Episode 53 of Dragon Ball Super, first broadcast in Japan on July 31, 2016, takes Goku, Beerus and Whis to the Sacred World of the Kai in Universe 10, on Black's trail. There they meet Zamasu, an apprentice Supreme Kai with gentle manners and deep doubts about mortals. His final thought, aimed at Goku, is one of the most chilling moments of the saga.
Summary
On the way, Whis tells Goku who Zamasu is: a former Kai of Universe 10, chosen for his talent to become the next Supreme Kai. In the realm of the gods, Zamasu serves tea to his master, Supreme Kai Gowasu, who praises him: only a pure heart can brew tea this good. Zamasu, however, has a doubt. Mortals keep repeating the same cycle, flourishing and then destroying themselves in war: would it not be right to intervene? Gowasu reminds him that the role of Kais and Supreme Kais is to create and observe, and that only the Gods of Destruction may act directly.
Beerus, Whis and Goku arrive. Zamasu is shocked to see a mortal in the realm of the gods, and when Goku, on his best behavior, introduces himself as a Saiyan living on Planet 4032-Green-877 in Universe 7, better known as Earth, Zamasu tells him not to touch him. Beerus and Whis explain the reason for their visit: in their universe, someone who looks exactly like Goku wears a Time Ring without being a Supreme Kai. Gowasu knows nothing about it, but shows them the rings he keeps in the temple: four green and one silver, all accounted for. Whis quietly notes that Zamasu did not seem to know about them. Goku keeps asking for a match, and Gowasu tells his pupil to oblige, as a way to understand mortals better. Beerus adds that Zamasu had better not hold back, or he might die.
On Earth, Krillin introduces his family to Trunks, who learns that his wife is Android 18. She reminds him that he killed her future counterpart and demands compensation, then reveals she is joking. Pilaf and Shu clumsily try to make love blossom between Mai and Trunks. In Universe 10, Goku transforms and faces Zamasu, who cannot believe a mortal could be this strong. Goku wins. When he struck Zamasu his hand went numb, as it did against Beerus, and his energy resembles Black's, though it is not identical. Beerus considers destroying him on the spot; Goku talks him out of it. Zamasu humbly thanks Gowasu and pours him more tea. But in his mind he thinks that mortals are dangerous, and that he will not forget Son Goku.
Our take
Zamasu makes the best possible entrance: not as a monster, but as a zealous student with a dangerous idea. His doubts about mortals' cycle of war have a logic to them, and that is exactly what makes him unsettling. The show leaves viewers to connect the dots, and the final thought ends the episode on a shiver.
Goku's role is interesting too: with his innocent curiosity, he ends up confirming every one of Zamasu's prejudices. It is a small tragic irony: his usual friendly gesture, asking for a fight, is precisely what pushes the future enemy toward hatred.
Trivia
- Written by Toshio Yoshitaka and directed by Hideki Hiroshima, with storyboards by Yukio Kaizawa and animation direction by Osamu Ishikawa and Joo-hyon Lee.
- It drew a 6.6% rating in Japan.
- Sources disagree on which form Goku uses against Zamasu: Italian Wikipedia says Super Saiyan 2, Kanzenshuu says Super Saiyan.
- In Japanese, Trunks is credited only once because Takeshi Kusao voices both the child and the adult version.
- The matching part of Toyotarō's manga is chapter 16.
Did you know? Goku suggests that with training, Zamasu might one day become a god as fearsome as Beerus. The God of Destruction is offended by the comparison.
Characters
- Goku, Beerus, Whis, Zamasu and Gowasu
- Future Trunks, Krillin, Android 18 and Marron
- Bulma, Mai, Pilaf and Shu