Episode 283 of Dragon Ball Z, first broadcast in Japan on November 15, 1995 and titled Earth Reborn in Funimation's dub, is the one where brains beat brawn. Goku has lost Super Saiyan 3, the good Buu cannot hold out much longer and defeat looks close. The way out comes from Vegeta, with a two-step plan: bring Earth back with the Namekian Dragon Balls, then ask its people to save it themselves.
Summary
The good Buu takes on his evil half, but he clearly has no chance; Mr. Satan (Hercule) tries to help and even bites the enemy. Vegeta is furious with Goku, who explains why he collapsed: he learned Super Saiyan 3 while dead and had no idea that, in a living body, the transformation burns through far more energy.
That is when Vegeta reveals his idea. Telepathically, he asks Dende and Kibito Kai to go to New Namek and use the Dragon Balls to bring Earth back. Goku does not see the point of restoring the planet now, so Vegeta answers with a question: how many times has Goku saved the Earth? At least half a dozen, Goku admits. Then, the prince concludes, it is time for the Earth to save itself for once.
On New Namek, Dende gets a warm welcome. The Namekians have already gathered the Dragon Balls, and since the battle with Frieza, Elder Moori has upgraded Porunga so that he can now revive many people with a single wish. Vegeta dictates the wishes to Dende: the first restores Earth to the way it was before its destruction, the second brings back everyone who has died since the morning of the 25th World Martial Arts Tournament, except the evil ones.
The wishes are granted. On Earth, Gohan, Piccolo, Goten, Trunks, Bulma, Chi-Chi, Krillin, Videl and everyone else come back to life. On the Sacred World of the Kai, the halo above Vegeta's head disappears: he is alive again too, and Goku is delighted. When he asks whether Vegeta plans to bring the boys and Piccolo in to fight, the prince says no and reveals the heart of his plan: a Spirit Bomb powered by the energy of every person on Earth, the same technique Goku once used against him.
Our take
The "secret plan" in the Japanese title belongs entirely to Vegeta, and the episode works because it flips the character's role. The warrior who only ever cared about his own strength becomes the strategist, the one who even counts on ordinary people. His line about Earth saving itself is one of the best ideas of the saga: after years of heroes fighting for a world that barely notices, the world finally has to do its part.
The vanishing halo is a small, powerful detail. As Majin Vegeta he killed many spectators at the Tournament, and yet the wish, which excludes the wicked, brings him back: the verdict arrives without a word, and Goku's relief says everything about the bond the two have built.
As for the wishes, Porunga grants three: two are made here, a rebuilt Earth and the resurrection of the innocent, while the third is held in reserve. It will be used in episode 286 to restore Goku's strength at the decisive moment.
Trivia
- It adapts all of chapter 513 and the first eight pages of chapter 514. Written by Masashi Kubota and directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi, with Masayuki Uchiyama as animation director.
- Its 14.7% share is the lowest among episodes 281-285.
Did you know? In the Japanese title, Porunga's name is written with the same kanji as Shenron, 神龍, which are given the reading "Porunga."