Episode 99 of Dragon Ball, first broadcast in Japan on February 3, 1988 and known in the English dub as Tien's Insurrection, is Tien Shinhan's turning point. Goku keeps freezing in the middle of the fight and takes blow after blow, until the three-eyed fighter realizes that it isn't him winning, but Chiaotzu's powers. The Japanese title speaks of his "anguish", and the choice he makes changes the character forever.
Summary
Goku freezes in midair again and Tien kicks him toward the outside of the ring. To avoid touching the ground out of bounds, Goku fires a Kamehameha behind him and propels himself back onto the stage. He attacks again, but every time he seems to gain the upper hand he suddenly stiffens and Tien rains blows on him. Goku accuses his opponent of cheating; Tien thinks he is making excuses.
In the stands Yamcha notices that Chiaotzu is holding his hands out toward the ring: he is the one paralyzing Goku, on the Crane Hermit's orders. Launch, in her blonde form, tries to hit him with a hammer, but the old master stops her with his little finger and flings her across the arena. After yet another freeze, Roshi figures out the trick too.
In the ring, Tien realizes he is winning far too easily. He spots Chiaotzu, understands and shouts at him to stop: he wants to beat Goku on his own strength. The Crane Hermit reminds him of his duty to avenge Tao, but Tien refuses: he won't kill Goku and no longer wants to become an assassin. Furious, the old man orders Chiaotzu to paralyze both fighters so they can be killed, but the little student also refuses to hurt his friend. At that point the Crane Hermit raises his hand against Chiaotzu. Roshi steps in: a Kamehameha blasts his old rival far away from the arena.
Free of the feud between the two schools, Goku and Tien resume the fight for real. Goku cuts loose and strikes his opponent with tremendous force; Tien lets him, because he wants to pay back the blows he landed while Goku was paralyzed. Then he starts gathering energy in a strange way. Chiaotzu fears he is preparing his most dangerous technique, but instead two extra arms sprout from Tien's back.
Our take
This is the saga's most important episode in terms of character. Up to now Tien was the model student of a school for assassins; here he discovers that a rigged win means nothing to him, and that what truly matters is fighting a worthy opponent fairly. Roshi's words from the previous days, the joy of fighting Goku and Chiaotzu's refusal all add up to a clear-cut choice.
Chiaotzu gets his moment too: the most obedient member of the Crane School disobeys out of friendship, and that is exactly why his master turns on him. Roshi's Kamehameha closes the chapter of the two old rivals with a decisive gesture and leaves the final to the two young men.
Trivia
- The episode adapts chapter 131 and the first four pages of chapter 132. It drew a 20.8% ratings share in Japan, the highest of the final.
- In the manga there are only two paralyses; in the anime Goku is frozen five times, and Roshi only catches on at the third.
- Launch's hammer attack, the Crane Hermit fending her off with his little finger and Tien letting Goku hit him to even the score are anime-only.
- In the manga, when Tien knocks Goku down, the announcer doesn't start a count.
Did you know? Funimation's dub title, Tien's Insurrection, goes for the word "insurrection", a way of underlining Tien's revolt against his own master.
Characters
- Tien Shinhan
- Goku
- Chiaotzu
- The Crane Hermit
- Master Roshi
- Yamcha
- Launch