Dragon Ball Super has been criticized by fans for its treatment of beloved characters Goten and Trunks. Rather than allowing these young Saiyans to develop their own unique fighting styles and personalities, the series repeatedly relied on their fusion into Gotenks as a narrative shortcut. This overuse of fusion reduced two potentially dynamic characters into a single comedic gimmick.

The problem stems from the writers' dependency on Gotenks whenever Goten and Trunks appeared together. Instead of showcasing their individual growth, skills, or personalities, the series immediately pushed them toward fusion. This lazy approach robbed fans of seeing how these characters might have evolved independently during the Super timeline. Unlike their fathers Goku and Vegeta, who received extensive character development, Goten and Trunks remained stagnant, defined solely by their ability to fuse rather than their own merits as fighters and characters.