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The Best Episodes of Dragon Ball Z Season 1

Genres:AnimationSci-Fi & FantasyAction & Adventure
Network:Fuji TV

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...
Episodes
39
Avg. Rating
7.5
S1
S2
S3
S4
E1
E2
E3
7.3
7.6
7.6

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  • Goku's Arrival
    8.5/10(1,490)
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    #1 - Goku's Arrival

    Season 1 Episode 28

    Aired 11/29/1989

    Piccolo makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Gohan from the rampaging Saiyans. Just when all seems lost, Goku returns to Earth with an incredible new level of power and confronts the invaders.

    Director: Minoru Okazaki

    Writer: Hiroshi Toda

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    0
  • Saiyan Sized Secret
    8.4/10(1,494)
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    #2 - Saiyan Sized Secret

    Season 1 Episode 31

    Aired 12/20/1989

    Vegeta and Goku continue trading brutal blows, but the action intensifies when Vegeta reveals the secret power of the Saiyans: the ability to transform into a giant, planet-destroying ape!

    Director: Daisuke Nishio

    Writer: Toshiki Inoue

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    0
  • Lesson Number One
    8.2/10(1,435)
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    #3 - Lesson Number One

    Season 1 Episode 29

    Aired 12/6/1989

    Locked in battle with the Saiyans, Goku gives Nappa a brutal demonstration of the training he received from King Kai. Broken and defeated, Nappa must now face the ferocious wrath of Vegeta!

    Director: Yoshihiro Ueda

    Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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    0
  • Goku vs. Vegeta
    8.2/10(1,488)
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    #4 - Goku vs. Vegeta

    Season 1 Episode 30

    Aired 12/13/1989

    Goku decides to take on mighty Vegeta all by himself! The two appear evenly matched, but both are hiding their true strength. The epic battle is underway - which mighty warrior will claim victory?

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Keiji Terui

    Comments

    0
  • Mercy
    8.2/10(1,354)
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    #5 - Mercy

    Season 1 Episode 35

    Aired 2/7/1990

    Vegeta is crushed beneath the full weight of Gohan’s giant ape form! With the Saiyan battered and defeated, Krillin moves to finish the Saiyan with a final blow - but Goku has other plans.

    Director: Daisuke Nishio

    Writer: Hiroshi Toda

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    0
  • Gohan's Rage
    8.1/10(1,474)
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    #6 - 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

    Comments

    0
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  • The Power of Nappa
    8.1/10(1,431)
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    #7 - 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

    Comments

    0
  • Piccolo's Plan
    8.0/10(1,492)
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    #8 - 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: Yoshihiro Ueda

    Writer: Toshiki Inoue

    Comments

    0
  • Sacrifice
    8.0/10(1,421)
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    #9 - 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

    Comments

    0
  • Nimbus Speed
    8.0/10(1,412)
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    #10 - Nimbus Speed

    Season 1 Episode 27

    Aired 11/22/1989

    Piccolo, Gohan, and Krillin do their best to stop the Saiyans from finding the Dragon Balls. Meanwhile, Goku rushes back to Earth on the Flying Nimbus, armed with more power than ever before!

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Krillin's Offensive
    8.0/10(1,392)
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    #11 - Krillin's Offensive

    Season 1 Episode 34

    Aired 1/31/1990

    Goku passes the power of the Spirit Bomb to Krillin, who - with King Kai’s guidance - launches the bomb at Vegeta. The Saiyan is sent flying into the sky, but is the evil warrior really gone for good?

    Director: Minoru Okazaki

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Saibamen Attack!
    7.9/10(1,430)
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    #12 - 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

    Comments

    0
  • Spirit Bomb Away!
    7.9/10(1,388)
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    #13 - Spirit Bomb Away!

    Season 1 Episode 32

    Aired 1/17/1990

    Goku feels the brunt of Vegeta’s fully-realized Saiyan power! Earth’s greatest hero is left with no choice except to use the Spirit Bomb. If his attack fails, he may find himself completely doomed!

    Director: Yoshihiro Ueda

    Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa

    Comments

    0
  • Hero in the Shadows
    7.9/10(1,388)
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    #14 - Hero in the Shadows

    Season 1 Episode 33

    Aired 1/24/1990

    With Goku caught in the clutches of the giant ape Vegeta, Krillin attacks with his Destructo Disk! When his effort falls short, an unlikely hero steps out of the shadows!

    Director: Mitsuo Hashimoto

    Writer: Keiji Terui

    Comments

    0
  • Reunions
    7.6/10(1,493)
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    #15 - 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: Osamu Kasai

    Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa, Takao Koyama

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    0
  • Unlikely Alliance
    7.6/10(1,477)
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    #16 - 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

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    0
  • No Time Like the Present
    7.5/10(1,437)
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    #17 - 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

    Comments

    0
  • Goku's Ancestors
    7.5/10(1,411)
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    #18 - 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

    Comments

    0
  • The Darkest Day
    7.5/10(1,415)
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    #19 - 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

    Comments

    0
  • Picking Up The Pieces
    7.5/10(1,374)
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    #20 - Picking Up The Pieces

    Season 1 Episode 36

    Aired 2/14/1990

    The gang mourns the loss of Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, and Piccolo. With Kami gone, Earth’s Dragon Balls have disappeared. Will the surviving heroes find a way to wish their fallen friends back to life?

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • The End of Snake Way
    7.4/10(1,421)
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    #21 - 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

    Comments

    0
  • Counting Down
    7.4/10(1,403)
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    #22 - 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

    Comments

    0
  • Nappa's Rampage
    7.4/10(1,397)
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    #23 - Nappa's Rampage

    Season 1 Episode 26

    Aired 11/8/1989

    Vegeta has called a halt to the fighting, and Nappa uses the time to go on a rampage! Meanwhile, Goku reaches the end of Snake Way and races to rejoin his friends - but is he already too late?

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • The New Threat
    7.3/10(1,546)
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    #24 - 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: Takao Koyama

    Comments

    0
  • Defying Gravity
    7.3/10(1,417)
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    #25 - 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

    Comments

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Goku's Arrival" is the best rated episode of "Dragon Ball Z" season 1. It scored 8.5/10 based on 1490 votes. Directed by Minoru Okazaki and written by Hiroshi Toda, it aired on 11/29/1989. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Saiyan Sized Secret".