Dragon Ball Z - Season 1

First aired: 4/26/1989 39 episodes

After years of peace since the defeat of Piccolo Daimaoh, Goku now lives peacefully with his wife, Chi-Chi, and their son, Gohan. But everything changes when a mysterious warrior called Raditz arrives on Earth, revealing that he is Goku's brother and that they both belong to the warrior race of the Saiyans, a brutal people who conquer planets.

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Episodes

1. The New Threat

Aired: 4/26/1989

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.

2. Reunions

Aired: 5/3/1989

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.

3. Unlikely Alliance

Aired: 5/10/1989

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!

4. Piccolo's Plan

Aired: 5/17/1989

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!

5. Gohan's Rage

Aired: 5/24/1989

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!

6. No Time Like the Present

Aired: 6/7/1989

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!

7. Day 1

Aired: 6/14/1989

Gohan begins his first day of Piccolo’s training. Alone in the wilderness, he must quickly learn to take care of himself. But that isn’t easy when he’s tired, hungry - and being chased by bloodthirsty dinosaurs!

8. Gohan Goes Bananas!

Aired: 6/21/1989

Korin wants Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu to report for special training! Meanwhile, Gohan’s grueling training causes him to undergo a shocking transformation!

9. The Strangest Robot

Aired: 6/28/1989

To escape a pack of wild animals, Gohan ventures into an ancient cave, where he meets an old Capsule Corp robot. The robot has lived alone in the cave for over 30 years, and he’s not happy to have visitors!

10. A New Friend

Aired: 7/5/1989

Gohan’s wilderness adventure continues, as he makes a new dinosaur friend! He’s happy to finally have some company until he’s harshly reminded that not all dinosaurs are friendly!

11. Terror on Arlia

Aired: 7/12/1989

On planet Arlia, Vegeta and Nappa become prisoners of the tyrant king who rules the planet. After a brief scuffle with the monster Yeddy, the Arlians realize that the two Saiyans are more than they can handle.

12. Global Training

Aired: 7/19/1989

Gohan spends his day tormenting a T-Rex. Across the planet, Tien and Chiaotzu find their training interrupted by Launch. Meanwhile, Goku tries to find King Kai on Snake Way.

13. Goz and Mez

Aired: 7/26/1989

Goku encounters two giant ogres who want nothing more than to use the hero as a play toy! If he can defeat their challenges, the ogres vow to show him the way back to Snake Way.

14. Princess Snake

Aired: 8/2/1989

Back on Snake Way, Goku comes across a house he believes might belong to King Kai! Unfortunately, the dwelling is inhabited by Princess Snake, and she’ll do anything to keep Goku as her prisoner forever!

15. Dueling Piccolos

Aired: 8/9/1989

Piccolo flies off the handle during his fight with Raditz and splits in two! Meanwhile, Gohan decides to take a raft across the sea to visit his mother, gets caught in a storm, and suddenly remembers that he can’t swim!

16. Plight of the Children

Aired: 8/16/1989

Gohan finds shelter with a gang of orphans living on the run from meddling adults. The group’s leader hatches a plan to take the kids to a safer hiding place, but when the police show up everything goes wrong!

17. Pendulum Room Peril

Aired: 8/30/1989

Earth’s top warriors visit Kami’s Pendulum Room where the past, present, and future co-exist. After a trip back in time, they realize they’ll need to train harder to stand a chance against the approaching Saiyans.

18. The End of Snake Way

Aired: 9/6/1989

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!

19. Defying Gravity

Aired: 9/13/1989

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?

20. Goku's Ancestors

Aired: 9/20/1989

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?

21. Counting Down

Aired: 9/27/1989

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!

22. The Darkest Day

Aired: 10/11/1989

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.

23. Saibamen Attack!

Aired: 10/18/1989

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?

24. The Power of Nappa

Aired: 10/25/1989

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.

25. Sacrifice

Aired: 11/1/1989

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!

26. Nappa's Rampage

Aired: 11/8/1989

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?

27. Nimbus Speed

Aired: 11/22/1989

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!

28. Goku's Arrival

Aired: 11/29/1989

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.

29. Lesson Number One

Aired: 12/6/1989

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!

30. Goku vs. Vegeta

Aired: 12/13/1989

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?

31. Saiyan Sized Secret

Aired: 12/20/1989

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!

32. Spirit Bomb Away!

Aired: 1/17/1990

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!

33. Hero in the Shadows

Aired: 1/24/1990

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!

34. Krillin's Offensive

Aired: 1/31/1990

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?

35. Mercy

Aired: 2/7/1990

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.

36. Picking Up The Pieces

Aired: 2/14/1990

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?

37. Plans for Departure

Aired: 2/21/1990

Bulma accidentally destroys the Saiyan spaceship! Luckily, Mr. Popo reveals the existence of another ship that may be able to reach Namek. Can they find it in time, and will the old ship still work if they do?

38. Nursing Wounds

Aired: 2/28/1990

Goku, Krillin, and Gohan prepare for the return of the Saiyans. Meanwhile, Bulma and Mr. Popo search for a second spaceship capable of transporting her to Planet Namek.

39. Friends or Foes?

Aired: 3/7/1990

Gohan, Bulma, and Krillin blast off for Planet Namek in search of the magic Dragon Balls, but their journey quickly turns chaotic when they encounter a bizarre situation in the vacuum of space!