"Ugh… now you're just embarrassing us both. Seriously, how hard is it to piss off an eleven year old?! You should be a stomping mess from me taking a toy away! Meanwhile your friends and family are being beaten into mulch and all you can do is… cry? And now he's crying?! Are you serious?! That's it! Kids, put your toys away, we're going home! And to be clear, I mean 'Kill them all so I can blow up this shithole and find something better to do'! Waste of my f&$%ing Sunday."
—Perfect Cell
Original Airdate: August 31, 2018
The danger has been multiplied.
After more than one year of waiting, we once again cut to Cell still beating up Gohan and yet despite such blatant display child violence, Goku did not lift a finger to help his own son much to Piccolo's exasperation. And unfortunately Gohan did not put up any fight to the point that he gets thrown into pile of rocks with the Half-Saiyan seemingly being crushed by it. It seems that Gohan has been killed just like that but Goku didn't fall for it and knows Gohan is only pretending by hiding his power level which forces Gohan to come out from the rubble.
Gohan then tried to intimidate him by revealing that he has hidden powers within him that could be strong enough to kill Cell. But instead of scaring the Android, all it does is make him excited so Cell tries provoke him in any way possible including giving him the biggest bear-hug of his life. Yet again Goku did nothing to help his own "flesh and blood" with Piccolo even deciding to help Gohan but the Saiyan reveal that all this is exactly according to plan; he lets Vegeta and Trunks go first in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber because he knew that the former's own arrogance will cause Cell to turn into his Perfect Form. Then by declaring that Cell will die, he would be excited enough that he forgoes destroying the world in favor of testing his powers out against the Saiyan. Why did he do all this? It's because Goku knows that he won't be in the world for long so he chose his own son as his successor and it seem to go all according to "Cake"* but Goku forgot one thing; Gohan isn't a fighter!! and it took a mouthful from Piccolo before realizing that his son does not like to fight like him, but rather, he wants to spend time as father and son. Goku soon realizes that he had made a terrible mistake.
Unfortunately, when Goku asks for a Senzu Bean, Krillin didn't trust him thinking that he will heal his enemy again. Cell took the beans from him, declaring them "tournament illegal" and rendering them unable to help the kid. Then seeing that beating up Gohan won't do the trick, Cell decides to harm his friends instead. But just before Cell could do so, Android #16 grabs him in a bear-hug before initiating a self-destruct device as strong as a nuclear bomb that will take Cell along with him (and Goku as well). #16 then initiates the countdown for the self-destruct sequence and it seems that he explode when it counts to 0... but it didn't work because as it turns out, Bulma had already removed the bomb so that he won't "blow his payload the first time he sees Goku". Thus comes the end of the robotic and gentle Android. And with him out of the way, Cell decides he won't kill his friends after all, but instead "they" will do job. Cell then expands his tail and out from him, 7 naughty children that Goku calls the Cell Juniors. Unfortunately, it turns out these children proved to be too much for the Z-Fighters including Goku. And yet despite this, it still didn't make Gohan angry enough to the point that Cell calls him out on pacifism.
In the meantime we cut Jimmy Firecracker and Mr. Satan where as usual, the latter tries to justify all those powers as nothing but smokes and mirrors but suddenly someone talked; it turns out that Android #16 is still alive even as a severed head and he requests to be thrown right into battlefield so he can let the Half-Saiyan's anger erupt. Thankfully, Mr. Satan complied with his request. Back to the battlefield after failing to let Gohan's anger out, Cell finally gets fed up with it and order that his kids put their toys back & go home. But then #16's head got thrown towards them and then proceeds to give a big speech on Gohan's cowardice and selfishness before telling him to stop holding back, oh and to also pick his head and beat Gohan's father to death wit- *Stomp* Cell crushes his head to certain death before outright declaring that he has no soul. That turned to be the trigger for Gohan's anger to finally explode and it seems that he has now gone beyond even a regular Super Saiyan... what could it possibly be? And will it be enough to take on Cell? Find on the next part of Dragon Ball Z Abridged.
It's like every trope we've ever seen fused into one, cloned itself, f@$%#d the clone, and made these!!
- Actor Allusion: Six of the Cell Jr. clones are named after people who have played Cell in the various dubs, including the original Japanese, all English versions, and DBZA voice actor Curtis "Takahata101" Arnott himself.
- And Vegeta Jr. Jr. sounds like Nappa. Nappa is also voiced in DBZA by Takahata101.
- Actual Pacifist: Gohan's nature is horrendously deconstructed during Part 1, as his outright refusal to fight because of his anger threatening to hurt people has made people think he's a coward.
- Actually Pretty Funny: Cell believes Yamcha doesn't deserve the same punishment as the other Z-Fighters. The only reason why he doesn't tell the Cell Jr. to stop attacking him is because of this trope.
- Added Alliterative Appeal:Jimmy Firecracker: It looks like Cell's gone full septo-mom, with seven sinister spawn! Mr. Satan, do you have a plan to deal with these terrifying toddlers, these chilling children, these prepubescent predators!
- A Truce While We Gawk: Gohan's transformation leaves everyone so speechless they stop fighting while they stare in awe at his new power.
- Batman Gambit: Surprisingly, Goku of all people managed to pull this off: He purposely poked Vegeta's ego and let him and Trunks go into the time chamber first because he knew that if he and Gohan went first, they'd have just killed Cell immediately while if Vegeta came out first, his ego would cause him to screw up and let Cell attain his Perfect Form ("Him or Krillin."). Then, while Vegeta and Trunks were still in there, he appeared before Semi-Perfect Cell just long enough to tease him with the idea of a death battle knowing that due to having Saiyan DNA in him, Cell would be too tempted to test his strength out against Goku instead of just nuking the planet right away. All of this to push Gohan to become his successor because, as he puts it: "One day, death is just gonna… stick, you know?" Piccolo decides this plan was well-thought after all, but informs Goku that there was one crucial hitch: Gohan lacks the inate desire to fight like Goku or the others. It worked out in the end when Gohan hits a new level of Super Saiyan, but still...
- Berserk Button: As the fight goes on, Cell reveals that Gohan is one for him, from his words to his actions (and lack thereof).
- Big "NO!": Krillin when Cell destroys Android 16.
- Bizarre Alien Reproduction: Just like in the source material, Cell is able to create duplicates of himself to fight the Z-fighters although the scene in question is both much darker and much funnier.Cell: Goku, I've decided that your insistence on fighting your progeny would be best returned in kind. So behold! My children... Norio, Dameon, Travis, Curtis, Dale and Jonathan… Oh! And of course, Vegeta Jr... Jr!
Vegeta Jr Jr: (in a creepy Nappa-like voice) Veegeetaa.
Vegeta: It's like every nightmare I've ever had fused into one, cloned itself, f@$%#d the clone, and made those!!
Piccolo: That is... terrifyingly accurate! - Brick Joke:
- When Krillin and Vegeta bring up "Team Three Star," a confused Yamcha wonders if that's supposed to be a club of some sort and asks to join, only to be shot down by both of them. Later, when Cell steals Krillin's Senzu Beans, Goku comments that it's all their faults, prompting this exchange:Piccolo: I have done literally nothing wrong.
Tien: Yeah, join the club.
Yamcha: So there is a club.
- When Krillin and Vegeta bring up "Team Three Star," a confused Yamcha wonders if that's supposed to be a club of some sort and asks to join, only to be shot down by both of them. Later, when Cell steals Krillin's Senzu Beans, Goku comments that it's all their faults, prompting this exchange:
- Brutal Honesty: 16's "The Reason You Suck" Speech to Gohan is loaded with this, telling him how he's only thinking about his own suffering.
- Call-Back:
- The episode begins with Jimmy Firecracker commenting that ZTV does not condone child violence.
- When Cell fires a Death Beam at Gohan, Krillin notes that it's the same attack Freeza used to kill Vegeta. When Vegeta points out how Freeza blew Krillin up in retaliation, Krillin shouts out "Team Three Star!"
- While Cell is crushing Gohan in a bear hug, his ribs squeak just like his father's do.
- Krillin refuses to give Goku a Senzu Bean when he asks for one to help out Gohan against Cell, obviously still mad about Goku not only giving a Senzu Bean to Cell, but stealing his "Senzu Bean!" Catchphrase in the previous episode.
- Krillin once again refers to Android 16 as "Bro-bot."
- One of the Cell Jrs is named "Vegeta Jr Jr". It even talks exactly like Nappa.
- One of the Cell Juniors breaks Yamcha's arm while having the same, "Please don't break my arm," exchange Piccolo had with one of Slug's mooks in Lord Slug Abridged.
- Character Check: Goku's Batman Gambit is more in line with the pre-TFS Neighborhood Cluck abridged movies version of the character, who was smarter and more of a Jerkass, than the Idiot Hero we know and love.
- Cliffhanger: Part 1 ends with Gohan having reached Super Saiyan 2.
- Compressed Vice: Gohan has had multiple instances in DBZA where he was either fully ok with fighting someone else, or encouraged it before this moment, but here he is a Straw Pacifist. He does get called a coward, but that he usually wasn't a pacifist is not addressed in the "The Reason You Suck" Speech.
- Dead Guy Junior: One of the Cell Jrs is named after one of the Saibamen that Vegeta blew up in Episode 7.
- Didn't See That Coming: Cell dismissed Gohan as worthless for his cowardice so even after he killed 16, he never expected Gohan to release the power he was hiding.
- Didn't Think This Through:
- Goku's plan has some solid points, but Piccolo points out some glaring holes in it, including the fact that he allowed Vegeta and Trunks to go first because he knew Vegeta would screw up and incorrectly assuming that Gohan loved fighting as much as he does.
- When Cell becomes disgusted with Gohan's pacifist nature, he decides to take out his anger on the rest of the Z-Fighters to show what a coward he is before killing Android 16 in cold blood. He has no idea just how much pent-up anger Gohan has in him.
- Disappeared Dad: Piccolo calls Goku out on this, as the latter usually spends half his life training, and the other half dead (sometimes both!). He even explains that Gohan training with Goku was the only way to avert this.
- Disproportionate Retribution: Cell orders his Cell Jr.s to, after they're done killing all the Z-Fighters, keep Mister Satan in particular alive to draw and quarter him for taking Android 16's head to Gohan.
- Do Not Call Me "Paul": When Goku tells everyone that they have "Cell Jr.s incoming!" Vegeta quickly shouts out that he's not calling them that!
- Dumbass Has a Point: Even with the flaws in his plan, Goku rightly points out that he won't be around to defend Earth forever and someone has to take his place.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Cell once again shows that while he is a horrific, evil, abomination of science and nature, there are some things and actions even he find offensive. Examples being:
- Gohan's pacifistic nature coming off as less about morals and more like outright cowardice. Cell notes in a tone dripping with anger and disgust that for all of the weaknesses and flaws of the other fighters, they're still out there fighting for themselves and the world.Cell: That right there. That is why I despise you! Do you know what they all have in common? The Saiyans might be fools, the humans might be weak, and the Namekian might not belong, but they're still out there fighting! Not just for their lives, but for this dung hill of a world!
(Krillin gets kicked down to the ground)
Cell: You see?! Even Krillin's doing his best!
Krillin: Thanks for noticing! (Cell Jr kicks him, causing the "Krillin Owned" meter to go up) agh!.. I really try!
Cell: But none of them, boy… Not. A. One. Shares that trait with you so vile, it drives me to wretch...! You, Gohan, are a coward.
Gohan: No...! I'm just a pacifist!
Cell: So, a coward patting himself on the back! Congratulations, Pint-size, you can stand proud next to the bodies. - While he doesn't stop it, Cell remarks that Yamcha doesn't deserve to be repeatedly and literally kicked while he's down.
- Gohan's pacifistic nature coming off as less about morals and more like outright cowardice. Cell notes in a tone dripping with anger and disgust that for all of the weaknesses and flaws of the other fighters, they're still out there fighting for themselves and the world.
- Freudian Excuse Is No Excuse: 16 calls Gohan out on this during his "The Reason You Suck" Speech, claiming that just because the circumstances by which Gohan was made to fight Cell aren't fair, it doesn't justify the fact that Gohan is still the only one who can stop Cell, and is doing nothing.
- Foregone Conclusion: Goku is aware that one day, his death will "stick". To put it another way, there will come a time where he'll die and no set of the Dragon Balls can bring him back.
- Grievous Harm with a Body: Android 16's dying wish is that after defeating Cell, Gohan would pick up his head and use it to beat Goku to death with it.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Android 16 attempts this by locking Cell in an embrace and setting off his self-destruct sequence. It's foiled when he discovers that Bulma removed his bomb during repairs.
- Idiot Ball: Piccolo points out how much of a total idiot Goku has been in not realizing that Gohan doesn't like to fight, all while trying to groom him into the next defender of Earth, causing Goku to suffer a moment of intense remorse.
- If I Can't Have You… / The Only One Allowed to Defeat You: This is 16's reason for attempting to blow up Cell with his nuclear bomb: if he can't kill Goku, than nobody else will get that opportunity.16: Within me is a high-yield nuclear explosive. I am going to self-destruct and take Cell with me. ...Also, probably most of you. That is my B.
- Ironic Echo: After catching Cell in a bear-hug and announcing he's going to use his nuclear bomb to kill him, 16 echoes what Cell said to 18 12 episodes earlier.Cell: I do not consent to this!16: Your compliance isn't a factor.Cell: You had a chunk of your head missing! How do you remember that?!
- Irony: Despite Gohan’s pacifism being treated as the major flaw in Goku’s plan, even Cell and Android 16 end up agreeing how much of a problem it is. In their case, for Gohan himself. After the following events result in him becoming a Super Saiyan 2, this indirectly causes Goku’s plan to start working again in a different way.
- Whereas Goku sent Gohan to face Cell, he sics his offspring on Goku and the Z-Fighters to rile up Gohan.
- It Has Been an Honor: When it looks like 16 is about to go nuclear to take out Cell, Jimmy asks his cameraman to say his catchphrase one more time in the face of death.
- Kick the Dog: Despite his odd attempts to befriend 16, Cell blasts him into scrap after his failed Taking You with Me. 16 didn't pose a threat to him, he just did it because he felt like it. If that wasn't enough, at the end of the episode he crushes 16's head and, just to rub salt in the would, remarks that he never had a soul for no reason other than to spite Gohan.
- Killed Off for Real: Android 16, to emphasize the evil in Cell's Affably Evil.
- Meaningful Name: "Mitosis" (the process of cell division) references Cell giving birth to his Cell Juniors.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Goku, when Piccolo points out that Gohan doesn't like to fight.Goku: I've made a terrible mistake.
Piccolo: "OH, I'VE MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE!" That's you. - Mythology Gag: When Cell is giving "birth" to his children, Piccolo wonders "where's the egg", obviously referring to the way King Piccolo gave birth to his own children, including Piccolo himself.
- No, You: 16 pulls off a very rare example of this trope that isn't a Lame Comeback:Android 16: Why are you screaming?Jimmy: Because you're a talking head!Android 16: So are you.Jimmy: ...That is cutting, sir.note
- Oh, Crap!:
- After Piccolo breaks down the flaw in Goku's plan and everyone, including Cell, agrees with it. He flat out admits he made a terrible mistake.
- Cell's expression screams this when Gohan finally snaps and achieves Super Saiyan 2 after Cell kills Android 16.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: The normally chatty Cell is completely speechless at the sight of Gohan's new power.
- The Paragon: As Goku explain to Piccolo, he knows he's going to die one day and it's gonna stick, so he wants Gohan to take over. Unfortunately, he seriously does not realize how much of a pacifist Gohan is.
- Pet the Dog: Keeping with the theme throughout the Cell Games: While watching one of his Cell Juniors kicking Yamcha, Cell's internal monologue sounds conflicted. He thinks Yamcha doesn't deserve it, but still finds it funny.
- Rage Breaking Point: Gohan warns Cell that this is likely the reason his dad decided to tag him in. Since the series began, Gohan had snapped more than once and proved effective against various villains, though not fatal. His fight with Cell may force Gohan to finally break past that point and kill the android. More interested and invested than he first thought, Cell spends the rest of the episode pushing Gohan and keeps kicking him literally then emotionally, trying to get the boy to reveal his true power. After he destroys Android 16, Gohan's had enough.
- Rage Quit: Cell is very upset that Gohan just won't get angry. He orders the Cell Jrs. to kill all the Z-fighters so he can blow the planet up already, but 16 intervenes.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Android 16 gives a long and painful one to Gohan over his pacifist nature:Android 16: Grow. Up. You act like you are the only one suffering, but I believe that Trunks has some stories for you. And I can assume they all end with, "And then he died, too." And before you start whining about your father, again - and I get it - take a moment to consider that my father made me a soulless killing machine to kill your father. And that doesn't even come close to the complete tragedy of fatherhood that is Vegeta.
Cell was right. You think you're better than everyone else, but there you stand: the good man doing nothing. And while evil triumphs, and your rigid pacifism crumbles into bloodstained dust, the only victory afforded to you is that you stuck true to your guns: you were a coward, to your last whimper.
Of fear and love, I fear not that I will die, but that all I have come to love - the birds, and the things that are not birds - will perish with me. So please, Gohan. Stop holding back.
And hey, if we do make it out of this, please pick up my head and beat your father to death with-- - Remembered Too Late: When Android 16 notices he's not blowing up, Trunks tells him that Bulma removed his bomb while she repaired him. 16 is not happy about having it taken out without permission.
- Running Gag:
- Characters mockingly repeating whatever the person they're addressing just said and adding "That's you" at the end.
- When Android 16 dies, Cell notes to Gohan that he likely didn't have a soul. This is a reference to the "soulless machine" joke that began in Episode 38.
- Gohan squeaks like a dog toy when crushed by Cell, the same way Goku did when crushed by Vegeta way back in Season 1.
- Running Gagged:
- Gohan finally learns how to dodge.
-
According to KaiserNeko in the Episode Breakdown, Piccolo and Goku's reactions to Cell lampshading Piccolo's status as Gohan's Parental Substitute is a subtle way of killing the "Goku is a bad father and Piccolo is Gohan's real dad" joke. - Gohan comically snapping to unleash his hidden power. He hasn't done it for four or five years at this point and isn't that person anymore, or at least desperately doesn't want to be. Cell creates a scenario where it should happen, and Gohan tries to force it, but he can't muster up violent anger or even string together a vulgar threat the way he used to. When Gohan does eventually snap for the final significant time, it's played fully seriously.
- Saying Sound Effects Out Loud: Subtle, but the Cell Jr. that ends up beating Krillin says "Ding!" every time he hits, in time with the same "Ding!"from the Krillin Owned Counter.
- Screaming Birth: When Cell gives birth to the Cell Jr's, it's portrayed as this. There was actually much more originally written, but it was cut down for time.
- Shared Family Quirks: Gohan squeaks just like Goku when crushed by Cell's bear hug. Cell is quick to point out the similarity.
- Cell: Ha! Like father, like son! Wait, no! Like father, like Son Gohan. *
- Shout-Out:
- Before explaining his true power to Cell, Gohan mentions that he knows why his father "threw (him) to the wolves." Cell replies if it's because he'll huff and puff and blow him down.
- When he finishes, Cell excitedly states that at first, Gohan had his curiosity, but now he has his ''erection''.Gohan: You mean your attent—?Cell: You all know what I'm about!
- Before Goku explains his Batman Gambit to Piccolo, he says "Just according to cake."
- While crushing Gohan, Cell comments that he can hear the kid's bones crackle and pop, and he's just waiting for the snap.
- After Cell takes the Senzu Beans from Krillin, he jumps up in the air to the springboard sound effect from Sonic the Hedgehog.
- Android 16 invokes Marvin the Martian when his attempt to self-destruct with Cell fails:Android 16: Where's the Kaboom? There was supposed to be a Cell-shattering kaboom!
- Upon witnessing the birth of the Cell Jrs, Krillin quotes Dr. Ian Malcom's "Life finds a way."
- All of the Cell Jrs sans Vegeta Jr. Jr. are named after Cell's voice actors in the original Japanese version, the Funimation dub, the Ocean dub, the Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout dub, the video games between Dragon Ball: Raging Blast & Battle of Z, and DBZ Abridged itself.
- Gohan and Cell trade lyrics from Linkin Park, including One Step Closer and In the End:Cell: You had your chance kid, and in the end, it didn't even matter.
- Straw Loser: Yamcha as usual. Cell admits that watching him get pummeled by a Cell Jr. is pretty cruel even for him, but still thinks it's funny.
- Taking You with Me: Android 16 attempts with this Cell before realizing that Bulma removed the explosive device tied to his self-destruct sequence.
- Theme Naming: All but one of the Cell Jrs are named after Cell's various voice actors.
- Torture Is Ineffective: Zig-zagged, but ultimately subverted by Cell in regards to Gohan. He quickly realizes that physical torture won't be enough to force Gohan to snap... so he decides he has to instead employ emotional torture by attempting to kill all of his friends and family right in front of him one after another, while he's powerless to stop him. However, while this makes Gohan try (pathetically) to force himself to snap, it ends up being ineffective, and it takes 16's "The Reason You Suck" Speech to get him there.
- Villain Has a Point: Cell states that Gohan's friends and family may not get along, but they continue to fight despite the odds placed against them. Meanwhile, Gohan himself is worried that he could easily lose himself or harm anyone close to him if he reaches his breaking point. With the very planet on the line, Cell calls out this reluctance to fight for what it is: cowardice, and even 16 agrees with him.
- Wham Line: "Why do you think Gohan and I went into the Time Chamber after Vegeta and Trunks?" note
- What the Hell, Hero?:
- Piccolo continues to chew out Goku over his decision to get Gohan involved. This comes to a head when Goku claims that Gohan is the only one who could take over for him as protector of the Earth, only for Piccolo to practically scream that Gohan doesn't like fighting. He then berates Goku over being an absentee father who doesn't know what his own son's interests are, and the others corroborate with him on this.
- Master Roshi chews out Bulma for removing the bomb in Android 16 in the first place. In Bulma's own defense, though, she points out that 16 would try to use it to kill Goku the moment he laid eyes on him.
- Where's the Kaboom?: The bomb in Android 16's body fails to detonate when he needs it to: he even says the Trope's name in a Shout-Out to the Trope Namer.
- Your Approval Fills Me with Shame: When Goku asks the other Z-Fighters if they all agree with Piccolo about how he's been a bad father to Gohan, everyone awkwardly sides with Piccolo. The only one who cuts Goku a break is Cell, who shouts to him "Eh, no one's perfect!" even as he continues crushing Gohan. This is still enough for Goku to realize he's "made a terrible mistake".
- You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry!: Gohan's explanation to Cell for why Goku chose him to be the final challenger. Unfortunately for Gohan, it backfires because he's talking to Cell.
"I'd say he's gone to a better place, but… we both know he never had a soul."
