Dragon Ball Z Episode 16: Plight of the Children
Filler/LOW
OSHIMETER
8.3
65 Fans
5
4
3
2
1
PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack
OSHIMETER
8.3
65 Fans
5
4
3
2
1
PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack
QUICK TAKES
nekomata_ninja
Pigero is a cool character for filler and that choice he made at the end to let the kids get caught was actually pretty heavy
luffy_legend_54
Everyone saying Piccolo caused that tsunami by blowing up the moon is probably right and it makes this episode way darker than it looks
megumi_mantra
I legit cried when Gohan saw Chi-Chi through the window but turned around anyway because he knows he has to get stronger for the Saiyans
askin_ascetic_483
I forgot how many talking animals were still around at this point, but seeing a dog cop chasing kids on scooters is definitely a vibe shift
rach_m
you can still see people in this world wearing hats that say LA and using crates from georgia and it makes the setting feel so weirdly grounded
professor_sada
having the saiyan pods getting closer to earth at the end really put everything back into perspective, and made gohans choice to stay with piccolo feel so much more urgent
near_nemesis_114
i really felt for pigero when he was crying on that cliff because he knew he couldnt give his friends a real life and had to let them go
elle_hq
that scene of gohan standing outside his house and crying while his mom looked at his picture was the most depressing thing this show has done so far
butch_347
that market heist with the little dog cop chasing them through the streets felt so much like the original dragon ball and it was nice to see more talking animals again
emerald
i know this is just a filler episode and the manga didn't have any of this stuff, but seeing gohan choose to walk away from his mom was heavy. if he went inside chi-chi would never let him leave and the world would be doomed, so he really grew up today and it was a necessary sacrifice for the saiyans
tsundylan
jumping across that massive gap and leaving the guys in the van staring in shock was impressive for a kid like gohan
viva550
pigero really let those kids get caught just so they could eat and have beds and his face when he made them surrender was brutal to watch
kagamine_twins_495
i actually think the theory about piccolo destroying the moon and causing that tsunami makes so much sense and it makes the whole orphan situation way darker than it already was
serpico_the_sylph_194
that scene with the two saiyan pods flying through space at the very end is so ominous and makes the training feel way more urgent after all that filler
korok
The part where Gohan slices the handcuffs with his sword is such a cool detail, and it shows he is actually learning how to use that blade Piccolo gave him
eri_359
pigero might seem like a traitor for letting the goon squad take the orphans but he knew they needed food and a real roof over their heads more than freedom
susanoo_slayer_49
i still think piccolo destroying the moon is what caused that tidal wave in the first place so it is kind of his fault all those kids ended up alone
ruri
you can really tell how dark this show gets for a cartoon when they talk about a tsunami wiping out an entire town and leaving all those kids homeless
orihime_omnipotent
it was so hard for me watching gohan stand outside his house and watch his mom through the window before turning back to the woods
izayoi_259
It is honestly crazy that they skipped this episode in the original US run, because the stuff with the orphans is actually pretty heavy for a filler. Gohan seeing his mom and then choosing to go back to training was such a massive moment for his character growth, and it really shows he is not just a scared kid anymore who understands the stakes
EPISODE CONTEXT
Sandwiched between Gohan's grueling wilderness training under Piccolo and the Z Fighters' preparation in 'Pendulum Room Peril,' this filler episode pauses the Saiyan saga buildup entirely for a self-contained character piece. It doesn't advance the main plot toward the approaching Saiyan threat but serves as a breathing room episode that deepens Gohan's characterization. Viewers tracking the core narrative can skip it without missing continuity, though it adds emotional context to Gohan's growth arc.
QUICK TAKES
nekomata_ninja
Pigero is a cool character for filler and that choice he made at the end to let the kids get caught was actually pretty heavy
luffy_legend_54
Everyone saying Piccolo caused that tsunami by blowing up the moon is probably right and it makes this episode way darker than it looks
megumi_mantra
I legit cried when Gohan saw Chi-Chi through the window but turned around anyway because he knows he has to get stronger for the Saiyans
askin_ascetic_483
I forgot how many talking animals were still around at this point, but seeing a dog cop chasing kids on scooters is definitely a vibe shift
rach_m
you can still see people in this world wearing hats that say LA and using crates from georgia and it makes the setting feel so weirdly grounded
professor_sada
having the saiyan pods getting closer to earth at the end really put everything back into perspective, and made gohans choice to stay with piccolo feel so much more urgent
near_nemesis_114
i really felt for pigero when he was crying on that cliff because he knew he couldnt give his friends a real life and had to let them go
elle_hq
that scene of gohan standing outside his house and crying while his mom looked at his picture was the most depressing thing this show has done so far
butch_347
that market heist with the little dog cop chasing them through the streets felt so much like the original dragon ball and it was nice to see more talking animals again
emerald
i know this is just a filler episode and the manga didn't have any of this stuff, but seeing gohan choose to walk away from his mom was heavy. if he went inside chi-chi would never let him leave and the world would be doomed, so he really grew up today and it was a necessary sacrifice for the saiyans
tsundylan
jumping across that massive gap and leaving the guys in the van staring in shock was impressive for a kid like gohan
viva550
pigero really let those kids get caught just so they could eat and have beds and his face when he made them surrender was brutal to watch
kagamine_twins_495
i actually think the theory about piccolo destroying the moon and causing that tsunami makes so much sense and it makes the whole orphan situation way darker than it already was
serpico_the_sylph_194
that scene with the two saiyan pods flying through space at the very end is so ominous and makes the training feel way more urgent after all that filler
korok
The part where Gohan slices the handcuffs with his sword is such a cool detail, and it shows he is actually learning how to use that blade Piccolo gave him
eri_359
pigero might seem like a traitor for letting the goon squad take the orphans but he knew they needed food and a real roof over their heads more than freedom
susanoo_slayer_49
i still think piccolo destroying the moon is what caused that tidal wave in the first place so it is kind of his fault all those kids ended up alone
ruri
you can really tell how dark this show gets for a cartoon when they talk about a tsunami wiping out an entire town and leaving all those kids homeless
orihime_omnipotent
it was so hard for me watching gohan stand outside his house and watch his mom through the window before turning back to the woods
izayoi_259
It is honestly crazy that they skipped this episode in the original US run, because the stuff with the orphans is actually pretty heavy for a filler. Gohan seeing his mom and then choosing to go back to training was such a massive moment for his character growth, and it really shows he is not just a scared kid anymore who understands the stakes
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