Episode 55 of Dragon Ball Super, first broadcast in Japan on August 21, 2016 and titled I'd Like to See Goku, You See: A Summons From Grand Zeno! in Funimation's dub, brings Goku before the king of all the universes. Zeno does not want a fight or a servant: he wants a friend to play with. That childlike request produces an object that will hang over the rest of the series, the button that summons him.
Summary
On Beerus's planet, Goku learns that Zeno wants to see him "right away." The palace is so far off that even Whis would need two days to fly there, so the Supreme Kai will have to teleport him. Beerus is beside himself: if Goku angers Zeno, the whole universe could vanish. He forbids any mention of the time machine or Goku Black and orders Whis to keep the Supreme Kai safe because, as the angel reveals, a God of Destruction and his Supreme Kai are linked: if one dies, so does the other. Goku finds the idea interesting, though beating Beerus that way would be no fun.
On Planet Babari, Zamasu kills a native who attacks him. Back in their realm, Gowasu takes back the Potara earring and scolds him: they could simply have left, and that life might have changed a whole people's history. In Universe 7, Shin, Kibito and Old Kai can hardly believe the news. Kibito has never set foot in the palace and Old Kai has been there only three times, so they all beg Goku to behave.
Waiting for them is the Grand Minister, a short, blue-skinned man who resembles Whis. The angel explains that he is said to be among the five most powerful beings in all the universes, far beyond Whis himself. In the throne room, Zeno states his business: he wants to be Goku's friend. Goku suggests calling him "Zen-chan," explains that he has urgent business, and promises to come back with an even better friend. To seal the deal he plays airplane with him, and Zeno has the time of his life. In return, Goku gets a small button: press it and Zeno appears instantly. Back with the Kais, Goku admits he has no friend in mind. Everyone is horrified.
In Universe 10, Gowasu tries to convince Zamasu that justice means balancing good and evil, and that gods must keep learning too. The pupil nods, but privately thinks that merely watching over mortals is a sin in itself. On Earth the time machine is ready, and Goku, Vegeta and Trunks take off. In the ruins of West City, Trunks finds Mai's beanie on the ground but no body. Then someone hiding in the rubble fires rockets at them.
Our take
This is the episode that gives Zeno his definitive personality. A capricious, all-powerful, innocent child, he is frightening precisely because his threats carry no malice: everyone around him trembles while he laughs at a game of airplane. The contrast with Beerus, until recently the terror of the universe, now sweating like a schoolboy, works beautifully.
Meanwhile the show keeps building Zamasu with patience. The scenes about tea as a mirror of the soul and about the meaning of justice show a pupil who listens, nods and does not budge. Gowasu thinks he is teaching; the viewer understands that he is losing.
Trivia
- Written by Atsuhiro Tomioka and directed by Takao Iwai; it drew a 6.4% rating.
- It aired a week late in Japan: on August 14, 2016 the series took a break for the Rio Olympics.
- It marks the first appearance of the Grand Minister, later revealed to be Whis's father.
- Old Kai mentions he has visited the palace only three times in his long life.
Did you know? Zeno's button has two sides: one calls him, the other takes you to him. Goku only discovers the second use in episode 77.
Characters
- Goku, Beerus and Whis
- Zeno, his two attendants and the Grand Minister
- Shin, Kibito and Old Kai
- Zamasu and Gowasu
- Vegeta, Future Trunks, Bulma, Pilaf, Mai and Shu