Episode 73 of Dragon Ball Super, first broadcast in Japan on January 8, 2017 and titled Gohan's Plight! The Preposterous Great Saiyaman Film Adaptation?! in Funimation's dub, opens a two-parter devoted entirely to Gohan and his most embarrassing alter ego, the Great Saiyaman. A film about the forgotten superhero, a self-absorbed star and an alien parasite all collide on set, and Gohan ends up as his own stunt double.
Summary
In space, Jaco has locked the dangerous criminal Watagash in a container, but on the way to prison he stops for a bowl of ramen. The shop owner has doubts; Jaco swears the prisoner cannot escape. Shortly afterwards, Watagash is out.
On Earth, Gohan and Videl see a TV ad for a new film, Great Saiyaman vs. Mister Satan, starring superstar Barry Kahn as the hero, pop idol Cocoa Amaguri and Mr. Satan as himself. Barry tells reporters that the contrast between a has-been hero and a star like him is exactly what makes the project interesting. On set, Videl stops Satan from revealing that Gohan is the real Saiyaman, which could cost him his university post. Barry flirts with her, but Videl finds her husband far more appealing.
Barry insists on rewriting the script: the stunt double must leap onto a tank without wires. Everyone objects, until Gohan volunteers, thinking Pan will enjoy watching it when she grows up. He puts on the costume, makes a superhuman jump and finishes with the classic Saiyaman pose, to universal amazement. The director signs him up as the new stuntman, and Videl, thrilled by memories of the old days, approves.
On his way home, Gohan stumbles onto a robbery: Krillin, on duty as a police officer, is facing two criminals armed with military hardware. Gohan changes, smashes through a wall, accidentally knocks Krillin out and recognizes the crooks: they are the ones he and Videl caught when Saiyaman made his debut. Watagash then possesses one of them and makes him far stronger, but not strong enough: Gohan floors him with a small "Great Saiyaman Beam," choosing it over a Kamehameha to avoid collateral damage. The next day everyone on set guesses who was in the suit, but Bulma covers for Gohan by claiming a spare costume was stolen from her lab. Cocoa overhears everything and blackmails Gohan: she wants a flight home. During the night ride, Jaco's spaceship intercepts them, convinced Saiyaman is Watagash's new host. And he opens fire.
Our take
The Great Saiyaman has always been a comic figure, almost a joke at Gohan's expense, and this episode embraces that with affection. The satire of the movie business, with its vain star and visionary director, is light but on target, and seeing Gohan have fun in costume again gives him back a lightness Super had somewhat taken away.
The return of the two robbers from Saiyaman's first outing is a delightful nod for fans of the Majin Buu arc. The rest sets up part two, with Watagash and Cocoa complicating matters.
Trivia
- Written by King Ryū and directed by Takao Iwai; it drew a 5.9% rating.
- It is the first episode devoted entirely to Gohan after his marriage and his career as a scholar.
- The film's director bears an obvious resemblance to Steven Spielberg.
- From this episode the ending theme becomes "An Evil Angel and Righteous Devil" by THE COLLECTORS.
Did you know? In the Japanese version, the film's assistant director is voiced by Kappei Yamaguchi, the classic voice of characters such as Ranma Saotome and Shinichi Kudo.