I liked the early parts of the Buu Saga with Gohan. I think it was a good continuation to the Cell Saga.
Gohan didn't want to fight and train at first but he had to step up to save Earth and defeat Cell. In the beginning of the Buu Saga he was living a more normal life but then when he saw crime in the city, he intervened and stopped it. He liked saving people and adapted his Saiyaman persona to be like a super hero. He accepted that he can be more gentle and less of a fighting maniac than Goku and Vegeta while still loving Earth and wishing to protect it.

And for people calling it cringe, Gohan likes it and his wife thinks it's the coolest thing in the world which is all that matters.