Is Goku just a dumb jerk?

[Super Ghost Kamikaze]

Not really. Think the Cell Games battle with Gohan and Cell. Now look at my story, replace "wolf" with "Cell", make Gohan 9 years old and a Super Sayajin,make Piccolo the voice of reason instead of Çhi Chi, and change a couple of things. There you go, a near perfect likeness of the Cell Saga.

Those situations are completely different, though.

Goku couldn't beat Cell. He knew he couldn't. But he'd seen Gohan show more potential for power, and he had seen Gohan unleash latent power on several previous occasions. Basically, he knew that he had to bank on Gohan.

There wasn't really a "voice of reason" there.

[mAcChaos]

It was either Gohan beat Cell or they all died. There wasn't really a choice.

[Gozar]

I noticed Toei likes to add a lot of ChiChi and Goku relationship-type moments.

Not only that but Toei makes Goku say as he sacrificed himself against Cell...

"Tell mom I'm sorry. I was always selfish and did as I pleased."

So Toei Goku realizes this, but apparently couldn't give a crap anyway Post-Buu.

[TheGreatness25]

I guess I can see why they'd do that. I mean, what's the harm in making the guy look like he actually likes his wife?

I find it funny that in Dragon Ball, the narrator said that Chi-Chi felt that because Goku had patted her crotch with his foot, she was like...obligated to be his wife. So that's odd. Another thing is when they actually do get "engaged", Goku looks like he could not give a crap. That's just crazy. It makes Goku look like an asshole and the relationship look like some sort of weird arranged marriage.

[Captain-Sora]

I guess I can see why they'd do that. I mean, what's the harm in making the guy look like he actually likes his wife?

I find it funny that in Dragon Ball, the narrator said that Chi-Chi felt that because Goku had patted her crotch with his foot, she was like...obligated to be his wife. So that's odd. Another thing is when they actually do get "engaged", Goku looks like he could not give a crap. That's just crazy. It makes Goku look like an asshole and the relationship look like some sort of weird arranged marriage.

In the anime it really did look like he didn't give a damn but in the manga, all he did was ask her to marry him and they walked off together. So besides the fact that Toei does the "SUPPORT GOKUXCHICHI!" filler tricks, they're the ones who really fiddled around with that scene.

[Deep Thought]

Not really. Think the Cell Games battle with Gohan and Cell. Now look at my story, replace "wolf" with "Cell", make Gohan 9 years old and a Super Sayajin,make Piccolo the voice of reason instead of Çhi Chi, and change a couple of things. There you go, a near perfect likeness of the Cell Saga.

Those situations are completely different, though.

Goku couldn't beat Cell. He knew he couldn't. But he'd seen Gohan show more potential for power, and he had seen Gohan unleash latent power on several previous occasions. Basically, he knew that he had to bank on Gohan.

There wasn't really a "voice of reason" there.

Volume 18 (34 for Japanese purists), page 136 to 137.

Piccolo: Goku, you're mistaken, your son does not have your warrior's stomach!!

Piccolo: Does he even know about this plan? Did you discuss it with him first?!

Goku: ...

OOC: Notice the look of comprehension on Goku's face, which implies that Goku most likely didn't tell Gohan about his "plan."

Piccolo: Do you know what's in Gohan's mind right now?! Well, it's not rage!!

Piccolo: He's thinking "Why won't dad help me when I'm in so much pain?!"

Piccolo: "Does he care more about the rules of this fight than my life?!"

Piccolo: However strong he may be, he's still a child!!

Piccolo: I don't care if I die!! I'm going!!

OOC: In the panel where Piccolo says "I don't care if I die!! I'm going!!" Goku looks, horrified, at the battleground, in which Cell is nearly breaking Gohan's back.

Threes thing to note of:

#1: Picccolo seems to care more about protecting Gohan than Goku does. By far.

#2: Goku somewhat agrees with Piccolo's words. While he doesn't directly say it, you can see it all over his face.

#3: The Z-Warriors would've stood a better chance if they teamed up on Cell. Look at how much trouble Cell had against Goku. In any case, even you have to admit that ganging up on Cell would've been a better idea than just standing there, with their mouths agape, watching Gohan get his balls smashed.[/list]

[Rocketman]

I think what we forget a lot of the time is that Goku is literally brain-damaged.

[Metalwario64]

I think what we forget a lot of the time is that Goku is literally brain-damaged.

Kind of like Rocky V...