Spoilers will 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.
Thankfully Episode 121 wasn’t a bait and switch like we normally would get in the series, and instead we got an actual worthy fight between Universe 3 and 7 that lasted for the whole episode. So lets get right down to it and give this episode a review!
Photo Source: Funimation/Toei Animation/Cartoon Network
We pick up right where we left off with Dr. Pepperoni of Universe 3 making his claim that his universe still has one more technique to show off. It turns out that he actually merges with the giant robot fighter that Gohan and the others fought back in Episode 120, making a towering behemoth that scares the crap out of everyone. It can only be best described as a giant Frieza-looking monster.
Photo Source: Funimation/Toei Animation/Cartoon Network
This thing goes on a rampage. First with it’s initial ki energy, it fires off wildly into every direction with a few flying at Jiren and the other remaining Pride Troopers of Universe 11 — who are not happy with this giant, but doesn’t step in to help out Universe 7. Then it goes on the physical offensive against everyone in Universe 7, it starts flinging them around like rag dolls. Goku and the others try to attack it simultaneously but it doesn’t work. Apparently the ears on the giant act as a sort of radar and will alert it to anyone trying to get close. It then starts punching again, but this time it punches through portals getting the drop on everyone, especially Goku who gets sent flying out of the ring!
Photo Source: Funimation/Toei Animation/Cartoon Network
However, lucky for him Frieza kicks him back to the arena floor and they have a brief moment of cooperating against the Universe 3 giant. This time though, the giant starts trying to grab everyone and eat them, and almost eats 18 but Goku Instant Transmissions her out of there in time. 17 however, gets blasted off the arena and 18, just moments after being rescued, ends up sacrificing herself by kicking 17 back on the arena while she get’s eliminated.
Photo Source: Funimation/Toei Animation/Cartoon Network
Its at this point the Giant changes forms and gains wings, flying up above the arena and launching a powerful red ki bomb towards the arena floor trying to destroy it all. Everyone from Universe 7, powers up to their strongest forms and launches their strongest attacks together to push the red ki bomb away, but it’s not working. 17 cuts off from the attack, wraps himself into a protective bubble and flies right on through the red ki bomb, breaking the crystal ruby on the skull of the giant. This is enough to cause it’s powers to malfunction while the rest of Universe 7 fires the red ki bomb back, eliminating it from the tournament. It ends up reverting back to Dr. Pepperoni and the other robots he fused with.
Photo Source: Funimation/Toei Animation/Cartoon Network
And with that, Universe 3 is fully eliminated from the tournament power, leading the Omni-Kings to erase the entire universe from existence! After this, the stage is set between Universe 7 and 11 as the final two, as the Tournament of Power nears it’s climatic end with only less then 10 minutes remaining.
Photo Source: Funimation/Toei Animation/Cartoon Network
This was honestly a solid episode. Dragon Ball works best when it’s just purely fighting, especially when showing the team coming together to fight a bigger threat as well. Everything just flowed perfectly and you’re not left scratching your heads over plot holes, continuity errors, power influxes and what not. This was just six fighters vs a giant. It almost felt like a throw back to when we use to see Great Apes and other monstrous enemies for Goku to fight. I kinda miss those weird and wacky, simpler days. My only grip was that 18’s sacrifice to save 17 happened way too fast after she, herself was already saved by Goku. If they did this all episodes apart then it would have had more of an impact, but with how it was in here, it just felt way too rushed in my eyes. Or better yet, maybe had her be one of the first eliminated by Universe 11 in the next episode. Just something really, so it wouldn’t have been so sudden.
