Defending Yamcha
I wrote something in my journal a while back; a rant about how Yamcha from Dragonball Z is treated in the majority of Bulma/Vegeta fanfiction. I figured I'd post it here, just because I'd like to hear what other people think.
By far, the most popular DBZ pairing (among the het pairings, anyway) is Vegeta/Bulma. Nothing wrong with it at all; I like the dynamics of the pair, and they compliment each other. But I have a problem with some of the fanfiction involving the pairing; the subject of Bulma's ex, Yamcha.
Back in the day, I actually really liked Yamcha and Bulma as a couple, as on-and-off as they were, and was a little annoyed when I first learned that their relationship was doomed. But I grew to love Bulma with Vegeta. Now, I can appreciate both pairings for what they are (or were). But you never do see how Yamcha and Bulma break up--and how Bulma ends up with Vegeta. This is left to fan interpetation. And here is where the rant begins.
Okay, so Yamcha wasn't exactly the most faithful boyfriend in the world; even when he was on with Bulma, he flirted with other girls; like Krillin's one-time girlfriend, Maron. Even so, Bulma was just as bad as he was; before Vegeta even moved into Capsule Corp, she flirted with him once or twice. They both had issues with commitment, and I actually think it's pretty amazing that the two of them lasted nearly as long as they did. To go and say that Yamcha was the unfaithful one while Bulma was perfect is just bonkers to me.
Also, there's the issue in some fanfiction where, apparently, Yamcha is abusive. Now, first of all, the thought of Yamcha being abusive, to me, seems COMPLETELY out of character. I don't see where the idea can even come from, or how it even came about, but it's stupid. I hate to say it, but if anyone in the Yamcha-Bulma dynamic could've been abusive, I'd think it would've been Bulma. But I don't see her as being abusive either; if anything, she got on Yamcha's case quite a lot.
I think that what ultimately broke up Yamcha and Bulma is that something had to give. They were both flirting (maybe cheating) behind the other's back, they got into fights and broke up and got back together so much for so long, and on the plus side, Bulma was starting to fall in love with Vegeta (so I assume, being that we didn't see this happening).
Vegeta had to have been a factor in Bulma's break-up with Yamcha; either she broke up with Yamcha in order to be with Vegeta, or she cheated on Yamcha with Vegeta. And in all honestly, I think the latter might be the case; that is, if Bulma is ultimately to blame. If it's Yamcha, then either he did in fact cheat on her, or he realized that she was starting to fall for Vegeta, OR, he finally got fed up with all their fights. Of course, for all we know, they might have maturely and mutually decided that it just wasn't meant to be, and rather then keep trying, they decided that it was best that they end their relationship for good and remain friends. I think that this last theory is the best one, but I'm not totally sure if I'd believe it was the way they broke up. It takes a lot to end a long relationship, regardless of how stormy it was.
I just don't like how Yamcha is made out to be such a horrible guy. I mean, he loved Bulma. I'm sure losing Bulma to Vegeta, even if indirectly, hurt him a lot. Again, it's up to one's interpretation. I would just like it a lot more if fanfiction writers were...nicer to Yamcha.
By far, the most popular DBZ pairing (among the het pairings, anyway) is Vegeta/Bulma. Nothing wrong with it at all; I like the dynamics of the pair, and they compliment each other. But I have a problem with some of the fanfiction involving the pairing; the subject of Bulma's ex, Yamcha.
Back in the day, I actually really liked Yamcha and Bulma as a couple, as on-and-off as they were, and was a little annoyed when I first learned that their relationship was doomed. But I grew to love Bulma with Vegeta. Now, I can appreciate both pairings for what they are (or were). But you never do see how Yamcha and Bulma break up--and how Bulma ends up with Vegeta. This is left to fan interpetation. And here is where the rant begins.
Okay, so Yamcha wasn't exactly the most faithful boyfriend in the world; even when he was on with Bulma, he flirted with other girls; like Krillin's one-time girlfriend, Maron. Even so, Bulma was just as bad as he was; before Vegeta even moved into Capsule Corp, she flirted with him once or twice. They both had issues with commitment, and I actually think it's pretty amazing that the two of them lasted nearly as long as they did. To go and say that Yamcha was the unfaithful one while Bulma was perfect is just bonkers to me.
Also, there's the issue in some fanfiction where, apparently, Yamcha is abusive. Now, first of all, the thought of Yamcha being abusive, to me, seems COMPLETELY out of character. I don't see where the idea can even come from, or how it even came about, but it's stupid. I hate to say it, but if anyone in the Yamcha-Bulma dynamic could've been abusive, I'd think it would've been Bulma. But I don't see her as being abusive either; if anything, she got on Yamcha's case quite a lot.
I think that what ultimately broke up Yamcha and Bulma is that something had to give. They were both flirting (maybe cheating) behind the other's back, they got into fights and broke up and got back together so much for so long, and on the plus side, Bulma was starting to fall in love with Vegeta (so I assume, being that we didn't see this happening).
Vegeta had to have been a factor in Bulma's break-up with Yamcha; either she broke up with Yamcha in order to be with Vegeta, or she cheated on Yamcha with Vegeta. And in all honestly, I think the latter might be the case; that is, if Bulma is ultimately to blame. If it's Yamcha, then either he did in fact cheat on her, or he realized that she was starting to fall for Vegeta, OR, he finally got fed up with all their fights. Of course, for all we know, they might have maturely and mutually decided that it just wasn't meant to be, and rather then keep trying, they decided that it was best that they end their relationship for good and remain friends. I think that this last theory is the best one, but I'm not totally sure if I'd believe it was the way they broke up. It takes a lot to end a long relationship, regardless of how stormy it was.
I just don't like how Yamcha is made out to be such a horrible guy. I mean, he loved Bulma. I'm sure losing Bulma to Vegeta, even if indirectly, hurt him a lot. Again, it's up to one's interpretation. I would just like it a lot more if fanfiction writers were...nicer to Yamcha.