Episode 30 of Dragon Ball Super, first broadcast in Japan on February 7, 2016, is the classic recruitment episode. Goku and Vegeta tour the Earth to fill out the Universe 7 team, collecting one yes, a few noes and a misunderstanding about a picnic in space, before shutting themselves inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
Summary
In mid-flight, Goku and Vegeta run into Krillin, who thinks they are planning a picnic in space: he heard it from Android 18, who heard it from Chi-Chi, who misunderstood. Once that is cleared up, Goku suggests Majin Buu: even without his evil half, he is still formidable when angry. At Mr. Satan's house Buu is unimpressed until Goku promises him a wish with the Super Dragon Balls. Buu agrees, but explains that Satan already gives him everything he wants, so he will hand the wish over to him.
On Beerus's planet, between cups of ramen, Whis asks the god why he accepted Champa's challenge: could Goku's spirit be rubbing off on him? Beerus denies it and turns the question around: why is Whis training the two Saiyans, does he hope they will fight Beerus someday? The angel denies that too, and the pair head off to see Monaka.
Back on Earth, Trunks and Goten want in, but Vegeta shuts them down: fusion is against the rules, and anyone who wants to fight has to get strong on his own. The group then interrupts a sparring session between Piccolo and Gohan. Gohan would love to show off his progress, but he has an academic conference on the day of the tournament that he cannot miss. Piccolo takes his place instead. With days to go, Goku wants to use the Time Chamber, which Dende is repairing: three years of training in three days. Piccolo would rather meditate outside, and Vegeta is skeptical at first but finally gives in. Out in space, Whis has doubts about Monaka. Beerus tells him to leave everything to him.
Our take
A light episode that lives on small moments rather than plot. The picnic rumor chain is a neatly built sitcom gag, and the exchange between Beerus and Whis is the most interesting part: for the first time the two admit, without admitting it, that they have grown fond of their mortal pupils.
Gohan's choice says a lot about the direction Super has taken. The boy who beat Cell now prefers a conference to an inter-universal tournament, and the show does not judge him for it: it is a different life, not a defeat. Recruiting Buu is the shakier decision, and seasoned viewers can already guess it will not end well.
Trivia
- Written by Yoshifumi Fukushima and directed by Takahiro Imamura, with animation direction by Masahiro Shimanuki.
- It drew a 6.7% rating in Japan.
- While recounting the picnic mix-up, Krillin imitates Chi-Chi, Android 18 and Marron, all performed by his Japanese voice actress Mayumi Tanaka.
- Monaka's name most likely comes from monaka, a Japanese sweet made of crisp rice wafers filled with azuki bean paste.
- The story mixes material from chapters 6 and 7 of Toyotarō's manga with original scenes.
Did you know? The picture book Majin Buu is reading when Goku and Vegeta show up is a Neko Majin book, a nod to Akira Toriyama's comedy series.