Why didn't Dr. Gero turn himself into an Android?

[Let's Go Fearless!]

Like #17 and #18?

 

[Papasmurf]

Because AT's editors made that arc trash.

 

[Let's Go Fearless!]

Because AT's editors made that arc trash.

Try some "In Universe" explanation or your theory?

 

[Papasmurf]

I guess since #19 helped him turn himself to a robot, and he only understood how to craft an energy absorption type

 

[Evil Vegeta]

I always assumed Gero either didn't trust #19 to successfully complete the conversion, or his body was too old to withstand it.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

He may have felt as though having infinite energy from the start may make him as overconfident as the twins, rather than having a slow progression of strength. Haxes seem to correlate with arrogance, at least in the Cell Arc.

It doesn't make perfect sense, but neither does making it your life's goal to live in the mountains and experiment in killing an alien manchild.

 

[Super Neko Majin Z]

If you use the theory that the future androids weakened over time, Gero might have switched to energy absorbing to stop his body from wearing out, since he only needs to support stolen power for a short time. The energy absorbing model might be truly immortal while the infinite energy one is not. It does rely on headcanon, but it's the best I can come up with.

 

[Pocket-Gog~]

Because AT's editors made that arc trash.

Try some "In Universe" explanation or your theory?

There isn't any 'In Universe' explanation for why Dr Gero didn't turn himself into the same android model as 18 and 17, it's simply, and purely out of character for him. My theory is that since Akira Toriyama's editors didn't like Dr Gero and 19 , Toriyama had to scramble to find a way to make a powerful enemy.

 

[Keedounan]

Like #17 and #18?

It may have been (as #18 hints) because he thinks that an energy-absorbing model android is easier to use as a host. That, or Gero is the smartest dumb person.

 

[Cell]

Perhaps the procedure is too complicated... and he simply couldn't program an android capable of performing it (and adapting to anything that might go wrong).

Remember... he was trusting whatever he created with his life while extremely vunerable. Choosing the most simple procedure with the least amount of actions and highest chance of success seems wise at that point (because 19's task was essentially "take out my brain, put it in this body").


You could also explore it from a "God creates man in his own image, man no longer needs god" angle...

 

[withheldforprivacy]

Like #17 and #18?

Because absorbing others' energy gave him the potential to end up stronger than 17/18.

 

[Evil Vegeta]

Like #17 and #18?

It may have been (as #18 hints) because he thinks that an energy-absorbing model android is easier to use as a host. That, or Gero is the smartest dumb person.

#18's quote seemed to be focused on the fact that energy absorbing types are more obedient than infinite types.

If Gero actually modified himself to be an infinite model, I don't think he'd have to worry about obedience since he's under no one's control.

But it is possible that Gero simply thought energy absorbing models would be more functional (albeit less powerful) in general.

 

[Papasmurf]

Yeah no matter how you try to explain it it doesn't make any sense. If he feared getting absorbed by Cell he could've just made himself like 16.

 

[Evil Vegeta]

It's funny because Gero's decision would've been perfectly fine if Super Saiyan never existed.

I mean, he actually overdid it with #19 and himself, so.

 

[Fantastische Hure]

He considered all the other androids, besides Cell a failure. The only other one that was a success in his opinion was #19, so maybe he thought there was more potential with an absorption-type model as long as he starts-out strong enough (which for him sadly, he didn't).

 

[Evil Vegeta]

The Android history page says he considered the twins failures because of their inability to take orders. It also says he made them way too powerful.

#16 was considered a failure likely of his gentle nature, amongst other flaws. That's the same reason why #8 was considered one as well.

Had Gero met Cell and was unable to get him to follow orders, he'd probably consider him a failure like the others.

 

[Let's Go Fearless!]

I've always thought that he wanted to live forever and get stronger by absorbing IMO.

 

[Boo Brand Milk]

I think 19 and 20 have the potential to level up to their opponent's strength unlike 16, 17, and 18. Now of course this whole concept was not utilized at all and once the trick was figured out absorption was little help against a stronger opponent.

 

[Pocket-Gog~]

Because AT's editors made that arc trash.

Try some "In Universe" explanation or your theory?

There isn't any 'In Universe' explanation for why Dr Gero didn't turn himself into the same android model as 18 and 17, it's simply, and purely out of character for him. My theory is that since Akira Toriyama's editors didn't like Dr Gero and 19 , Toriyama had to scramble to find a way to make a powerful enemy.

4 years later and this is still correct.

 

[Papasmurf]

About the only explanation I have is that since he got #19 to make him an android, and programming #19 with the knowledge of how to create the infinite energy model could prove to be fatal if #19 just moved bodies to a more powerful one and rebelled, he could only use an energy absorption body. Of course, the much more brief and accurate explanation is that Toriyama dun goofed.