Dragon Ball Z Episode 174: The Puzzle of General Tao
Filler/LOW
OSHIMETER
9.0
57 Fans
5
4
3
2
1
PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack
OSHIMETER
9.0
57 Fans
5
4
3
2
1
PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack
QUICK TAKES
mekurabe_mage
Seeing a villain from the original series come back as a cyborg just to get tricked by Instant Transmission was a nice break from the Cell stress
tatl_264
General Tao showing up after all this time is wild and it is funny how he still tries to pull schemes even when he is totally outclassed
toby_lvl22
I really missed this side of Goku where he just gets totally distracted by a simple puzzle and takes it so seriously while the world is ending
baniacz
I really liked seeing Tao again after all this time and the cyborg look is hilarious especially him still being a coward around Goku
yami_yamato_140
Seeing a classic villain come back just to be a riddle master because he is too scared to throw a punch was strange and Goku being so gullible never gets old
kappa_king
Gohan just standing there while his dad struggles with a literal child toy was so funny and Tao being a total fraud is a funny change of pace
sakurafan
I usually skip the filler but this one actually felt worth it for the nostalgia factor alone. Seeing Mercenary Tao again brought back so many memories of the original series and his reaction to seeing how strong Goku has become was pure gold. It was a nice little breather before we have to deal with the Cell Games starting up properly.
flower_flute_499
The puzzle and riddle gimmick was a weird choice for a cold assassin but seeing Tao so desperate to avoid a fight was a funny way to handle his return
maki_maverick_137
I could not stop laughing at Goku not even recognizing the guy who once tried to kill him and the scared look on Tao's face was hilarious
vasto_lorde_void
It was weird seeing Tao as a cyborg again, but his total cowardice around Goku really shows how much the power scales have shifted since the old days.
kensuke_aida
Tao wanting absolutely zero smoke once he saw how strong the boy had gotten made for a great laugh and it helped the search for the Dragon Balls feel faster
sephiroth
Goku is so dense sometimes and watching him actually try to solve those ring puzzles while Tao was sweating bullets was a total riot
sailor_moon
General Tao trying to use puzzles because he is terrified of Goku was hilarious and seeing a villain from the original show again was a nice surprise during all this Cell stress
marnie
I forgot how much I missed Mercenary Tao and seeing him run away the second he realized Gohan was related to Goku made me laugh so hard
satori_sensei
Goku hunting for the Dragon Balls again felt nostalgic and having a classic villain like Tao show up to get embarrassed was a fun way to kill time before the Cell Games
miyuki_shirogane
those puzzles felt like a weird fever dream but Tao being scared of a literal child just shows how much stronger Gohan has gotten lately
kitsune_knight
the look on Tao's face when he realized Gohan was the same kid from before was such a great detail and his reaction was priceless
inu_no_taisho
Watching Mr Satan act like he is the strongest man on earth while Goku and Gohan are literally flying around collecting magical orbs is such a funny way to break up the serious tension
steven_stone_327
How Goku stood there completely unfazed while Tao was sweating bullets, and it really showed how far everyone has come since the original Red Ribbon Army days
susanoo_slayer_49
It felt so weird seeing Tao again since he has been gone forever, but I honestly really liked this episode even if it is just filler and I thought the way he tried to outsmart Goku with that puzzle was such a different vibe from the usual Cell stuff, and seeing him run away like a coward the second he realized who Goku was felt like a perfect callback to the old days
EPISODE CONTEXT
Sitting at episode 174 of 291, this falls in the stretch between major sagas where DBZ frequently inserts filler content to pad out time while the manga source material builds ahead. The main storyline has been building toward significant confrontations, and this episode represents a pause before the narrative picks back up. Viewers can safely skip this without missing any canonical developments leading into the next major arc.
QUICK TAKES
mekurabe_mage
Seeing a villain from the original series come back as a cyborg just to get tricked by Instant Transmission was a nice break from the Cell stress
tatl_264
General Tao showing up after all this time is wild and it is funny how he still tries to pull schemes even when he is totally outclassed
toby_lvl22
I really missed this side of Goku where he just gets totally distracted by a simple puzzle and takes it so seriously while the world is ending
baniacz
I really liked seeing Tao again after all this time and the cyborg look is hilarious especially him still being a coward around Goku
yami_yamato_140
Seeing a classic villain come back just to be a riddle master because he is too scared to throw a punch was strange and Goku being so gullible never gets old
kappa_king
Gohan just standing there while his dad struggles with a literal child toy was so funny and Tao being a total fraud is a funny change of pace
sakurafan
I usually skip the filler but this one actually felt worth it for the nostalgia factor alone. Seeing Mercenary Tao again brought back so many memories of the original series and his reaction to seeing how strong Goku has become was pure gold. It was a nice little breather before we have to deal with the Cell Games starting up properly.
flower_flute_499
The puzzle and riddle gimmick was a weird choice for a cold assassin but seeing Tao so desperate to avoid a fight was a funny way to handle his return
maki_maverick_137
I could not stop laughing at Goku not even recognizing the guy who once tried to kill him and the scared look on Tao's face was hilarious
vasto_lorde_void
It was weird seeing Tao as a cyborg again, but his total cowardice around Goku really shows how much the power scales have shifted since the old days.
kensuke_aida
Tao wanting absolutely zero smoke once he saw how strong the boy had gotten made for a great laugh and it helped the search for the Dragon Balls feel faster
sephiroth
Goku is so dense sometimes and watching him actually try to solve those ring puzzles while Tao was sweating bullets was a total riot
sailor_moon
General Tao trying to use puzzles because he is terrified of Goku was hilarious and seeing a villain from the original show again was a nice surprise during all this Cell stress
marnie
I forgot how much I missed Mercenary Tao and seeing him run away the second he realized Gohan was related to Goku made me laugh so hard
satori_sensei
Goku hunting for the Dragon Balls again felt nostalgic and having a classic villain like Tao show up to get embarrassed was a fun way to kill time before the Cell Games
miyuki_shirogane
those puzzles felt like a weird fever dream but Tao being scared of a literal child just shows how much stronger Gohan has gotten lately
kitsune_knight
the look on Tao's face when he realized Gohan was the same kid from before was such a great detail and his reaction was priceless
inu_no_taisho
Watching Mr Satan act like he is the strongest man on earth while Goku and Gohan are literally flying around collecting magical orbs is such a funny way to break up the serious tension
steven_stone_327
How Goku stood there completely unfazed while Tao was sweating bullets, and it really showed how far everyone has come since the original Red Ribbon Army days
susanoo_slayer_49
It felt so weird seeing Tao again since he has been gone forever, but I honestly really liked this episode even if it is just filler and I thought the way he tried to outsmart Goku with that puzzle was such a different vibe from the usual Cell stuff, and seeing him run away like a coward the second he realized who Goku was felt like a perfect callback to the old days
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