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One of the infamous “Lost Episodes” of the early dub, it took years before finally airing in the US as part of FUNimation’s re-dub of Seasons 1 and 2. This episode marks  Tenshinhan’s and Chaozu’s very first appearance in the Dragon Ball Z anime, establishing them, their relationship with one another and connection to Goku. It is of particular interest because it’s made up entirely of filler material.
In this episode, Kuririn and Bulma are searching for Tenshinhan and Chaozu in order to fill them in about the Saiya-jin and prepare for battle. Kuririn has Raditz’s newly refurbished Scouter in hand, which is set to locate significant sources of Ki. Although this part occurs in the manga, the actual search isn’t played out, which is what makes the episode so fillerrific!
Meanwhile, somewhere in the mountainous wilderness, Tenshinhan and Chaozu are training -- or meditating -- beneath a waterfall. Tenshinhan suddenly spins around to face the thundering falls, thrusts his arms forward,  and lets out a mighty kiai. The waterfall gives a shudder and stops for a brief moment. Chaozu excitedly proclaims that Tenshinhan has done it, to which Tenshinhan replies that it's still not enough. Clearly, the pair has been at this for quite some time, and I wonder about the type of training they're doing. Tenshinhan is a very capable guy and good at making the best out of the things around him. Rather than struggling for what he could have, he works what he’s got. He’s always struck me as the type who is quite comfortable with “roughin’ it.” (He’s probably developed all kinds of survival skills to provide Chaozu and himself with a good life.)
Suddenly, a series of sharp blasts interrupts the two, who are startled to see blonde Lunch with her machine gun at the ready. She tells them to hurry and come eat the feast she’s prepared. The guys seem to be sharing a Capsule house with Lunch, or one that Lunch had set up for herself. (I’ve always imagined Tenshinhan and Chaozu living in a cave or something much less glamourous suburban.) And inside, it turns out that Lunch has kidnapped and forced some cooks (undoubtedly by gunpoint) to make a delicious spread. (Lunch must know that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach!) She tells Tenshinhan that he should stop being so noble, that the Earth is safe now, and that he should take up a life of crime with her. (omg, Bonnie and Clyde!?!) Between her proposition and the ill-begotten meal, Tenshinhan becomes fed up and storms out. Lunch remarks about Tenshinhan’s stubbornness; and as he follows Tenshinhan out the door, Chaozu proudly announces that Tenshinhan’s “hard head” can even break rocks.
These scenes are like from an alternate universe; they bring a satisfying resolution to the statement made in the manga (volume 18) that Lunch has been “chasing after Tenshinhan.” It’s really nice to see what might have happened if Lunch caught up with her love, and how Tenshinhan reacts to a girl who feels so passionately about him. (Oh Tenshinhan, why must you be so unattainable?) The idea of the three sharing one roof is amusing; one can wonder at what other antics went on there... Lunch, you really need to find a new way to appeal to Tenshinhan’s heart -- saying how the two of you can team up and rob banks is not something that will turn our boy on.
After leaving the house, Tenshinhan and Chaozu resume their training beneath the waterfall. Tenshinhan makes another, stronger effort to halt the fall, ordering Chaozu to fly to safety before he lets the it resume it’s path down the cliff. He’s always thinking about his friend’s well-being before his. The waterfall is stopped for a longer period this time, but Tenshinhan says there’s still more he can do..
Elsewhere, Piccolo is training (with pyramids!) with such force that he sets off a massive earthquake. The tremor reaches Tenshinhan and Chaozu, and suddenly their waterfall threatens to cause a flood. Terrified by the quake, Lunch runs out of the house, shouting for help. Tenshinhan flies down to her, holds her close to his body (!!), and anchors his feet into the rock. The abrupt  rise in energy sets off Kuririn’s scouter, and he and Bulma head in his direction.
The waters subside, and Tenshinhan and Lunch stand dripping wet but otherwise unharmed. The cold causes Lunch to sneeze, and she transforms into her mild-mannered, blue-haired personality. She cries, “What? Not again!” as she realizes what must have happened for her to be in a completely different place without knowing how she’s gotten there. The young woman then sets off for the Kame House; Tenshinhan wishes her a safe trip back and asks her to say hello to Kame-sennin for him. It seems that he addresses blue-haired Lunch with a bit more formality than he does blonde Lunch. What I really enjoy is that Tenshinhan has the chance to interact with both of Lunch’s personalities. He’s quite put off by blonde Lunch’s liking for crime and petty violence -- something he escaped when he left Tsuru-sennin and Tao Pai Pai. But it’s difficult to tell whether he reciprocates either Lunch’s feelings, or both. Notably, most fan artists and writers depict Tenshinhan with blonde Lunch; so I think perhaps Toriyama meant for only blonde Lunch to fall in love with the three-eyed hero.
Blue-haired Lunch doesn’t get far on her journey back to the Kame House; she comes across a field of flowers and flops down among them. A petal settles on her nose, which elicits another sneeze. She changes, and reverses her route.
Once again, blonde Lunch announces her presence to the guys with her machine gun. She exclaims that Tenshinhan can’t get away from her that easily and is interrupted by the arrival of Bulma and Kuririn in their plane. She shoots at the aircraft, because nothing comes between her and Tenshinhan’s love! (Tenshinhan fangirls are all rabid!)
Bulma and Kuririn land safely, and fill Tenshinhan and Chaozu in about Raditz, Goku’s sacrifice, and the Saiya-jin. Kuririn tells them that Kami has offered to train them all, and that they should get a move on because they only have one year to become stronger. Tenshinhan readily agrees, ignoring Lunch’s criticism that he’s throwing himself into death feet-first. But by now she knows just how stubborn he is, so she settles with letting him know that he’ll never escape her advances; she’ll hunt him down where ever he may go.
It’s a promise we never see kept. Both Toriyama and the anime production people seem to forget about this potential couple and never bring up their relationship again in either the manga or the anime. However, after  Tenshinhan is killed in the Saiya-jin arc, we do get to see blonde Lunch at a bar, drinking and mourning over his death.
I really, really like this episode. Perhaps I find myself loving it even more because it’s not in the manga. Filler has been given a bad name; I don’t care for filler material in most other anime I’ve watched. But, this, is a welcome change to canon. DB/Z anime-only scenes involving Tenshinhan allow the character to evolve in exciting, even different, ways. And I like analyzing the changes made to his character -- if there are any -- and how the anime people have characterized him. I think they’ve done a very good job, and I hope you become interested in filler from this perspective.
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