Slight spoilers may be talked about below, so please be sure to watch the latest episode before reading on! This review is based off of the dub version of Super that currently airs on Toonami.
We finally made it to the big meet up between Goku and Android 17 in Episode 86 in Dragon Ball Super! Outside of two very brief moments in the episode, Goku and Android 17 took center stage and even threw down in a test of strength. So lets get on with the recap, shall we?
Photo Source: Funimation/Toei Animation/Cartoon Network
The episode starts off Goku at Korin’s Tower with Dende and Mr. Popo, who both fill in Goku that while he was off handling heavenly, cosmic and universal issues life on earth continued with the likes of Android 17 settling down, training intensely, having a family and even becoming a ranger for animals at a remote island. Dende even spilled the beans on the fact that there is someone else he wants Goku to meet and that’s young child who’s the reincarnation of the evil Kid Buu — who was the final villain of Dragon Ball Z and the counterpart of the now heroic Fit Buu. They didn’t name drop the kids name immediately, but if you’ve seen Dragon Ball GT years ago, then you know that this kid is none other then the insanely strong Uub who eventually becomes Goku’s successor and protector of earth. Nice way to acknowledge GT, Super!
Photo Source: Funimation/Toei Animation/Cartoon Network
Any ways, back to the episode at hand. Dende ends up moving Korin’s Tower to the South and just above the island that 17 protects. Goku flies down from the skies and begins looking around the island for 17 but then hears a loud bang, like a tank firing. We then cut to a bunch of poachers in tanks attacking the wildlife, but 17 saves the day and makes short work of them as Goku finally arrives. The two in Dragon Ball cannon, have never met before, so it’s a bit weird to how they finally greet each other with Goku saying who he is and 17 saying he knows already. But before Goku can ask him about the Tournament of Power more poachers show up in tanks and start firing at the pair. 17 says Goku can help out, but also orders the Saiyan to not kill anyone. So the two instead just punch the tanks to demolish them and cause the poachers to retreat by boat off the island. Goku then wonders why the poachers keep coming back and 17 shows him, that it’s for the rare and nearly extinct purple ram that is hiding in the cave. Eventually though, that ram sees the two and begins to charge at them causing our heroes to fly away and not fight it. 17 then says that cause of the poachers, all of the docile animals on the island have become hostile to humans and its up to him to make sure the animals are protected.
Photo Source: Funimation/Toei Animation/Cartoon Network
Eventually Goku and 17 fly to a cliff side, where 17’s camp is set up and Goku without saying much challenges 17 to see how strong he is. 17 smirks and they start fighting over the ocean! This is honestly one of the prettiest fights I’ve seen so far in Super, especially with the backdrop of the setting sun and the shadows it creates.
Photo Source: Funimation/Toei Animation/Cartoon Network
At first Goku fights 17 while in his Super Saiyan form, with 17 able to trade blows with Goku at this state. However, the fight continues to get more intense and the fighters move upward into the skies above the clouds. Here Goku remarks that he was holding back and is surprised to know that 17 was doing the same too; causing Goku to go Super Saiyan Blue and fire a God Kahameha straight at 17 who easily holds it off and deflects it away! Yes, 17 is now just as crazy strong as Golden Frieza, Hit and even the powerful, Top!
Photo Source: Funimation/Toei Animation/Cartoon Network
The pair then start to suicide dive together/fight back into the ocean, crashing hard in the dark blue. They then emerge and stop the fight, so they don’t endanger the wildlife on the island or in the ocean. After this, we’re back at 17’s camp with the two having dinner and Goku explains everything about the Tournament Of Power. 17 even shows Goku a picture of his own family too.
Photo Source: Funimation/Toei Animation/Cartoon Network
We cut briefly during Goku’s explanation back to Bulma’s house where we see Whis and Beerus arguing over food with Beerus belief that he must eat a ton cause the universe is doomed, they’re going to lose the Tournament of Power and they’re all going to die by Zeno. We then cut back to Goku, already done explaining everything to 17, and him waiting for a response. 17 then flat out refuses and says that the island needs him. He can’t leave it due to the poachers constantly attacking the wildlife. Goku then lets slip that if they lose the tournament, then the whole universe will be destroyed. This then changes 17 mind briefly, but the android still doesn’t want any part in the tournament and begins walking off, wishing Goku the best of luck in the future.
Photo Source: Funimation/Toei Animation/Cartoon Network
The episode then randomly ends with a cut to space and a bunch of aliens wanting to take all the wildlife from earth. Yes, I know, space poachers.
Photo Source: Funimation/Toei Animation/Cartoon Network
As you can tell, this was such a direct episode that nothing was wasted between the meeting of Goku and Android 17, and you know what? That made it such an amazing episode. Probably the strongest since the end of the whole Future Trunks story line! And obviously next week those space poachers are so totally going to feel the wrath of 17 and Goku for messing with the island, which would then lead 17 to want to join Goku and the others. Still there’s irony to be had here with the fact that space poachers magically show up the exact moment when Goku finally meets up with 17, it’s a little too on the nose for me. Other then that though, it was a solid episode and I can’t wait to find out how the Tournament of Power actually starts, in a few more episodes.
