The Worst Episodes of Dragon Ball

#1 Worst Episode
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6.7/10(458 votes)
#1 - Terror and Plague
S1:E799/16/1987
Having set off on his own journey of training, Goku visits Chao’s village, a boy he met along the way. The village where Chao lives is plagued by the outlaw brothers named Kinkaku and Ginkaku! Goku confronts Kinkaku and Ginkaku, but ends up sealed inside a mysterious gourd that sucks you in if you don’t reply when your name is called!! However, Goku is saved thanks to the Nyoi-Bo. He steals the gourd away from the two and punishes them!
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
6.7/10(419 votes)
#2 - Dress in Flames
S1:E1493/15/1989
Eager to announce their wedding plans, Goku and Chichi return to her father's kingdom. The good news is short-lived when the Gyumao's castle goes up in flames! Goku embarks on a quest to find a sacred tool, which can save the Gyumao and his future with Chichi.
Director:Daisuke Nishio
Writer:Takao Koyama
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Director:Daisuke Nishio
Writer:Takao Koyama
6.8/10(610 votes)
#3 - The Roaming Lake
S1:E299/10/1986
Searching for the Dragon Balls, Goku comes to a desert region where he hears the legend of the moving lake. There, Goku rescues Namu as he is attacked by monsters. Namu has gone upstream to investigate why the river has dried up! After discovering that Giran and his tribe had damned up the river, Goku breaks the dam with a Kamehameha, but this time a sandstorm buries the river!! The villagers despair, but after the sandstorm leaves, it leaves behind the legendary lake.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
6.8/10(571 votes)
#4 - The Legend of a Dragon
S1:E3310/8/1986
After returning to Red Ribbon Army Headquarters, Silver receives his orders from the commander, and sallies forth to once again search for the Dragon Balls. Meanwhile, having been rescued by Kinto'un from the moving base’s explosion, Goku also reopens his search for the Four-Star Ball. Silver realizes that a baby monkey Goku saved on a mountain has a Dragon Ball, and shoots fire at the mountain! The monkeys are pursued by the fire. As Silver aims a rifle at the baby monkey, it is saved by Goku!! However, the Dragon Ball floats down the stream.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
6.8/10(416 votes)
#5 - Hotter than Lava
S1:E13211/2/1988
While Goku continues his training, Tenshinhan, Yamcha, Chiaotzu and Kuririn find themselves in a very hot situation! A remote village is threatened by an erupting volcano and it is up to the good guys to put a lid on it. The time has come to put their new training to the test!
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
6.8/10(411 votes)
#6 - The Fire-Eater
S1:E1503/22/1989
Goku and Chichi's search for the Basho-sen leads them into the heart of a fiery volcano. Once inside, they must face a mighty creature that consumes flames: the Fire-Eater!
Director:Yoshihiro Ueda
Writer:Keiji Terui
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Director:Yoshihiro Ueda
Writer:Keiji Terui

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6.8/10(410 votes)
#7 - Outrageous Octagon
S1:E1514/5/1989
Goku's search for the Basho-sen leads him to a treacherous mountain that has a strange curse. Chichi is faced with the biggest mess of her life when she meets a mysterious old woman, while the Gyumao tries to flee the raging fires that threaten to destroy his castle!
Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writers:Takao Koyama, Katsuyuki Sumisawa
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Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writers:Takao Koyama, Katsuyuki Sumisawa
6.9/10(415 votes)
#8 - Walking Their Own Ways
S1:E13110/26/1988
Preparing for the Tenkaichi Budokai, Goku gets some important training tips from Mr. Popo. Meanwhile, Tenshinhan, Yamcha, Chiaotzu and Kuririn make their way to Karin Tower for some training of their own. Unfortunately they are sidetracked by a village celebrating a mysterious festival to their mountain spirit. Once the mountain erupts it is up to our heroes to put a lid on the active volcano!
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
6.9/10(408 votes)
#9 - Mystery of the Dark World
S1:E1524/12/1989
After the Basho-sen fails to put out the fire threatening the Gyumao, Goku and Chichi set out to find the Eightfold Furnace, believed to be the last hope for extinguishing the deadly blaze. But before they can complete their quest, Goku must solve the mystery of the next world.
Director:Mitsuo Hashimoto
Writers:Takao Koyama, Katsuyuki Sumisawa
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Director:Mitsuo Hashimoto
Writers:Takao Koyama, Katsuyuki Sumisawa
7.0/10(731 votes)
#10 - Boss Rabbit's Magic Touch
S1:E94/23/1986
Goku and the others visit a stand in order to fill up on gasoline. The townspeople are all frightened of Bulma, who is wearing rabbit ears. They don’t understand why, but then some scoundrels calling themselves the Rabbit Gang show up! Their boss, the Carrotizor, has the power to turn anyone who touches his hand into a carrot!! Bulma is turned into a carrot by him. Unable to merely watch, Yamcha rescues Bulma. Goku and the others defeat the Rabbit Gang, and once again set out to search for the Dragon Balls!!
Director:Minoru Okazaki
Writer:Akira Toriyama
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Director:Minoru Okazaki
Writer:Akira Toriyama
7.0/10(590 votes)
#11 - Pilaf and the Mystery Force
S1:E309/17/1986
After the Dragon Radar is stolen by a thief, Goku spots it in a secondhand goods store. A Dragon Ball signal shows up there! However, the Dragon Ball that Pilaf and co. buy from the store owner is a complete fake! The store owner also tries to sell a fake to a mysterious army who are searching for the Dragon Balls, but they see through this and shoot him. The real Dragon Ball turns out to be in a bird’s nest on the roof of the shop!! Startled by the sound of gunfire, the bird flies off with the Dragon Ball.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.0/10(575 votes)
#12 - The Flying Fortress — Vanished!
S1:E3210/1/1986
Giving his parting words to Gyumao and Chichi, Goku goes after Pilaf and co. Meanwhile, following the signal on the Dragon Radar, Silver discovers Pilaf’s secret base. Calling for reinforcements, Silver commences a general offensive! Having infiltrated the base, Goku also hurries to where the Dragon Ball is!! Pilaf is forced to flee, but the moving base he is riding in is hit by the combined attacks of the Red Ribbon Army, and Goku is caught in the explosion!! The Dragon Ball finally falls into Silver’s hands.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.0/10(554 votes)
#13 - Bulma's Bad Day
S1:E461/14/1987
Bulma and Goku arrived at the middle of the sea. This was General Blue’s territory, where he’s searching for the Dragon Balls! Dropped into the sea by Bulma from a nearby island, Goku dives, but it is very deep and he can’t hold his breath! Left on her own, Bulma wanders around the island trying to buy capsules, but it turned out there was a Red Ribbon Army base there!! Goku comes running and defeats the soldiers who are assaulting Bulma!! Goku suggests that they borrow a submarine from the Turtle Hermit.
Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writer:Miho Maruo
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Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writer:Miho Maruo
7.0/10(539 votes)
#14 - Danger in the Air
S1:E451/7/1987
Drawing closer to Goku and the others as they play in the floating amusement park, Husky tries to seduce Yamcha, who was carrying a Dragon Ball. Figuring out his opponent’s true identity, Yamcha corners her but is taken out by Bulma, who mistakes this for a love scene!! Husky leaves a bomb and runs away. Goku breaks the bomb’s controls just in the nick of time, and retakes the Dragon Balls. But it’s a completely angry Bulma who sets out with Goku to search for the Dragon Balls.
Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writer:Michiru Shimada
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Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writer:Michiru Shimada
7.0/10(521 votes)
#15 - Strange Visitor
S1:E563/25/1987
Arale, the girl Goku meets in Penguin Village, is a mysterious young girl who can run at super speed, and even ride the Kinto'un. The village’s police force, consisting of Taro and the others, attempt to capture Blue of the Red Ribbon Army, but they can’t scratch him! The Dragon Radar is malfunctioning, and Goku cannot pinpoint the position of the Dragon Balls. At a loss, Goku takes Arale’s advice and visits Dr. Senbe, who just might be able to fix the Dragon Radar!!
Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writer:Toshiki Inoue
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Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writer:Toshiki Inoue
7.1/10(711 votes)
#16 - Goku's Rival
S1:E145/28/1986
Done with collecting the Dragon Balls, Goku heads to the Turtle Hermit’s place to receive training! However, in order to become the Turtle Hermit’s pupil, the fee is to bring a pichi-pichi gal!! At the same time, a person comes from across the sea. The boy, who calls himself Kuririn, came in order to become the Turtle Hermit’s pupil, just like Goku! In order to be received as a pupil, Kuririn presents a large stash of porn magazines that he brought. Will he manage to safely become a pupil…?!
Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writer:Keiji Terui
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Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Writer:Keiji Terui
7.1/10(703 votes)
#17 - Look Out for Launch
S1:E156/4/1986
Goku and Kuririn set out in search of a pichi-pichi gal, the fee for becoming a pupil of the Turtle Hermit. Saving Lunch, a girl who was pursued by the police, they immediately bring her to the Turtle Hermit’s place! Having passed the test, Goku and Kuririn are recognized as the Turtle Hermit’s pupils!! But it turns out that Lunch is an incredibly peculiar girl with two personalities, and becomes either violent or peaceful each time she sneezes!!
Director:Minoru Okazaki
Writer:Toshiki Inoue
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Director:Minoru Okazaki
Writer:Toshiki Inoue
7.1/10(597 votes)
#18 - Cold Reception
S1:E3510/22/1986
Goku wakes up in Sno’s house, and receives gentle care from her and her mother. Sno is frightened when she hears that Goku is searching for the Dragon Balls. In this village, General White of the Red Ribbon Army has taken the mayor hostage, and is using the townspeople to search for a Dragon Ball! After regaining his health, Goku defeats the soldiers who came in pursuit of him, and heads for General White’s base, Muscle Tower, in order to rescue the mayor! After defeating the soldiers outside, Goku immediately thrusts himself up to the second floor!!
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.1/10(595 votes)
#19 - Cruel General Red
S1:E3410/15/1986
Using the Dragon Radar that Bulma made, Goku easily spots the Dragon Ball that drifted down the river. However, Kinto'un is blown away by Captain Silver’s bazooka! After defeating Silver with a single swipe of his tail, Goku heads north in a plane flown by a robot who came out of a capsule. Goku shudders from the extreme cold. The robot is frozen solid as well, and the plane crashes!! Having been frozen solid, Goku is saved by a girl named Sno.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.1/10(585 votes)
#20 - Five Murasakis
S1:E3811/12/1986
Unable to finish Goku off with the boomerang shuriken, Murasaki uses his final ninjutsu, Bunshin no Jutsu (Split-Image Technique). Having somehow increased to five people, the Murasakis each take out their different weapons! Unable to tell which of them is the real one, Goku has no choice but to run! However, it turns out the Mursakis are merely a set of quintuplets. Now aware that they are all real, Goku uses Zanzouken to defeat four of them in the blink of an eye. With no other card to play, Mursaki calls forth Artificial Human No. 8!!
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.1/10(574 votes)
#21 - Wedding Plans?
S1:E319/24/1986
The army that was searching for the Dragon Ball was in fact Captain Silver’s Red Ribbon Army unit. Silver and Pilaf go after the Dragon Ball. The Dragon Ball turns out to be inside the stomach of a monster that Gyumao defeats. Hearing that Goku is coming, they prepare a reception for him. Pilaf makes Shuu into a fake Goku, and enters the village, but the Silver Corp. attacks! Taking advantage of the confusion, Pilaf gets the Dragon Ball and flees to his moving base. Having reunited with Chichi, Goku perceives that something is amiss, and hurries to the village!!
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.1/10(561 votes)
#22 - The Secret of Dr. Flappe
S1:E4212/10/1986
It turns out that Ha-chan had the Dragon Ball. He had hidden it, knowing that the villagers would be killed once they found it. The mayor recommends that Ha-chan stay in the village, but Ha-chan says it is dangerous, because of his self-destruct mechanism. In order to get Ha-chan’s self-destruct mechanism removed, they visit his creator, Dr. Flappe. But Murasaki has gone there ahead of them! He steals Goku’s luggage, in an attempt to find the Dragon Balls. However, it only contained Goku’s bento (single-portion meal)?! The self-destruct mechanism is safely removed.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.1/10(560 votes)
#23 - Master Thief, Hasky
S1:E4412/24/1986
Goku finally reunites with Bulma. However, Bulma and Yamcha are right in the middle of an argument! Riding on Kinto'un with Bulma, who has become small using the micro-band, Goku reunites with Yamcha and the others. But Yamcha, unaware of the shrunken Bulma, talks bad about her right to her face!! Goku and the others set off for the floating amusement park, with Bulma in a completely bad mood. Husky is there, an entrepreneur hired by the Red Ribbon Army, and is aiming for Goku’s Dragon Balls.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.1/10(549 votes)
#24 - Deep Blue Sea
S1:E481/28/1987
In addition to his group pursuing Goku and the others, General Blue launches a detached group to attack Kame House. They believe that the Turtle Hermit is the scientist who created the Dragon Radar. Going after the Dragon Ball which fell into the sea-bottom chasm, Goku and the others enter the cavity in the chasm from the other side, and discover a cave. General Blue’s submarine then suddenly attacks! Bulma and Kuririn panic when they learn that the ones attacking them are the Red Ribbon Army!! Blue’s submarine pursues Goku and the others as they flee into the cave!!
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.1/10(543 votes)
#25 - Kame House — Found!
S1:E471/21/1987
Goku arrives at Kame House, but Kuririn and Lunch are using the submarine to go shopping. The Turtle Hermit asks for the micro-band in exchange for letting them borrow the submarine. He plans on making himself small and peeking in on her in the toilet and bath! However, when the Turtle Hermit goes to peak on Bulma when she uses the toilet, he’s flushed down the toilet!! When Kuririn comes back, Goku and Bulma set off with him. Meanwhile, having used the dragon radar to follow Goku’s Dragon Balls, General Blue discovers Kame House.
Director:Yûji Endô
Writer:Keiji Terui
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Director:Yûji Endô
Writer:Keiji Terui