The Untold Journey of Gohan: Why Fans Overlooked his Struggles

Dragon Ball fans are revisiting the older installments of the series as the Super manga series does not explore any new aspects. Gohan, Goku's son, is one of the most important characters in the franchise. People were excited to see Gohan's growth because of his immense potential.

It has been stated multiple times that if Gohan reached his full potential, he would surpass Goku. At a very young age, he achieved the impressive feat of defeating Perfect Cell, a task that only a few individuals were capable of.

Dragon Ball: Reviewing events that possibly played a role in Gohan’s decision to shift his focus from fighting to studying

However, as the Dragon Ball series progressed, Gohan shifted his focus from training and perfecting his combat skills to engaging in intellectual pursuits. This change disappointed some fans who believed Gohan was not living up to his full potential. However, considering all the challenges and experiences Gohan encountered throughout the Dragon Ball series, it becomes clear why he made this decision in the first place.

Throughout the Dragon Ball series, we witnessed a gradual transition in the combat prodigy's interests from battles to academic pursuits. His enjoyment in fighting diminished over time, largely because of the significant events he experienced. Even as a young child, Gohan bore witness to a series of life-altering occurrences that would leave a lasting impact on anyone, including a Saiyan capable of surpassing Goku.

Dragon Ball fans know how incredibly close Piccolo and Gohan are. Piccolo served as a father figure for Gohan, not only imparting training but also instilling important values. In a pivotal moment during their battle against Nappa, Piccolo made the ultimate sacrifice, giving his life to protect Gohan. At that tender age of five, Gohan witnessed the tragic death of someone he loved right before his eyes. To compound the grief, he also had to endure the loss of his father. Dealing with such circumstances would be an immense challenge for any child, let alone a 5-year-old.

Aside from witnessing deaths, Gohan found himself in similar circumstances of facing powerful adversaries. He was only a young child when he engaged in a battle against Frieza, who was prominently presented as one of the mightiest and most fearsome villains at that point in the story. During the events of Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F,’ Gohan met his demise at the hands of Frieza, but was later revived. Additionally, it is crucial to recall that Gohan was compelled to confront Perfect Cell.

Perfect Cell was one of the most terrifying adversaries the Z fighters had ever faced. In addition to having to confront Cell in his perfected form, Gohan also had to contend with a fully revived and charged opponent. To complicate matters further, Gohan's father provided Cell with a Senzu Bean, which replenishes energy and overall health. Despite ultimately succeeding in defeating Cell, Gohan did not emerge from the battle unscathed.

The entire Dragon Ball community condemns Chi-Chi for her role in pushing Gohan towards academia instead of combat. However, upon closer examination of Gohan's past experiences, it becomes apparent that Chi-Chi's influence on his decision is unlikely to have been more significant than his own personal journey. Taking into account previous incidents, it becomes evident why Gohan made the choice to prioritize his studies.

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Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I have mixed feelings about Gohan's journey. On the one hand, I understand why he chose to focus on his studies instead of fighting. He had been through a lot of trauma in his life, and he needed some time to heal. On the other hand, I wish he had continued to train and fight. I think he had the potential to be a great fighter, and it's a shame that he never reached his full potential.

I think Gohan's story is a reminder that it's okay to take breaks from the things that we love. Sometimes, we need to focus on our own well-being and happiness. It's also okay to change our minds about what we want to do with our lives. Gohan was happy with his decision to focus on his studies, and I think that's all that matters.