Originally Posted by
Miburo
Jiren is not a standout in the tournament because to him the tournament was the most boring thing ever until the end. And while he is a jackass, there is no indication that he is excited about basically nuking the Multiverse by his own hand!
Under these circumstances, him being bored and completely disengaged is to be expected. It's like entering a tournament and having to fight pre-teens--let's say a bunch of seven year olds-- or else your city gets blown up. Also, their city gets blown up.
Like, You're very sure you're gonna win. But you're not exactly going to enjoy basically being the hand that basically kills these kids, and nukes their city. Jiren being blase and uninterested beyond the bare minimum is understandable.
I think this was even mentioned in the Manga before my boy Toriyama was like 'Nah.' (...Which I also think was a mistake, but I digress.)
As such, Jiren was done a disservice by the plot, and by being far, far stronger than everyone else. His personality failed as an antagonist because everyone was basically some randos he had to beat to save his universe and they weren't good enough to even warrant actual stakes until the end.
Freiza would have thrived, because he got his rocks of tormenting everyone. Cell wanted to prove he was the strongest, and at least had competition.
....This was basically "The Farmer with Shotgun Tournament featuring Raditz."
Only when Jiren found worthy competition did we see him shine forth. Yes, he lost to Goku and Co, but he also had to surpass his limits to stand up and fight again, and he still barely lost! Did his spirit not shine forth when he rose again to answer the hopes of his allies?
Was that not the actions of a man?
...Also, Toppo is great and I fully agree with you respect for him.
But Jiren understands the need for strength, just like Virgil from DMC.
"Foolishness, Dante, foolishness. Might controls everything, and without strength, you cannot protect anything. Let alone yourself."
Jiren pursues strength above all else so that he may control his own fate, not gods, or demons, or anything else.
He shows no true joy at the thrill of battle like a Saiyan, or delight at suffering like Freiza.
No...Strength is a burden. A weight. And yet, it must be pursued all the same to protect whatever matters to oneself at any given moment.
Had Jiren been a lord of absolute strength, he never would have lost his mentor, and his allies would have never given up in terror. That lack of strength was akin to failure. To Jiren, strength is success.
Or something.
He...Didn't really talk about his feels that much.
BRING BACK JIREN.