Episode 38 of Dragon Ball Z, first broadcast in Japan on February 28, 1990 and called Nursing Wounds in Funimation's 2005 uncut dub, is the departure episode. Kami's ship is ready, the crew is chosen amid plenty of arguing, and three Earthlings leave the planet for the first time in the series: a scientist, a warrior monk and a five-year-old boy determined to bring his mentor back to life.
Summary
The Namekian ship is moved to the Capsule Corporation labs, where Dr. Brief, amazed by technology beyond his own, helps his daughter prepare it for the long trip. At the hospital Goku's family enjoys a quiet moment: Chi-Chi peels an apple for Gohan and Krillin dozes off. When his mother steps out, Gohan slips away to train, and Chi-Chi finds him on the roof with a schoolbook.
Bulma brings good news: with this ship the round trip should take about two months. Mr. Popo, the only one who speaks Namekian, cannot leave the Lookout unattended for that long, but he will teach Bulma the words she needs, and in about ten days the controls will be reprogrammed. Bulma has to go, since she is the only one who can repair the ship if something breaks. She firmly turns down Master Roshi's offer to come along and picks Krillin instead.
Gohan wants to go too: he has to be the one who brings Piccolo back. Chi-Chi fights it with everything she has, but faced with her son's resolve and everyone else's support, she finally gives in. Before leaving, Goku, still confined to bed, has Gohan punch his bandaged hand to test his strength, and decides the boy is ready.
On launch day at Kame House, Bulma shows up with short hair and a bulky spacesuit, and fumes when she sees Krillin dressed as usual. Chi-Chi and the Ox-King arrive with a mountain of luggage; Gohan steps out of the car in formal clothes and a fresh bowl cut, because to his mother humanity's first trip into deep space calls for a proper appearance. Bulma, in a foul mood, gives the launch order before the others have even buckled in. Once in space, Gohan changes into an outfit just like Piccolo's, while everyone back on Earth looks up at the sky.
Our take
A warm ensemble episode that closes the saga's Earthbound prologue. The direction plays on contrasts: Bulma's seriousness about the mission against Krillin's easygoing attitude, Chi-Chi's anxiety against Goku's calm. In the Japanese version Bulma's irritation comes from the fact that nobody else seems to take the trip seriously, which makes her far more sympathetic than the English dubs, where she just comes across as petulant.
The key moment, though, is Gohan. The boy who cried at everything a year ago now stands up to his mother to fly to an unknown planet, and he does it for Piccolo. Changing into Namekian clothes as soon as Earth is behind him is a simple, lovely gesture: it tells you who taught him to be a warrior.
Trivia
- Written by Keiji Terui and directed by Yoshihiro Ueda, with Masayuki Uchiyama as animation supervisor.
- It adapts chapter 245, with a 21.4% ratings share.
- Gohan sneaking off to train and Goku's strength test are anime additions.
- In the 1997 Ocean/Saban dub, episodes 38 and 39 were merged into one, Journey to Namek.
- A character who looks just like Konkichi, the troublemaking fox from Dr. Slump, appears in this episode.
Did you know? While scolding Gohan, Chi-Chi sarcastically asks if he wants to be a superhero. Years later, as the Great Saiyaman, he does exactly that.
Characters
- Gohan, Bulma and Krillin
- Goku, Chi-Chi and the Ox-King
- Master Roshi and Mr. Popo
- Dr. Brief