Top 80 Best Episodes of Dragon Ball Z
These are my favorite episodes of Dragon Ball Z, respectively. I choose them not only based on emotional depth or developmental value... but also on the sheer ferocity and brutality that is found in each. If it's not on my list, then the fight just isn't as devastating or relentless... I've found that these represent the most bone-cracking, spine-breaking, and the grisly when it comes to the overall feel of the series; The series is fueled by these extreme episodes and it would have never been as severely action-packed and overwhelming if it were not for these episodes; without them, the series would just not have been the same. Maybe a list incorporating emotional moments would be nice also, but this list is derived to illustrate the most ruthless aspects of the series in its nitty, gritty, bone-cracking, back-breaking battles whilst amassing a glorious savage moral, yet maintaining and encompassing tremendous brutality.
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- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsPeter KelamisTerry KlassenBrian DrummondZarbon reveals his ferocious transformation to Vegeta; Krillin and Dende continue their journey to the eldest Namek; Goku trains under 50 times normal gravity; Tien, Yamcha, and Chiaotzu attempt to catch Bubbles as Piccolo meditates.Zarbon transforms and pounds the life out of Vegeta with relentless brutality. Zarbon unleashes a succession of rapid headbutts, roundhouses, aerial bicycle kicks, devastating choke holds, and a bone-cracking pile-driver against Vegeta, tossing his opponent around like a rag doll. This is the one true episode where the villain completely dominates the protagonist character; this is pretty much the epitome of the series to me.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsPeter KelamisSaffron HendersonTerry KlassenDue to his increased strength, Vegeta is able to defeat Zarbon and takes the Dragon Ball from Krillin; the Ginyu Force is launched; Goku continues training at 100 times normal gravity; Gohan has a run-in with Vegeta.Vegeta mutilates Zarbon with a spine-cracking maneuver, smashing his fist clean through Zarbon's stomach, jamming into him and keeping his hand there while Zarbon begs for his life. Blood gushes out as Vegeta unleashes a blast through Zarbon's stomach, sending him sprawling into the air and directly to a watery grave in the Namekian sea.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsPeter KelamisSaffron HendersonTerry KlassenGohan struggles against Recoome; Chi-Chi worries about Gohan; Captain Ginyu delivers the Dragon Balls to Frieza, but they learn they need a password for the activation of the balls; Goku finally arrives on Namek.Recoome's awesome onslaught continues after he's downed Vegeta and Krillin. Recoome's enormously powerful bomber attack perfectly takes down Gohan directly prior to unleashing a neck-breaking kick that paralyzes him.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsSaffron HendersonTerry KlassenBrian DrummondThe battle with Guldo may be over, but the real nightmare is just beginning! Recoome, the most massive member of the Ginyu Force, is ready to fight, and even the mighty Vegeta's attacks have no effect on this monstrous foe!Recoome completely obliterates Vegeta, Gohan, and Krillin in a relentless combination of deadly maneuvers, the likes of which devastate his opponents to the brink of death... Recoome pulverizes Vegeta with a relentless take-down and topples Krillin with a single kick.
- StarsSean SchemmelStephanie NadolnyChristopher SabatAttacked from within by a crippling virus, Goku is helpless against the maniacal Android 19. But just when it looks like the end for Goku, Vegeta appears on the scene! And he's got a few big surprises in store for the Androids!Vegeta pummels Android 19 after intervening in Goku's scuffle... where Android 19 was about to choke the life out of Goku with his deadly grip. As Goku tries to fight for his life due to his ailing heart virus... Vegeta comes to his aid and topples Android 19, claiming that it shall be he and only he who defeats Goku. Awesome plot and extremely awesome battle scene.
- StarsStephanie NadolnyChristopher SabatPhillip WilburnIn his first fight as a Super Saiyan, Vegeta takes control of the battlefield and defeats Android 19 in convincing fashion! Unwilling to share 19's fate, Android 20 runs for cover in the mountains!Android 19 gets eradicated by Vegeta's ruthless onslaught. The intense ferocity of the manner in which 19's arms are ripped off and he is decapitated clearly makes this one brilliant.
- StarsSean SchemmelStephanie NadolnyChristopher SabatThe battle with the Androids begins as Goku launches an all out assault against Android 19. The Super Saiyan seems to have the fight under control, but something is about to go horribly wrong!Goku's heart virus kicks in and sinister and maniacal Android 19 takes advantage, choking the life out of Goku and draining his energy. Vegeta then arrives and delivers a thunderous kick at 19, sending him flailing. Vegeta then declares that he is to be the only one to execute Kakarot, and no one shall rob him of that pleasure. He also reveals that he too, has now become a Super Saiyan!
- StarsSean SchemmelKyle HebertChristopher SabatTo everyoneâ€ôs horror, Spopovitch delays his inevitable victory for the purposes of torturing Videl! It appears the muscle-bound thug isnâ€ôt going to stop until he kills her! Will Videl make it out of the ring alive?Videl gets butchered in the tournament by Spopovich's ever-awesome combos. Now Spopovich is the kind of guy that doesn't go easy just 'cause Videl's a girl. This is what the audience wants to see: an all-out butchering of a female protagonist at the hands of a chaotic musclebound madman who doesn't stop his gruesome assault. A combination of stomach punches and face punches have never been so well placed... and the kneeing is done so well, it's unparalleled. Spopovich defined this saga's battles and took the spotlight when it came to being one tough psycho.
- StarsSean SchemmelKyle HebertChristopher SabatVidel takes to the ring for what is expected to be an easy victory over Spopovitch. She hits the towering brute with everything sheâ€ôs got, but her attacks have no effect. It seems Spopovitch is possessed by a supernatural power!After Videl keeps pounding into Spopovich with everything she's got, he just keeps on getting up... and is unaffected by her maneuvers. He has a fiendish secret; he's protected by Majin power, giving him limitless energy. Videl's systematic slaughter at the hands of Spopovich begins.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsIan James CorlettSaffron HendersonTerry KlassenAs Goku trains on his ship, Gohan and Krillin watch as Frieza and his henchmen Zarbon and Dodoria, interrogate a group of Namekians about their Dragon Ball, and another group of Namekian Warriors show up to stand against them.Zarbon and Dodoria butcher the Namek elders and warriors. Dodoria slams his elbow through one warrior, mouth blasts another, roasting him... and headbutts another into a mountain, wiping the bloody remnants from his spiky head. Dodoria then proceeds to eliminate the elder Namek, Muuri.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsIan James CorlettSaffron HendersonTerry KlassenAfter Dodoria easily defeats the three Namekian warriors, Moori is forced to hand over the Dragon Ball. And when Dodoria begins to execute the remaining Namekians, Gohan intervenes. Meanwhile, Goku continues to train on his ship.Dodoria brutally eliminates the Namekian elder by snapping his neck... after butchering the Namek child with a mouth blast... and is attacked by Gohan after attempting to slaughter Dende. Gohan and Krillin pick up Dende and escape from Dodoria while the deadly brute chases them in midair. Dodoria launches numerous blasts after them. Eventually, they hide from Dodoria and the ruthless warrior unleashes a blast destroying the entire area. He leaves, thinking he's executed his fleeing foes.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsIan James CorlettSaffron HendersonScott McNeilNappa begins his assault on the Z Warriors who can't seem to stop him.Nappa butchers Tien's arm... unleashes an onslaught of attacks against Gohan, Krillin, and Piccolo... and is left unharmed after Chiaotzu sacrifices himself against the beast. Nappa continues to lay down the pain on his opponents.
- StarsSean SchemmelKyle HebertKara EdwardsAt each stage of Babidi's ship, Goku, Gohan, and Vegeta must face a fearsome warrior, each more powerful than the last. There's no room for error. Even the tiniest mistake will enable Babidi to steal their energy for Majin Buu.Pui Pui battles Vegeta... and is unable to attack him successfully. Pui Pui's battle environment is at ten times Earth's normal gravity... but Vegeta reveals he's trained under five hundred times Earth's normal gravity... leaving his opponent in complete shock. Vegeta ruthlessly pummels Pui Pui with a combination of bone-cracking maneuvers and unleashes a blast at his chest, obliterating him and leaving dust.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsIan James CorlettSaffron HendersonTerry KlassenLocked 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!Goku gets back at Nappa for the deaths of Chiaotzu, Tien, Piccolo, and Yamcha... and Nappa is completely paralyzed after Goku unleashes his Kaio-ken technique, leaving Nappa twitching and begging for his life. As Nappa asks Vegeta for help, the ruthless Saiyan slaughters him for his failure by tossing him into the air and unleashing a blast that completely obliterates him... making his eyes explode directly before turning him to dust.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsPeter KelamisSaffron HendersonTerry KlassenGoku, still in the magnetic storm, attempts to save himself before he is crushed by the gravity; Vegeta and Zarbon fight a rematch as Krillin and Bulma watch in fear; Gohan flies back with the Dragon Ball he located.Zarbon finds Vegeta along with Bulma and Krillin and faces him a second time... However, Vegeta's strength has increased, and Zarbon finds himself in between a rock and a hard place. If he were to fail against Vegeta, he wouldn't be able to retrieve the Dragon Balls, and if he were to return to Frieza, he'd meet fatal punishment for failure. The overwhelming position places Zarbon in a situation where he soon realizes he needs to assume his beastly form once more. Even after becoming the ruthless demon, Zarbon is still unable to topple the Saiyan's increased might. Vegeta rams into Zarbon from behind and sends him below, launching a devastating combination of blasts and blowing off Zarbon's armor.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsSean SchemmelStephanie NadolnyChristopher SabatFrieza lashes out in a blind rage, launching a reckless volley of energy attacks. In the face of Goku's superior power, the evil tyrant's greatest fear has finally been realized: defeat at the hands of a Super Saiyan!Frieza unleashes his deadly discs into the sky in a desperate last resort to defeat Goku... which backfires... as in a moment of his confusion, he is sliced in half by his own attack. Frieza lays on the ground and begs for his life... and is temporarily spared by Goku, who proceeds to give him some of his own energy. But since Frieza is as unforgiving as ever, he still attempts to attack Goku, even with half his body gone!
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsIan James CorlettSaffron HendersonTerry KlassenGohan, Krillin, and Dende escape from Dodoria; Dr. Brief tells his daughter Bulma that Goku is on his way; Vegeta confronts Dodoria and learns the truth behind the destruction of his home planet.Dodoria struggles to get free from Vegeta's deadly grip and realizes the Saiyan has grown stronger. In an attempt to persuade his opponent to allow him to escape, Dodoria reveals the secret of planet Vegeta's destruction only to be met with a ruthless, unforgiving, and merciless death at the hands of Vegeta. As Dodoria tries to flee after his revelation, Vegeta blasts him from behind, making his eyes pop out, disintegrating what remains of him in midair.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsIan James CorlettSaffron HendersonTerry KlassenFrieza and his henchmen, Zarbon and Dodoria, gather some Dragon Balls. Cui tracks down Vegeta and is surprised by his strength. Two of Frieza's scouts attack Gohan and Krillin while Goku does mental training in the hospital.Cui challenges Vegeta after getting the orders from Frieza. He attempts to trick Vegeta, and his attacks have no effect due to Vegeta's increased speed and strength. Vegeta ruthlessly butchers Cui in midair by punching him and exploding his brains out.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsIan James CorlettSaffron HendersonTerry KlassenPiccolo, 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!Piccolo risks everything by shielding Gohan from Nappa's ruthless attack, sacrificing himself in the process and proving that he cares for the young warrior. This is the most emotionally powerful moment in the series in terms of genuine depth and sentimental value.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsSean SchemmelStephanie NadolnySonny StraitAfter taking control of Goku's body, Captain Ginyu turns his attention to Gohan and Krillin! With Goku trapped in the Captain's broken body, it's up to Gohan to stop the rampaging Ginyu!Captain Ginyu is fighting against Gohan, Krillin, and Goku while Vegeta ambushes Jeice. Jeice believes he could still defeat Vegeta, but he's in for a surprise as the Saiyan has increased his strength substantially. Vegeta slaughters Jeice by kicking him in the chin, breaking his ribs with a chop to the stomach, and annihilating him with a blast to the face while Jeice struggles in midair.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsSaffron HendersonTerry KlassenBrian DrummondKrillin and Gohan attempt to survive against Guldo's psychic abilities and find themselves incapacitated until Vegeta intervenes; Piccolo senses that Gohan is in danger.Guldo tries to skewer Gohan and Krillin but is halted by Vegeta... who proceeds to chop off his head... and blow what remains of him to bits. After Guldo is eliminated, Recoome steps up to face his enemies.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsIan James CorlettSaffron HendersonTerry KlassenPiccolo 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.Piccolo reveals his soft side to Gohan as he dies from Nappa's powerful assault. Oh, and Goku arrives barely on time to save Gohan and stop Nappa's onslaught.
- StarsSean SchemmelStephanie NadolnyChristopher SabatFrieza and King Cold descend upon the Earth, but a mysterious warrior has come to thwart their diabolical plot for revenge. Does this brash young hero have what it takes to stand up to these twin titans of evil?Trunks appears and slices Frieza in half... and then into pieces with ease! He obliterates what pieces of Frieza remain in midair... and Frieza has been the deadly villain feared for over a hundred episodes up to this point... King Cold attempts to persuade the young Saiyan to join him... but is unsuccessful. After King Cold takes Trunks' sword, he believes that Trunks could not have won without it. It's a mistake on his part, as he's blasted into the mountain and completely eradicated by a blast via Trunks' arm. Trunks then proceeds to destroy Frieza's ship and greets Earth's warriors, who are stunned at the skill of this mysterious warrior.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsPeter KelamisSaffron HendersonTerry KlassenKing Kai warns Goku to stay away from Frieza. Piccolo, Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu must make King Kai laugh before he will train them. Gohan, Krillin and Dende hide from Vegeta; Vegeta locates and challenges Frieza's elite henchman, Zarbon.King Kai warns Goku to stay clear from Frieza's wrath. Zarbon proceeds to locate the remaining Dragon Balls, but is challenged by Vegeta, who attempts to execute him as he did Cui and Dodoria. Zarbon warns Vegeta not to push him, as he will be forced to unleash the dormant beast within.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsIan James CorlettSaffron HendersonTerry KlassenZaacro and Raiti explain their illusion to Krillin, Gohan and Bulma. As they struggle to escape and attempt to continue their journey to Namek, Vegeta discovers Frieza, Zarbon, and Dodoria are already collecting the Namekian Dragon Balls.Bulma, Krillin, and Gohan arrive on planet Namek. Vegeta quickly arrives right after, but they're all surprised to find that the sinister Frieza is already on Namek and he's brought top Commander-Generals Zarbon and Dodoria along with him.