The dubs changed some of the characterization, too. Like if I’m remembering right, even the old pre-funimation dub had Goku telling Krillin to spare Vegeta for some righteous reason. Then you read or watch the Japanese versions, and it’s Goku saying he wants a rival and somebody fun to fight again.
This is an oversimplified version. While Goku loves battles and fighting strong people he also follows his own code and has no mercy towards certain opponents. In original Dragon Ball he cares about fighting strong people and testing himself but he hates cruelty and takes things pretty serious from the moment Krillin dies at the hand of Piccolo. I’m not saying Goku is Superman but he’s not dumb as rocks like Monkey D Luffy. Sometimes he does the righteous thing (laying down his life for his son and planet when Radditz attacks) but also the selfish thing (telling Krillin to let Vegeta go, giving Cell a senzu). Goku isn’t righteous but he gives multiple people a chance (all of the entire crew are former villains of Goku from Oolong, Yamcha, Tien, Piccolo, Vegeta and now Buu, Android 18 and 17) but he’s also willing to do what’s necessary if need be (turning Frieza’s attack against him when he gave Frieza a chance, putting a hole through Piccolo’s chest).
Once Goku grows up Goku is mostly serious almost all the time because the stakes are so high. Goku is a surprisingly deep character and isn’t shallow or one-dimensional.
As it is, Goku in Super is not reminiscent of original Goku.
Nothing encapsulates this more than when Goku arrives on Namek.
THIS is Goku. Look at the tone. There’s nothing like that in Super besides Goku Black Saga. Not some unserious dude that doesn’t know what the stakes are and doesn’t have the presence of a warrior, who chases being strong above ALL ELSE even his own family. They took one aspect of his character which used to be multi-dimensional and turned it into the sole aspect of his character.
Goku cares so much about family he destroyed the Red Ribbon army just because he wanted his grandfathers four star ball back. Goku loves family so he named his son after his grandpa and was willing to die to save his son from his brother. To think Goku wouldn’t know who his granddaughter is much less train her in martial arts is not in Goku’s character.
The contrast between Goku in the final episode of Z and the majority of Super is night and day. Super Goku is a Flanderization of an iconic character. I still love Super but it’s how I see it.
