Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball Z is frequently cited to be the standout anime in the franchise, and it helps expand upon its predecessor's foundation. The original Dragon Ball is essential when it comes to establishing characters, ki concepts, and the world's rules, but Dragon Ball Z infinitely expands the story's scope. Dragon Ball Z introduces periodic trips to the afterlife, outer space, and the groundbreaking revelation that Goku is actually an alien.
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Many of Dragon Ball's most popular elements, such as Super Saiyan transformations, fusion, and multiple Dragon Ball sets are all introduced in Dragon Ball Z. Dragon Ball Z covers a lot of ground and explores a lengthy timeline that spans decades, but it's also by far the longest anime in the franchise at 291 episodes. A lot of these episodes are incredible triumphs that fans repeatedly rewatch, but there are also several installments that are genuinely perfect and represent Dragon Ball Z at its very best.
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10 "Vegeta's Pride" Unleashes The Malevolent Horrors Of Majin Vegeta
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 229
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Dragon Ball Z's Buu Saga introduces many new enemies, like Babidi, Dabura, and Majin Buu, but it also pushes Vegeta back to the dark side and reignites his villainous instincts. A moment of weakness and ego-driven insecurities push Vegeta to succumb to Babidi's magical manipulation and embrace his untethered agenda as Majin Vegeta. This transformation occurs in Dragon Ball Z Episode 228, "The Dark Prince Returns," but it's "Vegeta's Pride" that really revels in the chaos and bloodshed.
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It's terrifying to see Vegeta casually take lives in order to get Goku's attention. It's just as chilling to witness Goku threaten Shin's life if he doesn't allow him to face off with Majin Vegeta. "Vegeta's Pride" successfully blurs the lines and makes it unclear which plan of action will lead to the least destruction. Majin Vegeta and Goku's cathartic clash doesn't properly begin until the next episode, but "Vegeta's Pride" does wonders when it comes to understanding that the heroic version of Vegeta is gone and that words won't be enough to stop him.
9 "Mercy" Marks The Fortuitous Finale To The Heroes' Fight Against Vegeta
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 35
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Goku's Saiyan Saga clash with Vegeta remains a high point that Dragon Ball Z has been chasing ever since. The entire battle is immaculately paced with perpetual complications that feel like justified obstacles. "Mercy" throws a lot at Vegeta -- and the audience -- but it makes for one of the most satisfying and surprising conclusions to any of Dragon Ball Z's battles. Yajirobe, of all people, comes out of the woodwork to help the heroes and Vegeta's Power Ball becomes his own undoing when it triggers Gohan's own Great Ape transformation, which leaves Vegeta crushed, both physically and spiritually.
The fallout of Vegeta and Goku's fight is satisfying, but the real triumph of this episode is that Goku pleads with Krillin to spare Vegeta and let him escape, despite how he swears that he'll be back for revenge. Krillin wants vengeance for the lives that were lost against Vegeta and Nappa, but Goku remains steadfast on the idea that everyone deserves mercy and a chance at redemption. It's an episode that beautifully encapsulates Goku's empathetic point of view.
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8 "Frieza Defeated!!" Pushes A Terrible Tyrant To His Lowest Point Of Desperation
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 104
Goku's battle against Frieza on Namek is one of the anime's biggest battles and a feud that plays out for dozens of episodes. This fight is particularly prone to anime-exclusive filler that needlessly extends the experience. Not every episode works or is particularly exciting, but the final episodes that depict Frieza at his lowest are all electric storytelling."Frieza Defeated!!," despite its title, is not the final episode of their fight. However, it does depict Frieza at his lowest point. It's quite satisfying to see Frieza get sliced in half by his own attacks, even when Goku tries to prevent this fate.
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Then, Frieza pitifully pleads for mercy, which Goku actually respects, and decides to give his opponent some of his energy. This further establishes Goku's unwavering purity and that he'll even lend a hand to the universe's worst individuals. Even the material that's set on Earth that involves Vegeta thinking back to his past relationship with Frieza develops his character.
7 "Goku's New Power" Reunites Dragon Ball Z's Heroes With His Friends On Namek
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 66
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Dragon Ball Z features a few suspenseful situations where Goku's friends need to do a lot of the heavy lifting against villains who are significantly stronger than they are until Goku arrives to help. "Goku's New Power" is a rewarding episode in every capacity because it features Goku finally arriving on Planet Namek, right when Gohan, Krillin, and Vegeta need him the most. The audience has watched Goku train by himself at x100 gravity, so it's exciting to see what he's actually capable of in battle now that he's no longer by himself.
Admittedly, "Goku's New Power" has a lot in common with Goku's return to Earth from Other World, right down to Recoome and Nappa having similar burly physiques. However, "Goku's New Power" features a greater sense of accomplishment as Goku casually neutralizes one of the Ginyu Force's strongest members. This episode also begins to really lean into the Super Saiyan mystique as Vegeta is left in awe over Goku's improved power.
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6 "Explosion Of Anger" Explores The Incredible Heights Of Super Saiyan Strength
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 96
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Goku's inaugural Super Saiyan transformation is one of the anime's most important moments. That being said, it's a triumphant act that closes out Dragon Ball Z Episode 95, "Transformed at Last." This means that the following episode, "Explosion of Anger" is the first time that Dragon Ball Z gets to properly demonstrate what Goku is capable of as a Super Saiyan. It's extremely satisfying to see none of Frieza's attacks have any impact on Super Saiyan Goku, after multiple episodes where Frieza throws his weight around and completely overpowers the heroes.
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This all reinforces the significant power boost that the Super Saiyan transformation provides. Goku doesn't exhibit a shred of doubt and he's able to work out his aggression on Frieza as revenge for Krillin's death. Fans have been waiting to see Frieza receive this level of punishment for a long time and "Explosion of Anger" delivers on this front.
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5 "Goku Vs. Vegeta" Kickstarts A Legendary Saiyan Battle For The Ages
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 30
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Dragon Ball Z's introductory Saiyan Saga creates incredible suspense when it comes to the impending battle between Goku and Vegeta. "Goku vs. Vegeta" finally delivers on this front and these two juggernauts engage in a fight that's easily on par with the original Dragon Ball's best battles. Curiously, there's a lot of grandstanding and pointed threats in the episode's first-half that's almost emblematic of one of the chief complaints that's launched at Dragon Ball Z. The anime is certainly guilty of episodes that get a little overindulgent when it comes to extended power-up sequences, but "Goku vs. Vegeta" isn't an example of this.
Instead, the episode helps establish Goku and Vegeta's very different backgrounds and how their unique origins have both led them to the same place. This fight becomes a fascinating deconstruction of nature versus nurture, which this episode really underlines. Additionally, Goku is already pushed to ignore King Kai's Kaio-Ken Attack warnings and exert his body to Kaio-Ken x3 strength. This too establishes an exciting precedent for what's to come.
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4 "Another Super Saiyan?" Gives Future Trunks One Of The Anime's Strongest Introductions
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 120
Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan are at the center of many of Dragon Ball Z's strongest moments. However, it's a truly exciting change of pace when Future Trunks makes his first appearance and forever disrupts the anime's status quo. Future Trunks is shrouded in mystery during his inaugural appearance. He becomes even more interesting when he reveals that he can also transform into a Super Saiyan. If this weren't enough, Future Trunks effortlessly defends himself against Mecha-Frieza and King Cold's attacks, which proves that he's presumably even more powerful than Goku.
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"Another Super Saiyan?" contains one of Dragon Ball Z's best death scenes where Future Trunks surprises Mecha-Frieza, slices him in half with his signature blade, and then vaporizes the debris. All this contributes to Future Trunks' mystique and Dragon Ball Z manages to follow through on his potential and turn him into one of the franchise's best characters. In one fell swoop, Future Trunks establishes who he is and what he stands for, while Dragon Ball Z also sets up that villains like Frieza are things of the past. The anime is ready to move onto even more powerful threats that are deadly enough to make Super Saiyans sweat.
3 "The End Of Vegeta" Becomes A Harrowing Exercise In Empathy
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 86
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Goku graciously spares Vegeta's life during their fight on Earth, which only makes the Saiyan Prince's eventual death on Namek hit even harder. There was a certain belief that Vegeta would either become a proper hero or perish and never be seen again, but Dragon Ball Z creates some mystery around the character's grander fate. "The End of Vegeta" is a beautiful attempt to humanize Vegeta before the anime temporarily says goodbye to him. Vegeta explains the tragic circumstances that led him down this brutal path in life.
He not only exhibits remorse, but he cries over his fate and pleads that Goku will kill Frieza and not show him any mercy like he did for him. It's one of the first humanizing moments that Goku and Vegeta share, which is concluded by Goku giving Vegeta the dignity of a grave. Vegeta's emotional outpouring is definitely the episode's centerpiece. However, there's a lot of energy that's created between Goku and Frieza's first meeting, which foreshadows the grueling duel that's to come.
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2 "Final Atonement" Gives Vegeta A Hero's Death In A Shocking Sacrifice
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 237
Majin Vegeta spills a lot of blood and genuinely attempts to kill Goku and prove that he's the superior Saiyan. It's a brutal series of events, which makes it all the more touching that Majin Vegeta eventually sees the light and understands that his family - and humanity - is an asset, rather than a deterrent. "Final Atonement" largely revolves around Vegeta preparing for his own destruction. He shows unprecedented emotion towards his son, Trunks, and tries to spare him the sight of his own death. Vegeta's decision to follow through with his Final Explosion gambit also becomes even darker when Piccolo explains to him that his soul will be subjected to reincarnation and he won't retain his body due to the endless carnage that he's caused.
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"Final Atonement" doesn't reveal that Majin Buu actually survived this explosive experience, which causes the episode to end on a truly shocking note. On top of everything else, there's also a fantastic moment where Piccolo slices Babidi in half after he grows tired of his incessant insolence towards Vegeta. This may not technically be the end of Babidi, but it's an appreciated moment of agency on Piccolo's part.
1 "Transformed At Last" Marks Dragon Ball Z's Super Saiyan Debut
Dragon Ball Z, Episode 95
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There are many standout Dragon Ball Z episodes that are without any weaknesses, but it's hard to top Goku's explosive burst of emotion and strength that accompanies his very first Super Saiyan transformation. Up until this point, it's unclear if Super Saiyans are even real or just a fancy urban legend. However, the combined sight of Krillin's death and Frieza's assault on Piccolo and Gohan causes Goku to undergo a shocking metamorphosis.
Modern Dragon Ball Z fans are now well-acquainted with the act of Super Saiyan transformations, but it's genuinely unnerving when it first occurs in "Transformed at Last." It looks like Goku is in pain and turning into some type of monster. There's still a lot more conflict ahead for Super Saiyan Goku and Frieza, but this pivotal demonstration of power redefines the franchise and is a truly unforgettable moment. The entire episode is magnetic television.
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Dragon Ball Z
TV-PG
Anime
Action
Adventure
With the help of the powerful Dragonballs, a team of fighters led by the saiyan warrior Goku defend the planet earth from extraterrestrial enemies.
Release Date September 30, 1996
Cast Sean Schemmel , Brian Drummond , Christopher Sabat , Scott McNeil
Main Genre Anime
Seasons 9
Studio Toei Animation
Creator Akira Toriyama
Number of Episodes 291
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