Episode 90 of Dragon Ball Z, first broadcast in Japan on May 8, 1991 and titled Bold and Fearless in Funimation's dub, marks the first clear turning point of the duel: Frieza stops holding back and raises his power to 50%. For Goku, who had been fighting with a tenfold Kaio-ken without telling anyone, it is a nasty surprise. Meanwhile, Ginyu, in Bulma's body, reaches Goku's friends.
Summary
After failing to win without his hands, Frieza makes Goku one last offer: become his underling or die. Goku refuses without hesitation. The tyrant then reveals that both of them have been holding back: he knows the Saiyan is hiding part of his strength, but even taking that into account, he claims 50% of his own power will be enough. Goku senses it is no bluff, but lets him power up anyway.
On Namek, Captain Ginyu, in Bulma's body, races across the planet on her jet bike, while the real Bulma, now a frog, clings desperately to the vehicle. Ginyu finds Gohan, Krillin and Piccolo watching the fight and joins them. At first nobody suspects anything, but "Bulma's" odd manners and the frog hopping around in a frenzy start to make Gohan and Krillin wonder.
On Earth, Chi-Chi, Master Roshi, Yajirobe, Puar and Oolong board the Capsule Corporation spaceship, but a malfunction stops the launch.
Frieza finishes powering up and keeps his word: he turns the fight around and dominates Goku. On King Kai's planet, Tien is sure the Kaio-ken will make the difference, but King Kai sets him straight: Goku is already using it, multiplied by ten. On Namek, Ginyu cannot hide his delight at seeing Goku struggle and gives himself away. When Piccolo threatens him, he spreads his arms for a Body Change.
Our take
The original title, "That's no bluff!! Son Goku, a bold and wonderful guy", plays on ambiguity: who is bluffing, Frieza or Goku? Toriyama's answer is that neither is lying, and that is exactly what makes the moment so distressing. The Kaio-ken x10 reveal is one of the hardest blows of the duel: the audience thought Goku still had an ace up his sleeve, and learns he was already playing it.
This is also where the battle starts to run on a scale of percentages: 50% here, then 70%, then finally 100%. It is a simple but effective narrative device that lets the anime pace the tension over many weeks.
The filler with Ginyu in Bulma's body, on the other hand, rolls on without much spark. The oddest detail is that Ginyu seems able to sense power levels, an ability Bulma never had and never shows again. Chi-Chi's failed launch is anime-only as well, and so are Frieza's memories of the Saiyans he killed in the past.
Trivia
- It adapts chapter 312. Written by Aya Matsui and directed by Yoshihiro Ueda, with animation direction by Minoru Maeda.
- With a 23.9% ratings share, it is the most-watched episode between 84 and 107.
- King Kai says that not even a Kaio-ken a hundred times stronger would be enough against Frieza: an exaggeration, or perhaps a nod to how dangerous the technique is for Goku's body.
- In the English dub Frieza calls Bardock a "radical", probably because the soldiers in the flashback were mistaken for Bardock's allies rather than Frieza's men.
Did you know? In Funimation's original dub, Ginyu mentions Vegeta being "finished off" by Frieza, something he could not possibly know; the line was removed in the remastered version.
Characters
- Goku and Frieza
- Captain Ginyu and Bulma
- Gohan, Krillin and Piccolo
- King Kai, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu
- Chi-Chi, Master Roshi, Yajirobe, Oolong and Puar