Hello, ladies, gentlemen, and everyone between and beyond, and welcome to week 71 of the first Dragon Ball rewatch of the decade.
We're doing five episodes a week, and we'll be watching every single episode of Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball GT. All 508 episodes. Plus the TV specials and the movies.
I encourage you all to watch in Japanese with subtitles, especially if you have never done so before, but watch along in whichever way brings you the most joy.
The most delayed rewatch thread so far! Hopefully a record I won't beat anytime soon.
In fairness, I'm gearing up for exams and KBABZ is still working on the Mass Effect guide, so it's just me working on this, and I'm very busy. So, pity me and think of how I slaved over a hot keyboard to bring you this thread.
Previous thread: Week 70 (DBZ 149-153)
Next thread: Week 72 (DBZ 159-163)
Anyway, enough half-assed snark...
Episode 307 - I’ll Finish Everything!! A Reborn Vegeta, Father and Son, Sally Forth (DBZ episode 154)
Dub title: Saiyans Emerge
Originally aired 26th of August 1992
Kai equivalent: Episode 76 - Tenshinhan’s Do-or-Die Shin Kikōhō! Save Your Brother-in-Arms, Son Goku, Episode 77 - Super Saiyan Surpassed! The Daring Vegeta Strikes Cell
Written by: Hiroshi Toda
Episode director: Mitsuo Hashimoto
Animation supervisor: Minoru Maeda
Trunks and Vegeta have finally finished their training in the Room of Spirit and Time. Having powered up, the two of them change into the battle armor that Bulma has brought, and fly off from God’s temple in order to defeat Cell and the artificial humans. Fleeing from Cell, No. 18 and 16 hide themselves in one of many islands, but Cell begins completely destroying these islands. Meanwhile, Goku and Gohan eat until they are full, then at last begin their training in the Room of Spirit and Time.
Anime-only/filler content: Karin's brief appearance, a conversation between Androids 16 and 18, Goku and Gohan eating before entering The Room Of Spirit And Time.
Episode 308 - Suddenly Full-Throttle!! The Radiant Vegeta’s Super Power (DBZ episode 155)
Dub title: Super Vegeta
Originally aired 2nd of September 1992
Kai equivalent: Episode 77 - Super Saiyan Surpassed! The Daring Vegeta Strikes Cell
Written by: Sumio Uetake
Episode director: Jun’ichi Fujise
Animation supervisor: Kazuya Hisada
Cell’s attacks close in on the island where No. 18 and 16 are hiding. As No. 18 goes pale, No. 16 tells her not to move. Since Cell’s objective is to absorb No. 18, even if he attacks he should definitely spare at least No. 18. Meanwhile, having entered the Room of Spirit and Time, Gohan is overwhelmed by its harsh environment. Goku tells Gohan that he wants Gohan to surpass him. Vegeta appears before Cell, and transforms into a super-powered form! He hammers Cell’s body with an intense blow.
Anime-only/filler content: A brief exchange between Bulma and Piccolo.
Episode 309 - On Your Knees, Cell! I am Super Vegeta!! (DBZ episode 156)
Dub title: Bow to the Prince
Originally aired 9th of September 1992
Kai equivalent: Episode 77 - Super Saiyan Surpassed! The Daring Vegeta Strikes Cell
Written by: Sumio Uetake
Episode director: Shigeyasu Yamauchi
Animation supervisor: Masayuki Uchiyama
Cell takes an unexpected amount of damage from Vegeta’s blow. After training in the Room of Spirit and Time, Vegeta has become strong enough to easily handle Cell’s counterattacks. Even Kuririn is shocked at Vegeta’s power, having arrived at the scene after taking the artificial humans’ emergency stop controller from Bulma. Cell finally fights with his power to full throttle, but even this power has no effect on Vegeta. Before a astonished Cell, Vegeta calls himself “Super Vegeta”.
Anime-only/filler content: Trunks describing his time in the Room Of Spirit And Time, Bulma, Ten, and Piccolo commentating on Vegeta vs Cell, Gohan just barely managing to go Super Saiyan for an instant, extensions to Vegeta vs Cell.
Episode 310 - Dangerous Pride!! A Challenge to Cell’s Perfect Form (DBZ episode 157)
Dub title: Hour of Temptation
Originally aired 16th of September 1992
Kai equivalent: Episode 78 - Cell’s Surging Resentment! Kuririn, Destroy No. 18
Written by: Takao Koyama
Episode director: Yoshihiro Ueda
Animation supervisor: Tadayoshi Yamamuro
Cell musters all of his power and attacks Vegeta, but even these attacks don’t hit Vegeta, who begins to knock Cell around. Cell can’t believe the extreme gap between their powers. Displaying his overwhelming power, Vegeta looks down upon Cell as not even being worth killing. With no hand left to play, and with his pride shattered, all Cell can do is complain that he would definitely not lose if he were to reach his perfect form.
Anime-only/filler content: Cell using the Galic Gun against Vegeta, Gohan waking up from a dream about going Super Saiyan and watching Goku train, the cutaway to Chaozu at Kame House, more extensions to Vegeta vs Cell.
Episode 311 - I’m So Distraught!! Kuririn’s Handiwork in Destroying No. 18 (DBZ episode 158)
Dub title: Krillin's Decision
Originally aired 23rd of September 1992
Kai equivalent: Episode 78 - Cell’s Surging Resentment! Kuririn, Destroy No. 18, Episode 79 - And So, The Situation Takes a Turn for the Worst… Cell Attacks No. 18!
Written by: Takao Koyama
Episode director: Mitsuo Hashimoto
Animation supervisor: Yukio Ebisawa
As Cell says that he wouldn’t lose if he were to reach his perfect form, Vegeta’s fighting spirit stirs. Cell uses the Saiyan instinct to seek strong opponents to stir up Vegeta. Meanwhile, having discovered No. 16 and 18, Kuririn approaches them with the emergency stop controller. But Kuririn has fallen in love with No. 18 and smashes the controller, telling the two to run away. Vegeta finally lets Cell go. Fleeing through the air, Cell discovers No. 18 and 16 hidden in the woods.
Anime-only/filler content: Goku and Gohan having a bath.
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Interesting trivia:
- At this point in time in the manga, Cell explains to Trunks why the bulky ascended Saiyan transformation is stupid and worthless, and he decides to hold the Cell Games, and broadcasts it to the world. Gohan and Goku emerge from the Room of Spirit and Time, Goku says hi to Cell, and decides to chil out for a while after he gets back.
- When Cell is calling out Android 18, we see a shot of a guy with a T-shirt saying "The Super Saiyan" in English.
- In Z episode 154, Vegeta explains that pure-blooded Saiyan hair doesn't ever change throughout their life. This does explain Goku's unchanging hair, but it doesn't explain why Vegeta's hair was a bit different when he was a kid.
- One controversial script difference between the Funimation and Ocean dubs is the scene where Vegeta tauntingly tells Cell how he got so strong. In Funi's version he says "I do a lot of push-ups and sit-ups, and I drink plenty of juice." In the Ocean version, he says "I do a lot of push-ups and sit-ups, and I drink plenty of milk." Personally, I think milk sounds funnier and Brian Drummond's delivery was way better too, so surprising precisely nobody, I prefer the Ocean version.
- There are 9 redrawn shots each in Kai episodes 77 and 78.