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Time goes by, it doesn't forgive anything or anyone... Not even Trunks, Gohan, nor the epic TV Special that today, February 25, 2025, is turning no less than 32 years since it was first aired between episodes 171 and 175 of Dragon Ball Z's Cell Saga. Folks, I think we're all here because we share a love of anime, and it's largely due to the unquestionable influence of Akira Toriyama. This guy knew how to make stories full of meaning, pain and essence like no other mangaka and creator.
I have absolutely no doubt that the Dragon Ball fandom in general, but the one that is contemporary with me, (kids who were born and grew up in the 90's) love enormously two characters out of the conventional timeline: This Gohan from the Future, and Trunks. Both, as the only bastions of a caste of warriors who have been annihilated by the Androids 16, 17 and 18. Goku, killed by a virus that attacked his heart and weakened him, could not help Earth at this time, and little by little, it is a matter of little time before the Z-warriors succumb to the power of these villains.
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From a purely aesthetic point of view, this TV Special (which is number 2) is beautiful. Narratively, the colours show the feelings of nostalgia, frustration, anger and desolation that Humanity lives, in that particular timeline. One where Vegetta has been killed for decades and could never match Goku in powers. Where Cell, paradoxically continues his slow growth but cannot possibly absorb 17 and 18 to reach perfection, and where Bulma and Gohan are in charge of teaching young Trunks to become Super Saiyan.
Oh, I know, I know; and partly (I think) that's my intention as well. When you remember this story, it's impossible not to love it and watch it again. It's available in many, many places, I won't say which ones, but I don't think it's a problem to find it. I bring this particular story to the community discussion because I still vividly remember what I felt when I first saw DBZ and saw Trunks defeat Freezer in seconds. Besides, I always found him to be a beautiful character with a shy but gentlemanly personality very typical of the archetypes we all love in our lives.
Nevertheless, this TV Special is shocking, because of the burden of melancholy and cruelty that this story carries. Gohan could no longer be a warrior because he had no one to train and improve his powers with. He has lived on the run from the Androids for years... He is determined to unleash the wrath of Trunks so he can have another Saiyan by his side and have a better chance. Trunks plays Gohan, and the latter is the Piccolo he once had in his time... There is no happiness and bliss at the end of the storm. It's dystopian, transcendental, shocking, and with one of the best cinematic shots of a death I've ever seen in DBZ. I insist, the time mail, it flies, 6 is already 32 years of this work of art...
