Episode 284 of Dragon Ball Z, first broadcast in Japan on November 22, 1995 and titled Call to Action in Funimation's dub, puts Vegeta's plan to the test. Earth has been reborn, Goku raises his arms to the sky to form the Spirit Bomb and the Saiyan prince, with King Kai's help, speaks to the entire planet. His friends answer at once; the rest of humanity has no intention of listening to a mysterious voice.
Summary
On Earth, the revived try to work out why they are alive again. Gohan, Piccolo, Goten and Trunks are stunned, and everyone else reunites on the Lookout. The anime stretches the scene out: Chi-Chi and Bulma needle Yamcha and Krillin, Krillin hugs little Marron again, and Dabura, left out of the wish and still in the afterlife, happily says goodbye to Chi-Chi, Bulma and Videl.
On the Sacred World of the Kai, the good Buu keeps fighting bravely and Mr. Satan (Hercule) cheers him on, but the gap in power is obvious. Goku admires Vegeta's idea while worrying that it will not be enough. On New Namek, Dende wonders what to do with the third wish, and Vegeta tells him to keep it ready for when he asks. Then he asks Kibito Kai to put him in touch with the people of Earth: the Kai cannot do it, but King Kai steps in from Grand Kai's Planet and offers to carry his voice to everyone.
Vegeta tells the world that someone is fighting Buu on another planet, that the odds are slim, and that all they have to do is raise their hands to the sky to lend him energy. On the Lookout, Bulma recognizes his voice and realizes he is alive. Goku pulls off his torn gi top, rises into the air and starts gathering energy. Gohan, Piccolo, Goten, Trunks and the other friends comply immediately, and the sphere begins to take shape.
It is not enough. The rest of the population ignores the plea: some talk about a creepy voice, some fear a trick, others decide it has nothing to do with them. Vegeta loses his temper and King Kai has to calm him down. As Kid Buu overwhelms the good Buu, Frieza laughs at Vegeta's troubles from Hell, and Goku warns that the energy gathered so far is still far too little.
Our take
The episode adapts barely half a chapter of the manga, and it shows: the additions are many, from the reunion of the revived to the villains commenting from Hell. Yet the core holds up, because the question it raises is a serious one. Why should anyone trust this? Not long before, Babidi had used telepathy to threaten the entire planet, and a voice asking people to hand their strength to a stranger looks like another trick. The Earthlings' distrust is frustrating, but it is also realistic.
And it is the perfect way to put Vegeta on the spot. The prince knows how to command, threaten and fight; he does not know how to ask. His appeal starts well and ends in an outburst, because the idea of pleading with strangers is foreign to him. The contrast with Bulma, who recognizes his voice and smiles, is a reminder of how tied to Earth this prince has become, whether he admits it or not.
Trivia
- It adapts chapter 514 from page eight to the end. Written by Atsushi Maekawa and directed by Kazuhito Kikuchi, with Shingo Ishikawa as animation director.
- It earned a 16.1% share.
- The scenes of the revived on the Lookout, Dabura's farewell, Dende and the Kais commenting on the small size of the Spirit Bomb, and the villains watching from Hell are anime additions.