Why do people like the character Oob?

[Sin]

Hi all, I've just come from the 2015 movie thread where everyone is speculating and something I see being tossed about is the inclusion of Oob. For me personally I couldn't care less if Oob never appears in any new material, he was in the manga briefly and although he had an interesting back-story in that he was the reincarnation of Boo I just never really built an opinion of the character, if anything I didn't really like his design or his personality.

So I was wondering why so many others like his character, the fact that he is Boo reincarnated? His character in GT? His design?
And if you don't like him, I'd also like to hear why not.

[sintzu]

I don't and wouldn't mind if toriyama said he's going to ignore the whole uub/final tenkaichi section of the story

[TheGmGoken]

Perhaps they like the potential he has.

[Sin]

I don't and wouldn't mind if toriyama said he's going to ignore the whole uub/final tenkaichi section of the story

Why do you feel so strongly? I couldn't care less for his inclusion but it wouldn't bother me if he was included, he is a part of the series after all and his absence would probably irritate me more.

[Herms]

I guess I like the character because I like the idea of the series ending with Goku finally passing on the torch to a successor (while at the same time still striving to get stronger himself and find new challenges), with the possibility that maybe, just maybe the pass-on-the-torch thing will actually stick this time around. So in that sense I guess I like the whole setup at the end of the manga more than the actual character of Oob, who's mostly a blank slate, though I do like his character design at least. Anyway, since Oob basically represents future, untapped potential (the same way Gohan used to), the problem is that if you actually show his future life and adventures then it kinda takes away his initial appeal (see: Gohan in the Boo arc). A kid who can one day surpass Goku is interesting, while a guy who has surpassed Goku isn't quite so much (or at least, you need to go come up with something else for his character hook to be at that point).

[sintzu]

Why do you feel so strongly? I couldn't care less for his inclusion but it wouldn't bother me if he was included, he is a part of the series after all and his absence would probably irritate me more.

I don't think he will add anything to the story and i'm not a fan of him being kid buu re incarnated

[Gyt Kaliba]

Perhaps they like the potential he has.

Pretty much this. I mean, think about one of the major complaints people have about DBZ as it moves forward - the focus on Saiyans. In the Saiyan arc, it's not too awful bad yet (they'd just been introduced after all), and we still get a lot of action out of the human characters (even if most of them fall to the wayside), and Piccolo is still the second strongest character besides Goku (Gohan kind of doesn't count, given his lack of control over his power at this point). Then as we move into the Freeza arc, the Saiyan focus still isn't too bad yet. Kuririn still plays a major part, arguably more so than even Goku does; the other humans have a pretty good excuse of being dead for why they're not involved in things; and Piccolo gets to make a comeback as one of the strongest heroes again. What Saiyan focus we do get though is a little more understandable, because of how tied they are to Freeza. However, we already start to see the pulling away from humans as an effective force.

Then we move into the Androids/Cell arc, which is where the downward spiral of human involvement starts to rear it's ugly head fully. Only the Saiyans and Piccolo are of any effect in this arc, though to it's defense, all the human fighters do still get to contribute in little ways. Yamcha is the first to encounter the Androids and figure out something about them, as well as taking Goku back to be healed; Tenshinhan gets to hold the much stronger Cell back; and Kuririn has the whole deal with Android 18. After that though, we move into the Boo arc, where sadly literally EVERYONE who's not a Saiyan doesn't get to do crap that effect the plot in any major way. Piccolo does get a little bit of time to shine as foil for Gotenks, I'll give it that, but beyond that this is literally "The Saiyan Show" by this point. And let's not even get into GT which became "The Goku Show."

Actually yeah, let's do get into GT a little bit, because it does concern Oob. That was the perfect chance for the character to shine, but they botched it there too, which only adds even more annoyance to the neglect of the character.

And why do I feel that he's been neglected? Because of exactly the stuff I was going through before - DBZ had devolved into a point where only characters with Saiyan heritage could do anything, and it had become extremely noticeable. Enter Oob however, a human character that, at the very least, has the potential to be as strong as Kid Boo, the ultimate foe for Goku (at the time anyway) was. And as I always say in other threads, there's no reason to believe that's not just the tip of the iceberg given his young age and inability to control the power, just like Gohan as a kid. This is a human character that could easily surpass all of the other characters, and the first character that isn't a rival or his own family that Goku has taken a real interest in. There is literally TONS of potential in the use of Oob, and yet, it's never been tapped into and doesn't appear to be anytime soon. If you ask me, that's the real crying shame, not whether or not every single little thing fits together perfectly.

[Cetra]

Actually yeah, let's do get into GT a little bit, because it does concern Oob. That was the perfect chance for the character to shine, but they botched it there too, which only adds even more annoyance to the neglect of the character.

Oob was pretty powerful considering he only lost to Baby because he planned it. So maybe he couldn't actually beat him even if he tried but he put up a very good fight, could have fought even better if he didn't choose to do what he did to fool Baby and later was also very useful with it.

[Gyt Kaliba]

Actually yeah, let's do get into GT a little bit, because it does concern Oob. That was the perfect chance for the character to shine, but they botched it there too, which only adds even more annoyance to the neglect of the character.

Oob was pretty powerful considering he only lost to Baby because he planned it. So maybe he couldn't actually beat him even if he tried but he put up a very good fight, could have fought even better if he didn't choose to do what he did to fool Baby and later was also very useful with it.

I dunno...I forget, is it actually said that he planned to be eaten like that? The way it appeared to me, he just got overpowered and turned to chocolate, but unlike others who have the technique used on them, Oob was able to revert later on. Once he did, he probably sensed the fight that was going on, and started to attack Baby from the inside.

I mean, I guess it could have been his plan all along - I certainly wouldn't put it past them to ape the Vegetto tactic again - but it wasn't a great plan that he waited forever to start doing, so still counts as poor use of the character.

[ABED]

I guess I like the character because I like the idea of the series ending with Goku finally passing on the torch to a successor (while at the same time still striving to get stronger himself and find new challenges), with the possibility that maybe, just maybe the pass-on-the-torch thing will actually stick this time around. So in that sense I guess I like the whole setup at the end of the manga more than the actual character of Oob, who's mostly a blank slate, though I do like his character design at least. Anyway, since Oob basically represents future, untapped potential (the same way Gohan used to), the problem is that if you actually show his future life and adventures then it kinda takes away his initial appeal (see: Gohan in the Boo arc). A kid who can one day surpass Goku is interesting, while a guy who has surpassed Goku isn't quite so much (or at least, you need to go come up with something else for his character hook to be at that point).

I don't care for the pass the torch idea because it's not something Goku went for. He wasn't the hero because he wanted to be, it just happened. Plus, and I can't stretch this enough, it's his story.

[TheGmGoken]

I guess I like the character because I like the idea of the series ending with Goku finally passing on the torch to a successor (while at the same time still striving to get stronger himself and find new challenges), with the possibility that maybe, just maybe the pass-on-the-torch thing will actually stick this time around. So in that sense I guess I like the whole setup at the end of the manga more than the actual character of Oob, who's mostly a blank slate, though I do like his character design at least. Anyway, since Oob basically represents future, untapped potential (the same way Gohan used to), the problem is that if you actually show his future life and adventures then it kinda takes away his initial appeal (see: Gohan in the Boo arc). A kid who can one day surpass Goku is interesting, while a guy who has surpassed Goku isn't quite so much (or at least, you need to go come up with something else for his character hook to be at that point).

I don't care for the pass the torch idea because it's not something Goku went for. He wasn't the hero because he wanted to be, it just happened. Plus, and I can't stretch this enough, it's his story.

What you tmean by nothing Goku went for? Didn't he want Gohan, Gotenks, Goten, and Trunks to be the next gen and pass the torch to them.

[ABED]

It wasn't a title or position he actively sought. Goku's goal has always been just to be the best he can be, he didn't seek the metaphorical torch and neither he nor the author have any obligation to "pass it". Goku wasn't handed it, and Uub isn't that interesting, nor is he the character we've stayed with for decades.

[TheGmGoken]

It wasn't a title or position he actively sought. Goku's goal has always been just to be the best he can be, he didn't seek the metaphorical torch and neither he nor the author have any obligation to "pass it". Goku wasn't handed it, and Uub isn't that interesting, nor is he the character we've stayed with for decades.

Oob barely got spotlight. We have no idea what would happen had Toriyama wrote more. He didn't actively sought it. But he sure in hell stated he wants the next Generation to save Earth. As he won't be here forever. That's passing the torch. He did it with Gohan and tried to do it again with Goten and Trunks. All 3 failed. But point is Goku can pass the torch. Its when ever Toriyama or Toei let's him.

[Gyt Kaliba]

I dunno...I would agree and disagree both, ABED. You're right, Goku was certainly never handed a torch, but at some point in time, he seems to have picked one up. He may have always been in it for his own selfish reasons of getting stronger, but that doesn't change the fact that he DID become a defender of his home planet in the process. And it's very clear that, towards the end of the series, he began to realize this and not want it anymore. It could still be a selfish reasoning too - maybe Goku just wants to go back to being able to fight strong guys without worrying about what may happen if he loses - but he very clearly wanted Gohan to become the next 'strongest guy', and then even wanted Goten and Trunks to take care of things, because he realized that he himself is not always going to be there to take care of things.

You are right though that Oob isn't the character we've been through everything with. And while I would give it a watch to see how things go, I'm not saying we should get some kind of full series with Oob as the lead. But a story with him coming into his own as the person who can finally, truly pick up where Goku will eventually leave off, all with Goku still there along for the ride to see his student evolve? THAT is what I feel we need to see at some point.

[ABED]

It wasn't a title or position he actively sought. Goku's goal has always been just to be the best he can be, he didn't seek the metaphorical torch and neither he nor the author have any obligation to "pass it". Goku wasn't handed it, and Uub isn't that interesting, nor is he the character we've stayed with for decades.

Oob barely got spotlight. We have no idea what would happen had Toriyama wrote more. He didn't actively sought it. But he sure in hell stated he wants the next Generation to save Earth. As he won't be here forever. That's passing the torch. He did it with Gohan and tried to do it again with Goten and Trunks. All 3 failed. But point is Goku can pass the torch. Its when ever Toriyama or Toei let's him.

I understand that, but I don't want to see that point because no one is as interesting in that spot. It's like the end of the Dark Knight Rises. Fine, pass the torch (even though the guy isn't trained or qualified), but I don't want to see Blake as Batman. There's only one true Batman, just like DB has one central hero.

I never said he can't pass the torch, just that he doesn't have to nor should he. The torch should be taken, and I don't want to see anyone else in that role.

own selfish reasons of getting stronger

can we not use selfish as a pejorative?

[Hellspawn28]

Uub would have been great if he didn't became useless after the Bebi saga. Maybe we can have seen more of him and Goku together in GT. I would have him come to Space with Goku instead of Pan.

[Gyt Kaliba]

own selfish reasons of getting stronger

can we not use selfish as a pejorative?

What do you mean? Goku is definitely a selfish character, but that's not a bad thing, at least not all of the way. It's very much a part of his charm.

[TheGmGoken]

own selfish reasons of getting stronger

can we not use selfish as a pejorative?

What do you mean? Goku is definitely a selfish character, but that's not a bad thing, at least not all of the way. It's very much a part of his charm.

I believe in the Jpn version if anime he even said he was selfish.

[Kid Buu]

I believe in the Jpn version if anime he even said he was selfish.

He did, when he spared Vegeta.

[ABED]

What do you mean? Goku is definitely a selfish character, but that's not a bad thing, at least not all of the way. It's very much a part of his charm.

I know what was said, but so many people lump so much stuff into the word selfish and it unfortunately has taken on a negative connotation. Heaven forbid someone does something primarily for themselves. Selfishness has become a package deal. If a word can have negative and positive connotations, the word needs to be redefined. Goku fighting to be the best he can is undoubtedly a good thing. The fact that he didn't set out to be the hero of the world like some writers make Superman doesn't make him inherently less heroic.

And just because someone says a word doesn't mean they know fully what it means. Goku's a mixed case. He's sometimes selfish, and sometimes self-sacrificial. Anyway, this is about Goku and Uub, not philosophy, sorry for the digression. The use of "selfish" in a negative sense is a pet peeve of mine.

A big reason I don't like Uub is probably just because I don't like DBZ's ending. It's too bittersweet and doesn't feel in keeping with the tone of the show, whereas DB's ending does. Yeah, I know it's all DB, but let's just move past that.