No.2443
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No.2444
What sets Jiren apart from other heroic characters are his flaws. His affliction with PTSD causes him to be antisocial and misanthropic, which contrasts heavily with the team-oriented nature of the Pride Troopers and their goals of meting out justice. His stoicism, pragmatism, and goal-oriented behavior puts him at odds with his teammates, all of whom favor cooperation and bolstering each other so as to eliminate any singular weaknesses. Jiren seeks to cultivate his strength to the point where he HAS no weaknesses, and up until the Tournament of Power, he believes he has reached that level. This is why, when he is proved wrong, he lashes out at the stands. The attack on Goku's friends is symbolic in nature, representing Jiren's attack on his own feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy. The only way he knows has been turned on its head, and the only course of action available to him is to use his superior strength to grind this esoteric threat into the dust. It's a masterful and fascinating character moment for an already incredibly-nuanced and interesting character.
No.2445
In many ways, Jiren serves as the personification of the themes and values that Dragon Ball Z has always stood for: self-improvement, and the cultivation of body, mind, and soul, interweaving these elements harmoniously betwixt each other until the perfect balance is achieved. This is why Roshi, even back in the original Dragon Ball, was adamant about Goku and Krillin performing various tasks that seemingly had nothing to do with fighting or martial arts, such as delivering milk and studying arithmetic.
Jiren takes these concepts and teachings and embodies them, gives to them a tangible, physical presence. That there are so many who are against Jiren and his characterization is just further proof that many Super "fans" don't understand Dragon Ball Z at all, and are indeed simply jumping on the DBZA/Super bandwagon. Jiren and Super don't seek to exclude the series or defame its roots; they instead seek to enrich them, provide them with the necessary nutrients to continue growing. Only the thinking man and true Dragon Ball Z fan understands this, which is why Jiren is such a polarizing character.
I, for one, applaud Toriyama's vision and decision to coalesce all the elements of this great series into one fascinating, complex, rich, and deeply-nuanced character.
No.2446
bazinga