Episode 185 of Dragon Ball Z, first broadcast in Japan on May 12, 1993 and titled Awakening in Funimation's dub (originally The Unleashing), is where Gohan's anger finally turns into power. After Android 16's death, the boy completes his transformation into a Super Saiyan 2 and, within minutes, turns around a Cell Games that looked lost: the Cell Juniors tormenting his friends vanish one after another.
Summary
Gohan screams as his aura explodes around him. Cell smiles, satisfied, but needles him anyway: in his view the boy is making the same mistake as Trunks, bulking up his strength instead of truly releasing his power. Believing the show is over, the Cell Juniors go back to beating on Vegeta, Goku and the others. That provides the final spark. Lightning crackles through Gohan's aura, his hair grows even spikier, and for the first time Cell looks worried.
The shockwave from the transformation knocks Mr. Satan and his entourage flat and fries the TV cameras. Millions of viewers are left staring at a dead screen, and at home Chi-Chi faints.
When the dust settles, the new Gohan no longer asks Cell to stop. He simply says he will not put up with him any longer. Moving too fast to be seen, he plucks the bag of senzu from Cell's hand, then reaches the Cell Junior that had been pounding his father and destroys it with a single blow. Vegeta cannot believe his eyes, while Goku watches his son with pride.
Two Cell Juniors take Krillin hostage, and he shouts at Gohan to attack without worrying about him. The creatures lose their nerve, flee and fire at their prisoner on the way out, but Gohan has already pulled him to safety. He leaves Krillin with Piccolo and finishes off the attacker with one kick.
At the Son house, Chi-Chi comes to and turns on the Ox-King, who is praising his grandson. She throws him out along with the furniture, wondering how Gohan will ever become a scholar if he spends his time fighting. Back at the arena, the remaining Cell Juniors attack all at once, even using the Kamehameha, the Special Beam Cannon and the Tri-Beam. Gohan tosses the senzu into the air, takes them all down before the bag falls, and catches it again. He hands the beans to Trunks to heal the wounded and rises to face Cell.
Our take
The Super Saiyan 2 transformation is one of the most famous moments in the series, and the anime gives it the treatment it deserves: music, lightning, crumbling ground. The best detail, though, is Gohan's tone. He no longer shouts or pleads. He speaks quietly, with a coldness we have never heard from him, and that is scarier than the lightning.
It is also the start of the problem that will shape the next few episodes. Piccolo spells it out: the boy no longer hesitates; all that is left is a warrior's rage. The gentle, shy Gohan who hated fighting has made way for someone who enjoys watching his enemies struggle. Without drawing too much attention to it, the story is setting the trap that will lead to tragedy.
The rest is padding, and it shows. The manga dispatches the Cell Juniors in an instant, while the anime adds the hostage scene, the stolen techniques and Chi-Chi's tantrum. That last one at least has a point: while the world watches a hero, a mother sees only her little boy in danger.
Trivia
- It adapts chapter 408 of the manga. Written by Katsuyuki Sumisawa and directed by Yoshihiro Ueda, with Tadayoshi Yamamuro as animation supervisor, it drew a 20.3% share.
- In the manga the Cell Juniors are torn apart rather graphically; the anime has them burst into clouds of dust.
- The Toonami-era English title, The Unleashing, was later replaced with Awakening.
Did you know? Although they seem to be destroyed, the Cell Juniors turn up again in a bonus chapter of the Dragon Ball Super manga, tamed by Android 17.