Goku's Ordeal (免許皆伝? 悟空の新たなる試練, Menkyo Kaiden? Goku no Aratanaru Siren) is the eighth episode of the Trunks Saga and the one hundred twenty-fifth overall episode in the uncut Dragon Ball Z series. The episode first aired on February 5, 1992. Its original American air date was September 13, 2000.
Summary
The episode begins with Chi-Chi being chased by a huge, wild boar, while walking home from the grocery store. The boar chases her for a while, but at the last second, the boar runs off of a cliff. She sighs and began to walk home.
Piccolo, wearing Goku's clothing, with his instructor
Gohan is shown in a pond, where he catches a fish that is almost twice his size. He shows it to Goku, who says that they can have it for dinner, much to Piccolo's dismay, since fish is what they have eaten for two weeks straight, despite the fact that, like all Namekians, he only needs to drink water. When they walk into the house, Chi-Chi is sitting at the table, exhausted. When Goku and Gohan take off their clothes and give them to Chi-Chi so that they can take a bath, she starts yelling about how they want her to wash their clothes and cook dinner at the same time. She also complains about how they don't have a car, and that Goku doesn't even know how to drive (Piccolo also cannot drive, and immediately demands that Goku not involve him in the ordeal). Chi-Chi orders both Goku and Piccolo to go to Driving School to get their licenses, or they will be forced to cook their own meals from then on. Both Goku and Piccolo reluctantly agree.
Icarus and Gohan watching Goku's driving lesson
At the school, Goku sees Piccolo dressed in some of his (Goku's) clothes, including a backward cap, tight denim jeans and a purple and yellow shirt. Piccolo explains that the clothes were given to him by Chi-Chi out of Goku's closet. Goku apologizes to him for the humiliation he was suffering, and then the instructors arrive. Goku is stuck with an elderly man who can barely even open a car door, while Piccolo is put with a young woman with a serious case of road rage. While Piccolo is doing well at driving, Goku is failing miserably. He can't even remember how to start the car. After crashing both of their cars in the middle of a race, they naturally fail, but are given one last chance. During the second try, the two drive on a rainy road. There is a bus of kids coming down the road, and a lightning bolt strikes a nearby cliff, sending dust and rock plummeting on the street, causing the bus to be pushed off a cliff. Goku attempts to stop the bus with his car by ramming it. After Goku's plan fails, both he and Piccolo jump into action. Piccolo held the bus while Goku destroys all the falling boulders with one of his attacks. Goku carries the bus back to safety, and they return to the instructors, who are applauding them. The elderly man tells them that even though they have failed the test, he would trade his license any day for a chance to fly. The young woman agrees with him.
When the two return home, Chi-Chi finds out that they failed the test, and faints yet again.
Quotes
- Goku: (To Piccolo) You can't drive, can you?
- Piccolo: (Defensively) LEAVE ME OUT OF THIS!
- Goku: (After crashing the car into a river) So how long before I get my driver's license?
- Elderly Driving Instructor: Son, at this rate, it's going to take you a hundred years.
- Goku: What?! But I can't wait that long! I've got to get in shape for a battle against two killer androids, and Chi-Chi's (Starts gurgling his words as his mouth sinks below the water) gonna kill me if I don't get my driver's license!"
- Goku: (After passing Piccolo on the road) Eat my dust, Piccolo!
- Piccolo: Was that a challenge?! Well if it's a race you want, it's a race you'll get!
Trivia
Gohan's drawing in the episode
- This is a filler episode that seems to be based on the cover to the title page to chapters 255 (DBZ 61) and 256 (DBZ 62) of the manga. Also, the picture Gohan draws in this episode is similar to the cover of those two manga chapters.
- Chi-Chi is seen running home with her groceries, even though she was seen driving in earlier seasons and she can ride the Flying Nimbus, which Goku no longer uses at this point.
- When Goku is laying down and looking at the clouds, Gohan comes to surface after swimming and shows Goku a huge fish. Then, he asks if they can have it for dinner while a nearby Piccolo says they had been having fish for two weeks straight. Although, according to Dende, Namekians only drink water and do not eat food or meat, although it is possible that Namekians can eat, but they just do not need to.
- When Piccolo's driver speeds off away from the stoplight, his hat flies off. Yet later, he is still wearing his hat.
- Near the middle of the episode, when Goku almost crashes into another driver, the driver flies from his car and his pants change color in mid-flight.
Gallery
 The boar who chases Chi-Chi  Chi-Chi's eggs  Chi-Chi  Chi-Chi at home  Gohan catches a fish  Piccolo meditating  Chi-Chi's neighbors in their white hovercar  Gohan and Goku while Chi-Chi is yelling at Goku  Scratch in Dr. Brief's hands while Brief is talking about Vegeta  Vegeta training at 410x Earth's gravity  Yuzukar about to take Goku on a driving lesson  Yuzukar  Cynthia smiling right before driving  Piccolo stressed while learning how to drive  Cynthia going crazy while driving  Cynthia and Piccolo  Grandpa Gohan's hut and Goku's house  Gohan at home  Chi-Chi brings drinks to Gohan  Icarus and Gohan watching Goku's driving lesson  Piccolo's cap  Icarus and Gohan  Goku driving  The driver with red pants  A second later, the driver has purple pants  Goku and Piccolo colliding while trying to get their Driver's Licenses  Goku's instructor tells him that he does not need a license since he can fly |
References
Trunks Saga/Episodes