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The Best Episodes of Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1

Every episode of Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1!

Binge this in 10h 50m•Peaking at 8.3/10

Rejoin Goku and his friends in a series of cosmic battles! Toei has redubbed, recut, and cleaned up the animation of the original 1989 animated series. The show's story arc has been refined to better

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 12 - Farewell, Piccolo! Goku's Furious Counterattack!
    8.3/10(812 votes)

    S1:E12

    Goku arrives in time to save Gohan and Krillin, and the resurrected warrior is eager to put the hurt on Nappa. When it becomes clear that Goku is no ordinary fighter, Prince Vegeta steps in to finish the fight himself!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 16 - Defeat the Invincible Vegeta! Work a Miracle, Gohan!
    8.1/10(772 votes)

    S1:E16

    Krillin and Gohan team up to blast Vegeta with a Spirit Bomb, but the Saiyan prince refuses to die. Things look bad for the Z-Fighters until Yajirobe distracts the enemy long enough for Gohan to undergo a transformation of his own!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 10 - Sit Tight, Chiaotzu! Tien's Screaming Tri-Beam!
    8.0/10(803 votes)

    S1:E10

    Krillin's furious attack wipes out the Saibamen, but the ZFighters are powerless against the Saiyan warlords. One by one, Earth's defenders suffer devastating injuries or fall in battle. Goku's return is their only hope for survival.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 13 - The Power of the Kaio-Ken! Goku vs. Vegeta!
    8.0/10(774 votes)

    S1:E13

    The stage is set for a final showdown between Vegeta and Goku. The Saiyan Prince is stronger, faster, and far more ruthless. Goku's only hope for victory is a technique that may very well destroy him!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 14 - An All-Out Kamehame-Ha! Vegeta's Terrible Transformation!
    8.0/10(776 votes)

    S1:E14

    Vegeta can’t handle the fury of Goku’s triple Kaio-Ken technique, so the Saiyan warlord unleashes his inner ape. Weakened by his furious onslaught, Goku’s only hope to defeat the beast is the mighty Spirit Bomb!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 3 - A Life or Death Battle! Goku and Piccolo's Desperate Attack!
    7.9/10(844 votes)

    S1:E3

    Despite the fury of their attacks, Goku and Piccolo are unable to land a death blow in their battle against Raditz. Gohan's unexpected outburst manages to weaken the powerful Saiyan, but it may be too little, too late.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 9 - Yamcha's Struggle! The Terrible Saibamen!
    7.9/10(779 votes)

    S1:E9

    The Saiyans have arrived, Goku isn't even on the planet, and the overmatched ZFighters represent Earth's last line of defense. When Vegeta and Nappa unleash the gruesome Saibamen, Yamcha picks a fight that could be his last!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 11 - Will Goku Make It in Time?! Three Hours Until the Battle Resumes!
    7.9/10(777 votes)

    S1:E11

    Piccolo hatches a desperate plan to prolong the battle until Goku's arrival. When Vegeta senses an awesome source of power approaching, he orders Nappa to dispose of remaining ZFighters starting with Gohan!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 20 - The Rebellion Against Frieza! Vegeta's Burning Ambition!
    7.9/10(779 votes)

    S1:E20

    Gohan and Krillin beat up on Frieza’s henchmen, but their spaceship is destroyed in the process. Vegeta is headed for a showdown with Cui, and the shrewd Saiyan is keeping his true power level under wraps!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 22 - Dodoria's Terrifying Chase! A Truth Revealed to Vegeta!
    7.9/10(787 votes)

    S1:E22

    Gohan and Krillin risk their lives to rescue a young Namekian, and Vegeta goes on the rampage after learning the truth about the destruction of his home planet!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 15 - Goku on the Ropes! Pin Your Hopes on the Spirit Bomb!
    7.8/10(763 votes)

    S1:E15

    As Goku lies exhausted and vulnerable on the field of battle, Gohan and Krillin take aim at Vegeta’s only weakness: his tail! If they can take the ape out of the fight, they might have a chance to escape with their lives.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 23 - Vegeta's Covert Maneuvers! A Tragic Assault on the Namekians!
    7.8/10(759 votes)

    S1:E23

    After easily defeating Dodoria, Vegeta begins his violent search for the two remaining Dragon Balls. Meanwhile, Krillin and his new friend Dende set out to warn the eldest Namekian of the horror headed his way!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 25 - Power Up, Krillin! Frieza's Mounting Apprehension!
    7.8/10(746 votes)

    S1:E25

    The eldest Namekian unlocks the full force of Krillin's dormant power, so the bald brawler can better protect his Dragon Ball. Elsewhere, a Saiyan-related premonition prompts Frieza to call for reinforcements.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 26 - The Scheme Is Shattered! Vegeta Strikes Back at Zarbon!
    7.8/10(794 votes)

    S1:E26

    Vegeta lays it on the line in a daring attempt to steal the Dragon Balls right out from under Frieza’s nose. Krillin’s riding high on a Namekian power surge, but he’s about to wander into a dogfight he can’t survive!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 19 - A Powerful New Foe! Frieza, Ruler of the Universe!
    7.7/10(768 votes)

    S1:E19

    A bad case of space boredom makes Bulma a pain to share close quarters with, and Vegeta recovers from his injuries only to discover that Frieza has a head start on tracking down the magic Dragon Balls!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 21 - Protect the Dragon Balls! The Namekians' All-Out Attack!
    7.7/10(765 votes)

    S1:E21

    Goku blasts off in a brand new spaceship specially equipped with a device designed to help increase his strength! On Namek, Krillin and Gohan watch in horror as Frieza’s men slaughter innocent Namekians.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 1 - Prologue to Battle! The Return of Goku!
    7.6/10(910 votes)

    S1:E1

    Goku is a legendary warrior and the strongest fighter on the planet, but he's about to encounter a foe from outofthisworld. What brings this new menace to Earth? And what's up with his tail?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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  18. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 2 - The Enemy Is Goku's Brother?! The Secret of the Mighty Saiyan Warriors!
    7.5/10(862 votes)

    S1:E2

    When Raditz abducts Gohan and announces his plans to conquer Earth, Goku and Piccolo are forced into an uneasy alliance. The two rivals don't trust each other, but neither of them can defeat the Saiyan on their own!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 8 - Shenron Appears! The Saiyans Arrive Sooner than Expected!
    7.5/10(777 votes)

    S1:E8

    Goku's training under King Kai is finally complete, and he's eager to return to Earth. Master Roshi uses the Dragon Balls to summon Shenron, but will Goku make it back in time to stop the Saiyans?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 17 - Dawn of a Fierce Battle! The Star of Hope Is Piccolo's Homeland!
    7.5/10(746 votes)

    S1:E17

    Vegeta has been defeated, but there’s no time to celebrate. The Z-Fighters must find a way to resurrect the friends who died stopping the Saiyan invasion. Fortunately for the fallen, Krillin has a plan!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 4 - Run in the Afterlife, Goku! The One Million Mile Snake Way!
    7.4/10(812 votes)

    S1:E4

    Now that he's dead, Goku must fight to survive in the afterlife, especially during his treacherous trek down Snake Way. Back on Earth, Gohan endures his own punishment as a student in the house of Piccolo!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 7 - The Battle with Ten-Times Gravity! Goku's Race Against the Clock!
    7.4/10(783 votes)

    S1:E7

    To prove himself worthy of King Kai's training, Goku must test his mettle against a fleetfooted monkey and a powerful cricket that's big on respect. Meanwhile, in the land of the living, Gohan takes a beating from his monstrous master!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 5 - Wilderness Survival! A Moonlit Night Awakens Gohan!
    7.3/10(801 votes)

    S1:E5

    Piccolo tries to toughen up Gohan with some wilderness survival training, but things get hairy when the young Saiyan sees his first full moon! Meanwhile, Yajirobe summons Earth's strongest fighters to Kami's Lookout.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 6 - The End of Snake Way! King Kai's Bizarre Test!
    7.3/10(794 votes)

    S1:E6

    As the deadly Saiyan invaders approach Earth, Gohan makes slow, but steady, progress under the watchful eye of Piccolo, and Goku struggles with the "gravity" of his training under King Kai.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Dragon Ball Z Kai Season 1 Episode 24 - Friends Reborn! Zarbon's Hideous Transformation!
    7.3/10(896 votes)

    S1:E24

    King Kai telepathically "phones" Goku with a warning to stay as far away from Frieza as possible! Back on Namek, Vegeta is shocked to discover how much a simple transformation can increase Zarbon’s power.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Farewell, Piccolo! Goku's Furious Counterattack!" is the best rated episode of "Dragon Ball Z Kai" season 1. It scored 8.3/10 based on 812 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 6/21/2009. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "Defeat the Invincible Vegeta! Work a Miracle, Gohan!".