Episode 120 of Dragon Ball Super, first broadcast in Japan on December 17, 2017 and titled A Perfect Survival Strategy! The 3rd Universe's Menacing Assassin! in Funimation's dub, is Gohan's turn. As Universe 3, sidelined for most of the tournament, finally plays its cards, Goku's son takes on the dirty work so his father and Vegeta can save their strength.
Summary
Only three universes remain: 7, 11 and 3. After Piccolo's exit, Universe 7 is down to six fighters, and Goku is convinced the last opponents will be Jiren and his team. From the stands, Piccolo warns them not to overlook Universe 3, and he is right: God of Destruction Mosco, who speaks through his Angel Campari, decides it is time to get serious. The scientist Paparoni gathers the four remaining fighters and sends them after Universe 7.
Androids 17 and 18 take on Biarra, whose defense ranks near the top of his universe, while Borareta anticipates every move Vegeta makes thanks to Koitsukai's analysis. When the robots target Goku and Vegeta, Gohan steps in: he will face them alone so the two Saiyans can conserve energy for Universe 11. And he handles it well, reading the three robots' movements just as they had read Vegeta's. Meanwhile, the androids use their infinite stamina to grind Biarra down with an endless barrage, until his armor cracks and Android 18 knocks him out.
With four fighters left, Mosco orders "Plan X". At Paparoni's command, Koitsukai, Pancea and Borareta merge into Koiceareta, a gigantic robot that is also faster than before: Supreme Kai Eyre explains that the scientist modified them for exactly this. Gohan cannot dent it and is soon in trouble, until Goku and Vegeta step in as Super Saiyan Blues. Goku assures his son that, thanks to him, he has recovered his strength.
For a while the two Saiyans' blasts push Koiceareta back, then the robot counters. Paparoni celebrates too soon: Goku and Vegeta were only buying time for Gohan to charge a Kamehameha, which breaks through the robot's guard. Beerus is so impressed that he finally calls Gohan by his name. Koiceareta, however, is nowhere to be seen, and Paparoni is still on the stage: as the Saiyans move in to throw him out, he announces Universe 3's true final technique, and the robot rises behind him. Ten minutes remain.
Our take
Universe 3 has always been the oddest team in the tournament, with its robots and a God of Destruction who speaks through an interpreter, and this episode finally gives it a credible plan. The "perfect survival strategy" of the title is exactly that: stay in the shadows, let the others wear themselves out, and strike at the end with a fusion engineered in a lab.
The best part is Gohan. After a tournament spent mostly as Piccolo's partner, he takes on the role of tactical leader, and his choice to shield Goku and Vegeta is that of someone who understands how a war of attrition is won. Beerus, who until now never bothered to remember his name, finally calling him Gohan is a small gag that feels like a medal.
Trivia
- Written by Ken'ichi Yamashita and directed by Hideki Hiroshima, with Chihiro Tanaka and Masahiro Shimanuki as animation directors. It drew a 4.6% rating in Japan.
- Mosco never speaks directly: his orders come through his Angel Campari, who acts as interpreter.
- In the manga, Koiceareta does not exist: the robots and Paparoni merge straight into their final form, and Biarra leaves the stage without us seeing who eliminates him.
Characters
- Gohan, Goku, Vegeta, Android 17 and Android 18
- Paparoni, Koitsukai, Pancea, Borareta, Biarra and Koiceareta
- Mosco, Campari and Supreme Kai Eyre
- Frieza and Toppo
- Piccolo, Beerus, Whis, the Grand Minister and the two Zenos