7.6/101,353 votes#1 - Prologue to Battle! The Return of Goku!
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 4/5/2009
Goku is a legendary warrior and the strongest fighter on the planet, but he's about to encounter a foe from outofthisworld. What brings this new menace to Earth? And what's up with his tail?
Director: N/A
Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa
7.5/101,320 votes#2 - The Enemy Is Goku's Brother?! The Secret of the Mighty Saiyan Warriors!
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 4/12/2009
When Raditz abducts Gohan and announces his plans to conquer Earth, Goku and Piccolo are forced into an uneasy alliance. The two rivals don't trust each other, but neither of them can defeat the Saiyan on their own!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/101,307 votes#3 - A Life or Death Battle! Goku and Piccolo's Desperate Attack!
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 4/19/2009
Despite the fury of their attacks, Goku and Piccolo are unable to land a death blow in their battle against Raditz. Gohan's unexpected outburst manages to weaken the powerful Saiyan, but it may be too little, too late.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/101,280 votes#4 - Run in the Afterlife, Goku! The One Million Mile Snake Way!
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 4/26/2009
Now that he's dead, Goku must fight to survive in the afterlife, especially during his treacherous trek down Snake Way. Back on Earth, Gohan endures his own punishment as a student in the house of Piccolo!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.2/101,272 votes#5 - Wilderness Survival! A Moonlit Night Awakens Gohan!
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 5/3/2009
Piccolo tries to toughen up Gohan with some wilderness survival training, but things get hairy when the young Saiyan sees his first full moon! Meanwhile, Yajirobe summons Earth's strongest fighters to Kami's Lookout.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/101,267 votes#6 - The End of Snake Way! King Kai's Bizarre Test!
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 5/10/2009
As the deadly Saiyan invaders approach Earth, Gohan makes slow, but steady, progress under the watchful eye of Piccolo, and Goku struggles with the "gravity" of his training under King Kai.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/101,261 votes#7 - The Battle with Ten-Times Gravity! Goku's Race Against the Clock!
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 5/17/2009
To prove himself worthy of King Kai's training, Goku must test his mettle against a fleetfooted monkey and a powerful cricket that's big on respect. Meanwhile, in the land of the living, Gohan takes a beating from his monstrous master!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/101,256 votes#8 - Shenron Appears! The Saiyans Arrive Sooner than Expected!
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 5/24/2009
Goku's training under King Kai is finally complete, and he's eager to return to Earth. Master Roshi uses the Dragon Balls to summon Shenron, but will Goku make it back in time to stop the Saiyans?
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/101,227 votes#9 - Yamcha's Struggle! The Terrible Saibamen!
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 5/31/2009
The Saiyans have arrived, Goku isn't even on the planet, and the overmatched ZFighters represent Earth's last line of defense. When Vegeta and Nappa unleash the gruesome Saibamen, Yamcha picks a fight that could be his last!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/101,276 votes#10 - Sit Tight, Chiaotzu! Tien's Screaming Tri-Beam!
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 6/7/2009
Krillin's furious attack wipes out the Saibamen, but the ZFighters are powerless against the Saiyan warlords. One by one, Earth's defenders suffer devastating injuries or fall in battle. Goku's return is their only hope for survival.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/101,223 votes#11 - Will Goku Make It in Time?! Three Hours Until the Battle Resumes!
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 6/14/2009
Piccolo hatches a desperate plan to prolong the battle until Goku's arrival. When Vegeta senses an awesome source of power approaching, he orders Nappa to dispose of remaining ZFighters starting with Gohan!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.1/101,241 votes#12 - Farewell, Piccolo! Goku's Furious Counterattack!
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 6/21/2009
Goku arrives in time to save Gohan and Krillin, and the resurrected warrior is eager to put the hurt on Nappa. When it becomes clear that Goku is no ordinary fighter, Prince Vegeta steps in to finish the fight himself!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/101,250 votes#13 - The Power of the Kaio-Ken! Goku vs. Vegeta!
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 6/28/2009
The stage is set for a final showdown between Vegeta and Goku. The Saiyan Prince is stronger, faster, and far more ruthless. Goku's only hope for victory is a technique that may very well destroy him!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.9/101,246 votes#14 - An All-Out Kamehame-Ha! Vegeta's Terrible Transformation!
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 7/5/2009
Vegeta can’t handle the fury of Goku’s triple Kaio-Ken technique, so the Saiyan warlord unleashes his inner ape. Weakened by his furious onslaught, Goku’s only hope to defeat the beast is the mighty Spirit Bomb!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/101,240 votes#15 - Goku on the Ropes! Pin Your Hopes on the Spirit Bomb!
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 7/12/2009
As Goku lies exhausted and vulnerable on the field of battle, Gohan and Krillin take aim at Vegeta’s only weakness: his tail! If they can take the ape out of the fight, they might have a chance to escape with their lives.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/101,211 votes#16 - Defeat the Invincible Vegeta! Work a Miracle, Gohan!
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 7/19/2009
Krillin and Gohan team up to blast Vegeta with a Spirit Bomb, but the Saiyan prince refuses to die. Things look bad for the Z-Fighters until Yajirobe distracts the enemy long enough for Gohan to undergo a transformation of his own!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/101,233 votes#17 - Dawn of a Fierce Battle! The Star of Hope Is Piccolo's Homeland!
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 8/2/2009
Vegeta has been defeated, but there’s no time to celebrate. The Z-Fighters must find a way to resurrect the friends who died stopping the Saiyan invasion. Fortunately for the fallen, Krillin has a plan!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.2/101,233 votes#18 - The Ship Resting in Yunzabit! Time to Blast Off for Planet Namek!
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 8/9/2009
Preparations for the journey to Namek hit a snag when Bulma accidentally blows up the remaining Saiyan spaceship. Mr. Popo may know of another vessel, so he and Bulma travel to the Earth’s end for a closer look.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.6/101,264 votes#19 - A Powerful New Foe! Frieza, Ruler of the Universe!
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 8/16/2009
A bad case of space boredom makes Bulma a pain to share close quarters with, and Vegeta recovers from his injuries only to discover that Frieza has a head start on tracking down the magic Dragon Balls!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.9/101,274 votes#20 - The Rebellion Against Frieza! Vegeta's Burning Ambition!
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 8/23/2009
Gohan and Krillin beat up on Frieza’s henchmen, but their spaceship is destroyed in the process. Vegeta is headed for a showdown with Cui, and the shrewd Saiyan is keeping his true power level under wraps!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/101,227 votes#21 - Protect the Dragon Balls! The Namekians' All-Out Attack!
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 8/30/2009
Goku blasts off in a brand new spaceship specially equipped with a device designed to help increase his strength! On Namek, Krillin and Gohan watch in horror as Frieza’s men slaughter innocent Namekians.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/101,282 votes#22 - Dodoria's Terrifying Chase! A Truth Revealed to Vegeta!
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 9/6/2009
Gohan and Krillin risk their lives to rescue a young Namekian, and Vegeta goes on the rampage after learning the truth about the destruction of his home planet!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/101,259 votes#23 - Vegeta's Covert Maneuvers! A Tragic Assault on the Namekians!
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 9/13/2009
After easily defeating Dodoria, Vegeta begins his violent search for the two remaining Dragon Balls. Meanwhile, Krillin and his new friend Dende set out to warn the eldest Namekian of the horror headed his way!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.1/101,399 votes#24 - Friends Reborn! Zarbon's Hideous Transformation!
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 9/20/2009
King Kai telepathically "phones" Goku with a warning to stay as far away from Frieza as possible! Back on Namek, Vegeta is shocked to discover how much a simple transformation can increase Zarbon’s power.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/101,250 votes#25 - Power Up, Krillin! Frieza's Mounting Apprehension!
Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 9/27/2009
The eldest Namekian unlocks the full force of Krillin's dormant power, so the bald brawler can better protect his Dragon Ball. Elsewhere, a Saiyan-related premonition prompts Frieza to call for reinforcements.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1
Every episode of Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1!
Rejoin Goku and his friends in a series of cosmic battles! Toei has redubbed, recut, and cleaned up the animation of the original 1989 animated...
Genres:Sci-Fi & FantasyAnimationAction & AdventureComedy
Network:Fuji TV
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Prologue to Battle! The Return of Goku!" is the best rated episode of "Dragon Ball Z Kai" season 1. It scored 7.6/10 based on 1353 votes. Directed by N/A and written by Katsuyuki Sumisawa, it aired on 4/5/2009. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "The Enemy Is Goku's Brother?! The Secret of the Mighty Saiyan Warriors!".