Hercule was annoying at the start, but I thought that is just how his character was meant to be, a pompous, self absorbed ego maniac who had convinced himself that he lived in the bubble of invincibility because he was the martial arts champion. It didn't help his cause that the fans just lapped it all up and couldn't see a fault in him, even though there were many starring people right in the face. The Cell Games gave him a reality check of where he stood, but it also I think brought out the real character that was within him during the Buu Saga, I think he was so caught up in his own hype, he was being something he wasn't naturally but didn't want that illusion to break....During Buu Saga you start to see the other depths in his personality, how he befriends Buu and ultimately is the one to help Goku get the energy he needed to defeat the villian. He basically completes his arc and for once helps to take down the real villian.