Why Didn't Trunks Tell Goku What The Cyborgs Looked Like?

[thatdbzguy]

Yet another plot hole with the Cell Arc. Why didn't Future Trunks think of telling Goku what the androids looked like when he first went back to the past? You'd think he would consider that to be important information to tell, but nope.

[VegettoEX]

That's not a plot hole. It wasn't "wrong" information; it was just a lack of information.

If anything, Trunks gave them a pretty overwhelming amount of information. Date, time, location...

[Gyt Kaliba]

Exactly. And how was Trunks to know that there would be more than one set of Androids, seeing as how that was a surprise to him when he did drop back in? If anything, the only questionable thing he didn't mention that he should have was that you can't sense their energy, but I'll chalk that up to either 1) Toriyama didn't think of that yet, or 2) Toriyama wanted that to be a surprise, real world answers, rather than a 'plot hole'.

[Gaffer Tape]

Well, to be fair, there is a legitimate plot hole/wrong information in Trunks's spiel: namely, that he tells Goku that #19 and #20 will be arriving to attack earth, only for him to return and have no idea who they are. Honestly, I'd say the big deal made about him not describing them is a hasty attempt to spackle over that as much as possible. As in, "Of course we assumed those were the artificial humans you were telling us about. And it's not at all us thinking that because they're the exact artificial humans you specifically mentioned, but it's because you never bothered to tell us what they looked like, so we assumed they were!"

[Kaboom]

The "19 and 20" thing is best addressed with an out-of-universe answer — Toriyama's original plans were changed. By how much, we don't know. Maybe he could have avoided it (have 19 and 20 be the Androids that wrecked Trunks' future, but then have 17 and 18 be even STRONGER), but whatever.

But that said and put aside, Trunks wouldn't need to give descriptions of the Androids. It'd be easy enough to identify them by, well, being the ones attacking X location on Y date at Z time.

[DBZAOTA482]

The Z-Senshei recognized them pretty quickly from their Red Ribon Army logo so they apparently didn't need his description.

[Hitiro]

It's weird that someone doesn't know what a plot hole is. It's a pretty simple concept. It's an inconsistency in the story. Such as Pilaf and his gang magically being able to get past Karin and Yajirobe on their journey to the lookout. Or how they managed to bridge the gap between Karin's tower and the lookout with mech's that can't fly. Or how in the anime they make a big deal of Dr. Gero and Goku says he remembers him and that he spared his life even though we saw none of that in dragonball. Can't remember if the manga actually makes it sound like that too.

[miguelnuva1]

Trunks only knew two so he didn't need to tell Goku. The Androids started destroying as soon as they arrived.

[Saiga]

The "19 and 20" thing is best addressed with an out-of-universe answer — Toriyama's original plans were changed. By how much, we don't know. Maybe he could have avoided it (have 19 and 20 be the Androids that wrecked Trunks' future, but then have 17 and 18 be even STRONGER), but whatever.

While that would avoid the issue of what Trunks said, I don't think it'd be a good idea to have the Androids responsible for destroying Trunks' future being so unimportant - true, 17 and 18 were overshadowed by Cell, but at least they weren't outclassed immediately and were still necessary for Cell to reach his Perfect form.

The best in-universe answer for that problem is probably that Trunks misspoke and didn't catch himself.

[Gaffer Tape]

Or how in the anime they make a big deal of Dr. Gero and Goku says he remembers him and that he spared his life even though we saw none of that in dragonball. Can't remember if the manga actually makes it sound like that too.

Not sure what version you're watching, but that line is not in the original text.

[RandomGuy96]

The "19 and 20" thing is best addressed with an out-of-universe answer — Toriyama's original plans were changed. By how much, we don't know. Maybe he could have avoided it (have 19 and 20 be the Androids that wrecked Trunks' future, but then have 17 and 18 be even STRONGER), but whatever.

While that would avoid the issue of what Trunks said, I don't think it'd be a good idea to have the Androids responsible for destroying Trunks' future being so unimportant - true, 17 and 18 were overshadowed by Cell, but at least they weren't outclassed immediately and were still necessary for Cell to reach his Perfect form.

The best in-universe answer for that problem is probably that Trunks misspoke and didn't catch himself.

How were they not? They were only strong for one fight. The very next fight, they're only equal with Piccolo (and probably collectively inferior to the whole team), and literally right after that they're totally helpless and worthless as 16 is revealed to be uber strong and Cell whips a bunch of new power out to crush everyone. IMO it also seems fairly pointless to have these present androids be way stronger than the future ones, when that particular plot point never amounted to anything.

[Metalwario64]

Or how in the anime they make a big deal of Dr. Gero and Goku says he remembers him and that he spared his life even though we saw none of that in dragonball. Can't remember if the manga actually makes it sound like that too.

Not sure what version you're watching, but that line is not in the original text.

It's a FUNimation dub line.

[Saiga]

How were they not? They were only strong for one fight. The very next fight, they're only equal with Piccolo (and probably collectively inferior to the whole team), and literally right after that they're totally helpless and worthless as 16 is revealed to be uber strong and Cell whips a bunch of new power out to crush everyone. IMO it also seems fairly pointless to have these present androids be way stronger than the future ones, when that particular plot point never amounted to anything.

Not outclassed immediately meaning not like 19 and 20 were. Those were jokes right from the word go, whereas at least 18 beat some Super Saiyans without heart problems and 17 was tied with the powered up Piccolo.

[TheGmGoken]

Yet another plot hole with the Cell Arc. Why didn't Future Trunks think of telling Goku what the androids looked like when he first went back to the past? You'd think he would consider that to be important information to tell, but nope.

Why didn't King Kai tell Goku what Freeza looked like if he wanted to avoid him. Why didnt Kaioshin tell Z warrior what. Babidi, Boo, and his minions appearance look like

[thatdbzguy]

Yet another plot hole with the Cell Arc. Why didn't Future Trunks think of telling Goku what the androids looked like when he first went back to the past? You'd think he would consider that to be important information to tell, but nope.

Why didn't King Kai tell Goku what Freeza looked like if he wanted to avoid him. Why didnt Kaioshin tell Z warrior what. Babidi, Boo, and his minions appearance look like

I'm not sure where you're getting at. Are you saying I should forgive Trunks' stupidity because everyone else in DBZ is stupid?

[Marco Polo]

How is Trunks stupid when YOU are the one who didn't even know what a plothole is?

[thatdbzguy]

How is Trunks stupid when YOU are the one who didn't even know what a plothole is?

Plot holes don't always have to equal story contradictions. Plot holes can also be things that either happen or don't happen with no reason given. I'd say Trunks not telling Goku what the Cyborgs looked like falls under that.

[VegettoEX]

Plot holes don't always have to equal story contradictions. Plot holes can also be things that either happen or don't happen with no reason given. I'd say Trunks not telling Goku what the Cyborgs looked like falls under that.

That's just simply incorrect. You're assigning a new definition of "plot hole" to once again fulfill and enact your ongoing agenda to deface the Cell arc of the series.

You cannot make up new definitions that you and you alone with follow just to back up your arguments. No-one can or will be able to even have a reasonable conversation with you, never mind attempt to agree with you, if you continue following that posting style.

Look, no-one really cares one way or the other if you dislike that arc. We'd love to hear your solid reasons one way or the other. That's the whole point of having a discussion forum. However, at this point, you're simply making up new definitions to fit your established posting plan. It's tiresome, it's ridiculous, and it's going to stop immediately. You're not being rude, but you're being stubborn to the point of being toxic. Enough is enough, and enough is this post right here.

[TKA]

How is Trunks stupid when YOU are the one who didn't even know what a plothole is?

Plot holes don't always have to equal story contradictions. Plot holes can also be things that either happen or don't happen with no reason given. I'd say Trunks not telling Goku what the Cyborgs looked like falls under that.

Yeaaaaaah, no. There's character stupidity, and then there's plot holes. Good characters tend to not be infallible and make mistakes (either legitimate mistakes, or "mistakes" that are perfectly logical to make with the information THEY have). Trunks not mentioning how they look is a mistake on his part, but when you factor in that the Androids will be actively attacking a city, it shouldn't be difficult for Goku and crew to know who the bad guys are. Do you consider Raditz not killing Piccolo during their very first encounter a plot hole too? It certainly fits under your definition of what a "plot hole" is.

[TheGmGoken]

Yet another plot hole with the Cell Arc. Why didn't Future Trunks think of telling Goku what the androids looked like when he first went back to the past? You'd think he would consider that to be important information to tell, but nope.

Why didn't King Kai tell Goku what Freeza looked like if he wanted to avoid him. Why didnt Kaioshin tell Z warrior what. Babidi, Boo, and his minions appearance look like

I'm not sure where you're getting at. Are you saying I should forgive Trunks' stupidity because everyone else in DBZ is stupid?

How can you interpret that in that matter? This isn't the first time a character been mentioned before debut and haven't got a description of appearance. Raditz told Piccolo bout Vegeta and Nappa. Why didn't he tell their appearance? Why bo one tell Goku what Freeza looked like? That isn't stupid. Honestly every forn of fiction is "stupid" . I can name any manga, comic, legendary stories, or even tv shows and have a full essay about how it sucks or how its stupid