And when the public needs some sort of answer or a voice to make them feel safe, it usually means that Hercule Satan needs to get involved, for better or for worse. This is a situation where some sort of answer is needed for the public rather than our heroes being able to just go off and party. The benefit here is that because Goku and Beerus’ clash was so significant, many of Earth’s citizens are aware that something major was just happening to the planet. It’s easy to fill a deadly battle with plenty of story beats and cool scenes to keep people happy, but what about when the dust settles and everything is back to normal? People need more than moments like Chi-Chi scolding Goku for not finishing his chores or Goten for not keeping up with his studies. Figuring out how to make an Earth that’s safe still interesting is a dynamic that Dragon Ball has always struggled with to some degree. In fact, it even feels a bit duller than it should be due to the big act from last episode that it has to follow. Satan, Work a Miracle…” isn’t Dragon Ball Super’s most exciting episode. I’d like to think that Vegeta is returning to this pivotal spot where he first learned that Kakarot was stronger than him to have this angry self-reflection. It’s a miniscule touch, but it appears that Vegeta is also doing this brooding at the spot where he and Goku shared their first fight back in Dragon Ball Z. The guy is just fuming over how Goku is once more stronger than he is and how he’s got to do something about it. On the opposite end of all of that, there’s just a sole Vegeta scene, but it’s pretty characteristically great. While it’s somewhat appreciated to see this show depicting a fighter that has turned their back on fighting and accepted a different sort of lifestyle, did it really have to be Gohan? The show is exploring the same material with Krillin and it even resonates a little more with him. Gohan’s characterization is one of the most frustrating in all of Dragon Ball Super, but rest assured that it does feel like the series is interested in turning him back into a serious fighter…it’s just something that’s way off in the horizon. I know that many viewers (both of the dub and where the anime is actually at in Japan currently) have been anxious for Gohan to “awaken” and become the formidable warrior that was present during the Cell Games and that we got glimpses of during the whole Mystic Gohan situation. Gohan is also woefully de-fanged at this point. It’s not as if she has a granddaughter on the way and maybe should have been saving some of that money…With Chi-Chi now feeling the strain of her purse strings, she orders Goku to stop his training and find a new job to help support his family. What has she been buying? Ingredients for Bulma’s birthday? New tractor parts. I seriously don’t know how this is possible. Not to mention, she’s somehow managed to spend the 100 million Zeni that Satan gave to Goku at the start of the series. Her behavior towards Goku is pretty insufferable here. Goku quickly sees the ultimate threat of the universe shifting from Beerus to his wife. The most jarring is certainly Goku’s life with Chi-Chi. The episode does happen to shift its focus a little bit to show how some other characters are staying busy this time. Some people are going to need more than that at this point. Satan has been doing the same routine since he entered the picture (although his relationship with Buu has provided some welcome depth to the shallow character). In a show that’s so much about simply becoming stronger, someone who’s interested in the opposite of that isn’t exactly a bad idea (he also skews to the anime’s comedic sensibilities while Goku and Vegeta embrace the series’ action aspects). They care about the private, individual image of themselves while Satan is only concerned about how he’s perceived by the public. Goku and Vegeta on the other hand have absolutely no interest in the spotlight, but are merely concerned about their strength. Satan is an interesting character because he’s someone who cares purely about the glory and credit of being strong, but not about actually being strong. Either you’re going to love this old wives’ tale of an entry that helps re-ground the show, or you’re going to be perpetually rolling your eyes at its actions and thinking, “Maybe it wouldn’t have been that bad if Beerus blew all of this up…” Satan in Super Saiyan mode defeating “God of Destruction, Beebus” is a ridiculous visual to throw at you (it also might be the funniest that Dragon Ball Super has ever been), but that bold scene acts as a pretty strong distillation of what’s going on in this episode. Satan fan or not, as his shtick is in full bloom this week. A lot of your enjoyment of this installment is going to hinge on whether you’re a big Mr.

Dragon ball z episodes 15