Almost every kid from the ’90s is familiar with the Dragon Ball Universe and nearly everyone will agree that the Android Cell Saga inDragon Ball Zwas the highlight of the show. From the moment Trunks appeared from the future, we knew that Toriyama had the best saga in store for us.
And yes, of course, we all expect the infamous Gohan Super Saiyan 2 transformation here, but did you know he almost did it in the hyperbolic time chamber as well? If you’re a superfan of the Cell Saga, then you also may know that Dr. Gero, was supposed to be the main antagonist.
8Trunks Arrives From The Future
Episode 119: The Mysterious Youth
We all remember the time when Vegeta went to fight Frieza. We were all glued to our chairs, wondering how in the world Earth would manage to take care of Frieza, let alone his father, King Cold. With Goku still not back from space, things looked bad, to say the least.
But behold, Trunks, who appears in the aptly named episode The Mysterious Youth. Out of nowhere, this teenager comes wearing a Capsule Corporation jacket and leaves us all in awe. Without saying much, Trunks transforms into a Super Saiyan and defeats Frieza, King Cold, and the ship, all on his own. Talk about an unbelievable entry.
7Vegeta Goes Super Saiyan
Episode 129: Upgrade To Super Saiyan
In Upgrade To Super Saiyan, with Goku almost on the brink of death due to the heart virus, it seemed like our hero was not going to make this one. And with Android 20 in front of them, none of the Z warriors could interfere.
It is then that, out of nowhere, Vegeta shows up to save Kakarot and goes Super Saiyan! What comes next is the definition of an insult, as Vegeta quite literally breaks both hands of the Android, making it run for its life. If you have watched DBZ even once, we can bet you’d have respect for Vegeta, due to this scene alone.
6Vegeta Vs Android 18
Episode 135: Deadly Beauty
After the Androids get rid of Dr. Gero, Vegeta lets his ego get to his head (as always) and goes head-to-head with Android 18 in Deadly Beauty. To be fair to the Androids, they just wanted to fight Goku. Vegeta could have just done nothing, and they’d likely be on their way to Goku’s House on a five-day trip. But he just had to test his newfound strength.
Vegeta is quick to realize that he is no match forAndroid 18as she gives him the beating of his life, but most of all, she breaks his pride. The rest of the Z warriors aren’t left alone either, as everyone is knocked out quickly, showing that the Androids are just too powerful. Guess Krillin was the only one who was happy that day.
5Another Time Machine
Episode 140: Seized With Fear
There’s a popular myth that Dragon Ball Z is just about fighting and power scaling, and it couldn’t be more wrong. Seized With Fear is the perfect example of this. This episode introduced Cell, and without even a fight, sent shivers down our spines.
Bulma tells Trunks about another time machine that looks like it’s falling apart, so Trunks and Gohan go to check it out. The audience is as bewildered as the young Saiyans when they discover the word “Hope” written on the time machine, indicating this is the exact same Time Machine that Trunks owns, but from a different time. And if that wasn’t enough to thicken the plot, they also find a mysterious egg and the cocoon of what looks like a giant insect around it.
This was arguably the best display of horror that we witnessed in the Cell Saga, especially due to the music and the mystery.
4Tien Takes On Semi-Perfect Cell
Episode 153: Sacrifice
Even if you ignore the homage that Team Four Stars paid to Tien in the parody, this scene from Sacrifice has its place in the hearts of fans. Tien is a mere human, long forgotten by the world of Dragon Ball, and is now nothing more than a side character that shows up every once in a while for extra screen time. So when a character like Tien, who was a behemoth in the original Dragon Ball series, gets a dedicated scene like this, we just have to pay our respects.
With Piccolo out of the fight, and Android 16 nearly left with half his brain, it seems like nothing will stop Cell from becoming perfect. But that’s where our old-time villain comes and takes it home with his ultimate move, Tri-Beam.
Cell is quick to realize he underestimated Tien as he finds out, buried 10 feet under the ground, unable to come back up while Tien keeps firing intensive waves of Neo Tri-Beam, putting his own life at risk. This gives enough time for the Androids to escape. Safe to say, this was arguably the best thing Tien did before Toriyama put him on the sidelines.
3Vegeta Reclaims His Lost Pride
Episode 156: Bow To The Prince
If there is one thing you need in life, it’s willpower like Vegetas'. In Bow To The prince, when everything seems to have gone wrong, Cell starts destroying islands in his pursuit to find Android 18 to complete his transformation. And that’s where our anti-hero comes in with big muscles and an even bigger ego.
If we ignore Piccolo screaming from the Lookout at Vegeta for toying with Cell instead of finishing him off, it doesn’t really get any better than this. Vegeta has spent a year in the hyperbolic time chamber and, to everyone’s surprise, he has indeed “ascended”. Vegeta literally makes Cell beg to allow him to absorb Android 18.
2Goku Gives Up
Episode 181: Faith In A Boy
What’s better than our protagonist defeating the monster that may destroy the world? Giving up.
No, we’re not joking. The moment Goku gives up in Faith In A Boy, everyone is shocked. This is where Toriyama delivers us the best work of his entire life, when Goku starts talking mysteriously about a warrior even stronger than him who he trusts will be more than enough to take care of Cell. We suppose Vegeta was the only one who figured it out.
And if that isn’t good enough, once he asks Gohan to go fight, Goku even throws a Senzu Bean at Cell. If you ever need to hype up someone, get Goku for the job.
1Gohan Goes Super Saiyan 2
Episode 185: Awakening
We all knew this was coming. How could it not? We’ve all cried here, and we’re sure you have as well. In Awakening, once Cell finds out that there arehidden strengths within Gohan, Vegeta’s cells inside of him start doing their job, and, so Cell pushes Gohan to his limit.
Cell punishes Gohan by releasing Cell Juniors to wreak havoc and all Gohan can do is watch in horror. This is when Mr. Satan throws the head of Android 16 near Gohan and 16 gives Gohan a few words of wisdom before being crushed by Cell. Luckily, this is all our young warrior needs as he goes into a rage and finally goes through the well-awaited transformation while covered in tears: Super Saiyan 2. Complete Goosebumps.
