The Best Episodes of Dragon Ball Z Season 1
Every episode of Dragon Ball Z Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Dragon Ball Z Season 1!
The adventures of Earth's martial arts defender, Son Goku, continue with a new family and the revelation of his alien origins. Now Goku and his allies must defend the planet from an onslaught of new extraterrestrial enemies.
Season 1 Ratings Summary
The best episode of "Dragon Ball Z" season 1 is "The New Threat", rated 7.3/10 from 1510 user votes. It was directed by Daisuke Nishio and written by N/A. "The New Threat" aired on 4/26/1989 and is rated 0.3 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Reunions".
7.3/10 1,510 votes#1 - The New Threat
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 4/26/1989
Goku’s quiet life with his family and friends is about to be interrupted. A new threat - a powerful and sinister alien - is on its way to Earth.
Director: Daisuke Nishio
Writer: N/A
7.6/10 1,458 votes#2 - Reunions
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 5/3/1989
Goku and Gohan attend a reunion on Roshi’s island, where Goku introduces his son to all of his old friends. The smiles quickly fade, however, as an unexpected visitor - Raditz - lands on the island.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.6/10 1,444 votes#3 - Unlikely Alliance
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 5/10/1989
Raditz has kidnapped Gohan, and unless Goku agrees to join the sinister Saiyan, he may never see his son again! All hope is not lost, however, as a second visitor arrives, and Goku forges an unlikely alliance!
Director: Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa
8.0/10 1,455 votes#4 - Piccolo's Plan
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 5/17/1989
Piccolo may have a way to stop Raditz - the Makankosappo! There’s only one problem. He needs time to gather energy for the blast, which means Goku must fight Raditz alone!
Director: N/A
Writer: Toshiki Inoue
8.0/10 1,436 votes#5 - Gohan's Rage
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 5/24/1989
Gohan unleashes a mighty attack that not even Radtiz can resist! But as quickly as his power appears, it vanishes. When Raditz prepares to strike back, Goku must make the ultimate sacrifice to save his son!
Director: Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writer: N/A
7.5/10 1,405 votes#6 - No Time Like the Present
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 6/7/1989
Piccolo takes Gohan into the wild for a harsh training program. Meanwhile, Goku embarks on a new adventure in the next world, as he travels the endless Snake Way to reach the legendary King Kai!
Director: Mitsuo Hashimoto
Writer: N/A
7.2/10 1,431 votes#7 - Day 1
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 6/14/1989
Gohan begins his first day of Piccolo’s training. Alone in the wilderness, he must quickly learn to take care of himself. But that isn’t easy when he’s tired, hungry - and being chased by bloodthirsty dinosaurs!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.2/10 1,428 votes#8 - Gohan Goes Bananas!
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 6/21/1989
Korin wants Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu to report for special training! Meanwhile, Gohan’s grueling training causes him to undergo a shocking transformation!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.0/10 1,428 votes#9 - The Strangest Robot
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 6/28/1989
To escape a pack of wild animals, Gohan ventures into an ancient cave, where he meets an old Capsule Corp robot. The robot has lived alone in the cave for over 30 years, and he’s not happy to have visitors!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.9/10 1,413 votes#10 - A New Friend
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 7/5/1989
Gohan’s wilderness adventure continues, as he makes a new dinosaur friend! He’s happy to finally have some company until he’s harshly reminded that not all dinosaurs are friendly!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.1/10 1,408 votes#11 - Terror on Arlia
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 7/12/1989
On planet Arlia, Vegeta and Nappa become prisoners of the tyrant king who rules the planet. After a brief scuffle with the monster Yeddy, the Arlians realize that the two Saiyans are more than they can handle.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.9/10 1,390 votes#12 - Global Training
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 7/19/1989
Gohan spends his day tormenting a T-Rex. Across the planet, Tien and Chiaotzu find their training interrupted by Launch. Meanwhile, Goku tries to find King Kai on Snake Way.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.9/10 1,391 votes#13 - Goz and Mez
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 7/26/1989
Goku encounters two giant ogres who want nothing more than to use the hero as a play toy! If he can defeat their challenges, the ogres vow to show him the way back to Snake Way.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.8/10 1,398 votes#14 - Princess Snake
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 8/2/1989
Back on Snake Way, Goku comes across a house he believes might belong to King Kai! Unfortunately, the dwelling is inhabited by Princess Snake, and she’ll do anything to keep Goku as her prisoner forever!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.6/10 1,385 votes#15 - Dueling Piccolos
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 8/9/1989
Piccolo flies off the handle during his fight with Raditz and splits in two! Meanwhile, Gohan decides to take a raft across the sea to visit his mother, gets caught in a storm, and suddenly remembers that he can’t swim!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.5/10 1,379 votes#16 - Plight of the Children
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 8/16/1989
Gohan finds shelter with a gang of orphans living on the run from meddling adults. The group’s leader hatches a plan to take the kids to a safer hiding place, but when the police show up everything goes wrong!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.2/10 1,382 votes#17 - Pendulum Room Peril
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 8/30/1989
Earth’s top warriors visit Kami’s Pendulum Room where the past, present, and future co-exist. After a trip back in time, they realize they’ll need to train harder to stand a chance against the approaching Saiyans.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/10 1,389 votes#18 - The End of Snake Way
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 9/6/1989
Gohan continues training, but a full moon causes the young Saiyan to rampage out of control! Meanwhile, Goku makes it to the end of Snake Way only to mistake a friendly ape named Bubbles for King Kai!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.3/10 1,385 votes#19 - Defying Gravity
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 9/13/1989
The intense gravity of King Kai’s planet makes Goku’s training difficult, but when he learns that the Saiyans are used to extreme fighting conditions, Goku is inspired to give it his all. Will it be enough?
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/10 1,377 votes#20 - Goku's Ancestors
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 9/20/1989
After Goku struggles to bash Gregory with a hammer, King Kai inspires him with the story of the Saiyan race - and offers to train him personally! Will it be enough to stop the looming Saiyan invasion?
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/10 1,370 votes#21 - Counting Down
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 9/27/1989
Goku’s training is complete, so the gang summons the Eternal Dragon to wish him back to life. There’s only one day left before the Saiyans arrive. Unfortunately, it will take Goku two days to return!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/10 1,383 votes#22 - The Darkest Day
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 10/11/1989
Vegeta and Nappa mark their arrival with the destruction of an entire city! When the Z-Fighters confront them, the heroes must face an onslaught of Saibamen under the command of the Saiyans.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.9/10 1,395 votes#23 - Saibamen Attack!
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 10/18/1989
Krillin, Piccolo, and Gohan stand face to face with the sinister Saiyans and their diabolical henchmen. The villains have already proven terrifyingly powerful. Can Earth’s heroes hold out until Goku arrives?
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/10 1,396 votes#24 - The Power of Nappa
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 10/25/1989
Enraged over the loss of Yamcha, Krillin unleashes a powerful attack that destroys the maniacal Saibamen once and for all. Now Earth’s defenders must battle the Saiyans themselves - starting with Nappa.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/10 1,388 votes#25 - Sacrifice
Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 11/1/1989
Chiaotzu sacrifices himself to save his friends from Nappa, but when the smoke clears, the villain still stands! Luckily, Tien has one trick left that could forever silence the Saiyan warrior!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A