Episode 68 of Dragon Ball Super, first broadcast in Japan on November 27, 2016 and titled Come Forth, Shenron! Whose Wish Will Be Granted?! in Funimation's dub, is the first light-hearted episode after the end of the Zamasu conflict. Goku just wants to keep an old promise and bring King Kai back to life, but when Shenron appears in the sky, half the cast turns up with a wish of their own. And Bulma has one she cannot admit to.
Summary
At Capsule Corporation, Bulma locks herself in the lab and secretly starts building another time machine. She knows it is a serious crime, but as a scientist she cannot resist the challenge, and she still has her future self's notes. All she lacks is a blue crystal that cannot be found in the present; she locates a similar one in the Earth's core. Meanwhile Goku promises King Kai, Bubbles and Gregory that he will revive them: only one wish was used last time, so the Dragon Balls are already active. He drops by Bulma's for the Dragon Radar, and she hurriedly switches off the lights so he will not see the machine.
While Goku gathers the balls, Bulma realizes she can simply ask Shenron for the crystal. Then Beerus and Whis show up, hungry as ever: to get rid of them, she takes them to a crab restaurant. Goku summons the dragon, the sky goes dark and everyone knows what is happening. Shenron explains that since he granted only one wish last time, he will grant two now.
Before Goku can speak, Android 18, Master Roshi and Oolong arrive, each with a request. The Pilaf Gang scheme to conquer the world, but Trunks and Goten knock them aside: for once, it is their turn to get a wish. Then Gohan flies in with Pan in his arms; she has had a fever since morning and the medicine is not working. Nobody hesitates: Shenron heals her.
One wish remains. Bulma drives up and talks everyone out of theirs: she tells 18, who wanted a present for Krillin, that the best gift is to go home to him with Marron; she calls Roshi a car full of girls, gets 18 to send Oolong flying, and Trunks and Goten admit they have no specific wish anyway. Then she promises the last wish to Goku, if he fetches her the crystal from the center of the Earth in a special suit. Beerus and Whis, however, see through the scheme: Beerus smashes the crystal, the machine and Future Bulma's notes. When Goku finally tries to make his wish, Shenron has run out of patience and leaves. King Kai will have to wait.
Our take
After such a dark arc, an ensemble comedy was almost necessary, and this one works. Each character has a petty or tender wish, and the chain structure, with Bulma dismantling them one by one, recalls the group gags of the original Dragon Ball. The wish for Pan is the only serious beat, and it lasts just long enough.
Bulma's subplot is more interesting than it looks. A scientist who cannot resist a time machine is true to character, and Beerus destroying the notes closes the door on further time travel after the saga just ended.
Trivia
- Written by Yoshifumi Fukushima and directed by Masanori Satō; it drew a 6.2% rating.
- It is the first time in the entire series that Android 18 tries to make a wish on the Dragon Balls.
- It is also the first time 18 blushes at a compliment.
- It is an anime-original episode with no counterpart in Toyotarō's manga.
Did you know? To keep Shenron waiting until Goku returns from the Earth's core, Bulma threatens the dragon: if he leaves early, she will tell Beerus.