History Recap / DragonBallZAndroidArc

A year and a half following the events on Namek, the world is at peace and life is good, save for the fact that Goku is still MIA in space. Having failed to find him, Vegeta returns to Earth and lives with the Briefs (with Bulma starting to develop an attraction to him), having nowhere else to go. Unfortunately for everyone, it turns out that Frieza's NotQuiteDead; even after being reduced to a torso and half a head when Namek exploded, he survived and is now a {{cyborg}}. A cyborg with an army and his dad, King Cold, looking for revenge on a planet without Goku, at that. Despite the massive odds against them, the Z-Fighters head to the Northern Wastelands as Frieza's ship lands. However, no sooner do his minions disembark when a mysterious young man wielding a sword appears and effortlessly slices them apart. He then takes on Frieza, and reveals himself to be a Saiyan as he promptly turns Super Saiyan, [[OhCrap scaring the daylights out of the tyrant]]. The next thing he knows, the man [[CurbStompBattle makes literal mincemeat out of him and kills King Cold, effortlessly quashing Frieza's reign of terror before it begins]].

Amazed at the power of the mysterious Saiyan, the Z-Fighters are told by him that Goku will return in three hours. They wait around for him, but questioning the man on who he is yields little information, though he keeps looking at Vegeta (to whom Bulma notices a resemblance). Sure enough, Goku returns from space just as the man said he would. After being introduced to the man, the two talk alone, and after the man confirms Goku is powerful, he properly introduces himself in secret - his name is Trunks, and he's a half-Saiyan from twenty years in the future. Not only that, but he's also Vegeta and Bulma's son, much to Goku's amazement. However, the future is evidently [[BadFuture bleak]], as he reveals that on May 12th, three years from now, two androids made by Dr. Gero, former lead scientist of the Red Ribbon Army, will appear and devastate the Earth, killing all the Z-Fighters save Gohan (who ends up dying thirteen years later) and Trunks. Worse, Piccolo is also among the dead, so that means no Dragon Balls to undo the damage. To top it all off, Goku won't live to see that dark day - he's due to die of a heart virus that the present has no cure for! Fortunately, in the future Bulma developed medicine for it, which he gives to Goku. He then departs in his time machine to assist the Z-Fighters three years from now. Although Goku is sworn to secrecy, the story is overheard by Piccolo, who recounts the tale of the incoming android threat to the others, while making sure not to endanger Trunk's conception by hiding his identity.

Meanwhile, Goku reveals how he survived Namek's explosion, before shows off a new trick he picked up while in space - Instant Transmission, allowing him to teleport almost anywhere. Discussing what to do, the gang agrees to train as hard as they can to stop the android threat three years from now (Bulma's suggestion of [[StatingTheSimpleSolution using the Dragon Balls to find Dr. Gero and stop him before he creates the androids]] is brushed off by the others). During the interim, Bulma and Vegeta grow more attracted to each other, and Bulma eventually gives birth to baby Trunks.

Three years later, the Z-Fighters head to Sasebo, where the androids are due to first appear. After Goku nearly blows Trunks' identity, the two androids appear and fly into the city. Since the androids don't use ki, no-one can sense them, requiring them to split up and search for them. Before long, the androids - the fat, mime-like Android 19 and the old man Android 20 - begin terrorizing the populace and [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomp]] Yamcha (par for the course at this point), revealing that they can absorb the energy of others. Sensing this, the gang find them, rescue Yamcha and confront the androids, though not before bringing them to a desert away from innocent bystanders. Goku offers to fight 19 first, but he's obviously not feeling too well - little though he knows it, the heart virus is now afflicting him six months later than it was supposed to. Though the androids' strength was adjusted based on Goku's battle against Vegeta, him turning Super Saiyan is a surprise to them, since Dr. Gero never saw the battles on Namek. While Goku initially has the upper hand against 19, the virus worsens and takes its toll on him, and before long 19 almost drains his energy before Vegeta appears and saves him.

As Goku is brought back home, Vegeta takes on Android 19, revealing that he too can now become a Super Saiyan, and swiftly obliterates 19. Outclassed, Android 20 attempts to flee as the Z-Fighters take pursuit. Hiding within canyons, he plots to absorb the gang's energy to power himself up, and manages to goad Vegeta into firing a ki blast which he absorbs before fleeing again. His attempt to drain Piccolo's energy go sour, however, and the Namekian rips off his right hand to prevent him from draining more energy. As Android 20 realises how screwed he is, Trunks appears and tells everyone some shocking news - these androids ''aren't'' the ones he warned them about! Piccolo, in shock, reveals Trunks' name, and Vegeta learns the powerful Saiyan is his own son. When Bulma (carrying baby Trunks) shows up, 20 uses the opportunity to shoot her down and flee back to Dr. Gero's laboratory, where the real android threat, Androids 17 and 18, will be activated. Though no-one is badly injured, Vegeta doesn't care for his family's wellbeing either way. Revealing that 20 is actually Dr. Gero himself, now a brain in a robot body, Bulma tells the Z-Fighters that his lab is north of North City and they race off to stop him.

Unfortunately, Gero makes his way to the lab and activates 17 and 18; cyborg teenagers who, unlike 19 and Gero himself, [[PerpetualMotionMonster run on infinite energy]]. However, the two don't follow orders well, and as the Z-Fighters arrive Gero meets his end as 17 kills him. As they plan to activate Android 16 - an android Trunks had never known of - Trunks completely destroys the laboratory, but to no effect. The androids are unharmed and 17, 18 and the newly-activated 16 fly off. Vegeta, eager to battle them, pursues them to a highway. He challenges Android 18, but eventually tires out while the perpetually-powered girl breaks his arm with no problem. The other Z-Fighters meet similar fates from her and 17, though Krillin and Android 16 stay out of the fight. Revealing to him afterwards that they intend to kill Goku because they see it as a game, the androids leave them beaten, but alive (18 kissing Krillin before leaving). Recovering via Senzu Beans, the gang ponder what to do next, especially as these androids are much stronger than the ones in Trunk's time. Vegeta flies off in a rage, while Piccolo leaves for the Lookout and confronts Kami, who is aware that he wishes to fuse with him to deal with the android crisis.

However, it turns out something far worse than the androids has reared its ugly head, prompting Kami to fuse into Piccolo, granting him immense power and wisdom, but causing the Dragon Balls and Shenron to cease existing. As Goku (receiving treatment for the heart virus) is being moved to Kame House before the androids arrive, Bulma, Trunks, Krillin and Gohan find out that another (albeit aged) time machine identical to Trunks' exists, with a bizarre shed exoskeleton lying nearby. Then familiar power levels are felt as Gingertown's populace suddenly vanishes, leaving empty clothes in the streets. As Piccolo investigates, he finds out the reason behind all this is a monster named Cell. Like Trunks, he comes from the future, and is yet another android of Dr. Gero's. However, he is biomechanical; made up of the DNA of warriors like Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo and Frieza, granting him access to their abilities like the Kamehameha, regeneration of body parts, and more. Even worse, he seeks to absorb 17 and 18 to unleash his full power, and since in his time Trunks defeated them, he went back in time to absorb them in the past. After a brief scuffle, he flees to absorb more people. Vegeta is naturally pissed that between the Androids, Piccolo and Cell, everyone and everything seems out to surpass him.

Meanwhile, the androids reach Goku's house, which has been abandoned. Realising the next logical place Goku could be is Kame House, they fly over there. As Krillin and Trunks return to Gero's laboratory to destroy the basement where the young Cell is being created, they find the plans for Android 17 and 18, taking them before destroying the lab in hopes of finding a weakness. As Trunks leaves to find Vegeta, Goku manages to recover from the heart virus, though is in no condition to fight the androids or Cell. Finding Vegeta and Trunks, the three and Gohan leave for the Lookout, where the Hyperbolic Time Chamber - [[YearInsideHourOutside a room where a year inside is a day outside]] - lies. Since only two people can enter at a time, Vegeta and Trunks go in first, intending to surpass the power of the Super Saiyan state, as Goku and Gohan wait outside. As Cell's rampage is tracked on the news, the androids arrive at Kame House, and Piccolo challenges Android 17 to a one-on-one fight on a deserted island. Unaware of the Namekian's newfound power, 17 accepts and the two give their all. Cell senses Piccolo's energy and, realising it could only be so high if he were facing the androids, races towards it. Having absorbed so many humans, his power now surpasses that of Piccolo's, and he easily overpowers the two. However, Android 16 attacks Cell, who is unable to absorb the completely mechanical android, and is almost brought to a standstill, though 17 and 18 remain despite 16's orders for them to flee, and Cell absorbs the cocky 17, becoming Semi-Perfect.

Now far stronger, Cell sets his sights on Android 18, who flees along with 16 as Tien appears to hold Cell off with several [[CastFromHitPoints Neo Tri-Beams]]. Though it has no effect on Cell, it buys the androids precious time, and Goku appears to take Piccolo and Tien back to the Lookout. Meanwhile, Bulma uses the plans from Dr. Gero's lab to create a remote that will shut down Android 18, denying Cell his Perfect form, which she gives to Krillin. Trunks and Vegeta emerge from the Hyperbolic Time Chamber far stronger than before, having done a year's worth of training in one day. As the Saiyans suit up in armor Bulma made for them, Trunks and Vegeta head after Cell as Goku and Gohan enter the Hyperbolic Time Chamber; Goku wanting Gohan to not just become a Super Saiyan, but to also reach a level beyond it. Cell, meanwhile, destroys several islands in his search for 18, but before he finds her, he is confronted by Vegeta, who is now faster and stronger than him thanks to his Super Saiyan's newfound Second Grade state. Krillin arrives on the island, but having fallen for 18, he can't bring himself to deactivate her and destroys the remote. Cell uses this opportunity to plea to Vegeta's pride - by absorbing 18, he'll become more of a challenge for the Saiyan prince, who relents until then. Trunks, having more sense then pride, tries to stop Cell, though Vegeta fights him so as not to interfere. Standing up to his father, Trunks knocks Vegeta away and attempts to stop Cell. However, he manages to absorb her and become Perfect Cell.

Well, ''bugger''.

In the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, however, Gohan finally becomes a Super Saiyan when he feeds off the rage of being too weak to help those who helped him. Cell meanwhile swiftly dominates everyone save Vegeta and Trunks. The latter, unknown to the former, is the stronger of the two, but he refuses to use his full power out of respect for his father's pride. He's eventually forced to bring it out as a Third Grade Super Saiyan when Vegeta gets kicked in by Cell (not that the latter is completely defenseless - [[WaveMotionGun a Final Flash visible from space]] would've killed him had he not moved so "only" half his body gets blown apart), but [[MightyGlacier while he is far stronger than Cell, he's also much slower]], which Cell uses to his advantage to defeat him. Goku meanwhile discovers this weakness and comes up with a different plan - be a Super Saiyan for so long it's almost natural, so as not to waste energy powering up and keep a balance of speed and power. Amazed at how quickly Vegeta and Trunks grew in power, Cell spares them and announces on TV that he will hold a tournament - the Cell Games - to show his power before the world in ten days' time.

Goku and Gohan (now significantly taller than when he entered) emerge from the Hyperbolic Time Chamber as "natural" Super Saiyans, and Goku transmits to Cell to gauge his power. Even with all his training, he believes Cell could easily defeat him, but what really surprises everyone is how Goku isn't bothered by this fact, with him claiming he discovered a secret while in the chamber. The Z-Fighters spend the remaining nine days training for the Cell Games, though Goku and Gohan only bother doing so for three days; during the remaining six, they go to New Namek and make Dende the new Guardian of Earth. In addition, he makes a new set of Dragon Balls and a new Shenron - one that can grant ''three'' wishes like Porunga.

On the day of the Games, the World Champion [[FakeUltimateHero Mr. Hercule Satan]] steps up to fight Cell, but gets easily beaten (claiming the fight was full of "tricks and illusions" and faking stomach cramps to avoid fighting him again). Goku fights Cell next, and he manages to keep up with the android to the point where Cell destroys the ring and makes it an all-out fight. Despite managing to blow apart Cell's upper body, Cell regenerates it, and Goku throws the match, believing he can't defeat him without destroying the planet and/or dying with him. Shockingly, he decides to have Cell fight Gohan. Even more shockingly, he tosses Cell a Senzu Bean, completely restoring his energy.

Gohan refuses to fight Cell, as his full power only comes out when enraged, but this only encourages Cell to push the half-Saiyan to his limit. Eventually, Android 16 attempts to blow himself up to destroy Cell, but unfortunately Bulma had removed his internal bomb when repairing him earlier. This results in 16's body (save for his head) being destroyed by Cell. To enrage Gohan, Cell creates miniature [[MiniMook Cell Juniors]] to attack the Z-Fighters, which brutally beat them up. Going even further, Cell orders them to kill everyone, but Hercule finds the still-functional head of Android 16 and throws it over to Gohan. 16 tells Gohan that it's OK for him to fight to protect his loved ones and his planet, but Cell promptly crushes him. Finally at his breaking point, Gohan snaps and ascends to a level beyond a Super Saiyan - Super Saiyan 2.

Cell's desire to have a strong opponent swiftly backfires, as Gohan almost completely defeats him with two punches, even when the android was at full power. Although Gohan could easily kill Cell there and then, he decides to have some fun with him, despite everyone's pleas. Taking on a stronger but slower form like Trunks had done earlier, Cell is still no match for Gohan, with one kick to the stomach causing him to vomit out Android 18 and revert to his Semi-Perfect form. Enraged and with nothing to lose, Cell began to self destruct, threatening to take the planet with him. Goku, however, uses Instant Transmission to send himself and Cell to King Kai's planet before he explodes, sacrificing himself to save Earth. No sooner does everyone process what's happened when Cell, having regenerated FromASingleCell, reappears in his Perfect form and more powerful than ever, kills Trunks, overpowers a [[PapaWolf distraught Vegeta]], wounds Gohan's arm and prepares to destroy not just the Earth, but ''the entire Solar System.''

However, Goku contacts Gohan from the afterlife and convinces him to keep fighting. While he manages to use a one-handed Kamehameha, Cell's own Kamehameha is signficantly stronger, though Gohan's gradually grows as the BeamOWar reaches a stalemate. Although everyone assists Gohan, Cell gradually starts to gain the upper hand before one attack from Vegeta momentarily distracts him, giving Gohan the opportunity to completely overpower Cell's Kamehameha, unleashing his full power as the android breaks apart and is completely destroyed. With the world at peace, Dende heals everyone and uses the Dragon Balls to revive Cell's victims (Trunks among them). However, Goku remains dead both because [[Recap/DragonBallZSaiyanArc he had already been revived once before]], and because he believes his presence brings powerful evil to Earth, ergo it would be better for him to remain dead.

After Krillin's wish to turn Androids 17 and 18 back to pure humans can't be done, he instead wishes to have their bombs removed, which 18 is thankful for despite her tough attitude towards him. Hercule takes credit for the defeat of Cell and revival of his victims, Trunks returns to his own time to defeat his androids, Piccolo trains Dende to become a good Guardian, Goku remains in the afterlife with King Kai, and peace on Earth is established once again...

* AbortedArc: After Trunks returned three years later, there was a brief subplot of him trying to figure out who or what caused the timeline to change so drastically from his time period. The last time this is brought up is after he and Bulma look at his beat-up time machine that Cell came in, and Trunks theorizes that he could be responsible for the changes. However, this never gets brought up again. A number of other questions and storylines don't really go anywhere either, as the introduction of Cell acts as a ConflictKiller and gives all the characters a singular threat to focus on.
* AccidentalHero: After learning about the androids and the BadFuture, Bulma [[StatingTheSimpleSolution comes up with a plan]]: Use the Dragon Balls to locate Dr. Gero and kill him before he can activate the androids. Vegeta, Goku, Piccolo and the other {{Blood Knight}}s shoot this down and Goku points out that Gero hasn't done anything ''yet.'' So killing him would be unfair. Eventually it is established that [[OurTimeTravelIsDifferent the conventional rules of time travel don't apply]] when mortals travel through time and it simply creates {{Alternate Timeline}}s, meaning Bulma's suggestion wouldn't solve Trunks' BadFuture. So ultimately, Goku, Piccolo and Vegeta's plan of getting stronger ends up benefitting them, allowing Trunks to go back to the future and defeat the androids once he gets stronger.

** In the manga, when Master Roshi says it'll take at least 20 minutes before Bulma can reach his island with the remote to deactivate the androids (when Cell has aleady reached them and fighting Piccolo), Krillin immediately says he will fly towards her plane and they can meet on the way. In the anime, [[ForgotAboutHisPowers Krillin doesn't come up with this idea]]. It is [[OnlySaneMan ChiChi]] who has to point out to Krillin, and by extension, Tenshinhan, that they ''can'' fly, followed by calling him out for not even thinking of this.

* AlwaysALiveTransmission: Occurs when Cell invades a television studio to announce his Cell Games in the anime. In the manga he just barges into the newsroom which could be justified as a live broadcast, but in the anime he walks through the front door and flies up to the top of the building, crashing through each floor on the way. And the Z Fighters are able to track him by channel hopping, implying [[ExaggeratedTrope EVERY show that studio broadcasts is live]].
* AntagonistInMourning: After Cell is defeated, Vegeta is deeply disappointed over the fact that his driving motivation and greatest Saiyan rival, Goku [[TheHeroDies is gone]]. He doesn't get his long-awaited rematch with him, and vows to never fight again. It doesn't last of course, but this is a critical character point that carries over to the next arc.

** The Cell Games section has Goku, until he performs a HeroicSacrifice and passes the title to Gohan.

* AwesomenessByAnalysis: Unlike Trunks, who discovers the Third Grade Super Saiyan form and thinks it makes him the strongest Saiyan alive, Vegeta and Goku both instinctively understand the weakness of the overly-muscled form. Goku is able to explain it to Gohan and immediately assess that it's not the goal of their training, whereas Vegeta uses the effect of what the form does not to transform outright, but to charge his ultimate attack ''and dare Cell not to dodge it'', an effort which comes far closer to target than Trunks' direct attempt to challenge Cell in that state.

** The future where Trunks comes from is this. 17 and 18 have pretty much ravaged the Earth just for kicks and the Z-Warriors were powerless to stop them. Eventually, Trunks returns from the past with a massive power up and wastes them ''and'' Cell.

** Although Cell is ultimately slain and the Earth is saved, Dr. Gero ultimately got what he wanted: Goku is dead. Unfortunately for Dr. Gero, he didn't live to see it happen, and Goku eventually comes back come the next arc.

** Starts off with Android 19 and 20 (a.k.a Dr. Gero) then 17 and 18 before finally ending with Cell as the BigBad for the remainder of the arc.
** To an extent, Frieza is this, as he mainly exists to show how deadly the Androids are, given that Trunks is able to wipe the floor with him but still can't defeat them.

* BishounenLine: Cell's transformations provide the page image. He spends the first part in his screen time in his monstrous Imperfect form, before transforming into his somewhat humanoid Semi-Perfect form by absorbing Android 17, and then his downright handsome Perfect form when Vegeta allows him to absorb 18. He then ''un''-crosses the Bishounen line when Gohan beats 18 out of him, before re-crossing it as Super Perfect Cell.
* BittersweetEnding: Gohan defeats Cell and Trunks becomes powerful enough to save his timeline from the Androids, but Goku dies stopping Cell from destroying the Earth and decides not to be wished back to life. The latter two events eventually become reversed, for better and [[Recap/DragonBallSuperFutureTrunksArc for worse]].

* BothSidesHaveAPoint: Piccolo decides to merge with Kami because the Earth is confronted with a dangerous menace, and that a powerful warrior capable of defending the Earth is needed, not a god who merely watches it. Kami agrees, but seeks to assess how events take place. Piccolo scoffs at this because Kami knows full well that the Z-Fighters were completely trounced by the Androids, but Kami notes that the group provoked the Androids into fighting them, and that events are playing out differently from Trunks' predictions.

* CameBackStrong: A villainous example with Cell. After regenerating following his self-destructive attempt[[note]]which even ''he'' admits he didn't plan on[[/note]], he not only regains his Perfect form despite having lost Android 18 [[note]]the Self-destruct attempt also killed Android 17 as well as he was still inside Cell at the time[[/note]], but the Saiyan geneology within him gave him a ''major'' Zenkai boost, topped off with having gained Goku's Instant Transmission technique in the explosion. Needless to say, he was quite elated with this turn of events.

* {{Cyborg}}: Aside from Frieza, most of the "androids" that appear actually some variety of this. Cell, Dr. Gero's ultimate creation, fights #16, and attempts to drain his life force, and is shocked to discover that he can't because he actually ''is'' an android.

** Another example came when he pulled his EarthShatteringKaboom TakingYouWithMe. He didn't expect to not only regenrate from it but also become stronger than ever.

** [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] in Piccolo's case regarding his fight with Android #17: They come at the Kame House looking for Goku. Piccolo decides to fight them, and notes that if just one of them is destroyed, Cell can't achieve his completion. However, him and #17 are evenly matched, and the fight only signals Cell to their location via sensing Piccolo's Ki rising.

** The original Japanese version referred to the androids as "Jinzoningen" (or "Artificial Humans"), since the antagonists were either humans that were artificially enhanced or completely artificial. The English translation went with "Androids", as in a machine resembling a human, and while this is accurate for 16, 19 and 20 (though the latter is also a BrainInAJar), this does make it easy for viewers to think 17 and 18 are mechanical too, and get confused for why Cell can absorb them but not 16. Some translations use "Cyborgs" instead, but then you have the ''inverse'' problem...
** Amusingly inverted in regards to Cell - in the original Japanese, when he explains how he regenerated following his failed suicide attack, he mentions that one of his "core" cells within his head survived, and he could regrow from just that. However, earlier Goku had completely destroyed his entire upper body, head included, and he recovered just as easily. The English translation instead claimed that ''every'' cell in his body had a life of its own (though it does make one wonder why another Cell never grew out from one of the original's lost ones).

** After seeing Cell absorb every one in Gingertown, Kami realized the threat he posed was so great that he agreed to Piccolo's request that they fuse back together, eveb though it meant Earth's Dragon Balls would become inert.

** [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] in Piccolo's case regarding his fight with Android #17: They come at the Kame House looking for Goku. Piccolo decides to fight them, and notes that if just one of them is destroyed, Cell can't achieve his completion. However, him and #17 are evenly matched, and the fight only signals Cell to their location.

** When first trying to find the androids on South City, Goku muses that it would've been easier if Trunks had shown him a photo of them. This helps set things up that the androids the Z Fighters encounter are ''not'' the ones Trunks had warned them about.

** As Goku himself said, Trunks never thought to show an image of what the androids looked like, much less give a description. As a result, not only are they at a loss when the androids they think they're going to fight disappear into the crowds, they're caught off guard when he reveals these aren't the same androids. He also neglected to mention that they don't have energy they can sense.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Trunks warns Goku that being a Super Saiyan does not make him immune or even resistant to an impending heart virus, which is why he brought medicine that can fix that problem. When he faces Androids #19 and #20, the virus kicks in, severely weakening him and taking him out of the action until the Cell Saga when he is finally cured.

*** The ArcVillain version of Cell was in his own timeline thwarted at Stage 1 (by Future Trunks killing 17 and 18 before he could absorb them), and went back in time to get the Androids when they were still alive. Once in the present, he plays it straight, being able to reach his Perfect state because Vegeta got cocky.

** Krillin when his decision not to deactivate Android 18 lets Cell become complete.[[note]]Though it ultimately pays off for him in the long run.[[/note]]

** Krillin's refusal to deactivate Android 18 and kill her so Cell couldn't absorb her.[[note]]Though this actually pays off for Krillin big time as he ends up winning her heart in the end.]]

* NoSympathy: Krillin admits that if it were up to him, he'd have let Vegeta die for letting Cell achieve his perfect form [[note]]considering that Vegeta let the woman he fell in love with get absorbed, makes it more Justified in his defense]]. It was only out of concern for Trunks that he opts to help Vegeta.

** Android 17 got just as much of a happy ending as his twin sister did as he's shown to have married a female zoologist off-screen in the interim between ''Z'' and ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'', and is revealed to have 3 kids of his own, one being boen naturally, the other two are adopted and he has since become a park ranger, likely to honor Android 16's memory.

** Android 17 got just as much of a happy ending as his twin sister did as he's shown to have married a female zoologist off-screen in the interim between ''Z'' and ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'', and is revealed to have 3 kids of his own, two of which are adopted and he has since become a park ranger, likely to honor Android 16's memory.

** Goku uses Instant Transmission to get the about-to-self-destruct Cell away from Earth. King Kai and his pets are also victims, since Goku took Cell to King Kai's planet. He manages to save the Earth, though unfortunately, Cell regenerated from that.

** Android 18 is warned by Future Trunks to be one of two responsible for the death of millions in the future. In the anime's depiction of her fight with Vegeta, Vegeta actually kills more people in the resulting collateral damage than 18 ever does.

** Krillin when his decision not to deactivate Android 18 lets Cell become complete.

** Piccolo's decision to start a huge fight with Android 17, thus alerting Cell to the Androids' location.
** The Androids' refusal to run from Cell when they had the chance (especially 18, who was told over and over to get the hell out of there but just wouldn't leave).

** Krillin's refusal to deactivate Android 18 and kill her so Cell couldn't absorb her.

* NoSympathy: Krillin admits that if it were up to him, he'd have let Vegeta die for letting Cell achieve his perfect form. It was only out of concern for Trunks that he opts to help Vegeta.

* CameBackStrong: A villainous example with Cell. After regenerating following his self-destructive attempt[[note]]which even ''he'' admits he didn't plan on[[/note]], he not only regains his Perfect form despite having lost Android 18, but the Saiyan geneology within him gave him a ''major'' Zenkai boost, topped off with having gained Goku's Instant Transmission technique in the explosion. Needless to say, he was quite elated with this turn of events.

** {{Downplayed|Trope}}, then PlayedStraight with Android #17 who boasted that he is the most powerful being on Earth, gets a mild humbling from Piccolo - who had merged with Kami since their first encounter, and then brutalized by Cell, who had come to absorb him and #18. It's even worse in the anime when you see more of how much punishment Cell is giving him.

* DidNotGetTheGirl: Android 18 is pissed at Krillin for him thinking that she and 17 were a couple and revealed she and 17 were actually ''twin siblings'' by the end of the arc and angrily flies off, though not before thanking him for removing the bombs from their bodies. Subverted in the next arc, though, where it's revealed they got married and had a daughter during the TimeSkip.

** Android 17 got just as much of a happy ending as his twin sister did as he's shown to have married a female zoologist off-screen in the interim between ''Z'' and ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'', and is revealed to have 3 kids of his own, two of which are adopted and he has since become a park ranger.

* IJustWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Krillin makes the wish to Shenron to remove the detonators from Androids #17 and #18 as he took pity on them, and while #18 scoffed at the idea of him and Krillin being together, Krillin took solace in that at least #18 and #17 could be together. #18, who happened to be spying on the Z-Fighters the whole time, [[{{Tsundere}} clarifies]] that #17 is her ''twin brother'', not her partner, and gives the rather ambiguous "Later" to Krillin to fly off to parts unknown [[note]]''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' reveals that she went back to the battlefield to briefly reunite with #17 (who was just revived at the exact spot where Semi-Perfect Cell was last seen at before Goku teleports him and himself to King Kai's planet) and reveals to #17 that Krillin removed their bombs, before heading off to live her own life[[/note]]. It turns out that [[BecauseYouWereNiceToMe #18 deeply appreciated Krillin's selfless gesture]], and by the next few chapters, her and Krillin are seen HappilyMarried with a child.

* LockedOutOfTheLoop: Dr. Gero ended up doing this to himself, believing he had gathered all the data he needed after the Sayian saga and didn't need to monitor Goku any further. As Goku pointed out, by not spying on him when he went to Namek means that he didn't know about the fact that he could now become a Super Sayian, which caught Gero and Android 19 and helped contribute to events that would lead to Gero activating Androids 17 and 18[[note]]and his death[[/note]]

* SuperPersistentPredator: Cell, having freshly absorbed Android #17 and evolved into his Semi-Perfect form, takes hunt for #18, who is hiding in an island of a nearby archipelago with #16, and demands that she show herself, or he'll blow up the islands. #18 worries about this, but #16 notes that Cell wants to be complete at all costs, so she won't be destroyed. He then muses on how Cell's drive to become complete is unusual because as he is, nothing in the universe can challenge him (though Vegeta and Trunks' post-training arrival proves #16 wrong, and Cell ''definitely'' needs #18 to challenge them).

* GodzillaThreshold: With Android 19 destroyed and himself being outmatched by the Z Fighters, Dr. Gero was reluctantly forced to activate 17 and 18, knowing how dangerous they were. Unfortunately, this decision costs Gero his life when the Androids destroy [[RestrainingBolt his deactivation remote]], followed by [[OffWithHisHead lopping off his head]] and crushing it.

* FromBadToWorse: The situation involving the androids escalates in rapid succession. First, during the initial confrontation with the androids, Goku, who at first looked like he didn't contract the heart disease, ends up succumbing to it much later than initially, temporarily putting him out of commission. Then, just when Android 20 is on the ropes and it appears things will be wrapped up easily, Trunks shows up and says the androids the Z Fighters had been dealing with were ''not'' the androids terrorizing the future. When said androids, #17 and #18 appear, they bring along another new android, #16, followed by demonstrating that even with three years advanced notice and training, the Z Fighters are ''heavily'' outmatched. Finally, a second version of Trunks' time machine is discovered, leading to the introduction of ''Cell''.

* JustToyingWithThem: Android 18 appears to be on the ropes against Vegeta, who is matching her blow for blow, only to come back and easily smack him around once Vegeta becomes fatigued. Turns out Android 18 was suckering him into [[MyDefenseNeedNotProtectMeForever using up his stamina]] while [[VictoryByEndurance hers stayed limitless]].

** During Piccolo's fight with Cell, the Androids react to a shockwave hundreds of miles away. #16 reaveals that he can detect power levels, and says that one of them (Piccolo) is as strong as #17, to which the latter scoffs at. When Piccolo and #17 clash, they turn out to be evenly matched.

1!![[center:[-'''Story Arcs''': [[Recap/DragonBallZSaiyanArc 1: Saiyan Arc]] | [[Recap/DragonBallZNamekArc 2: Namek Arc]] | [[Recap/DragonBallZGarlicJrArc 3: Garlic Jr. Arc]] | '''4: Android/Cell Arc''' | [[Recap/DragonBallZMajinBuuArc 5: Majin Buu Arc]]-]]]

* LastVillainStand: An interesting inversion with Cell. After being overwhelmed by Gohan and losing his Perfect form after regurgitating Android 18, he decided to RageQuit and blow himself up along with the planet, only for Goku to teleport him off the planet before the blast. [[DontCelebrateYet Unfortunately]], it's then that the true extent of Cell's regeneration abilities is revealed as he not only regrows his body, but regains his Perfect form, gains a massive Zenkai boost thanks to his Sayian biology, and obtains Goku's Instant Transmission technique all at once, allowing him to return stronger than ever and forcing the remaining Z Fighters into a LastStand.

* NotWorthKilling: After dominating Semi-Perfect Cell with his new power, Vegeta fails to capitalize on the opportunity to finish Cell off and end it once and for all. Instead, Semi-Perfect Cell tempts Vegeta with the bargain of giving him a WorthyOpponent if he lets him absorb 18 and achieve his Perfect Form. Vegeta falls for the ploy and the rest is history.

!![[center:[-'''Story Arcs''': [[Recap/DragonBallZSaiyanArc 1: Saiyan Arc]] | [[Recap/DragonBallZNamekArc 2: Namek Arc]] | [[Recap/DragonBallZGarlicJrArc 3: Garlic Jr. Arc]] | '''4: Android/Cell Arc''' | [[Recap/DragonBallZMajinBuuArc 5: Majin Buu Arc]]-]]]

* TookALevelInBadass: Gohan finally manages to unleash his hidden power after going Super Saiyan 2.