After the humble heights of “The Ox King on Fire Mountain,” Dragon Ball is really hitting its sweet spot. Eight episodes in, Dragon Ball is still very much in its early courting phase as it attempts to turn curious audiences into life-long fans. Each episode feels progressively more like classic Dragon Ball, especially as the anime introduces diversely dangerous characters, highlights more of its heightened world, and edges closer to Goku and Bulma’s original goal of collecting all seven Dragon Balls. “The Kamehameha Wave” is another episode that benefits from its simplicity, although there are still some major complications that create minor obstacles for the heroes.
There’s a very satisfying cause and effect nature to this episode where each character serves a distinct purpose, making it increasingly rewarding to watch Dragon Ball connect its dots. “The Kamehameha Wave” is a successful episode that brings characters together and is rich in both humor and action. However, it also marks the introduction of Dragon Ball‘s signature attack — the Kamehameha — which has since become a powerful shorthand for the series. In doing so, “The Kamehameha Wave” immediately stands out as Dragon Ball‘s most important episode to date and a crucial turning point for not just the anime, but the entire shonen genre.
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“The Kamehameha Wave” is an effective companion piece to “The Ox King on Fire Mountain” that establishes a very direct goal from the start. In order to acquire the latest Dragon Ball, Goku has to retrieve Master Roshi’s Bansho Fan and use it to extinguish the mammoth flames on Fire Mountain. This should be simple, in theory, but a series of hiccups threaten to derail this quest.Dragon Ball has already done great work when it comes to deflating epic characters and moments, but “The Kamehameha Wave” features one of the best examples with how it undercuts the coveted Bansho Fan. It’s genuinely hilarious to learn Roshi has been treating this holy relic like random clutter and that he’s carelessly thrown it out. Goku may lack what he’s believed to be an essential tool, but Roshi offers to handle the Fire Mountain problem himself and remove the middleman from the equation.
There’s not a ton of time spent at the Kame House before Goku, Roshi, and Chi-Chi depart back to their destination, but there’s still a lot of solid material that comes out of this interaction. Chi-Chi continues to stand out as Dragon Ball’s secret weapon and rambunctious wild card. Her attack on Master Roshi is even more fun than her feud with Yamcha in the previous episode. Chi-Chi’s skepticism over Roshi’s credentials results in a lot of exceptional character work from this trio. Roshi’s Turtle Hermit Club card is an absurd gag, but one that feels in line with the rest of Dragon Ball’s jokes. The same is true regarding the creepy conditions that Roshi outlines to Goku in exchange for his cooperation. However, the weirdest revelation to come out of “The Kamehameha Wave” is that Roshi apparently has a full-on Baby Gamera kaiju on staff to aid his transportation needs. It’s a tragedy that this bizarre character essentially disappears, rather than Dragon Ball digging deeper into the potential antics between Baby Gamera and Turtle. It’s such a missed opportunity for Dragon Ball to not develop a competitive rivalry between these two creatures.
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Goku and company return to Fire Mountain without the Bansho Fan, but Master Roshi promises to solve Ox-King’s problem through a powerful energy attack known as the Kamehameha. It’s quite a shock when this feeble hermit ditches his shell and instantly bulks up in muscle as he reveals his Max Power form for the first time. It’s great to get a glimpse of Master Roshi’s true power, rather than the eccentric old man who’s typically front and center. This is a powerful way to demystify Roshi and present him as the revered martial arts master who’s been discussed. It’s important for the audience to understand that Roshi’s still a skilled fighter who can defend himself, if need be. Roshi’s Kamehameha spectacle is a true sight to behold.
The episode quickly shifts gears as Goku casually masters the Kamehameha in 50 seconds, rather than 50 years. This highlights Goku’s incredible potential and natural martial arts proficiency. It’s also beautifully in-character that Goku remains humble on this front – almost naively so – and that he doesn’t gloat about his impressive accomplishment. Goku’s first Kamehameha feels quite quaint in a way that perfectly speaks to his innocence. Goku has previously been successful with his Power Pole and basic fisticuffs, but a Kit attack leaves Goku better equipped to take on new and stronger opponents. “The Kamehameha Wave” makes sure that this moment is as big and triumphant as it needs to be. It’s easy to see why the Kamehameha has become such a classic shonen anime attack that’s gained a powerful life beyond Dragon Ball.
These Kamehameha displays facilitate some really stunning animation. Roshi’s shimmering aura during his Kamehameha attack is a new element for Dragon Ball. The bleached, minimalist color palette that Dragon Ball adopts when both Roshi and Goku perform the Kamehameha is particularly gorgeous. It showcases some really stylized and creative work that helps celebrate this moment so that it truly feels epic, rather than some generic attack. This pageantry makes it easier to believe that it took Roshi half-a-century to master such a special technique. “The Kamehameha Wave” also indulges in some fun, creative,and colorful splash panel-esque action poses when Chi-Chi throws her blade and Goku prepares his first Kamehameha. All these extra visual touches really help Dragon Ball refine its voice during these early episodes.
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“The Kamehameha Wave” uses its namesake to help Goku and Bulma complete their mission, gain a Dragon Ball, and appease Ox-King – despite his ruined castle – but the heroes are still left with the burden of following through on Master Roshi’s rude request. This resolution results in more of Oolong’s inappropriate shapeshifting shenanigans, which now sink to even more deplorable depths now that Oolong has entered Roshi’s lecherous orbit. The difference this time is that Oolong’s duplicitous doppelgänger routine is actually Bulma’s idea and the elaborate perverted pantomime is oddly her way of displaying some agency over the weirdos in her life. That being said, Bulma is still appalled at how far Oolong goes regarding his commitment to the bit and how this colors her in a new light around Roshi. It’s a decision that she already seems to regret, but it’s an awkward interaction that’s at least somewhat on her terms.
At the opposite end of the ick spectrum, Goku and Chi-Chi exchange sweet pleasantries that become a fitting resolution to their two-episode adventure. Chi-Chi would be a painless addition to Goku and Bulma’s growing entourage, but it’s perhaps for the best that this dynamic doesn’t overextend itself. Two episodes feels like an acceptable length for their juvenile hijinks, even if they conclude with a marriage proposal. Yamcha and Puar get to take all this in as they observe Goku’s exploits from afar. Yamcha & Puar’s ancillary role is one of the few weaknesses in “The Kamehameha Wave” and the episode might have been more effective if they were completely absent, which is the case with the Pilaf Gang. Nevertheless, they’re unobtrusive enough that their role as curious spectators through all of this never becomes problematic or a distraction to the storytelling.
Dragon Ball Episode 8 has a lot to celebrate, but the team also recovers another Dragon Ball on top of everything else. Goku and Bulma acquire the Seven-Star Dragon Ball from Ox-King, which brings their grand total up to an encouraging five, with only two more to go. It’s appreciated that Dragon Ball hasn’t been dragging this element out and that there’s a clear sense of progress in these early episodes. Five Dragon Balls in only eight episodes is incredible progress and it’s easy to imagine another shonen series moving at a fraction of this pace. At the same time, Goku and Bulma’s Dragon Ball retrieval rate doesn’t feel superfluous or like the series is rushing through this material. It’s entirely possible that their progress will begin to slow down in this regard, but it’s currently an effective formula that keeps the audience engaged.
“The Kamehameha Wave” is a near-perfect Dragon Ball episode that doesn’t overextend itself and gets a strong, smart use out of all the tools in its collection. Goku and Master Roshi’s Kamehameha theatrics will satisfy those who are looking for more heightened action material, while Oolong and Roshi’s lewder actions will sate those who appreciate Dragon Ball’s broader, more mature comedy. There’s even a welcome dose of romance between Goku and Chi-Chi as these two young friends bid one another farewell and promise to meet again one day. It’s a glowing example of not just everything that Dragon Ball can be, but it’s effortless ability to juggle these tonal extremes and make sure that they all hit their mark. Dragon Ball has never felt more confident in its storytelling and characters. This is extremely exciting for the anime’s future, especially now that the heroes have almost completed their Dragon Ball collection.
