The 131st and final episode of Dragon Ball Super, first broadcast in Japan on March 25, 2018 and titled A Miraculous Conclusion! Farewell, Goku! Until We Meet Again! in Funimation's dub, closes both the Tournament of Power and the series. Goku and Frieza fight side by side, Jiren falls, and the last one standing is Android 17, who uses the Super Dragon Balls in the most unexpected way: by bringing everyone back.
Summary
With Goku out of action, Frieza and Android 17 take on Jiren. Frieza insists he is only there for the Super Dragon Balls and notes that his opponent is not as strong as before: the fear of becoming the weak boy he once was is eating at him. Android 17 blasts Jiren point-blank and drops him to his knees. Frieza aims a finger at his head to finish him, but from the stands Toppo shouts at Jiren to stand up: he believes in Jiren's strength even if Jiren no longer does. Jiren rises, wrapped in fire, and blasts the pair, who combine their power to hold the attack back; Frieza loses his Golden form.
That is when Goku gets back on his feet and joins them. He reminds Frieza of their deal, resurrection in exchange for help, and the three together break through Jiren's wall of energy. Goku and Frieza take him on hand to hand while Android 17 covers them from a distance. When Jiren goes after the android, Frieza has Goku throw him at Jiren and drags him toward the edge; Goku catches up, briefly Super Saiyan again, and with one last push the two force Jiren off the stage, falling with him. In the stands Toppo thanks Jiren, Goku tells him he wants a rematch, and Jiren smiles just before Universe 11 vanishes.
Only Android 17 is left on the stage. The Grand Minister summons Super Shenron, and the android, after a glance at Goku, wishes for every erased universe to be restored. Caulifla, Kale and Cabba find themselves alive again, Champa refuses to thank his brother, and Jiren and Toppo vow to win next time. The Grand Minister reveals that the Zenos had foreseen a virtuous winner: a selfish wish would have led to everything being erased. Frieza asks to be sent back to Hell, but Whis restores him to life as a gift from Beerus for his contribution. On Earth, everyone celebrates Bra's birth, Bulma lends Android 17 her cruise ship for his trip around the world, and Frieza returns to what is left of his army. In a barren wasteland, Goku and Vegeta square off in Super Saiyan Blue: Goku admits he cannot call up Ultra Instinct at will. Vegeta vows to reach an even greater power, and the two set off toward new limits.
Our take
The finale is built as a closing circle. The saga began with Goku pressing Zeno's button to remind him about a tournament, and it ends with that tournament turned into a lesson: you win together, and you win by choosing for others. Android 17's wish, shaped by Goku's example, is the fairest possible conclusion, and the Grand Minister's reveal gives the gesture the weight of a test passed.
The alliance between Goku and Frieza works too: lifelong enemies, now partners out of necessity. According to episode director Megumi Ishitani, the barriers shattering like glass express exactly this: nothing separates Jiren from his opponents anymore, and his final smile means he has broken through the shell of his solitude. The send-off, with Goku and Vegeta facing off as they did the first time, is a tribute to nearly thirty years of history.
After the finale
Goku's story continues on the big screen in Dragon Ball Super: Broly, released in Japan on December 14, 2018, where Frieza and his army return as well. The full picture of the series is in our Dragon Ball Super guide.
Trivia
- Written by Atsuhiro Tomioka and directed by Megumi Ishitani, with Tadayoshi Yamamuro as animation director. It drew a 5.7% rating in Japan.
- The Goku and Vegeta sparring scene is scored with an arrangement of "CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA", the Dragon Ball Z opening.
- From April 1, 2018, Fuji TV's Sunday morning slot went to GeGeGe no Kitarō; at the time, the network said it had no plans to continue the series.
- In the manga, Android 17 fakes his self-destruction and reappears only after Goku and Frieza have pushed Jiren out; his wish comes from a desire to spite the Zenos.
Characters
- Goku, Frieza, Android 17 and Jiren
- Vegeta, Gohan, Android 18, Krillin and Bulma
- Toppo, Belmod, Caulifla, Kale, Cabba and Champa
- Super Shenron
- Beerus, Whis, Shin, the Grand Minister and the two Zenos
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