Episode 158 of Dragon Ball Z, first broadcast in Japan on September 23, 1992 and titled Krillin's Decision in Funimation's dub, places two saga-changing mistakes side by side. Krillin holds the means to stop Android 18 and destroys it, because he has fallen for her; Vegeta, out of curiosity and pride, sets Cell free to go and get her.
Summary
Cell's words have struck a nerve. The monster keeps pushing: once perfect, he would be the most powerful being in the universe, and a warrior like Vegeta ought to crave an opponent like that. He openly plays on the Saiyan instinct to seek ever tougher challenges, and while the prince keeps knocking him around, he starts to waver.
Meanwhile Krillin finally spots Android 18 among the trees of an island, together with a wounded Android 16. He lands quietly and creeps closer, since Bulma's shutdown remote only works at short range. Noticing that Android 17 is gone, he realizes why Cell's appearance has changed. The closer he gets, though, the more he falters: he remembers the kiss on the cheek 18 gave him and admits to himself that he has feelings for her.
Inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, after a brutal session, Goku and Gohan relax in a hot bath, and the father explains that rest matters as much as training.
On the island, Krillin makes up his mind. He steps out in front of the two Androids, shows them the remote and smashes it, telling them to run. Android 18 is left speechless. At almost the same moment Vegeta makes his own choice and lets Cell go, so that he can face him in his perfect form. Trunks realizes his father is being played and blocks the way, determined to finish the monster himself. As the two clash, Cell looks down and spots 18 hiding in the woods.
Our take
This is one of the saga's key episodes, even though there is very little source material behind it: three pages of chapter 379 plus chapter 380. Toriyama sets two characters side by side who both decline to do the sensible thing, and he does it with bitter irony. Vegeta lets the enemy become perfect out of vanity; Krillin helps out of kindness. Fans remember the first as the culprit and rarely blame the second, yet the result is the same.
Krillin's choice holds up because it fits him. He is the character who has suffered most at the hands of villains, and he cannot kill in cold blood a girl who has never hurt him. The playful Japanese title, which calls it his "sabotage," hides a pivotal moment: without that broken remote, there would be no marriage to Android 18 and no Marron years later.
The anime adds little beyond Goku and Gohan's bath, and this time the padding hurts less. All the tension lies in waiting to see whether Krillin will press the button.
Trivia
- It adapts pages 8-10 of chapter 379 and chapter 380. Written by Takao Koyama, directed by Mitsuo Hashimoto with animation direction by Yukio Ebisawa, it drew a 19.7% share.
- Goku and Gohan's bath in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber is an anime addition.
- In Japanese, Krillin notices Android 17 is missing and works out he has been absorbed. Funimation's dub drops the line and has him simply trying to stay calm.
- In the Italian dub, Krillin was called "Crili," and the Italian episode title uses that name.
- Funimation's English dub premiered on Cartoon Network on October 30, 2000.
Characters
- Krillin, Android 18 and Android 16
- Vegeta, Cell and Trunks
- Goku and Gohan in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber