Top 10 Most Out of Character Moments for Goku in Dragon Ball

10 Moments When Goku Acted Out of Character

Goku is celebrated for his consistency and growth throughout the vast universe of Dragon Ball, but even the most iconic characters have moments that don't align with their usual persona. Known for his love for food, battle, and a hopeful spirit, Goku occasionally acts in ways that leave fans scratching their heads. Here are some of those moments ranked:

10. Goku Heals a Bird During a Battle

In the non-canon film Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge, Goku performs an unusual act by healing a dead bird amidst a fierce battle. While helping others is part of Goku's nature, prioritizing a bird over his incapacitated friends feels out of character. This moment seemed more like an environmental message than aligning with his typical urgency in battle (source).

9. Goku's Blunt Anger in the Wedding Dress Arc

In the original Dragon Ball anime, Goku snaps at Annin and even Grandpa Gohan during a heated moment. More perplexing is Goku's refusal of food—a rarity given his well-known appetite. This bluntness and irritation contradict Goku's generally calm nature in tense situations (source).

8. Goku’s Nonchalance in Sacrificing Himself

In Dragon Ball Z's "A Hero's Farewell," Goku's casual demeanor while sacrificing himself and taking Cell to King Kai's planet is striking. His nonchalance contrasts with his usual passionate and emotional responses to such dire situations, making his lack of apology seem strangely indifferent (source).

7. Goku Runs from a Needle

Goku's needle phobia is a filler element introduced in the Dragon Ball Z anime. When Vegeta unintentionally pacifies Goku about a needle, his sudden calmness seems implausible. This reaction contrasts sharply with his typical brave demeanor (source).

6. Threatening Supreme Kai

In Dragon Ball Z's "Vegeta's Pride," Goku's decision to threaten Supreme Kai with an energy blast, just so he can fight Vegeta, feels jarring. Being a defender of Earth, Goku's willingness to harm an innocent being like the Supreme Kai for a battle shows a rare and unsettling intensity (source).

5. Goku Setting Up His Own Assassination

Goku organizing his assassination by Hit in Dragon Ball Super to ensure a challenging fight was surprising. While Goku loves worthy opponents, this elaborate scheme deviates from his usual straightforward approach toward battles (source).

4. Goku's Odd Reaction to Princess Snake

Goku's passive reaction to Princess Snake’s attempt at his life, particularly the nonchalant lack of empathy when witnessing a self-inflicted injury, seems off. Known for his caring nature, Goku's lack of reaction is inconsistent with his character (source).

3. Goku Killing Staff Officer Black

Unlike his usual practice of offering redemption, Goku confronts Staff Officer Black without hesitation in the Dragon Ball episode "The Last Dragon Ball." His willingness to kill without offering a chance to repent is atypical considering his later mercies to prominent foes (source).

2. Falling for Beerus’ Lie About Monaka

Goku’s naivety with Beerus’ ruse, pretending Monaka was the universe’s strongest fighter, was baffling. It seemed inconsistent since Goku can typically discern strong fighters and had prior knowledge of Monaka’s skills (source).

1. Offering Bulma in Exchange for a Wish

In Dragon Ball Z's "True Saiyans Fight Alone," Goku’s willingness to barter Bulma’s image to persuade Old Kai to help is off-putting. Known for his pure-heartedness and typically oblivious nature to romantic matters, this attempt at bribery seemed out of place and jarring in terms of his character aesthetics (source).

These peculiar instances remind us that while Goku remains a consistent hero at heart, deviations sparked by different narrative needs or writer interpretations allow for uniqueness in his character arc. Despite these outliers, Goku’s devotion to friendship and constant pursuit of self-improvement ensure his legacy in anime and manga history.

Photo Credit by CBR