If there’s one character that Dragon Ball fans have a special affection for, it’s Gohan, Goku’s firstborn son. From his humble beginnings as a shy and reserved child to his outstanding involvement in crucial moments, Gohan’s story is one of the most endearing and compelling in the entire franchise. However, we have to be honest with a very painful aspect of the character: how depleted he is, especially given his enormous potential. This left thousands of fans wondering why they weakened Gohan so much?
Image: Toei Animation
Here are a few reasons why we think this might have happened:
Shifting Focus: As Dragon Ball progressed, the series focused on Goku and his transformations, relegating other characters, including Gohan, to the background. Goku is the main character and his fame tends to overshadow the others. Creators’ Choices: The direction of the story and the evolution of the characters largely depend on the decisions of the creators, such as Akira Toriyama. However, the reason why Toriyama decided to reduce Gohan’s role was due to pressure from Shueisha herself to give more attention to Goku. Personality Changes: As Gohan grew up in the series, his personality became less militant and more focused on normal life such as studying and raising a family. This contrasted with his previous role as a brave and strong fighter. Goku’s Successor: At one point, Gohan introduced himself as Goku’s successor and proved to be incredibly powerful, especially during the Cell Saga. However, he did not take on the lead role in the series permanently, which may have disappointed some fans who were hoping to see him in the lead role.
Do you also think that Gohan’s potential is greatly wasted?
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