Gohan (original manga wise) -- well handled character or wasted potential?
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Same. Him training in the Cell-Saga to Boo-Saga intermission wouldn't have made as much sense I think. AT knows his character better than us. I see people complaining about that.
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I think Toriyama sort of messed up in the Boo Saga. He didn’t know how to write him as the main character (even though Gohan was a main character in the series) and the Ultimate power up was very cheap (Guy just shows up and unlocks his potential) and pointless (just drags everything for Goku to come back).
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Decent character.
Had his moments (His early bouts of rage shook things up in an entertaining way, and Super Saiyan 2 @ Cell Games was cool)
Throughout it all, you could tell combat was never his passion, yet still gave us some gems in that domain.
In terms of his own pursuits -- i.e. academic stuff -- nothing to get excited over from an audience perspective, but at least he could partially get immersed into what he valued.
Had his moments (His early bouts of rage shook things up in an entertaining way, and Super Saiyan 2 @ Cell Games was cool)
Throughout it all, you could tell combat was never his passion, yet still gave us some gems in that domain.
In terms of his own pursuits -- i.e. academic stuff -- nothing to get excited over from an audience perspective, but at least he could partially get immersed into what he valued.
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Yeah I agree with Spiral, I think Gohan separated well the moments he had to be battle focused and the moments he just could dedicate to his passion. It's interesting that although Gohan doesn't like fighting, his kid self couldn't become immersed in the studies and even told his mom to give it a break when she tried preventing him from going to Namek, saying the situation all called for a change of demeanor and preferences. He noticed he didn't do his homework in the spaceship but that doesn't mean he's more battle oriented when the adrenaline was in the ceiling that time... not to mention he was still a kid. People say Gohan's pacifism came outta nowhere vs Cell, and in that I can agree it came a little off, since he had no problems killing bad people like when he killed Freeza's soldiers no problem. I also think Piccolo's constant reminding of Goku that Gohan hadn't the heart of a warrior was also weird considering that's what Piccolo expected and raised Gohan to vs the Saiyans, plus he knows Gohan has acquired way more experience in the battlefield after that. Could be though that Piccolo grew softer on that and more understanding of Gohan's lack of heart to deal with someone like Cell, in constrast to the Piccolo who tried pushing the enraged side of Gohan in the Saiyans saga.
I think that scene can still make sense in the context that it was the first time Gohan was given the main role and Piccolo knew his heart wasn't there, though still, Gohan noticing he wouldn't like to kill Cell was still a little off imo... he didn't try reasoning out with other enemies. Could be though that since Gohan was more matured there, he tried other ways to solve it in comparison to his earlier more explosive self, maybe, though he spent only a year in the RoSaT. Similarly, kid Goku ha no qualms in killing lots of Red Ribbon soldiers, but we know he became more of a pacifist as sparing Piccolo, making a case not to kill when he didn't need to in the Freeza saga, so that may be a similar situation in terms of maturing up moreso.
As for the Boo saga, battle and danger were over so it makes sense Gohan would take the time to dedicate to his academic life. There're some moments Gohan chooses to skip classes to train, but that doesn't need to come as an incosistency, as Gohan knew them fighting alongside Goku in the tournament was an unique opportunity and I'd say he still has some warrior passion in himself in spite of saying he hates to fight to Cell... I think fighting overall in a fun setting is something he enjoys, he just doesn't like when it's a matter of do it or die, though when times such as those come, he still doesn't open hand of making himself as available as possible, as seen in the remaining of the Boo arc.
@Sam you may chime in, boy!!!!!
I think that scene can still make sense in the context that it was the first time Gohan was given the main role and Piccolo knew his heart wasn't there, though still, Gohan noticing he wouldn't like to kill Cell was still a little off imo... he didn't try reasoning out with other enemies. Could be though that since Gohan was more matured there, he tried other ways to solve it in comparison to his earlier more explosive self, maybe, though he spent only a year in the RoSaT. Similarly, kid Goku ha no qualms in killing lots of Red Ribbon soldiers, but we know he became more of a pacifist as sparing Piccolo, making a case not to kill when he didn't need to in the Freeza saga, so that may be a similar situation in terms of maturing up moreso.
As for the Boo saga, battle and danger were over so it makes sense Gohan would take the time to dedicate to his academic life. There're some moments Gohan chooses to skip classes to train, but that doesn't need to come as an incosistency, as Gohan knew them fighting alongside Goku in the tournament was an unique opportunity and I'd say he still has some warrior passion in himself in spite of saying he hates to fight to Cell... I think fighting overall in a fun setting is something he enjoys, he just doesn't like when it's a matter of do it or die, though when times such as those come, he still doesn't open hand of making himself as available as possible, as seen in the remaining of the Boo arc.
@Sam you may chime in, boy!!!!!
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It could be said that Gohan's pacifist mindset was used to thicken the clash of ideals that was present between himself and Cell. Contrary to what Gohan had hoped would occur from his speech, Cell took a dump on his belief and tried to break him. This theme wouldn't be as potent with a random bad guy.
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Gohan is my favorite character in the series so I'll never say he was wasted.
Misused? Of course. The Buu saga is a bunch of what ifs, woulda, coulda, shoulda. I don't think Gohan would feel as degraded if it weren't for Dragon Ball Goku Time. It didn't help that the movies and Super only further reinforced that Gohan was ultimately meant to be irrelevant.
Misused? Of course. The Buu saga is a bunch of what ifs, woulda, coulda, shoulda. I don't think Gohan would feel as degraded if it weren't for Dragon Ball Goku Time. It didn't help that the movies and Super only further reinforced that Gohan was ultimately meant to be irrelevant.
