Episode 16: Vegeta Becomes a Pupil!? Take Down Whis!
The era of peace continues, allowing this episode to delve into character to an extent that the show is rarely allowed to do. Where the last episode focused on Mr. Satan, this one shines the light on Krillin and Vegeta.
The prior meets up with Goku while he's still working and reflects on how big the gap in strength between the two has become since they first met. It was nice to see the flashbacks to 'Dragon Ball' and their childhood. It was a good way to acknowledge the roots of not only the characters, but the franchise as a whole.
As a result of the reminiscing, Krillin becomes curious as to just how strong Goku is and requests that the Saiyan punch him. While Goku is reluctant, he eventually complies. He doesn't even transform into any of his super forms, but he is still able to send his old friend flying. To his credit, Goku does try and catch Krillin after seeing what happened, but it doesn't exactly work out the way he had planned.
In any event, Krillin implies that he wishes to train again. Actually, he seems to go back and forth on the issue. He suggests that being a father is enough, but later says that he wants to train again. Android 18 doesn't really say anything, as she's busy tending to his wounds, but she seems OK with it. It was actually a rather sweet scene between the two.
The second half of the episode cuts to Bulma, who is feeding Whis all kinds of delicious food in the hope of keeping the Earth safe from Beerus in the future. It's a clever tactic, though Whis waffles when Bulma suggests that he would keep the Earth safe in exchange for the food. Knowing Beerus, she could just offer him this food, but Whis is more approachable.
Vegeta doesn't take kindly to this development, but changes his tune when Whis reveals that he is Beerus' teacher. Suddenly, the odds of passing Goku naturally improves as Whis reveals that it is possible if Vegeta can control his energy properly. This goes against what was established about ascending to the godform, but it works out for the prince, who wishes to ascend without help.
Well, sort of. He doesn't want help, but he does humbly ask to become Whis' student. Yes, you read that right, humbly. Vegeta even bows. You can tell he didn't like doing it, but it just makes the gesture that much more powerful.
Whis initially agrees, on the condition that Vegeta becomes a god of destruction, but Vegeta counters by offering him the best food on the planet. It leads to a goofy montage of Vegeta taking Whis to different places to try foods. Oddly enough, it never occurs to Vegeta to offer Whis cake, bacon cheeseburgers, prime rib, or macaroni and cheese with hot dogs in it. Or, if beverages count, introduce him to the likes of Pepsi, chocolate milk, or lemon lime Kool-Aid (or the non-copyrighted equivalent of it). In the end, it's instant noodles that end up convincing Whis to take Vegeta in as his protege.
This was a fun episode. As noted, it goes into character a lot more than most episodes and it definitely worked in the episodes favor. The scenes with Goku and Krillin were fun and it was nice to see the two friends reconnect. Some will cringe at the Vegeta scenes as they are more on the goofy side, but they're amusing enough. It is odd how Vegeta is suddenly incompetent at cooking when he seemed to do just fine a few episodes ago, but rule of funny may apply here. All in all, it was a strong and entertaining entry.
Episode 17: Pan is Born! And Goku Goes off on a Training Journey!?
This episode opens with a time skip, allowing for Pan to be born. Every one seems to take kindly to her, Mr. Satan seems to have taken to the role of grandfather especially well.
Not to be outdone, Gohan shows his chops as a father, once again donning the role of "great saiyaman". It's worrisome, as this was one of the more lambasted elements in "Dragon Ball Z", but he is just doing it to entertain his daughter, so it can be forgiven in this instance.
Not so forgiving, is Chi-chi, who hates the idea of Pan becoming a fighter. This is a quirk she's had with her own kids so it isn't out of character, but she takes it to new heights here. She seems to forget that Gohan trains a lot (or did, anyway) but is still academic. Her chiding Goku for not working also rings a little hollow, to say nothing of her calling him a failure of a grandfather, which comes off as unnecessarily mean spirited. Training is still hard work, so technically, he could still impart that concept to her, even if he isn't working on a farm. Besides, how is Pan supposed to become a super saiyan if she isn't shown the importance of training? People have been wanting that since GT, so really, Chi-chi's just getting in the way.
Goku's desire to train comes to the forefront as he discovers that Vegeta is training with Whis. It turns out that he's not the most patient being on the planet as he gets on Bulma's nerves to discover when Whis will arrive, and later on Whis' nerves as he is anxious to leave. Goku freaks out when Whis suggests that he won't take the saiyan, but his decision to change his mind would have been justifying. From an outsider's view, it was funny, but you could see why Whis would get annoyed and just give up on it altogether.
It's a close call, but Goku is able to depart with Whis. He's excited and even Whis suggests that it was time for Goku to join them. He was much more willing to let Goku come than Vegeta, though that could just be due to a much friendlier demeanor, but having Goku will probably help motivate Vegeta to work that much harder. Letting the rivalry fuel their desire to get more powerful makes sense.
This episode was quite a bit of fun. It was another lighthearted entry, but there were a lot of good character moments too. Bulma got a few good scenes and we see that Krillin is now working as a very by the book cop. The filler episodes in "Dragon Ball Z" were generally very blase (barring the driving school one, that was pure brilliance), but so far, the ones on this show have done a decent job of showing how the characters operate between the big fight sequences.
Episode 18: I Have Come Too! Training Begins on Beerus' Planet!
After a lengthy trip that pushes Goku's bladder to the limit, he and Whis arrive on Beerus' planet. Vegeta is surprisingly OK with the arrival. One would expect him to be miffed that his rival, who has already ascended to godhood, is barging in on his exclusive training session, but he says that he was expecting it to happen sooner or later.
Then again, he could be grateful that he has someone to help with the chores. Oh, yes, it seems that in exchange for training, the saiyan prince (and now Goku as well) is tasked with various bits of housework like tending to a large lawn and changing Beerus' sheets while he sleeps.
The latter proves to be especially difficult, though luckily for the saiyans, the god is a heavy sleeper. There are still a few well executed fake-outs as it looks like the two had woken the god up with their antics, only to see Beerus roll over and go back to sleep.
Goku's and Vegeta's competitive relationship ends up working to their advantage as they begin racing to finish their work first so that they can get a head start on training. Said training does eventually begin and it manages to challenge both Saiyans who, keep in mind, regularly train in environments hundreds of times greater than that of Earth's atmosphere.
Oddly enough, neither one transforms into a stronger form, even when they are tasked with carrying a heavy weight as they walk down a path that disappears behind them. It's possible that their pride kept them from wanting to be the first one to fall back on it, but Whis suggests that they know that the best way to ascend to Beerus' level is to train in their regular forms. Considering the transformations multiply their natural strength, it does make some sense.
The session ends with a 2 on 1 sparring match between the saiyans and Whis. It's not much of a fight as neither one lands a hit. Whis is too fast and the two don't really cooperate much. It does lead to an amusing gag as the two knock the other out of the way so that they can take a crack at Whis.
While Goku does note upon arrival that Vegeta has gotten a lot stronger since they last met, even going so far as to say that Vegeta may even be stronger than him now, you don't really notice it. The two still fare about the same, though Whis does note that he increased Vegeta's weight since their last session. It would have been interesting to see that contrast, but oh well.
By and large this is a rather amusing filler episode. Vegeta and Goku still play off each other well and it leads to some good banter as the two try to one up each other. The real kicker from the episode comes at the end when we get not one, but two seeds for plot hooks.
The first is the appearance of a spaceship populated by soldiers loyal to Frieza. Given how long it's been since his defeat, one wonders why they're bothering, but it's clearly setting up his return in the 'Resurrection F' arc. Seeing that story start to get set into motion was cool enough, but then the episode follows that by showing us that there is another destructor god named Chompa, who greatly resembles Beerus and comes with his own Whis-like sidekick. It seems like it would undercut Beerus' menace to show that there's another being just like him, but how that plays out remains to be seen.
Normally this many filler episodes would have been tiresome, but these were well done. They were very character driven and managed to be entertaining in their own right. While it's good to see the next arc kick into gear, it's good to know that even during the show's downtime, it can still provide solid entertainment.
Episode 19: Despair Once Again! Resurrection of the Evil Emperor Freeza!
As the episode opens, we see Freeza trapped in a cocoon surrounded by flowers, stuffed animals, and cheery fairies who encourage him to smile more. While it's different from the hell we've seen previously in the franchise, it's clear that Freeza is suffering. We are shown different landscapes indicating that there is more than one kind of hell, but you could also see it as a nod to the drastic character change that Dabura underwent near the end of the Buu saga.
It just so happens that the head of the remnants of Freeza's army, Sorbet (who we saw last episode) has come up with a plan to resurrect the tyrant using the dragon balls. Interestingly enough, this isn't out of loyalty to a long dead master, but out of tactical necessity. Their forces are dwindling and Freeza is powerful enough to not only replace them, but to bring a sense of unity to his empire once again.
To accomplish this goal, they head to Earth as they don't know where the namekians relocated. Speed is essential as they know that there are saiyans on Earth and don't want to draw any attention. They even go so far as to only send a couple of people down so that their ki isn't detected. It's detected anyway, but it showed foresight on their part.
Luckily for the aliens, the hard work has already been done as Pilaf and his crew have already gathered the dragon balls. To the trio's credit, they don't give up the dragon balls easily, but alien weaponry trumps a sword and a handgun.
As such, Shenron is summoned and he reveals that he is now able to grant three wishes as a result of the god of Earth changing. One assumes that this is referring to Dende taking over for Kami, but why this was only brought up now remains to be seen. The dragon does note that larger wishes (like reviving everyone on Earth) take more power, but that's as close to an explanation as we get.
It seems that Shenron is also able to exercise better judgment. He resists the wish initially by pointing out that reviving Freeza is pointless as he is currently chopped into little pieces courtesy of Future Trunks. It was a nice continuity nod, but that was never a problem before. Characters who were blown up were able to be revived with no trouble, so it's a little weird for that to come up now. Shenron does, however, revive the pieces and teleports them all to that location so that Freeza's men can use their technology to revive him.
Before Freeza's men can put the latter wishes to use, Mai and Shu jump in; asking for ice cream and a million zeni. It was a comedic moment, but it was nice to see them get something for their efforts. It's unlikely they were thinking of being heroic, but it probably did do some good in its own odd way.
It was rather creepy seeing the pieces of Freeza start to come to life. Even Pilaf and his gang are weirded out when one of Freeza's eyes opens up and starts to look around.
The resurrection itself is also somewhat unnerving. You wouldn't think it. This is, after all, a villain who was left in the dust a long time ago. Any one of Earth's heroes could probably take him. Yet the way the scene plays out, you really get the sense that this is a big deal and that it's going to pose a problem. As Freeza busts out of his pod, Goku and Vegeta sense it from Beerus' realm and the whole thing is accompanied by ominous chanting to really sell it. It worked really well at building up tension in a scenario where you likely wouldn't think there would be any.
It is here where the new story arc begins in earnest. It's a little weird how the main characters pretty much just make cameo appearances, but the time was needed to set things into motion. It accomplishes that goal and gives us a pretty memorable close to boot.
Episode 20: Warning from Jaco! Freeza and his 1,000 Soldiers are Drawing Near!
The newly revived Freeza gets caught up on what has happened in his absence. He's in surprisingly good spirits, though escaping Hell would probably do that for you. His apparent pleasant demeanor doesn't signify too drastic a change, however, as he expresses contempt for how his armies fared without him and promptly tortures Tagoma when he questions Freeza's plans for revenge.
To be fair, Tagoma raises a good point in saying that the Saiyans that Frieza is gunning for have gotten a lot more powerful since he last fought them. This is handwaved by Freeza, who explains that he never had to train as he was naturally just that powerful. With training, he thinks he can become strong enough within four months. It's a bit of a stretch as Goku and Vegeta have been training a lot longer. It's a moot point as they aren't on Earth anyway as they are still training under Whis.
The training is going well, though Beerus is woken up in the process. For all the worry about waking him up, he's surprisingly OK with the disturbance. He isn't even bothered by the fact that Goku and Vegeta are there training. He's disappointed that there's no food, but he's showing more patience now when he's groggy than he did when he was at full attention.
Back on Earth, Bulma is warned by Jaco, a galactic patrolman, that Freeza is revived and en route. While the character doesn't seem to have appeared in any anime, Bulma reacts as if she knows who he is. It does help move the plot along a bit quicker, though those unfamiliar with the character are introduced to him through Goten and Trunks, who meet the alien for the first time.
Unlike Future Trunks, who gave the heroes of Earth plenty of time to prepare for the upcoming threat, Jaco only gives Bulma an hour's notice regarding Frieza's arrival. Thankfully, technology allows her to contact Krillin, Piccolo, Gohan, and Tien quickly. Yamucha doesn't show up for some reason. Then again, would it have made a difference? It's Yamucha. It is still a great moment as the Z-fighters all assemble to take on the threat. With Goku and Vegeta absent, it's a chance to let the usually sidelined characters to step up and shine.
In addition to Yamucha, Goten and Trunks are also strangely absent. Even though they don't know who Freeza is, you'd think they'd want to get in on the chance to fight with an alien army and that the others would want the added numbers (plus, ya know, super saiyans). 18 offers her assistance, but Krillin wants her to protect Marron. It's an odd move as she is more powerful (something even she notes) and even Master Roshi gets in on the fight. Maybe she'll decide to drop the kid off at Chichi's and jump into the fight. Between Freeza and his 1,000 soldiers, she would certainly come in handy.
The episode does a good job balancing tension and humor, though it does lead to a bit of mood whiplash. The parts with Frieza are appropriately tense and it does the best it can to establish the old villain as a new threat. The second half of the episode is much more lighthearted and comedic. In a way, it's refreshing, but the shift can also be seen as rather jarring. The episode may not leave a lasting impression, but it did move things along rather well and holds the viewer's interest for the duration. It also ends rather dramatically as the confrontation with the resurrected alien tyrant is about to begin.
Episode 21: The Revenge Begins! The Vicious Freeza Army Attack Gohan!
As the episode opens, Freeza's army is unleashed. They say it's 1,000 warriors, but it looks like a lot more. It's a very impressive force that the heroes are up against. With only 5 warriors, Roshi estimates that they'll each have to take 170 of them if they are going to win the day.
It was noted before that Goten and Trunks were absent. It turns out this was intentional on Gohan's part as he says they're reckless. First of all, you could use the numbers. Second of all, they're both super saiyans. Third, they can fuse into Gotenks and go super saiyan 3. Gohan is supposed to be smart and none of these obvious facts occur to him. Majin Buu is another asset wasted, but Gohan notes that the creature was sleeping and shouldn't be disturbed.
It turns out to be moot as they are more than capable of taking out the troops with no trouble. It's a mix of awesome and anti-climactic. Even the fact that Krillin is sitting it out doesn't seem to do much to turn the tide.
Krillin's fear was an interesting character turn. Considering Frieza killed him in their last encounter (something Freeza is more than happy to remind him about), he's understandably rattled and freezes up.
It leads to a great "oh crap" moment when Frieza decides to turn the army's attention to him specifically. The alien tyrant offers whoever kills him their own planet, something that entices every troop on the field.
It also leads to some development for Krillin as he unintentionally realizes that he's more than capable of beating these guys. Roshi reminds him that he's seen Cell, Buu, and Beerus in battle; as such, the movement of Freeza's soldiers is slow and easy for him to dodge. Considering Krillin's reputation as butt monkey, it was nice to see him get that moment of victory.
As the mooks aren't making any progress, Sorbet orders Shisami, an elite soldier, to take on Gohan. The episode builds up some hype for the guy, but all he can do is get Gohan in a bear hug before Tagoma shoots him. As a result, Gohan is wounded, but Freeza's officer is killed.
Sorbet's shock and anger at this turn is understandable, but it did allow Tagoma to shine as he reveals that his time spent training with Freeza has had a profound impact on him. It was a great way to display both his and Freeza's ruthlessness as they don't even seem to care that they shot themselves in the foot. Tagoma offers to take the fighters out himself and the episode ends as Freeza offers him a planet of his own if he can succeed.
The episode really was quite a lot of fun. The music was used to great effect and they brought back the ominous chanting. If that's Freeza's theme, than it's a fantastic one. The action was also well done as all 5 heroes got a chance to shine. There were also a few character moments to add weight to things.
That being said, there are some flaws. It's disappointing to see that even after all this time, the team's strategy is still to stall until Goku and Vegeta arrive. You'd think that they'd be more than capable of defending the planet, especially considering Tagoma's big boast centers on claiming that he's more powerful than Ginyu. So what? The Z-fighters have moved far beyond that at this point.
Also, Goku and Vegeta keep training. The implication is that they aren't aware of what's happening on Earth, but when Freeza was revived we clearly saw them stop and react as if they sensed something. They could have at least established that Goku has enough faith in his friends to think that they are up to the task, but not to have any mention of it is just weird. While they only appear in a quick scene, their story does advance as Whis decides to take them someplace else to train. Whis isn't sure they're ready for it, but Beerus implies that the saiyans have overstayed their welcome. As Goku notes that they aren't up to the task of fighting the god just yet, relocation probably was the best bet.
Flaws notwithstanding, this was a strong episode. The good far outweighs the bad. Even though Freeza has yet to really do anything and you could argue whether they should even view him as a threat, it's a lot of fun to have him back. He's a great villain and the show is putting him to good use.
Episode 22: Change! Impossible Resurrection! The Name is Ginyu!
The episode opens with Tagoma boasting that he can take all 5 fighters at once. Jaco seems sure that it's not the case, but Tagoma proves to be a viable threat in his own right. He effortlessly pummels Piccolo and rips off his arm when the Namek challenges him. Gohan does come to his rescue, but his attack proves ineffective. It seems that training with Frieza has not only made Tagoma stronger and more ruthless, but has made him more resilient to the point where he is impervious to most attacks.
Fortunately, Gotenks arrives and is able to find one weak spot on Tagoma's anatomy. Where energy blasts fail, a head butt to the crotch succeeds at downing the enemy, albeit temporarily. It would've been cool to see Gotenks really get in on the fight, but alas, the fusion time runs out before he can do anything.
Strangely enough, the two retreat and go hide with Bulma. The fact that both are super saiyans themselves goes completely ignored. Gohan insists that they can't fight these guys, but there's no reason why they shouldn't be able to hold their own along with the others.
It was nice to see Frieza not only acknowledge Gotenks' resemblance to Goku, but notice the similarity between Trunks and the older version that killed him before. It only adds to Frieza's brewing anger and resentment towards Earth's heroes.
The fight does take an interesting turn as a frog ventures out into the battle field. Said frog approaches Tagoma and manages to write out the word "change" with one of his feet. Sure enough, said frog was Captain Ginyu from way back when they were on Namek. Ginyu recounts to Frieza how he ended up in the frog's body and Piccolo deduces that he was transported along with everyone else when Porunga teleported everyone on Namek back to Earth.
While Ginyu has endured hardships, he is still loyal to Frieza and offers to finish the job. You wouldn't think that Ginyu would present much of a challenge, but in Tagoma's body, he shows that he's capable of downing all 5 fighters with little trouble. It is only when Gohan goes Super Saiyan that the good guys are able to turn the tide in their favor. Gohan notes that his lack of training means he can't hold the form for long. It does beg the question as to why he wouldn't let Goten and Trunks join the fight when he's barely able to keep up, but from the look of it, they may get their chance soon enough.
Ginyu was downed, but Freeza doesn't surrender so easily. After a few surprise pot shots that catch the saiyan off guard, Freeza begins torturing Gohan in earnest with maiming blasts and vicious taunts. It was surprisingly chilling. If you as the viewer still had the impression that Frieza was going to be some joke villain, this scene obliterates that completely. He's cold, ruthless, and bent on extracting every ounce of revenge he can get. It's actually quite amazing to watch.
The episode ends on an even grimmer note as Piccolo jumps in the way just as Frieza is about to deliver the killing blast. That is sort of Piccolo's thing. Unlike other instances, Piccolo didn't have the time to just grab Gohan and get out of the way. Also, due to the injuries he sustained, Gohan was physically incapable of dodging the attack. The episode ends with the impression that Piccolo has died, though it is safe to surmise that he'll get out of it.
This episode was actually a blast to watch. It's tense and the villains really got a chance to shine. Ginyu's return was fun and all of the callbacks to the previous series were a nice touch as well. Even the hyperbolic time chamber gets a callback as Goku and Vegeta find themselves in a realm not dissimilar to the aforementioned area. Really, the only fault lay in the sidelining of Goten and Trunks (also Gotenks by extension). Everything else worked really well. This story line is proving to be much stronger than the last. Hopefully, it can keep the momentum going.
Episode 23: Earth! Gohan! A Desperate Situation! Hurry Back Son Goku!
Things aren't looking too good for the heroes as the episode opens. Gohan is still seriously wounded; though he seems to be in better shape as he can get up and walk around just fine. Even worse, Piccolo dies as a result of the hit he took to protect Gohan from Frieza's attack.
It leaves the team floored, but Gohan seems to take it especially hard. He's wracked with guilt as he feels like he could have prevented it had he kept up his training. You'd think he would have learned this lesson when he made the same mistake during the peace time before Buu was unleashed, but apparently it went over his head. In any event, Gohan swears to avenge his friend and once again goes super saiyan. Both Freeza and the other heroes note that Gohan's body can't take it, but it doesn't stop him from making the transformation.
Meanwhile on Beerus' world, Goku and Vegeta get a break from training as Beerus has a hankering for some pizza. Unfortunately, Goku ate it all. You'd think Beerus' wrath would be taken more seriously, but it is played for laughs as he chases the two saiyans around in a very goofy fashion.
Whis finally gets Bulma's message, allowing the two saiyans to learn of Freeza's arrival. Whis offers to take them back, but says it would take them 35 minutes to get there. Goku's instant transmission would be faster, but alas, Earth is too far away and Goku can't lock onto anyone's ki.
That is until Gohan's transformation. It was a little too convenient, but the heroes needed something to turn the tide and it does allow the two saiyans to arrive in a big darn heroes moment. It's in the nick of time too as Freeza once again attempts to kill Gohan, only for Goku to effortlessly swat away the blast.
The remainder of the episode is mostly banter as Goku and Vegeta are brought up to speed. There are some wise cracks here and there, as well as some call backs as Vegeta expresses shock at Ginyu's return before killing him. Frieza's speech about the hell he endured was alright, but we'd already heard it a few times. Yes, Goku doesn't know this, but for the viewer, it's a bit redundant.
In a rare deviation from the Dragon Ball formula, Freeza goes right to his final form just as the fight is about to commence. For those expecting to see Freeza ascend to the golden form to show the results of his training, you'll have to wait a bit longer. He just goes into the final form we saw in "Dragon Ball Z". He doesn't even go into the stronger form that Cooler reached, though to be fair, the veracity of that character in canon is iffy.
While both Goku and Vegeta note that Frieza is indeed a lot stronger, Goku asserts that he'll fight the tyrant alone. After all, Vegeta got to fight Ginyu. It's consistent with the rules that the two saiyans generally abide by and makes for some amusing exchanges between the two. More than that, Goku doesn't even bother going super saiyan, saying he doesn't need it.
Overall, the episode is more filler than anything else. It gives the viewer a break from the fight, but the episode isn't all that eventful either. It was good to finally have the two big guns get back to Earth, but beyond that it just passes the time.
Episode 24: Clash! Freeza vs. Son Goku! This is the Result of my Training
After a minute or two of staring each other down while dramatic music plays in the background, Goku and Freeza being their grudge match. It's a little underwhelming. The fight is depicted as being "even", meaning no one really lands a serious hit. Even when Freeza does appear to gain the upper hand through underhanded tactics, it doesn't seem like much of a threat as Goku isn't even in a transformed state. For all the talk about how powerful the two are, we know that Goku at the very least is holding back.
Even Vegeta gets fed up to the point where he jumps into the fight. In an interesting twist, rather than attack Frieza, he goes after Goku. It was a good way to ignite the rivalry without actually having Vegeta turn heel. The brief scuffle between the two was fun to see, though the speculation about Vegeta possibly regressing back to a bad guy fell flat. It makes sense for those on the ground to wonder, but we already knew why he attacked. Had it been sequenced a bit differently, it probably would have been more effective, but that's armchair quarterbacking.
It does give Goku the kick in the pants he needed to stop sparring and begin the fight in earnest. As such, he reveals his full power, complete with a new form. Yes, the notorious super saiyan god super saiyan (or super saiyan blue) form makes its debut. It's never actually referred to as such, but Freeza does lampshade it at one point saying that he almost bit his tongue while constantly talking about super saiyans and super saiyan gods.
Sadly, we don't get to see the form in action as the episode ends soon after, but it does signify that things will kick into high gear and make for a more exciting fight.
While the episode is largely centered around the fight, there are some nice character moments peppered in. Vegeta jumping into deflect one of Frieza's blasts that was headed for Bulma was nice, though expected. Oddly, he didn't jump into a rage the same way he had before. You'd think he'd be eager as he stands a much better chance here than he did against Beerus.
There's also a moment when a photo of Jaco's father gets damaged. While we don't know the backstory, his reaction to seeing the picture damaged implies that his father is no longer with us and that the two were close. It's all inference, admittedly, but it's an example of being able to say a lot with very little.
The others call his loyalty into question at one point because they claim that he looks a lot like Frieza. The color scheme is similar, but that's about where it ends. He doesn't even look like a member of the same species, so it's unclear what that was all about. If Jaco were loyal to Frieza, it seems like he would have made it clear already.
Sadly, this episode is also pretty underwhelming. The fight isn't what it could have been, which is a shame as the episode largely centers on it. It also teases at a 3 way battle royale, which never comes to fruition. There were some good lines here and there, but overall, this was a weaker entry in the series.
Episode 25: An All-Out Battle! The Vengeful Golden Freeza
The episode picks up where the last left off, with Goku having just transformed into the new super saiyan god super saiyan form. While it still isn't referred to as such, Goku does explain it (in the recap of all places) saying that the form is achieved when a super saiyan God goes super saiyan.
Oddly enough, while Freeza is impressed that Goku is now channeling the powers of a god, he isn't too worried about how the fight is going to go. On the contrary, Freeza is quite confident that he's going to win. His attacks in his current form prove ineffective, though Freeza claims that he was just testing Goku. One could argue that this is just a flimsy ego defense mechanism, but it proves to be moot as Freeza transforms into his new "golden" form.
Hard as it may be to believe, this new form does give Goku a run for his money. While both Vegeta and Goku are excited at Freeza's power, the others are significantly more worried. They become even more so when the fight starts to turn further and further into Freeza's favor.
As if things weren't hectic enough, Whis announces to Bulma that he and Beerus will be arriving in a few minutes and they are excited to try the parfait that she had prepared. The pair are interrupted when that similar being we saw a few episodes ago pops up. We learn his name is Champa, his companion Vados. As one could surmise from his appearance, he is, in fact, another god of destruction from a parallel universe.
The two gods don't particularly get along. Beerus is especially annoyed that another god is venturing in his turf. Granted, he's more concerned that Champa is going to eat his food, but the resentment remains in any event.
As to why Champa is there in the first place, Beerus is suspicious, but he doesn't know. We, the viewers soon learn that they are looking for what sounds like another set of dragon balls that are spread throughout the multiverse.
The scene is very brief, but it is a major highlight of the episode. It delivers a lot of new information and lays the groundwork for future story lines in a very brief amount of time. It also comes off as completely natural. Exposition dumps are a difficult thing to pull off, but this was handled perfectly.
When the two do make it to Earth, they don't prove to be much help. Beerus is more concerned with the ice cream than anything else. We do see that his appearance spooks Freeza initially, but once the god makes it clear he has no interest in interfering, Freeza is able to go back to beating up Goku.
Even if Beerus wasn't interested in saving the Earth (which would be in character), you'd think that he'd be interested in fighting Freeza just for sport. He's been wanting a challenge and Freeza's new form is besting Goku even at divine levels. The setup is played for laughs as Beerus vows that he will protect his ice cream at all costs, which drives everyone to inch closer to him, but it is a missed opportunity as that could have been a good fight.
Overall, this episode was a step up from the two prior. The first half is largely just banter, but Goku and Freeza have an odd dynamic. As much as the two hate each other, there is a grudging respect. Both acknowledge how far the other has come in terms of strength and tip their respective hats accordingly.
It also acts as a nice tension builder before the fight begins in earnest. The fight itself was handled well. Both landed actual hits as opposed to showing an even match by having every strike get deflected. It isn't the greatest initial showing for Goku's new form, but it does show that Freeza is still very much a credible threat. Some might find it hard to believe that the alien could contend with a god so easily and so quickly, but as Goku ends the episode almost unconscious, it seems that he's more than capable of doing so.
Episode 26: A Chance of Victory in a Pinch! It is Time for a Counterattack Son Goku!
Things aren't looking too good for Goku. He is barely conscious and Freeza shows no signs of slowing down in his new golden form. Of course, that doesn't stop him from boasting that he hasn't heard a bell. He doesn't actually use that line, but it's of that same sentiment.
Not surprisingly, Freeza doesn't take too kindly to this. Rather than snark back, he wraps his tail around Goku's neck, pulls him up into the air and starts whaling on the Saiyan's kidney. Whether this was an intentional nod to 'Dragon Ball Z Abridged' or not is unclear. Either way, the beat down is so brutal that both Gohan and Krillin contemplate leaping into the fray.
Fortunately for them, Beerus and Whis tell them not to. Rather than inform them that they have no chance of turning the tide in the fight, they just say that Goku's not out yet. More than that, were he and Vegeta to team up, Freeza wouldn't stand a chance.
While the group pushes for a 2 on 1 battle, Vegeta doesn't budge. Saiyans don't really do the whole team thing. It goes against their warrior pride. The Saiyan prince does, however, come up with a unique work around. While he won't join Goku in the fight, he does offer to be "tagged in". It's amusing to hear him using wrestling lingo, but the fact that he says it completely straight faced makes it funnier. At the same time, the fact that he's offering Goku even this form of assistance is a pretty big deal.
Oddly enough, Goku declines. He says he just needs a bit more time. Sure enough, he does start to turn the tide in the fight. With a second wind and a quick power up, Goku is able to start dishing out some hits of his own. He even goes so far as to boast that he knows the weakness of the golden form.
This doesn't stop Freeza from beating him even more. Freeza calls it a bluff, but at the same time, you can figure out what the weakness is. Sure enough, it's only a matter of time before Freeza runs out of power. While he doesn't revert to an older form the same way Saiyans do when they run out of juice, his punches have no steam and Goku is easily able to overpower him. Goku also takes this chance to explain that Freeza's eagerness for revenge got in the way. Had Freeza waited so that he could get used to the new form, he would've been unstoppable. It's a tragic flaw that is consistent with the character and adds an extra sting to the loss as it was one of Freeza's own making.
True to form, Freeza comes up with a more underhanded way to regain the upper hand. He mouths something to Sorbet and, when Goku powers down after deciding that the fight was over, he shoots the Saiyan in the back with his laser. It wounds Goku pretty badly, allowing Freeza to get back up and start stomping on the wound in glee. Just as Freeza is about to deliver the killing blow, Vegeta steps in, deflecting the blast and declaring that he is now "tagged in".
This was a decent episode. Not surprisingly, it is a lot of fighting, but there are decent character moments here and there. The tide went back and forth, making for more excitement, and the characters on the sidelines are given some good dialogue. It was good to see Gohan and Krillin eager to join the fight. They stood no chance, but that just makes it all the more impressive. Even though a lot of the characters are grossly outclassed, it's still nice to see them try every once in a while.
Considering how confident he is, it seems safe to say that Vegeta also reached the Super Saiyan Blue form. It'll be good to see him hit these more advanced levels, especially since he didn't need to use any machine to artificially boost his power level. It should make for a fun episode next week. Seeing Vegeta in action is always great, but given Vegeta's history with Freeza, the personal enmity will still be a factor, even though Goku is the center of Freeza's vendetta.
Episode 27: Earth Explodes!? The Decisive Kamehameha Wave
As shown last episode, Vegeta enters the fray after Goku is injured from Sorbet's sneak attack. The Saiyan prince vows that Goku won't die. Where as back during the Android saga, he protected Goku so that he could defeat Goku himself; here, he says that he needs Goku alive because he helps Vegeta get stronger. It's a small moment, but it does show how Vegeta has grown and changed over the years.
Credit to Freeza, he points out that he's not going to just stand there and let Goku get saved. His effort proves futile, though, as Vegeta is able to kick Goku's body to safety and deflect Freeza's blast. Not only is the blast deflected, but Vegeta manages to use it to take down Sorbet. It's often brought up that Vegeta is a more tactical fighter, but this is one of the few moments where it gets to show.
Things aren't looking good for the alien tyrant, but they only get worse when Vegeta transforms into the Super Saiyan Blue form himself. The transformation itself is underwhelming considering Vegeta tends to have the more dramatic transformations, but the scenes make up for it in other ways.
The look on Goku's face is kind of priceless. He really does seem legitimately proud that Vegeta has gotten as powerful as he has. Goku even goes so far as to point out that, while he needed the help of other Saiyans to reach the god forms, Vegeta did it all on his own.
It only gets better when the fight begins and Vegeta utterly owns it. Yes, Freeza's out of power, but it's still a blast to watch. Where Goku often goes out of his way to ensure a fair fight, Vegeta just continues to pummel Freeza without giving it a second thought.
Vegeta doesn't fall victim to his own pride as he has before, however, he waits just a few seconds too long to deliver the killing blow, allowing Freeza to blow up the planet. It's very quick and Vegeta barely has time to react before it all happens.
That's not to say that the episode doesn't milk it a bit. We get cuts to the other characters as they go on about their days as things erupt around them. It makes for a rather powerful montage as the heroes' loved ones are killed with no knowledge of what's happening.
Fortunately, Beerus has Whis erect a force field around the group to protect them from the blast. While Gohan mourns the loss of his family, Goku regrets not finishing Freeza when he had the chance. Even Beerus reinforces this, saying that Goku's kind heart got in the way.
It's suggested that Freeza survived the blast, but it never gets addressed directly as Whis informs them that he can rewind time. It was hinted at in an earlier scene and as these are divine beings, you can let it slide. It is also much quicker than having them embark on a quest for dragon balls to undo things. There are limits, however. Whis can only wind time back 3 minutes and it takes an awful lot of energy, meaning that he won't be able to do it again. Gods having limits seems odd at first, but from a writing standpoint, it was essential if there was to be any tension in future stories.
Vegeta isn't completely robbed of his moment of glory, but Goku has to take on the role of kill stealing punk. He leaps in and kills Freeza with a last second kamehameha wave. Goku doesn't have as much time to build up the charge as he usually does, meaning it isn't his most dramatic blast, but it gets the job done.
Credit to Vegeta, he takes it in fairly good stride. Sure, he's confused and slightly miffed, but he doesn't invoke the Saiyan code of honorable combat as much as you'd think he would.
With the day won, Bulma throws a party. It acts as both a celebration and a gesture of gratitude to Whis for giving them a mulligan. It gives us some great moments. Gohan's reunion with his family was rather heartwarming, but we also get some development as he later asks Piccolo to train him again so that he can do a better job protecting them.
The bit where Trunks vows to slice Freeza in half should he ever return was also rather amusing. Even Goku and Piccolo do a double take when they hear that. The poor kid has no idea why they find it funny, but it is.
This was a strong episode. Freeza's defeat is a tad anti-climactic, but it makes up for that. As noted, Vegeta's beat down is glorious and the happy ending is particularly effective. At this point, we move past the material seen in the movies and go into original story material. It should, hopefully, add an extra element of excitement as we won't know what's going to happen next.
Pros
- I was skeptical about bringing Freeza back again, but he really makes for a great villain. He's creepily sadistic and his hatred for Goku is as palpable as it ever was.
- Freeza's army gives other characters like Tien, Krillin, and even Roshi a chance to shine.
- Plenty of callbacks and continuity nods to 'Dragon Ball Z'
Cons
- Freeza's catching up to Goku and Vegeta's divine levels is a bit of a stretch, though that had to be there as a rule of necessity
- The villain's defeat is a tad anti-climactic and sudden.
- Some of the episodes are a bit on the weak side.
Overall
Bringing Freeza back turned out to be the right move as he proves to be a credible threat. His seething hatred is chilling and it makes for great tension. The fights are also solid and loose ends from 'Z' are finally able to be addressed. The show continues to entertain and I'm looking forward to seeing where the show goes now that we're past the material seen in the movies.
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