EPISODE CONTEXT

Episode 210 falls within the Buu Saga's early stages, where a period of relative peace allows Goku and the Z Fighters to reunite at the World Martial Arts Tournament — a setup that reintroduces characters, establishes new power dynamics, and plants seeds for the massive conflict to come. The tournament arc serves as a critical pivot point, transitioning from the saga's lighter opening stretch into the darker, more intense battles that will define its back half. What unfolds during and around this tournament will directly trigger the chain of events leading to one of Dragon Ball Z's most formidable villains.