Toriyama may be the biggest detriment to Goku's character, not Toei.

[Attitudefan]

When Raditz kidnapped his son Gohan, Goku was desperate, I hardly saw the happiness to fight a strong guy, he just wanted to save his son. Even in super when Zamasu killed Chichi and Goten, he reacted more violently and with no forgiveness to Zamasu. Even Freeza who killed Krillin before his own eyes he could forgive and let him live.

So I take this "companion, don't have a sense of family" comment of Toriyama as him not remembering well certain parts of what he wrote in his manga. Because he didn't depict Goku as this kind of guy who likes everyone equally, even between his friends we can see him likeing Krillin more than Yamcha for example. In moments of distress he doesn't talk first of Krillin, Turtle or Dr. Briefs. No, he talks of his sons and wife.

Actually, with Raditz, it's true that he cared about his son more than anything. Raditz was such a frightening foe that made Goku so desperate that he would get his son back even if it meant suicide. He wasn't happy that he got to fight a strong foe at all. He was scared and out of options.

Would modern asshole Goku act in such desperation and fear? Would he get a kick out of fighting a strong guy even if it meant death? Remember, Goku didn't want to fight Raditz for fun. He even banded with Piccolo as it ensured they had a better chance and it ensured Roshi and Krillin wouldn't die (and be unable to be brought back again).

[RandomGuy96]

All I'm seeing is Toriyama's writing basically printing fistloads of money at relatively little cost.

[Totamo]

When Raditz kidnapped his son Gohan, Goku was desperate, I hardly saw the happiness to fight a strong guy, he just wanted to save his son. Even in super when Zamasu killed Chichi and Goten, he reacted more violently and with no forgiveness to Zamasu. Even Freeza who killed Krillin before his own eyes he could forgive and let him live.

So I take this "companion, don't have a sense of family" comment of Toriyama as him not remembering well certain parts of what he wrote in his manga. Because he didn't depict Goku as this kind of guy who likes everyone equally, even between his friends we can see him likeing Krillin more than Yamcha for example. In moments of distress he doesn't talk first of Krillin, Turtle or Dr. Briefs. No, he talks of his sons and wife.

Actually, with Raditz, it's true that he cared about his son more than anything. Raditz was such a frightening foe that made Goku so desperate that he would get his son back even if it meant suicide. He wasn't happy that he got to fight a strong foe at all. He was scared and out of options.

Would modern asshole Goku act in such desperation and fear? Would he get a kick out of fighting a strong guy even if it meant death? Remember, Goku didn't want to fight Raditz for fun. He even banded with Piccolo as it ensured they had a better chance and it ensured Roshi and Krillin wouldn't die (and be unable to be brought back again).

yeah he kind of would, he did it with frieza.

[mabalia]

When Raditz kidnapped his son Gohan, Goku was desperate, I hardly saw the happiness to fight a strong guy, he just wanted to save his son. Even in super when Zamasu killed Chichi and Goten, he reacted more violently and with no forgiveness to Zamasu. Even Freeza who killed Krillin before his own eyes he could forgive and let him live.

So I take this "companion, don't have a sense of family" comment of Toriyama as him not remembering well certain parts of what he wrote in his manga. Because he didn't depict Goku as this kind of guy who likes everyone equally, even between his friends we can see him likeing Krillin more than Yamcha for example. In moments of distress he doesn't talk first of Krillin, Turtle or Dr. Briefs. No, he talks of his sons and wife.

Actually, with Raditz, it's true that he cared about his son more than anything. Raditz was such a frightening foe that made Goku so desperate that he would get his son back even if it meant suicide. He wasn't happy that he got to fight a strong foe at all. He was scared and out of options.

Would modern asshole Goku act in such desperation and fear? Would he get a kick out of fighting a strong guy even if it meant death? Remember, Goku didn't want to fight Raditz for fun. He even banded with Piccolo as it ensured they had a better chance and it ensured Roshi and Krillin wouldn't die (and be unable to be brought back again).

I agree.

[Attitudefan]

yeah he kind of would, he did it with frieza.

He went in with a completely different mindset in that fight though. More or less wasn't afraid and took Vegeta's pride as a source to win. Plus, at the beginning didn't feel like it was all for naught. Cue the scene where he started feeling that desperation, and has the flashback of everyone dead; Goku freaks out and goes all in. He nearly gives up when he realizes his Kaioken x20 was worthless. Even when using the Spirit Bomb was metaphoric: the Planet and the Solar System that is being ravaged by Freeza is helping Goku. Goku still was desperate and did some moves that almost killed him because it could have had been over right then and there until Piccolo showed up. Even the dream with Vegeta, telling Goku to avenge those who fallen, is clear that Goku is not doing this "for fun." All this fear, this desperation, the heroics, led to his transformation. Yes, once a Super Saiyan, he became more like Vegeta but it makes sense. Goku later reminds people that he had a hard time controlling his emotions because it is such a pure state derived from emotions. So, for sure, he's going to act irrational and brash in that moment. However, Toriyama was a master at showing how later Goku reverted back to his older ways when he told Freeza that it was done. He regained control of the fight, and of who he really is. That's profound.

We see this characterization when Goku doesn't want to kill off the Ginyu force, but to let them go. In a way, he acts "Supermanish" in the Namek arc. He is totally opposed to Vegeta killing them. Every reaction Goku does when he sees Vegeta killing off a member of the Ginyu force is of shock. He doesn't want them dead. Hence, Ginyu is let go.