History Recap / DragonBallZAndroidArc

* 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 techniqu all at once, allowing him to return stronger than ever and forcing the remaining Z Fighters into a LastStand.

* DidntSeeThatComing: Cell mostly sees the Cell Games as a way to make theater of engaging Goku: The WorldsBestWarrior in all-out brawl. He (and everyone who knew Goku) didn't see Goku surrendering im favor of Gohan.

* ICantSenseTheirPrecense: The Z Fighters quickly discover that due to being machines, the androids don't give off any ''Ki'', so not only are they unable to sense their level of strength, but they're extremely difficult to find.

* ICantSenseTheirPresense: The Z Fighters quickly discover that due to being machines, the androids don't give off any ''Ki'', so not only are they unable to sense their level of strength, but they're extremely difficult to find.

* 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. Unfortuntaely, this decision costs Gero his life when the Androids destroy [[RestrainingBolt his deactivation remote]], followed by [[OffWithHisHead lopping off his head]] and crushing it.

* SinisterSurveillance: It turns out that Dr. Gero had been using [[LitteralSurveillanceBug bug-sized spy drones]] to monitor on Goku and his friends since the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament. He also used them to collect the cell samples needed to create Cell.

* SinisterSurveillance: It turns out that Dr. Gero had been using [[LiteralSurveilanceBug bug-sized spy drones]] to monitor on Goku and his friends since the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament. He also used them to collect the cell samples needed to create Cell.

* SinisterSurveillance: It turns out that Dr. Gero had been using [[LitteralSurveilanceBug bug-sized spy drones]] to monitor on Goku and his friends since the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament. He also used them to collect the cell samples needed to create Cell.

* LitteralSurveilanceBug: It's revealed that from the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament in the original ''Anime/DragonBall'' series to the Sayian arc, Dr. Gero has been using these to spy on Goku's exploits. They were also used to collect the cell samples used to create Cell.

* SinisterSurveillance: It turns out that Dr. Gero had been using bug-sized spy drones to spy on Goku and his friends since the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament. He also used them to collect the cell samples needed to create Cell.

* LitteralSurveilanceDrone: It's revealed that from the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament in the original ''Anime/DragonBall'' series to the Sayian arc, Dr. Gero has been using these to spy on Goku's exploits. They were also used to collect the cell samples used to create Cell.

* LiteralSurveilanceDrone: It's revealed that from the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament in the original ''Anime/DragonBall'' series to the Sayian arc, Dr. Gero has been using these to spy on Goku's exploits. They were also used to collect the cell samples used to create Cell.

** Cell claims he could use the [[CombinedEnergyAttack Spirit Bomb]] if he liked, but he's never shown using the technique, as any energy he could gather from Earth's lifeforms would be [[SoLastSeason useless, given that the same attack was incapable of killing Saiyan arc Vegeta and Namek saga Frieza]].

** Cell claims he could use the [[CombinedEnergyAttack Spirit Bomb]] if he liked, but he's never shown using the technique, as any energy he could gather from Earth's lifeforms would be [[SoLastSeason useless, given that the same attack was incapable of killing Saiyan arc Vegeta]].

* {{Irony}}: 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.

* PowerUpLetdown: Future Trunks claims he has vastly surpassed Vegeta in power through his time in the Hyperbolic Time Chanber, but refuses to show his full power in front of his father so as not to break his pride. He finally unleashes this power once Vegeta gets knocked out by Perfect Cell, in the form of Super Saiyan 3rd Grade/Ultra Super Saiyan. This form is thunderous and muscular beyond belief, and Trunks is even stronger than Cell...but he can't actually hit him. Because he didn't actually increase his ki at all, but just transferred it all to physical strength, leaving him with insufficient speed relative to Cell. Cell quickly showed that he knows the same trick, Goku was showing it off while explaining its drawbacks to Gohan in the time chamber at the same time as Trunks and Cell's fight, and Cell even claims that Vegeta knows the ins and outs of this transformation as well...which, looking at Vegeta's bulging musculature when he was charging that ten-minute Final Flash that tore Cell's entire right side off when he took too long to dodge it, is entirely likely to be true. [[BreakThemByTalking Trunks' fighting spirit is broken]] by this revelation and he tells Cell to just [[GetItOverWith go ahead and kill him]] then and there. Cell instead has a fit of curiosity and evil thrillseeking and decides to host the Cell Games. This ironically leads to the bio-android resorting to the same desperate measure when he is outclassed by Super Saiyan 2 Gohan, with the same result of complete failure.

* PowerUpLetdown: Future Trunks claims he has vastly surpassed Vegeta in power through his time in the Hyperbolic Time Chanber, but refuses to show his full power in front of his father so as not to break his pride. He finally unleashes this power once Vegeta gets knocked out by Perfect Cell, in the form of Super Saiyan 3rd Grade/Ultra Super Saiyan. This form is thunderous and muscular beyond belief, and Trunks is even stronger than Cell...but he can't actually hit him. Because he didn't actually increase his ki at all, but just transferred it all to physical strength, leaving him with insufficient speed relative to Cell. Cell quickly showed that he knows the same trick, Goku was showing it off while explaining its drawbacks to Gohan in the time chamber at the same time as Trunks and Cell's fight, and Cell even claims that Vegeta knows how to do the same trick as well...which, looking at Vegeta's bulging musculature when he was charging that ten-minute Final Flash that tore Cell's entire right side off when he took too long to dodge it, is entirely likely to be true. Ironically, Cell resorts to the same desperate measure when he is outclassed by Super Saiyan 2 Gohan, with the same result of complete failure.

* BaitAndSwitchBoss: 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.

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Vegeta willingly lets Cell off the hook so he can absorb Android 18 and complete his evolution, with the bargain of giving him a WorthyOpponent to face. Vegeta gets exactly what he wanted, receiving a [[FinishingMove devastating hard elbow in the back]] for his trouble.

* BreakTheHaughty: Vegeta gets this twice. He achieves the power of Super Saiyan and becomes slightly arrogant, but his CurbStompBattle over Android 19 causes his ego to shoot through the roof. Vegeta decides to challenge 17 and 18 all by himself. [[TheWorfEffect He receives a broken arm from Android 18 for his trouble]]. Later on, Vegeta gains the Ascended Super Saiyan form and dominates Semi-Perfect Cell, except his arrogance gets the better of him once more and lets Cell absorb 18 to get his Perfect Form, believing that it wouldn't make a difference. [[RunningGag He gets elbow smashed to the ground for his trouble]].

** {{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 brutalised 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.

* DeerInTheHeadlights: #17 and #18 have a nasty case of standing still and not running once Cell enters the picture, even when given ample amounts of time to run away.
* DidNotGetTheGirl: Android 18 is pissed at Krillin by the end of the arc and angrily flies off. Subverted in the next arc, though, where it's revealed they got married during the TimeSkip.

* HeelFaceTurn: Each of the Androids wind up pulling this in their own ways once the Cell Saga begins. 17 is forced to turn over a new leaf quickly when Cell arrives on the scene, who is itching to absorb him and 18. 17 and Piccolo team up to fight Imperfect Cell. Android 16 develops an appreciation for life and nature on the Earth, and pulls off a HeroicSacrifice in an attempt to stop Perfect Cell, Android 18, however, got the happiest ending of them all, as at the end of the saga, 18 (along with 17) ends up being wished to have their inner detonation bombs removed and 18 becomes married to Krillin in the next arc.
** 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 ''Anime/DragonballSuper'', and is revealed to have 3 kids, two of which are adopted and has since become a park ranger.

* IJustWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Krillin makes the wish to Shenron to remove the detonator 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), 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.

* HeelFaceTurn: Each of the Androids wind up pulling this in their own ways once the Cell Saga begins. 17 is forced to turn over a new leaf quickly when Cell arrives on the scene, who is itching to absorb him and 18. 17 and Piccolo team up to fight Imperfect Cell. Android 16 develops an appreciation for life and nature on the Earth, and pulls off a HeroicSacrifice in an attempt to stop Perfect Cell, Android 18, however, got the happiest ending of them all, as at the end of the saga, 18 ends up being wished to have her inner detonation bomb removed and becomes married to Krillin in the next arc.

* IJustWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Krillin makes the wish to Shenron to remove the detonator 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, 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.

* TakeUpMySword: With Kami having merged with Piccolo, the Dragon Balls disappeared, meaning there was no way to bring back everyone killed by Cell, leading Goku to seek out the Namekians and find a new Guardian for Earth. Dende would end up taking up the mantle and reviving Shenron, giving him the ability to grant two wishes instead of just one. Nail, who was now part of Piccolo, [[InnerMonologue internally expressed]] that [[SoProudOfYou he was proud of his little brother]], having always felt he would be destined for something great.