Episode 86 of Dragon Ball Z, first broadcast in Japan on April 10, 1991 and known as The End of Vegeta in Funimation's dub, finally brings Goku face to face with Frieza, and at the same time closes, at least for now, the arc of Vegeta. The prince of the Saiyans dies in tears, begging his lifelong rival to avenge their people. It is one of the most emotional episodes of the whole saga.
Summary
Frieza keeps pummeling Vegeta, who dangles by the neck from his tail, then flings him against a rock and prepares the killing blow. Gohan wants to rush in, but Piccolo holds him back. At that moment Goku arrives. He greets his friends with a smile, then walks toward the tyrant. Frieza studies him and flinches: that face reminds him of a Saiyan named Bardock, who once dared to rise up against him. When he hears Vegeta call him Kakarot, he realizes he is dealing with another Saiyan.
Goku says he does not care about his race's history and challenges Frieza. The tyrant attacks, Goku dodges and lands a kick to his jaw: he is the first to hit Frieza in his final form. He then deflects a hail of beams without putting his friends at risk. Vegeta, on the ground, bursts out laughing and shouts that Goku is a Super Saiyan. Annoyed, Frieza fires a beam straight through his heart.
Dying, Vegeta tells Goku what he never knew: the Saiyans worked for Frieza, who took Vegeta from his father as a child and in the end destroyed Planet Vegeta, wiping out its people. In tears, he begs Goku to kill the tyrant for the honor of the Saiyans, then dies. Goku digs a grave with a glance, buries him and turns to face Frieza.
Our take
The original title, "Such regret...!! Vegeta, the proud Saiyan, dies", says it all: this is the death of a character who, only a few episodes earlier, was the main villain. Toriyama's masterstroke is giving him tears right now. Vegeta cries for the second time, but no longer out of fear: he weeps for a wounded pride that belongs to an entire people. The enemy becomes tragic, and the revenge passes into Goku's hands.
Goku's reaction matters just as much. Until now he had spared everyone, Vegeta included. Burying the prince is an act of respect that changes the tone of the duel about to begin: Goku is no longer fighting only for the thrill, but also on behalf of those who are gone.
The anime adds a flashback of young Vegeta beside his father and Nappa, and shows Gohan trying to step in before Piccolo stops him. Bardock is a subtler case: in the manga Frieza only notes the resemblance, while the anime has him deduce the family tie. It is a clear nod to the 1990 TV special about Goku's father, which had aired in Japan six months earlier.
Trivia
- It adapts chapter 307 and the first seven pages of chapter 308. Written by Katsuyuki Sumisawa and directed by Yoshihiro Ueda, it drew a 20% ratings share.
- It is the first time Vegeta dies on screen. The episode has its share of drawing errors: Krillin appears with intact armor despite the wound from Frieza's horn, and in one shot he is even wearing his gi.
- Funimation's dub fills the scene with references: Frieza tells Vegeta "Good night, sweet prince", from Hamlet, and says "Long live the king!" in the flashback, echoing The Lion King.
- Grand Elder Guru appears among Frieza's victims at the end of the episode, even though he was thought to have died of old age; the truth comes out later.
Did you know? Vegeta's death is not permanent: he will be revived by Earth's Dragon Balls a few episodes later, before the duel is even over.