't those reasons too superficial to be used as an argument? Presentation is honestly just a very, very minor aspect of a story.

Probably. But this is a young boy's series about fighting. Why do you think Broly has a tremendous fanbase? lol.

And as far as story is concerned, I enjoyed Gohan's growth as a character from the start of DBZ. I felt he hit a brick wall at the end of the Cell Games, and then just kept becoming weaker, rather than stronger. If the events of the Cell Games didn't motivate him, surely being overpowered by Buu should have, right? But no, then he becomes the strongest being on the planet, yet continues his old ways of slacking, even after attaining a family. He's gone no where. No progression what-so-ever. He's just lame in every single category.

[ABED]

But no, then he becomes the strongest being on the planet, yet continues his old ways of slacking, even after attaining a family. He's gone no where. No progression what-so-ever. He's just lame in every single category.

It's not progress only if you think his end goal should be to become stronger. I think him becoming a scholar is a perfectly suitable ending for Gohan. Leave the fighting and defending of Earth up to others who are better suited and are better fighters to begin with. Attaining a family is a good ending, that's hardly lame.

[DBZGTKOSDH]

The fully outlined eyes seem to be a permanent side-effect, but his hairstyle is different when he is fighting & when he doesn't.

No it isn't? What difference are you talking about?

Look at the bang.

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

[fadeddreams5]

But no, then he becomes the strongest being on the planet, yet continues his old ways of slacking, even after attaining a family. He's gone no where. No progression what-so-ever. He's just lame in every single category.

It's not progress only if you think his end goal should be to become stronger. I think him becoming a scholar is a perfectly suitable ending for Gohan. Leave the fighting and defending of Earth up to others who are better suited and are better fighters to begin with. Attaining a family is a good ending, that's hardly lame.

It's a show about fighting! And this guy was established to have greater potential in this area than any other character, yet he never does anything with it after the Cell Games. He could do that scholarly stuff regardless, but as a viewer, I could give two craps and would prefer him to progress as a fighter and hero.

[Lord Beerus]

It's a show about fighting! And this guy was established to have greater potential in this area than any other character, yet he never does anything with it after the Cell Games. He could do that scholarly stuff regardless, but as a viewer, I could give two craps and would prefer him to progress as a fighter and hero.

Dragon Ball may be about fighting, but when the character(s) stops fighting, and I realize that I don't give a shit about him/her, then I won't give a shit about him/her when he/she is fighting. So that characters progress as a fighter would mean nothing to me and then the character becomes worthless in my mind.