Episode 242 of Dragon Ball Z, first broadcast in Japan on October 12, 1994 and titled Learn to Fuse! in Funimation's dub, sets up the two fronts that will carry the saga for weeks. On the Kais' sacred world, Gohan recovers and finds out why he was brought there: to pull the legendary Z Sword from its rock. At Kami's Lookout, meanwhile, Goku has to convince two sobbing kids that there is no time for tears.
Summary
Having emptied the city of its people, Majin Buu levels it. Babidi addresses Earth again: anyone who knows where Goten, Trunks and Piccolo are hiding must tell him. A World Martial Arts Tournament staff member comes forward with their names, but the information is useless, and the wizard kills him on the spot. At the Lookout, a furious Piccolo wants to turn himself in to stop the slaughter. Goku talks him out of it: surrendering would change nothing, because Buu would keep destroying anyway.
On the sacred world, Kibito heals Gohan. The boy assumes he is dead until he notices he has no halo. Kibito points out that no mortal has ever set foot there, and the Supreme Kai explains the reason for the visit: Gohan is to draw the Z Sword, a legendary weapon said to make its wielder unbeatable, which no one, not even a Kai, has ever managed to pull free. Kibito makes no secret of his doubts, but before they set off he replaces Gohan's shredded clothes with an outfit like their own.
Back at the Lookout, Goten and Trunks wake up on their own and go exploring. Trunks rouses his friend with the promise of food, the two stuff themselves, and then, startled by Mr. Popo, they attack him as Super Saiyans without knowing who he is. Goku steps in and calms everyone down.
When the boys learn that Gohan and Vegeta are dead, they burst into tears. This time Goku is stern: there is no time to cry, and if they want to stop Buu they have to be strong. Outside the temple Krillin cheers them on, and Goten and Trunks finally wipe their eyes, ready to learn the Fusion Dance. The episode closes on Gohan kneeling beside the Z Sword.
Our take
The Japanese title promises a "revival" and a "secret weapon," and it plays with both ideas. Gohan never died, as only the audience knows, and the secret weapon appears to be the sword. Anyone who has seen what comes next knows the real surprise is what the Z Sword is hiding, which makes that question mark in the title feel like a wink in hindsight.
The episode also shows a different side of Goku. With his sons and with Trunks he has always been warm and a little absent-minded; here, knowing he has very little time left on Earth, he chooses firmness. It is the same urgency that, a few episodes later, will push him to burn through his remaining hours to defend the planet.
Many of the Lookout scenes are anime additions, from the boys' breakfast to the scuffle with Mr. Popo. They slow the story a little, but they remind us that the planet's would-be saviors are eight and seven years old, and the swing from play to grief lands.
Trivia
- It adapts chapter 471 of the manga. Written by Takao Koyama and directed by Kazuhito Kikuchi, with Tadayoshi Yamamuro as animation director.
- It drew a 20.3% share in Japan and aired two weeks after episode 241, with no episode on October 5.
- Goten and Trunks exploring the Lookout, their fight with Mr. Popo and Krillin's pep talk are all anime additions.
- When Babidi shows the world who he is looking for, Goten and Trunks appear with normal hair, even though he had only ever seen them as Super Saiyans.