Why go back through 128 episodes when I can go back only 1 and point out if Jiren were serious he would have just blown away Vegeta at the first opportunity with a single punch.
But clearly Jiren hasn't been serious and won't get serious until next episode.
Aside from any instance of Jiren not being serious and still kicking ass of SSJB Kaioken times 20 and the point I made about UI earlier. Vegeta also didn't hit him with only one bunch and you still have Goku and 17 getting hits on him. 17 was the only one who won't lose stamina because Android but again, it goes against Jiren not being caught of guard.
Super's writing has been bad at times (Goku's overwhelming stupidity in Future Trunks Arc was a low point), it's not a show where writing is a strong suit. To suggest it has zero narrative rules though as you just have is to ignore the bulk of the narrative devices employed.
Goku wasn't only overwhelmingly stupid in the Blue Trunks arc. This arc it is far beyond stupid.
Vegeta lasts half an episode against Jiren because it calls back to Buu Saga and gives Vegeta a moment to finally put his trust directly in Goku.
Vegeta defeats Toppo in the episode two installments prior because Toppo made the same mistake Vegeta did accepting the Majin powers in the Buu arc, so Vegeta had motivation to prove doing that was a mistake.
The point was that Vegeta did better despite not being on Goku's level. Before fighting Toppo, he archived a new form out of nowhere, survived his own explosion which makes no sense, turned SSJ dark blue, runs out of energy and still has enough power to donate to Goku. That is terrible writing. Super regressed Vegeta's character constantly and let him reexperience those moments for the sake of nostalgia. Apparently a Vegeta who trusts Goku instead having an obsessive rivally is what sells.
SSJ1 Goku beating Golden Frieza is not going to happen. There is no narrative purpose to doing that for either character. This isn't a question of "power scaling is bullshit" it's a question of character writing, and as I said before your cynicism is unwarranted and not demonstrable.
Toriyama loves irony so Frieza being defeated by the form he was defeated the first time is totally something Toriyama would do. He could also let Frieza win the tournament since the irony of the "absolute evil" winning against a "hero".
Narrative purpose is also affected by perspective. There was no reason for Goku to actually train the U6 Saiyan in a tournament that has is own universe at stake.
Also I don't recall myself stating it will happen. I am just saying it could based on the countless instances happened in-series like when SSJ1 or 2 Blue Trunks not being completely atomized by a blast that knocked out SSJB Goku the episode after Pink SSJ Evil Goku was introduced.
It's the first time goku sees LSSJ Kale. Him getting taken by surprise isn't something i'd consider bad writing. It's also supposed to show us that Kale is actually strong and not fodder, and may have real impact later down the line if they ever decide to pick up on that again. Not to mention, she was berserk when she overpowered ssb goku, she wasn't when she was going even/getting overwhelmed with ssg goku.
Goku was pushing his attack while Brolina was walking slowly through his Kamehameha. Are you implying he couldn't increase his power to the point to actually push her back, not to mention, free himself from the grip? They could have done a better job without ripping of the Broly movie scenes and not against Goku in SSJB and then contradict it, or the better term would be retcon, when SSJG was used.
What is the point of showing somebody being strong, if it was just for dramatic effects when even a weakened SSJ2 Goku could have just kicked her ass?
It is shitty writing either way you look at it.
as for jiren, it makes sense he'd struggle vs two of the strongest mortals in the multiverse.. i don't see why you're using this as an excuse that super's writing is bad? like as strong as jiren is naturally he might struggle just a tiny bit vs two absurdly strong saiyans. not to mention he ended up beating them anyway so seriously what are you arguing here?
I was refering to 2 SSJBs. Goku used Kaioken times 20 in a previous fight which is about 10 times the amount of pressure Jiren got from fighting them in their weakened state. There is no excuse for this. If Goku went UI or used a Kaioken 20+ and fought alongside Vegeta in his new form, fine, you would get a point.
The point I am trying to make is, consistency. Why establish that Jiren has no blind spot if he gets caught of guard by the likes of 17 who announces his pressence? It doesn't matter if he defeats them after all. Before you mention Jiren was supressed, how much more can the guy supress his power knowing his universe is at stake? Where is the tension if he doesn't actively try to stop his foes?
This arc in particular is focusing more on strategy, choreography, and martial arts rather than power levels and pure strength. Caulifla is also a stupid saiyan drunk on the thrill of fights exactly like goku is, and i might be remembering this wrong but she was just playing along and trying to have a good fight, like goku does with pretty much anyone. idk what you mean by looking at u6 arc to see why ssb isn't superior to ssj, it clearly is. honestly the caulifla/kale vs goku episodes were some of the best in this arc[
and yes cabba is weaker than caulifla, this was implied way back
SSJB has a massive stamina drain. After just transforming twice, Vegeta couldn't outperform Base Goku. Why else did they just use SSJ which is the form they actually mastered and is the closest form to their base with barely any stamina or energy drain? Not to mention, retconned SSJG has less stamina drain and offers similar features to SSJB besides raw power.
Also Z established how stragety can get you so far in a fight. Goku overpowered all his opponents in the past who were more experience, had better techniques and strageties. Why else did Roshi not even bother to train for the fight against the Saiyan or went to Namek but the inexperienced Gohan did?
no he won't and this is a dumb argument to make. ssb goku barely beat golden freeza, ssj goku will not beat golden freeza. that's like saying base goku could've beaten freeza back in his saga. this is also a bad argument to use and a bad discussion because it (ssj beating golden freeza) didn't and won't happen
I explained why it doesn't matter if Goku required SSJB earlier for Golden Frieza based on how the show contradicted itself so far. SSJB Goku lost to Brolina, that's a fact. Weakened SSJG Goku overpowered both Caulifla and Brolina. No use of special martial art techniques, outsmarting etc. Just raw power. That is a fact.
And notice that I didn't bring up Kefla in this discussion so far. That honestly one instant that didn't bother me that much compared to many other people who call it bullshit for what was apparently established in the BoG arc regarding SSJG vs Potara Fusion.
I won't repeat much of the points I made on SSJ vs Golden Frieza since you can easily read them and probably will. But don't come back and defend it when it actually comes happens.