Super Recaps: Dragon Ball Z (Episode 201)

It’s time to look at another episode of Dragon Ball Z’s seventh season!  Will Gohan finally start fitting in at school, or will his secrets be exposed, forcing him to be an outcast because… he’s super strong and can fly.  Wait, why are those bad things?  Anyway, let’s get started!

The episode begins with Gohan arriving at Bulma’s place, still riding the Nimbus.  Did he forget how to fly or something?  YAMCHA can fly, why can’t he!?  Anyway, he goes inside and finds Bluba doing something very naughty.

I like how DBZ is one of the most family friendly action anime, yet there’s still stuff that had to be censored for our American sensibility and strict moral codes.  Exploding people with giant beams of energy?  No problem.  Sucking down a cancer stick?  Well that’s just inappropriate!  Then again, it’s more likely for someone to find a pack of cigarettes than to shoot energy blasts (unfortunately).

So Bulma agrees to make him a superhero costume (because scientist and seamstress is basically the same thing) and this will hopefully keep people from recognizing him when he fights crime.  In school, they’ll still think he’s weird for his astonishing vertical leap, but I guess that’s not a big issue.  While Bulma’s working on the outfit, Gohan goes to see Trunks who’s training with Vegeta.

I fucking love it.  This is the first time we see the new Vegeta and they bring the scowling up to eleven.  Somehow, he still has the balls to shit talk Gohan when he himself got his ass handed to him by Cell and his minions, but Gohan takes the higher ground and lets the little man say what he wants.   Once Bulma finishes the costume (which he can put on instantly with the push of a button on his watch) we get to see what this new Super Hero looks like.

Gohan and Bulma are the only two who thinks it looks good, but right off the bat Trunks can tell he looks like a Daft Punk wannabe  in a silly cape.  I love that aspect of the Great Saiyaman though.  He’s dorky and gets most of his cues from Super Sentai shows, but he’s go the skills to back up whatever he boasts about.  After getting the costume he tests his new identity out by stopping a couple of dangerous drivers.

He lands right in front the guys and despite how insanely they were driving just a moment earlier they do actually stop before hitting him.

Gohan is still trying to figure this whole ‘Fighter for Justice’ thing out, so he puts on a hilarious heroic voice and starts shouting platitudes at them.

The street punks are just confused and ask the guy what his name is.  Gohan (not having enough foresight to figure that out beforehand) comes up with THE GREAT SAIYAMAN on the spot.

It goes over about as well as it should.

Gohan handles this like a mature person would by throwing a hissy fit, and wreaking the road.  The street punks realize that whether or not this guy’s an idiot that they’ve fucked with the wrong person, and basically get down on their knees to beg for forgiveness.

So after his tantrum, he leaves for home (without changing out of his costume) and him mom tells him he looks stupid.

We also finally get introduced to the newest member of the family, Goten.  He’s Gohan’s younger brother that was born after Goku died saving the Earth.  Of course, it left Chi-Chi a widow, but it’s not like Goku was around that often, or had a job, or did anything really.  Hell, they’re probably better off not having to pay for his food.

The next day, Gohan flies to Satan City (apparently wearing a costume means you don’t have to ride on a cloud anymore) and makes it to class on time.  I’m not sure which class it is, but I think it’s being taught by a REALLY tanned Sean Connery.

Gohan overhears some students talking about the new hero, but goes ape shit when they don’t get his name right.

Videl is naturally suspicious about this, but doesn’t have long to ruminate on it because her Richie Rich watch starts beeping.

She gets a call from the police telling her that shit’s going down at a bus stop and that she better get her ass over there.  Gohan overhears this and decides that Videl isn’t competent enough to do the job she’s been doing for a long time and she OBVIOUSLY needs his help.

Because Gohan has to stop for directions, Videl makes it there before him.  It turns out that a few criminals with WILDLY different accents have taken a bus full of elderly people hostage and is negotiating them for some money.

The bad guys get their money and drive off with the seniors anyway.  The best part is that the old folks are fucking ecstatic that something has come along to break up their dull daily lives.

The police try to chase them down, but fail miserably.  All seems lost until Videl shows up in her helicopter!

The next few minutes is Videl showing us how fucking badass she is!

Of course it turns out the hole is just a red herring, because one of the guys in the bus starts spraying bullets.

Nonetheless, she smashes her way through one of the windows and just goes to TOWN on these fuckers!

Yeah, Video completely DESTROYS them, but unfortunately didn’t realize that no one is now driving the bus.  Because roads are so close to giant cliffs (and no one in this world has ever heard of guard rails) the bus starts falling into a god damn canyon.  Fortunately, Gohan was watching the entire time and swoops into action just when he’s needed.

Everyone thanks him for his heroic act and Videl asks for his name.  Gohan one again does his silly little dance and informs them that he is THE GREAT SAIYAMAN!  It goes about as well as it did the first time.

Before taking off, The Great Saiyaman says “See you later Videl”.  She finds the statement odd, but not because it implies that he’s going to be around in a way she probably won’t realize, but because he knew her name.  Uh… hate to break it to ya, but you’re probably one of the most recognizable people in the world.  You’re the daughter of the greatest man who ever lived, and you even spend your free time fighting crime.  THE OLD PEOPLE IN THE BUS KNEW WHO YOU WERE, I’m pretty sure it’s not that weird that this guy does.

And so,  the episode ends with Gohan flying off into the sunset with promises of future adventures as The Great Saiyaman!!

Yet another episode that’s just plain fun to watch.  No galaxy destroying threats, no need for endless training montages, just another chance for us to see Gohan trying to find his way in the world.  Even when doing something he’s more familiar with (saving people) he still struggles with it, especially when he has to actually interact with those people instead of stopping forces that will destroy them later.  Videl shows herself to be incredibly capable as a person without using magic powers or being half alien.  She doesn’t even need to be a badass considering who her father is and she could be living the life of luxury.  Instead, she wants to do good and help people, using whatever resources she can and training herself to be a great protector.  Anyway, next episode is probably going to be Gohan’s greatest challenge yet!  Tune in next time to see what it is!