The Worst Episodes of Dragon Ball

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Worst Episode
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   6.2/10(12 votes)

   #1 - Quarterfinals Begin

   S1:E227/23/1986

   It’s the second match, Yamcha vs Jackie Chun! The mysterious old man Jackie Chun defies Yamcha’s rapid attacks, and breaks through even his special attack, the Roga fufu-ken (Wolf Fang Gale Fist)!! Furthermore, Jackie seizes victory by raising a wind with a swing of his left hand, blowing Yamcha out of bounds! In the third match, the serious Namu is assaulted by Ran-Fan’s sex appeal strategy!! But Namu achieves a turnabout victory when he defeats Ran-Fan with a single blow after freeing himself from distracting thoughts!

   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown

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   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown
2. 

   6.5/10(8 votes)

   #2 - Arale vs. Blue

   S1:E574/8/1987

   Dr. Senbe’s eldest son Turbo-kun fixes the Dragon Radar. Blue then appears, takes Arale as a hostage, and steals the Dragon Radar, using his physic powers to immobilize Goku!! At this time, Arale uses amazing power to send Blue flying!! However, even though the Dragon Balls are returned, the Dragon Radar was sent flying along with Blue. Goku receives a newly made Dragon Radar from Turbo, and leaves Penguin Village behind.

   Director:Minoru Okazaki

   Writer:Keiji Terui

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   Director:Minoru Okazaki

   Writer:Keiji Terui
3. 

   6.6/10(8 votes)

   #3 - 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
4. 

   6.6/10(7 votes)

   #4 - 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
5. 

   6.7/10(7 votes)

   #5 - Goku vs. Sky Dragon

   S1:E809/23/1987

   Continuing on his training journey, in the city Goku learns of a martial artist named Chin Taiken, and ends up taking the place of the ill martial artist in an important match! But Taiken’s son, Shoken, doesn’t like the idea of Goku participating, and feeds him laxative-spiked food. The match with Ten Long, master of Hyuga-Ryu, then begins! An intense battle unfolds, but Goku’s stomach starts to feel strange due to the laxative! However, he somehow endures this to win the match!!

   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown

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   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown
6. 

   6.9/10(19 votes)

   #6 - Keep an Eye on the Dragon Balls

   S1:E64/2/1986

   Yamcha attacks at night in an attempt to steal Oolong’s capsules! As Yamcha looks into the condition of their opponents, he learns about the Dragon Balls. Yamcha and Pu’er try to steal Goku and the others’ Dragon Balls through any means necessary, but fail!! At this point, they come up with the plan of waiting for Goku and the others to gather all seven Dragon Balls, and then steal them. Unaware of this, Goku and the others aim for Mt. Frypan in search of the sixth Dragon Ball.

   Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi

   Writer:Yasushi Hirano

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   Director:Kazuhisa Takenouchi

   Writer:Yasushi Hirano
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7. 

   7.0/10(8 votes)

   #7 - Penguin Village

   S1:E553/18/1987

   Blue uses his psychic powers to manipulate ropes to attack Goku and the others, who are relaxing after having returned from the sea-bottom cave! Everyone is tied up, and Goku has his tail grabbed and cannot put out his full power!! Blue steals the Dragon Balls and plants a bomb, then flees. Goku is saved by Lunch, who returns after reverting to her original personality, and he chases after Blue’s rocket!! After an intense chase, the two of them at last arrive in Penguin Village, home to Arale Norimaki!!

   Director:Yoshihiro Ueda

   Writer:Michiru Shimada

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   Director:Yoshihiro Ueda

   Writer:Michiru Shimada
8. 

   7.0/10(7 votes)

   #8 - Goku Goes to Demon Land

   S1:E819/30/1987

   In the middle of his journey, Goku happens to pass by the Village of Fiends! When night falls, fiends appear from the Demon Realm Gate located between this world and the Demon Realm, and run wild in the village! In order to rescue Princess Misa, who was kidnapped by the fiends, Goku sets out to enter the Demon Realm Gate!! After having a showdown with Shura, the martial arts master of the Demon Realm, Goku blinds the fiends’ eyes with a Kamehameha and rescues Princess Misa while they’re off guard! The Demon Realm Gate is then sealed once again by Goku!!

   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown

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   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown
9. 

   7.1/10(15 votes)

   #9 - 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
10. 

    7.1/10(10 votes)

    #10 - Smells Like Trouble

    S1:E217/16/1986

    The first round of the Tenkaichi Budokai main event is Kuririn vs. Bacterian! Bacterian is a formidable opponent who uses his filth as a weapon, with his foul smell paralyzing his opponents. With bad breath, farts, and the like, he assaults Kuririn with foul-smelling attacks!! The helpless Kuririn is finally downed!! At that time, Kuririn awakens from this nightmare of smells when Goku tells him “You don’t have a nose!” Launching a fierce counterattack against Bacterian, Kuririn breaks through the first round!

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown
11. 

    7.1/10(8 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
12. 

    7.1/10(6 votes)

    #12 - Awaken Darkness

    S1:E1156/15/1988

    Something stirs in the cold, deep black below. Moans bellow from a hallow cavern beneath the ice. The Dark is alive! And it calls for Goku, as he sets out on a dangerous quest to find the Super Spirit Water. One sip could mean amazing power - or painful death!

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown
13. 

    7.1/10(8 votes)

    #13 - A Taste of Destiny

    S1:E1166/22/1988

    Goku and Yajirobe seek the Super Spirit Water, a mystical beverage that will grant either great power or death. But surprise follows surprise as Goku finally finds Darkness, the keeper of the Super Spirit Water. After Goku proves himself worthy, Darkness allows him to drink the perilous potion. But will he be empowered or perished?

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown
14. 

    7.2/10(8 votes)

    #14 - 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
15. 

    7.2/10(8 votes)

    #15 - 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
16. 

    7.2/10(8 votes)

    #16 - 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
17. 

    7.2/10(8 votes)

    #17 - Deadly Battle

    S1:E717/22/1987

    Yamcha has a tough battle with an undetectable invisible man as his opponent! Goku returns after having been instructed by Kuririn to bring the Turtle Hermit and Bulma. Kuririn pulls down Bulma’s clothes when the timing is right, and blood shoots from the Turtle Hermit’s nose once he sees Bulma’s chest! Bathed in this nosebleed, the invisible man’s form appears, and he is defeated by Yamcha. Kuririn’s strategy wins! Meanwhile, the battleground is moved to the “Demons' Toilet”!

    Director:Minoru Okazaki

    Writer:Shunichi Yukimuro

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    Director:Minoru Okazaki

    Writer:Shunichi Yukimuro
18. 

    7.3/10(9 votes)

    #18 - Goku's Turn

    S1:E727/29/1987

    The “Demons' Toilet” is lined with demon statues, and surrounded by a poisonous bog! The mysterious third contestant to appear is the mummy man, Mummy-kun! But in contrast to his appearance, Mummy-kun has ultra power and speed that surpasses Yamcha’s. Yamcha faces him with determination, but the difference in their power becomes clear. Still not understanding, Yamcha fights on until the end, but he is finally defeated! Then in place of Yamcha, who put up a good fight, Goku at last debuts!

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown
19. 

    7.4/10(30 votes)

    #19 - The Secret of the Dragon Balls

    S1:E12/26/1986

    Bulma's search for six more Dragon Balls leads her to a remote valley and to Son Goku, who is in possession of one of the balls. Their relationship gets off to a rocky start, but after Goku saves Bulma's life, the two join forces in search of the remaining five Dragon Balls. They had better take care, for an evil force - Pilaf - also seeks the Dragon Balls.

    Director:Minoru Okazaki

    Writer:Yasushi Hirano

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    Director:Minoru Okazaki

    Writer:Yasushi Hirano
20. 

    7.4/10(7 votes)

    #20 - Escape From Pirate Cave

    S1:E543/11/1987

    Just as the cave is about to collapse, Goku appears at the sea-bottom dock!! He has with him the mouse he owes his life to. Bulma launches the submarine, but it runs out of gas and stops. The sea-bottom canal is collapsing! Goku’s Kamehameha pushes the submarine to safety!! They return to Kame House with a pirate diamond. However, Blue has tenaciously survived, and follows them!! What’s more, Lunch takes the diamond and leaves after changing into her violent form.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown
21. 

    7.4/10(7 votes)

    #21 - The Rampage of InoShikaCho

    S1:E8210/7/1987

    Goku sees the two martial artists Tenshinhan and Chiaotzu defeat the monster Inoshikacho, whose rampages had plagued the villagers. However, in reality the pair were friends with Inoshikacho, and deceitfully took money from the villagers! Goku tries to alert the villagers of the truth but gets framed instead, and he and Inoshikacho are chased by the villagers!! However, in the end the villagers’ distrust clears, and the reformed Inoshikacho ends up living with them in peace.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown
22. 

    7.4/10(9 votes)

    #22 - Preliminary Peril

    S1:E8510/28/1987

    The tournament preliminaries have begun! Kuririn and Yamcha naturally advance through their respective brackets. Tenshinhan and Chiaotzu show up there, and rile them up with their bold demeanor. Sparks fly between the Turtle Hermit and the Crane Hermit’s disciples before the matches have even begun. Tenshinhan easily wins during his first appearance in the preliminaries, displaying a mere fraction of his bottomless ability! And then Goku’s turn has finally come! His opponent is King Chapa, well known as a master!!

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown
23. 

    7.4/10(9 votes)

    #23 - Then There Were Eight

    S1:E8611/4/1987

    Goku’s match against King Chapa begins! It seems that even Goku was having a difficult fight, but he brushed King Chapa’s attacks aside like they were nothing and achieved a sweeping victory!! Afterwards, Goku and the others continue to do well at advancing in the preliminaries! And Jackie Chun, the champion of the previous tournament, naturally advances as well! Meanwhile, Tenshinhan cruelly defeats Namu, who had fought against Goku in the semi-finals during the previous tournament! Goku and co. plus Tenshinhan and Chiaotzu thus ended up all participating in the main tournament!

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown
24. 

    7.4/10(8 votes)

    #24 - Terrible Tambourine

    S1:E1063/23/1988

    Tambourine continues his seek-and-slaughter campaign of martial artists as he sets his sight on victim eight: Yamcha! The Turtle Hermit takes Tenshinhan and Chiaotzu on a cross-country race for the Dragon Balls, as they try to stay ahead of the competition, Piccolo Daimao and his dastardly horde. Meanwhile Goku attempts to persuade mountain-boy Yajirobe to hand over his Dragon Ball to help save Kuririn!

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

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25. 

    7.4/10(8 votes)

    #25 - Battle Cry

    S1:E1197/20/1988

    There's a new beast in town and his name is Drum. Tenshinhan must go through him before he can fight Piccolo Daimao. The problem is, Drum moves faster than Tenshinhan's eyes - all three of them! Goku is on his way, but will he arrive in time to save the day?

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown