Does anyone else dislike how Toriyama used Future Trunks

[Jord]

To me, the usage of Trunks is horrible. First he beats Frieza and his men in 2 epsiodes and then leaves. This cheats the viewer out of a potentially great Frieza/Cold vs Vegeta/Piccolo/Gohan/others battle which could be interesting considering both Vegeta and Piccolo trained a lot. We also don't know how strong Frieza is so for all we know it could be an even match. Nope, Frieza shows up and jobs right away.

A while later Trunks, the super strong Super Saiya-jin returns and he does nothing of note except going on boring scouting missions and keeps yapping on about how strong the Jinzoningen are. Although he handled Frieza with ease, he is now the main jobber of the saga. He easily gets beaten by 18+18, then he gets outsmarted by Vegeta and Cell. After that he bulks up and jobs once again to Cell. After that, he does in the end battle and we never see him again. When he was introduced, he seems like an interesting character but from his return on, he just grows more and more useless.

[Kamiccolo9]

When he was introduced, he seems like an interesting character but from his return on, he just grows more and more useless.

Sounds like almost all of the other characters, doesn't it?

[ManyFaces]

I think Toriyama should have just kept Future Trunks in the past. If I could somehow redo the Trunks arc, I would make it so Bulma also died in Trunks' universe, then have Trunks flee to the past to not only prevent 17/18 from destroying the world, but to create a new life. Later on, during the Buu arc, he could have trained kid Trunks. I think that would have been interesting. Also, I believe Freeza was actually stronger as a Cyborg, so I'm sure he would have slaughtered Vegeta, Piccolo, etc in no time.

[ABED]

I don't hate how he was used but I don't think he was used in the best way. I like the coda with Trunks returning home and finally bringing peace to his timeline.

With a few changes, I think it would've been more emotionally satisfying to see Trunks be the hero of the story. There's little connection between the villain and the hero in the Cyborg/Cell arc, plus I think Trunks turning SS2 after 16 is destroyed could've meant more than Gohan's transformation. Gohan had zero contact with 16. Having 16's death be the impetus of Trunks' transformation would be a nice way to round out Trunks since he has antipathy (understandably) for the Cyborgs.

[Blade]

I've always thought that the function of Freeza and King Cold to the narrative was simply to introduce Trunks and demonstrate his amazing abilities as opposed to representing any form of real danger or tangible plot-line of their own.

For me the time-travel element makes the Android/Cell arc far more interesting and engaging, and Trunks' deployment in the role as guide for Z warriors makes him far less two dimensional than any other character in the arc. Trunks' character is genuinely haunted by his life experiences, and his blossoming relationship with Vegeta, the father he never knew, is one of the best pieces of mutual character development in all of Z.

[DBZAOTA482]

At least he's not Kaioshin. I could say that much.

[Jackal puFF]

I always wanted more Trunks after the Cell Arc. But with the movies and special he's in, it's enough Trunks for me. And it's nice to see him again in DB Online.

[Jord]

I don't hate how he was used but I don't think he was used in the best way. I like the coda with Trunks returning home and finally bringing peace to his timeline.

With a few changes, I think it would've been more emotionally satisfying to see Trunks be the hero of the story. There's little connection between the villain and the hero in the Cyborg/Cell arc, plus I think Trunks turning SS2 after 16 is destroyed could've meant more than Gohan's transformation. Gohan had zero contact with 16. Having 16's death be the impetus of Trunks' transformation would be a nice way to round out Trunks since he has antipathy (understandably) for the Cyborgs.

That would be a lot better. Gohan was just suddenly pushed to the forefront. With a good build up Trunks saving the present after seen his horrible future would have been awesome. It could also tie in with him "correcting" the mistake he made in his first fight with Cell.

[TheMightyOzaru]

No. Trunks was a badass, sure he was naive, but he was still a badass. He killed 5 main characters in one arc. Not many people have accomplished such a feat in the series.

[Eternal Super Saiyan]

I don't know where we got the idea that Vegeta or Piccolo could have even stood a chance against Mecha Frieza (whom is stated to be STRONGER than before) and not to mention his father.

[TheGmGoken]

I don't understand? What did he do wrong?

He killed Freeza and Cold like they were toys when the last two volumes Freeza was the shit.
He killed Cell....twice.
He surpassed Initial Cell(Even though he lost)
He saved his timeline.

I mean what more should he had done? He wasn't meant to be the hero of the past timeline. He was only meant to save Goku and help against the Cyborgs.

[soulnova]

I think Toriyama should have just kept Future Trunks in the past. If I could somehow redo the Trunks arc, I would make it so Bulma also died in Trunks' universe, then have Trunks flee to the past to not only prevent 17/18 from destroying the world, but to create a new life. Later on, during the Buu arc, he could have trained kid Trunks. I think that would have been interesting. Also, I believe Freeza was actually stronger as a Cyborg, so I'm sure he would have slaughtered Vegeta, Piccolo, etc in no time.

I like the idea of him staying as Baby-Trunks' "older brother". But I guess it would have been too complicated to explain to the kid.

Besides, Future Earth really needs to get their act together and start poping out new warriors...

[DBZ Mick]

I kinda don't like how he was pushed to the background but after thinking about it, he has a fine arc. And seeing him save his future was very satisfiying.

[mAcChaos]

Trunks was never a leader type. His whole purpose in coming to the past was to basically hand the problem to someone else. So once he finds Goku and Vegeta it's only natural he would take a back seat to them.

[ABED]

Gohan's not a leader either, but at least there's a more interesting connection between Trunks and the villain(s). Gohan does nothing until the end of the arc. He's passive which doesn't make for an interesting hero.

[mAcChaos]

Gohan's connection is to a broader portion of the series. The Cell Saga is just about the Androids, but with Gohan it becomes a "coming of age" story. It connects to Z either way, just different parts of it.

[ABED]

Gohan's connection is to a broader portion of the series. The Cell Saga is just about the Androids, but with Gohan it becomes a "coming of age" story. It connects to Z either way, just different parts of it.

His coming of age is abrupt in that arc.

[mAcChaos]

You see lots of hints of it as he's training with Goku.

Basically what I'm trying to say is, the Androids leads up to Trunks, but all of DBZ leads up to Gohan's moment.

[ABED]

You see lots of hints of it as he's training with Goku.

Basically what I'm trying to say is, the Androids leads up to Trunks, but all of DBZ leads up to Gohan's moment.

Which he needs his father to hold his hand for. That's not becoming of the hero of the story that Toriyama tried to make him. Toriyama needed to make him far more proactive in the story for it to truely matter.

Trunks is the instigator of the story, it makes far more sense for him or Goku to be the hero.

[RandomGuy96]

I always get a little bothered when people say Trunks should've had a bigger role. He killed Freeza AND Cell and saved two universes from the androids. What more do you want? You want him to kill Cell THRICE? You want him to take one character's only real accomplishment? Hell, the only real accomplishment from ANYONE in this arc except him?

Yeah no. If anything I would cut back on his role. His big moment was killing the androids; I don't think he needed to kill Freeza and Cold.