LogFAQs > #896033691

Some people are saying "Wow, Jiren is just like Batman, his parents got killed and now he wants to avenge them."

True. But that's actually not the important/interesting part.

What's interesting is that Jiren doesn't have true friends like Goku does.

Think about this for a second. During the Saiyan Saga, everyone fought together, even though they were hopelessly outclassed by the Saiyans. Even though Raditz already got Goku and almost Piccolo killed.

Even though these guys were all enemies, they got together, toughed it out, and became friends afterwards.

Jiren had the exact opposite of that. After his family and friends were killed, his comrades didn't want to fight with him anymore.

Jiren became obsessed with strength because he found out he couldn't trust anyone. Goku was already obsessed with strength, and he ended up making friends he could trust along the way. Hell, his worst enemy raised his child. It's the opposite for him.

Jiren didn't do anything wrong, on the contrary, it's understandable why he ended up so bitter. He just represents an alternate path that people take when they want to survive. Sometimes they fight, sometimes they run away. He is a tragic character, because he's just a victim of his circumstances, he couldn't help who he grew up with.

It's the cruel lottery of the universes, just like how Zeno is toying with them now and doesn't understand or care about the consequences.

This also explains why Jiren might be confused by Goku. How could someone want to be so strong, if not for justice? What Jiren doesn't realize is that the reason Goku just fights for fun is because he has what Jiren lacks -- his friends and family. That's why purity doesn't factor into it for Goku, because there is no justice to fight for when the ones you love are already safe.

And on the contrary, I don't think Jiren was insulting Toppo, even though he was being a dick. The reason why he criticized him because Jiren only believes in two things -- trust and power.

Even though Toppo was weaker before, Jiren respected him because he was his comrade and friend -- a Pride Trooper.

Toppo threw away that bond to become a God of Destruction instead of trusting Jiren to finish things -- a sacrifice that only would have been worth it in Jiren's eyes if it made him strong enough to win.

But it didn't, so not only was Toppo not strong enough, he threw away his trust in Jiren for nothing. So he was worthless now in Jiren's eyes.

Jiren became so obsessed with chasing strength to gain trust, that he lost compassion for those who try their best but fail. In his eyes, if you weren't strong enough, you weren't good enough, because he blames himself for his comrades not wanting to fight with him.

Goku on the other hand doesn't care about how strong his comrades are. His best friend is still Krillin. He wants to be strong not so people trust him, but just so he can be his best.

And that's what's cool about the story. Even though Jiren's perspective on things is flawed, that doesn't mean that Goku's is right. Goku just got the luck of the draw that allowed his path to unfold differently, and Jiren ended up with extreme beliefs due to harsh circumstances.

That's one of the things that makes Jiren compelling as an antagonist. He is not evil in any sense, he is arguably just misguided. This is also a great way to do parallels to your main character -- showing how the absence of a defining quality (die-hard comrades) will make their personality similar (craving strength) but different (needing trust), creating conflict.

I think both Goku and Jiren might change each other. It hasn't been said what Jiren's wish is, but I imagine it's either to gain people's trust, or become the strongest.
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Bangers
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