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The Worst Episodes of Dragon Ball Z

Every episode of Dragon Ball Z ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Dragon Ball Z!

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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 Worst Episode
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    Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 16 - Plight of the Children
    6.6/10(1465 votes)

    #1 - 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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  2. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 15 - Dueling Piccolos
    6.7/10(1470 votes)

    #2 - 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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  3. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 14 - Princess Snake
    6.8/10(1482 votes)

    #3 - 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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  4. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 39 - Friends or Foes?
    6.8/10(1406 votes)

    #4 - Friends or Foes?

    S1:E39

    Gohan, Bulma, and Krillin blast off for Planet Namek in search of the magic Dragon Balls, but their journey quickly turns chaotic when they encounter a bizarre situation in the vacuum of space!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 12 - Global Training
    6.9/10(1475 votes)

    #5 - 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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  6. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 13 - Goz and Mez
    6.9/10(1473 votes)

    #6 - 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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  7. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 9 - The Strangest Robot
    7.0/10(1523 votes)

    #7 - 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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  8. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 10 - A New Friend
    7.0/10(1500 votes)

    #8 - 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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  9. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 38 - Nursing Wounds
    7.0/10(1414 votes)

    #9 - Nursing Wounds

    S1:E38

    Goku, Krillin, and Gohan prepare for the return of the Saiyans. Meanwhile, Bulma and Mr. Popo search for a second spaceship capable of transporting her to Planet Namek.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Dragon Ball Z Season 3 Episode 1 - Password Is Porunga
    7.1/10(12 votes)

    #10 - Password Is Porunga

    S3:E1

    Having acquired all seven Namekian Dragon Balls, Krillin and Gohan are ready to summon the dragon and make their wish. There’s just one problem: they don’t know the password!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 7 - Day 1
    7.2/10(1525 votes)

    #11 - 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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  12. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 11 - Terror on Arlia
    7.2/10(1500 votes)

    #12 - 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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  13. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 17 - Pendulum Room Peril
    7.2/10(1473 votes)

    #13 - 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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  14. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 1 - The New Threat
    7.3/10(1626 votes)

    #14 - 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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  15. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 8 - Gohan Goes Bananas!
    7.3/10(1518 votes)

    #15 - 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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  16. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 37 - Plans for Departure
    7.3/10(1415 votes)

    #16 - Plans for Departure

    S1:E37

    Bulma accidentally destroys the Saiyan spaceship! Luckily, Mr. Popo reveals the existence of another ship that may be able to reach Namek. Can they find it in time, and will the old ship still work if they do?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Dragon Ball Z Season 9 Episode 2 - Buu Against Buu
    7.3/10(9 votes)

    #17 - Buu Against Buu

    S9:E2

    The Battle of the Buus begins as Majin Buu fights his evil counterpart! The good Buu gets a taste of his own medicine when he’s turned into chocolate! Evil Buu gobbles him up, and a horrible transformation takes place! Who is this radical new Buu?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Dragon Ball Z Season 9 Episode 3 - Empty Planet
    7.3/10(8 votes)

    #18 - Empty Planet

    S9:E3

    When the new and improved Majin Buu makes a surprise visit to the Lookout to challenge Gotenks, every second becomes a test of survival! And where are Trunks and Goten during the chaos that erupts?... Sound asleep, of course!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 18 - The End of Snake Way
    7.4/10(1479 votes)

    #19 - 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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  20. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 19 - Defying Gravity
    7.4/10(1472 votes)

    #20 - 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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  21. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 26 - Nappa's Rampage
    7.4/10(1450 votes)

    #21 - Nappa's Rampage

    S1:E26

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Dragon Ball Z Season 9 Episode 8 - Gotenks Is Awesome!
    7.4/10(7 votes)

    #22 - Gotenks Is Awesome!

    S9:E8

    Super Saiyan 3 Gotenks continues his fight with Majin Buu, and the Lookout is caught in the crossfire! As Gotenks turns up the power, so does Majin Buu - and by the time it’s over, one of them will be in way over his head!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Dragon Ball Z Season 9 Episode 18 - Vegito... Downsized
    7.4/10(8 votes)

    #23 - Vegito... Downsized

    S9:E18

    The battle rages on between Vegito and Majin Buu! The Super Saiyan Combo seems to have the fight well in hand. But is Vegito tempting fate by toying with Buu? What terrible tricks does the wily, pink monster still have up his sleeve?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Dragon Ball Z Season 9 Episode 19 - The Incredible Fighting Candy
    7.4/10(7 votes)

    #24 - The Incredible Fighting Candy

    S9:E19

    Having been reduced to a coffee-flavored candy, it seems nothing can stop Vegito from being consumed by the evil Majin Buu. But when the gumdrop fights back, Buu realizes that the battle is far from over!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 6 - No Time Like the Present
    7.5/10(1503 votes)

    #25 - 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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Worst Episodes Summary

"Plight of the Children" is the worst rated episode of "Dragon Ball Z". It scored 6.6/10 based on 1465 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 8/16/1989. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Dueling Piccolos".