The BEST episodes of Dragon Ball Z season 1
Every episode of Dragon Ball Z season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Dragon Ball Z season 1!
Many years have passed since Goku first searched for the Dragon Balls. He is a grown man, with a wife and son. He and his friends have settled into their own lives and, for the most part, things are rather peaceful. Then one day, Goku learns he is really a Saiyan and comes from another planet. Now begins new adventures for Goku and his friends as they defend their home against new, more powerful threats.
#1 - Lesson Number One
Season 1 - Episode 29 - Aired 12/6/1989
Locked in the final battle with Earth's Saiyan attackers, Goku begins to demonstrate the skills and training he received from King Kai beginning with a devastating attack on Nappa. But when Nappa concedes defeat under the command of Vegeta, he turns on Gohan and Krillin only to be stopped by Goku's Kaio-Ken attack. Broken and defeated, Nappa is finally vanquished by Vegeta leaving Goku to face him alone.
#2 - A New Friend
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 7/5/1989
Krillin pulls Yamcha away from a rowdy baseball game to begin training at Korin Tower. Meanwhile, Gohan's adventures in the wilderness continue, as he makes a new dinosaur friend! Gohan is happy to finally have some company. That is, until he gets a harsh reminder - not all dinosaurs are friendly!
#3 - Nimbus Speed
Season 1 - Episode 27 - Aired 11/22/1989
Piccolo, Gohan, and Krillin do their best to stop the Saiyan invaders, Vegeta and Nappa, from finding the Dragon Balls and taking over the planet. Meanwhile, Goku is flying back to Earth on the Flying Nimbus with more power than he has ever had before. Will it be enough? And will he arrive in time?
#4 - Goku vs. Vegeta
Season 1 - Episode 30 - Aired 12/13/1989
After sending Gohan and Krillin away, Goku decides to take on the mighty Vegeta all by himself. As his family and friends wait and wonder, Goku and the powerful Saiyan face off in a destructive battle. Both warriors seem evenly matched, but both are hiding their true strength. Will Goku's hidden abilities be enough to put an end to this once and for all?
#5 - Reunions
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/3/1989
Goku and Gohan attend a reunion on Master Roshi's island, where Goku introduces his son to all of his old friends. The smiles quickly fade, however, as an unexpected visitor lands on the island, and for Goku the day becomes a reunion of a different kind. A powerful alien has arrived. It's Raditz: Goku's evil older brother!
#6 - Goku's Arrival
Season 1 - Episode 28 - Aired 11/29/1989
Piccolo makes the ultimate sacrifice in an effort to save Gohan from the Saiyan's ruthless rampage. Just when all seems hopeless, Goku finally returns to Earth with an incredible new level of power and confronts the Saiyans. But, will this new power be enough to defeat Nappa and Vegeta?
#7 - Saibamen Attack!
Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 10/18/1989
Having completed their year-long journey to Earth, the two snister Saiyans made their presence known with explosive style! Now Krillin, Piccolo, and Gohan stand face to face with these saiyan monsters, and the diabolical henchmen they've brought with them. Can they hold out until Goku arrives?
#8 - Global Training
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 7/19/1989
Gohan is busy with his survival training and spends his day tormenting a clumsy but delicious T-Rex. Tien and Chiaotzu are training across the planet, but their workout is interrupted by a very demanding Launch. Goku tries to find King Kai on Snake Way while Piccolo's power gets out of control with disastrous results.
#9 - Gohan's Rage
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/24/1989
As Goku takes blow after punishing blow from the evil Raditz, Gohan is able to watch no longer! The young boy's rage unlocks an awesome power sleeping within him, and he unleashes a mighty attack that not even Radtiz can resist! But as quickly as Gohan's power appears, it vanishes. And when Raditz prepares to strike back, Goku must make the ultimate sacrifice to save his son! This all only leads to the revelation that two more Saiyans are on their way to Earth.
#10 - The Power of Nappa
Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 10/25/1989
Enraged over the loss of his friend, Yamcha, Krillin unleashes a powerful attack that destroys the maniacal Saibamen once and for all. But the victory is only temporary. Now the Earth's defenders must battle the Saiyans themselves - and the terrifying Nappa is ready for a fight!
#11 - Pendulum Room Peril
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 8/30/1989
Mr. Popo leads Earth's top warriors to Kami's Pendulum Room where the past, present and future exist at the same time. After an eventful trip back in time they all realize they have to train a lot harder if they are going to stand a chance against the two Saiyans who are speeding ever closer to Earth.
#12 - Plans for Departure
Season 1 - Episode 37 - Aired 2/21/1990
As the weak and weary warriors of Planet Earth are bandaged and cared for, Bulma accidentally destroys the Siayan spaceship, leaving no way to get to Planet Namek! But, Mr. Popo reveals that there might be another spacecraft they can use. Can they get to it in time, and will the old and forgotten ship even work if they do?
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#13 - Sacrifice
Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 11/1/1989
In a desperate attempt to save his friends, Chiaotzu sacrifices himself to stop the evil Nappa. But when the smoke clears, Nappa is left standing. Now Tien and the others must carry on without their friend as Nappa launches another devastating attack. And though his body is broken, Tien has one trick left that could put the diabolical Saiayn down, once and for all!
#14 - Unlikely Alliance
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/10/1989
Raditz has kidnapped Gohan! And unless Goku agrees to forsake his friends and the people of Earth by joining the sinister Saiyan, he may never see his son again! All hope is not lost, however, as a second uninvited guest arrives on the island - and Goku forges an unlikely alliance!
#15 - The Darkest Day
Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 10/11/1989
The Saiyans Vegeta and Nappa defiantly announce their arrival on Earth with the complete destruction of East City. Sensing their power, Goku, Gohan and Krillin prepare for the worst and meet the Saiyans face to face where Piccolo learns of his origins on the planet Namek. Yajirobe also learns of the Saiyans arrival but uses it merely as an occasion for profit. Our heroes are left facing on onslaught of sprouted Saibamen under the grinning command of Vegetta and Nappa
#16 - Goz and Mez
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 7/26/1989
After waking up dazed and disoriented, Goku sees a fruit tree. Not one to deny his appetite, Goku helps himself. But watching him are two giant ogres who want nothing more than to use the hero as a play toy! If Goku can defeat their challenges, the ogres vow to show him the way back to Snake Way. But can these two beasts be trusted?
#17 - Krillin's Offensive
Season 1 - Episode 34 - Aired 1/31/1990
While Gohan fights for his life against Vegeta, Goku passes the power of the Spirit Bomb to Krillin. With King Kai's guidance, Krillin launches the bomb at Vegeta in an attack that sends the evil Saiyan sky-high. Now that he's been sent hurtling toward the outer-reaches of the Earth's atmosphere, this is surely the last our heroes have seen of Vegeta - or is it?
#18 - Mercy
Season 1 - Episode 35 - Aired 2/7/1990
Gohan transforms into the giant ape, much to the dismay of the angry Vegeta. After a grueling battle, Vegeta managed to cut off Gohan's tail, taking away his ability to transform. But, the giant ape fell and crushed Vegeta, leaving him beaten and defeated. Krillin decides to finish the Saiyan, once and for all, but Goku has other plans...
#19 - Plight of the Children
Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 8/16/1989
After surviving a rough night on a stormy sea, Gohan washes up onshore and is nursed back to health by two orphans named Rom and Chiko. It turns out that they are part of a larger gang of orphans who live on their own and are constantly on the run from meddling adults. Pigero, the orphans' leader, hatches a plan to take the orphaned children to a safer hiding place but when the police show up everything goes wrong!
#20 - The End of Snake Way
Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 9/6/1989
Gohan continues his martial arts training under the watchful eye of Piccolo, but a strange transformation takes him over. A full moon causes the young Saiyan to rampage out of control! Meanwhile Goku finally makes it to the end of Snake Way and mistakes a friendly ape named Bubbles for the mythical King Kai. With two of our heroes going bananas it looks like the two sinister Saiyans will have an easy time invading Earth!
#21 - No Time Like the Present
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/7/1989
With Raditz defeated and Goku gone from this world, the surviving Z Warriors must begin preparing for the arrival of two more Saiyans who will reach Earth in one year's time. Piccolo takes Gohan into the wild for a severe training program, in the hope that his hidden power will be revealed. Meanwhile, Goku embarks on a new adventure in the next world, as he must travel the endless miles of Snake Way to receive training from the legendary King Kai!
#22 - The New Threat
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/26/1989
With no new battles to fight, Goku has been living a quiet life in the countryside with his wife Chi-Chi...and their son Gohan! While Goku makes plans to spend a happy day with friends on Master Roshi's island, a powerful new threat is on its way to Earth. And the arrival of this sinister alien could spell disaster for Goku and his friends!
#23 - Goku's Ancestors
Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 9/20/1989
After Goku completes the first phase of his special martial arts training King Kai instructs him to bash Gregory with a hammer. Easier said than done. After an exhaustive chase, King Kai tells the story of the Saiyan race. Inspired, Goku resumes his training and eventually manages to put the hammer to Gregory. Impressed, King Kai agrees to train Goku personally. But will it be enough to stop the incoming Saiyan invasion of Earth?
#24 - Piccolo's Plan
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/17/1989
The situation looks bleak for Goku and Piccolo, as Raditz easily deflects every attack they send his way. But Piccolo may have a way to stop the sinister Saiyan. He's perfected a powerful new attack, the Special Beam Cannon!There's only one problem: Piccolo needs time to gather the energy for the blast, which means Goku will have to last for five minutes against Raditz alone!
#25 - Hero in the Shadows
Season 1 - Episode 33 - Aired 1/24/1990
With Goku caught in the clutches of the giant ape Vegeta, Krillin and Gohan launch a desperate attempt to save him! All is for naught, however, as Krillin's Destructo Disk fails to sever the Saiyan's tail. But a single hope remains for reversing Vegeta's monstrous transformation, when an unlikely hero steps out of the shadows - Yajirobe!