One More Wish

With Shenron still waiting for a second wish, Krillin steps forward. He first asks the dragon to transform Androids 17 and 18 into full humans, but Shenron declares this beyond his power. Krillin pivots to a more modest request: deactivating the self-destruct bombs implanted inside both Androids. Shenron grants it without issue. When the others question his choice, Krillin openly admits his feelings for Android 18. Yamcha teases him about also wishing away 17's bomb, suggesting Krillin sees the two as a couple.

Android 18, who has been eavesdropping the entire time, steps out and firmly corrects the record. She and 17 are twin siblings, not romantic partners. The revelation embarrasses Krillin further, but when he asks 18 to stay with the group, she declines. Before leaving, she offers a quiet word of thanks for his compassion. It is a small moment, but it plants the seed of their eventual relationship.

Future Trunks announces his departure, and the group splits up. Gohan and Krillin fly home together, where Gohan must deliver the devastating news to Chi-Chi that Goku is dead and chose not to return. Chi-Chi breaks down, crying for hours while the Ox-King tries to console her. Meanwhile, Yamcha walks with Trunks toward Capsule Corporation and tells him something he had not heard: Vegeta went berserk after watching Cell kill him. For the first time, Trunks feels genuine pride in his father. He says his final goodbyes, boards the time machine, and vanishes back to his own era. Life returns to a gentle rhythm. Gohan goes fishing with his grandfather, baby Trunks takes his first steps, and Goku helps King Kai (poorly) build a new house on Snake Way.

Krillin's wish is one of the most quietly heroic acts in the series. He has a free wish from an eternal dragon and uses it not for wealth, power, or personal gain, but to protect two people who terrorized his friends and nearly destroyed the planet. His reasoning is pure: the bombs are a threat to their lives, and removing them is simply the right thing to do. That selflessness is what eventually wins Android 18 over, though that payoff is still years away in story time.

The episode also closes the book on Future Trunks with remarkable grace. Learning that his father, the cold and dismissive Vegeta, raged against Cell after watching him die gives Trunks something he never had: proof that his father cared. He returns to his timeline carrying not just physical strength but emotional closure, which makes his final battles there feel earned rather than obligatory.

Episode 193 serves as the true denouement of the Cell Saga, tying off every major character thread before the time skip. Gohan stops training. Vegeta settles into family life. Piccolo takes up residence on the Lookout to mentor Dende. Each warrior finds their version of peace, and the episode takes its time showing these quiet transitions rather than rushing to the next conflict.

This is the final episode where several voice actors perform their roles in the Funimation dub, including Stephanie Nadolny as young Gohan. It is also the last time Krillin appears bald until well into Dragon Ball Super, marking a visual shift that reflects the broader tonal change ahead. The series is about to jump seven years forward, and episode 193 makes sure every farewell lands before the clock moves on.