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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!

Binge this in 10h 25m•Peaking at 8.2/10

Now happily married and with a son, martial arts champion Goku must defend Earth from a series of extraterrestrial invaders bent on destruction.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 1 - The New Threat
    7.3/10(1170 votes)

    #1 - The New Threat

    S1:E1

    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

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  2. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 2 - Reunions
    7.8/10(1096 votes)

    #2 - Reunions

    S1:E2

    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
    Writers:Katsuyuki Sumisawa, Takao Koyama

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  3. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 3 - Unlikely Alliance
    7.7/10(1071 votes)

    #3 - Unlikely Alliance

    S1:E3

    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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  4. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 4 - Piccolo's Plan
    8.1/10(1095 votes)

    #4 - Piccolo's Plan

    S1:E4

    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

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  5. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 5 - Gohan's Rage
    8.2/10(1086 votes)

    #5 - Gohan's Rage

    S1:E5

    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:Unknown

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  6. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 6 - No Time Like the Present
    7.5/10(1022 votes)

    #6 - No Time Like the Present

    S1:E6

    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:Unknown

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  7. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 7 - Day 1
    7.2/10(1049 votes)

    #7 - Day 1

    S1:E7

    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:Minoru Okazaki
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 8 - Gohan Goes Bananas!
    7.3/10(1034 votes)

    #8 - Gohan Goes Bananas!

    S1:E8

    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:Yoshihiro Ueda
    Writer:Takao Koyama

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  9. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 9 - The Strangest Robot
    7.1/10(1031 votes)

    #9 - The Strangest Robot

    S1:E9

    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:Osamu Kasai
    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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  10. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 10 - A New Friend
    7.0/10(1005 votes)

    #10 - A New Friend

    S1:E10

    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:Kazuhisa Takenouchi
    Writer:Keiji Terui

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  11. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 11 - Terror on Arlia
    7.2/10(1012 votes)

    #11 - Terror on Arlia

    S1:E11

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 12 - Global Training
    6.9/10(975 votes)

    #12 - Global Training

    S1:E12

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 13 - Goz and Mez
    6.9/10(976 votes)

    #13 - Goz and Mez

    S1:E13

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 14 - Princess Snake
    6.9/10(982 votes)

    #14 - Princess Snake

    S1:E14

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 15 - Dueling Piccolos
    6.7/10(967 votes)

    #15 - Dueling Piccolos

    S1:E15

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 16 - Plight of the Children
    6.6/10(959 votes)

    #16 - Plight of the Children

    S1:E16

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 17 - Pendulum Room Peril
    7.2/10(970 votes)

    #17 - Pendulum Room Peril

    S1:E17

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 18 - The End of Snake Way
    7.5/10(977 votes)

    #18 - The End of Snake Way

    S1:E18

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 19 - Defying Gravity
    7.4/10(969 votes)

    #19 - Defying Gravity

    S1:E19

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 20 - Goku's Ancestors
    7.6/10(964 votes)

    #20 - Goku's Ancestors

    S1:E20

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 21 - Counting Down
    7.5/10(957 votes)

    #21 - Counting Down

    S1:E21

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 22 - The Darkest Day
    7.6/10(964 votes)

    #22 - The Darkest Day

    S1:E22

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 23 - Saibamen Attack!
    8.0/10(980 votes)

    #23 - Saibamen Attack!

    S1:E23

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 24 - The Power of Nappa
    8.2/10(985 votes)

    #24 - The Power of Nappa

    S1:E24

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 25 - Sacrifice
    8.1/10(977 votes)

    #25 - Sacrifice

    S1:E25

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"The New Threat" is the best rated episode of "Dragon Ball Z" season 1. It scored 7.3/10 based on 1170 votes. Directed by Daisuke Nishio and written by Takao Koyama, it aired on 4/26/1989. This episode is rated 0.5 points higher than the second-best, "Reunions".