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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 8.7/10
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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 28 - Goku's Arrival
    8.7/10(1096 votes)

    S1:E28

    Piccolo makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Gohan from the rampaging Saiyans. Just when all seems lost, Goku returns to Earth with an incredible new level of power and confronts the invaders.

    Director:Minoru Okazaki
    Writer:Hiroshi Toda

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  2. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 31 - Saiyan Sized Secret
    8.6/10(1102 votes)

    S1:E31

    Vegeta and Goku continue trading brutal blows, but the action intensifies when Vegeta reveals the secret power of the Saiyans: the ability to transform into a giant, planet-destroying ape!

    Director:Daisuke Nishio
    Writer:Toshiki Inoue

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  3. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 29 - Lesson Number One
    8.3/10(1000 votes)

    S1:E29

    Locked in battle with the Saiyans, Goku gives Nappa a brutal demonstration of the training he received from King Kai. Broken and defeated, Nappa must now face the ferocious wrath of Vegeta!

    Director:Yoshihiro Ueda
    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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  4. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 30 - Goku vs. Vegeta
    8.3/10(1067 votes)

    S1:E30

    Goku decides to take on mighty Vegeta all by himself! The two appear evenly matched, but both are hiding their true strength. The epic battle is underway - which mighty warrior will claim victory?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Keiji Terui

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  5. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 35 - Mercy
    8.3/10(948 votes)

    S1:E35

    Vegeta is crushed beneath the full weight of Gohan’s giant ape form! With the Saiyan battered and defeated, Krillin moves to finish the Saiyan with a final blow - but Goku has other plans.

    Director:Daisuke Nishio
    Writer:Hiroshi Toda

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  6. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 5 - Gohan's Rage
    8.2/10(1092 votes)

    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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  7. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 24 - The Power of Nappa
    8.2/10(988 votes)

    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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  8. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 27 - Nimbus Speed
    8.2/10(973 votes)

    S1:E27

    Piccolo, Gohan, and Krillin do their best to stop the Saiyans from finding the Dragon Balls. Meanwhile, Goku rushes back to Earth on the Flying Nimbus, armed with more power than ever before!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 34 - Krillin's Offensive
    8.2/10(965 votes)

    S1:E34

    Goku passes the power of the Spirit Bomb to Krillin, who - with King Kai’s guidance - launches the bomb at Vegeta. The Saiyan is sent flying into the sky, but is the evil warrior really gone for good?

    Director:Minoru Okazaki
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 4 - Piccolo's Plan
    8.1/10(1100 votes)

    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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  11. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 25 - Sacrifice
    8.1/10(980 votes)

    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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  12. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 32 - Spirit Bomb Away!
    8.1/10(961 votes)

    S1:E32

    Goku feels the brunt of Vegeta’s fully-realized Saiyan power! Earth’s greatest hero is left with no choice except to use the Spirit Bomb. If his attack fails, he may find himself completely doomed!

    Director:Yoshihiro Ueda
    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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  13. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 23 - Saibamen Attack!
    8.0/10(983 votes)

    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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  14. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 33 - Hero in the Shadows
    8.0/10(951 votes)

    S1:E33

    With Goku caught in the clutches of the giant ape Vegeta, Krillin attacks with his Destructo Disk! When his effort falls short, an unlikely hero steps out of the shadows!

    Director:Mitsuo Hashimoto
    Writer:Keiji Terui

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  15. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 2 - Reunions
    7.8/10(1104 votes)

    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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  16. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 3 - Unlikely Alliance
    7.7/10(1076 votes)

    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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  17. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 20 - Goku's Ancestors
    7.6/10(969 votes)

    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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  18. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 22 - The Darkest Day
    7.6/10(968 votes)

    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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  19. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 36 - Picking Up The Pieces
    7.6/10(927 votes)

    S1:E36

    The gang mourns the loss of Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, and Piccolo. With Kami gone, Earth’s Dragon Balls have disappeared. Will the surviving heroes find a way to wish their fallen friends back to life?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 6 - No Time Like the Present
    7.5/10(1027 votes)

    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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  21. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 18 - The End of Snake Way
    7.5/10(981 votes)

    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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  22. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 21 - Counting Down
    7.5/10(961 votes)

    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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  23. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 19 - Defying Gravity
    7.4/10(973 votes)

    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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  24. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 26 - Nappa's Rampage
    7.4/10(947 votes)

    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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  25. Dragon Ball Z Season 1 Episode 1 - The New Threat
    7.3/10(1179 votes)

    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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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Goku's Arrival" is the best rated episode of Dragon Ball Z season 1. It scored 8.7/10 from 1,096 votes. Directed by Minoru Okazaki and written by Hiroshi Toda, it aired on November 29, 1989. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Saiyan Sized Secret".