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Sigilbreaker26 Serial Procrastinator Since: Nov, 2017
Serial Procrastinator
#78001: Feb 10th 2018 at 8:48:55 AM

I've noticed a trend for anime to throw in flashbacks to a character's past when it can't develop their personalities properly, as a sort of substitute.

"And when the last law was down and the Devil turned round on you, where would you hide, the laws all being flat?"
Hobgoblin Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
BlackYakuzu94 CHADhan Player. from Easy Coast/NY Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: Longing for my OTP
CHADhan Player.
#78003: Feb 10th 2018 at 9:15:07 AM

Eeyup

A lazy millennial who's good at what he does.
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#78004: Feb 10th 2018 at 9:56:58 AM

I think this is the first time a main Dragon Ball villain has gotten a flashback to their childhood. Closest was Piccolo Jr, who was a child while the series was going.

LordVatek Not really a lord of anything Since: Sep, 2014
Not really a lord of anything
#78005: Feb 10th 2018 at 10:03:53 AM

Yup though that's hardly exclusive to anime.

This song needs more love.
Tomodachi Now a lurker. See you at the forums. Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Now a lurker. See you at the forums.
#78006: Feb 10th 2018 at 10:16:44 AM

I'm not going to forgive the anime for not developing Jiren personality earlier, but at least I'm glad we will got an explanation to what Jiren did to gain that level of strength.

To win, you need to adapt, and to adapt, you need to be able to laugh away all the restraints. Everything holding you back.
KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#78007: Feb 10th 2018 at 12:07:28 PM

Yeah, all I can think is that it’s way too late to start caring about Jiren’s backstory now, especially since given that the arc is ending in like five episodes it’s just going to be a cursory thing before the end anyway. There’s no time to start pretending he has a personality.

I stopped caring about the characters’ backstories in the TOP and such ages ago - since we lost Universe 6, really - mostly because the way they introduce them is flat and repetitive, and nothing has been coming of them anyway.

edited 10th Feb '18 12:09:25 PM by KnownUnknown

Soble Since: Dec, 2013
#78008: Feb 10th 2018 at 12:08:47 PM

I'd like some explanation for Jiren's strength personally.

I'M MR. MEESEEKS, LOOK AT ME!
DarkHunter from New Mexico Since: Jan, 2001
#78009: Feb 10th 2018 at 12:10:29 PM

I'd like some explanation for Jiren's strength personally.

One hundred pushups! One hundred sit-ups! One hundred squats! And a ten kilometer run! Everyday, with no breaks or air conditioning!

edited 10th Feb '18 12:10:51 PM by DarkHunter

Anomalocaris20 from Sagittarius A* Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
#78010: Feb 10th 2018 at 12:11:10 PM

But what kind of juice?

You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#78011: Feb 10th 2018 at 12:12:34 PM

Hit didn't get any character until the final battle with him, and he's great. Maybe this fixes Jiren entirely and explains everything.

KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#78012: Feb 10th 2018 at 12:15:46 PM

Hit hasn’t been around for several dozen episodes or had repeated encounters with the main characters at the time they fought. It was a hint of him, followed by a formal introduction and then the fight: very solid.

Meanwhile Jiren has, for better or for worse, has been a relatively active character in this arc. Which means the audience has already come to know him with the characterization they’ve given him. “Lacking in personality” is who he is at this point, and they can’t really change that - we can learn stuff about him that can alleviate it somewhat, but to a point.

edited 10th Feb '18 12:20:06 PM by KnownUnknown

PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#78013: Feb 10th 2018 at 12:24:17 PM

We could learn that he's been hiding his true personality because of the serious nature of the tournament, that would do it.

KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#78014: Feb 10th 2018 at 12:27:10 PM

Not really. We don’t have anytime to get to know this supposed true personality, because the series is about to end/hiatus/be replaced with the next DB series/etc. It would be more of an Informed Quality, or at best a Hand Wave, because he obviously hasn’t showed this personality exists before this point.

PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#78015: Feb 10th 2018 at 12:28:23 PM

Again, Hit. His fight with Goku was, what, 3 and a half episodes?

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#78016: Feb 10th 2018 at 12:28:31 PM

Jiren was a cute kid though.

Damn, DB finally about to go into anime flashbacks.

I'm getting flashbacks of Bleach here.

[up] It's too little, too late in Jiren's case.

edited 10th Feb '18 12:29:08 PM by slimcoder

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#78017: Feb 10th 2018 at 12:31:11 PM

With Hit we didn't find out about what makes him tick right before the series was over. Kind of makes a huge difference.

edited 10th Feb '18 12:31:32 PM by LSBK

KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#78018: Feb 10th 2018 at 12:31:24 PM

[up][up][up] And again:

Hit hadn’t been around for several dozen episodes or had repeated encounters with the main characters at the time they fought. It was a hint of him, followed by a formal introduction and then the fight: very solid.

The length of Hit’s first appearance wasn’t what made him work. The way his first appearance was handled is. His characterization across he U6 arc is written quite differently from the way Jiren has been.

edited 10th Feb '18 12:32:22 PM by KnownUnknown

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#78019: Feb 10th 2018 at 12:47:01 PM

I think what would redeem Jiren for me is if they make him a reoccurring character next show & I doubt they'll do that.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
Hobgoblin Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#78020: Feb 10th 2018 at 12:54:56 PM

Hit vs Goku was about two episodes, to my recollection. But yeah, the difference there is that Hit is really just waiting on the bleachers aside from the part where he bodies Frost. Once he gets in the ring, he's kind of terse and straight to business, but it's because he's an assassin. He's not terribly interested in martial arts and is just there for the transport vessel.

Jiren is presumably there to save his universe, but has done a poor job displaying he wants to do so. He also has ulterior motive, which hasn't been hinted at in the slightest. Even his teammates day nothing about him other than "Wow, he's soooo strong, you guys. You're so dead, U7."

PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#78021: Feb 10th 2018 at 12:56:53 PM

We're also likely going to be getting a lot more with Jiren over the next few episodes than we did with Hit. I mean, he's getting a flashback, for pete's sake. If this doesn't turn out well, I will be cross, but I'm optimistic that it'll work out.

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#78022: Feb 10th 2018 at 1:00:16 PM

Yeah, and that can be good. But does it really need to be explained to you why some people might not care about finding out about him at this point? Super is almost over; insight into him would be nice, but if most of Jiren's time has spent with him being blank an episode or two to flesh him out isn't going to be enough to make him a character to care about for a lot of people.

edited 10th Feb '18 1:13:24 PM by LSBK

GAP Formerly G.G. from Who Knows? Since: May, 2011 Relationship Status: In love with love
Formerly G.G.
#78023: Feb 10th 2018 at 1:10:05 PM

[up] Indeed.

"Mai waifu."
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#78024: Feb 10th 2018 at 1:22:24 PM

*sigh* No, it does not need to be explained to me why some find him unsalvagable, don't condescend. I have the same complaints you do about his flatness, it just doesn't bother me as much. I think Jiren getting a suitably compelling backstory and motivation could flesh him out enough to be great, I understand why you don't though.

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#78025: Feb 10th 2018 at 1:24:25 PM

I'm not particularly bothered by Jiren, actually. I just get why other people are, and don't feel the need to tell people "give it a chance!" or something. Presumably everyone here is still going to watch the episode, if they like what they see, fine, if they don't, that's it.

edited 10th Feb '18 1:24:59 PM by LSBK


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