Overview of 'Dragon Ball Z' Season 1

Episode 1 - Mini Gokû wa obotchama! Boku Gohan desu

Release Date: 26 Apr. 1989

Start of the "Vegeta Saga". It has been five years since the defeat of Piccolo, and Goku and Chi Chi have settled down at Goku's old home in the forest. They now have a son named Gohan, named after Goku's grandfather. One day Goku is supposed to meet his old friends for a reunion at Roshi's house, but before he leaves he must find Gohan, who is lost in the forest. Meanwhile, a mysterious Saiyan warrior lands on Earth and searches for someone named Kakarot. Instead, he finds Piccolo, who is still training to defeat Goku.

Episode 2 - Shijô saikyô no senshi wa Gokû no ani datta!

Release Date: 3 May 1989

Friends arrives at Kame Sen'nin house for a reunion, but an alien warrior crashes the party. He reveals himself to be Raditz, Son Goku's older brother, and he explains the history of the Saiyan-jin. He also reveals that Kakarotto is the birth name of Goku, a Saija-jin himself, who was sent to Earth as an infant to extinguish human life.

Episode 3 - Yatta! Kore ga chijô saikyô no konbi da!

Release Date: 10 May 1989

Hoping to force Goku into following his orders, Raditz abducts Gohan. While Goku and the others decide what to do next, Piccolo shows up. Realizing that Raditz is too powerful for either fighter to defeat alone, Goku and Piccolo forge an alliance and confront him.

Episode 4 - Pikkoro no kirifuda! Gohan wa nakimushi-kun

Release Date: 17 May 1989

Goku and Piccolo fight Raditz. While Goku fends Raditz off, Piccolo attempts to gather enough energy to use his newest attack.

Episode 5 - Gokû shisu! Rasuto chansu wa ichidodake

Release Date: 24 May 1989

In a rage, Gohan breaks free from his prison and attacks Raditz. Goku distracts Raditz in an attempt to save Gohan, and Piccolo charges his Special Beam Cannon for one final attack. Meanwhile, two other Saiyans hear Piccolo speak of the dragon balls through Raditz's scouter and decide to come to Earth.

Episode 6 - Enma-Sama mo bikkuri anoyo de faito

Release Date: 7 Jul. 1989

Goku's friends form a plan to bring him back to life with the dragon balls, and Piccolo takes Gohan away to train in preparation for the arrival of the two Saiyans. Meanwhile, Kami meets Goku in Other World and sends him down Snake Way in search of King Kai, a legendary martial arts master with the ability to make Goku strong enough to help his friends battle the Saiyans.

Episode 7 - Kyôryû to sabaibaru! Gohan no tsurai shugyô

Release Date: 1996

Piccolo leaves Gohan to fend for himself in the wilderness for six months so that he can become stronger and learn to take care of himself. Meanwhile, Krillin tries to break the news of Gohan's training and Goku's death to Chi-Chi. Also, Kami foresees his own demise and wonders about Piccolo's motives, and Goku continues his journey down Snake Way.

Episode 8 - Tsuki no kagayaku yoru ni dai henshin! Gohan pawâ no himitsu

Release Date: 21 Jun. 1989

Krillin returns to the Kame house without telling Chi-Chi of Goku's death and Gohan's training with Piccolo, and Chi-Chi and the Ox King set out to find what he's hiding. Yajirobe brings a message to Krillin, telling him to find Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu and to meet back at Korin Tower for special training in preparation for the Saiyans. Meanwhile, as Gohan tries to find the courage to get down from the cliff he glances at the full moon, which turns him into a giant ape, and Piccolo must find a way to stop him. Also, Goku continues down Snake Way.

Episode 9 - Sorry Mr. Robot: The Tears That Disappeared in the Desert

Release Date: 28 Jun. 1989

Gohan is attacked by wild animals. As he attempts to escape, he falls into an underground cavern, where he finds a robot who teaches him to take care of himself. Meanwhile, Goku, who is still on Snake Way, takes a break from running to eat clouds.

Episode 10 - Don't Cry! Gohan's First Battle

Release Date: 5 Jul. 1989

Krillin picks up Yamcha, who is playing in a baseball game. Meanwhile, Gohan gathers food and mends his wounds, and he helps a dinosaur who has been injured. Also, Goku wakes up from a nap and continues down Snake Way.

Episode 11 - Saiyans: Greatest Warriors in the Universe, Awaken

Release Date: 12 Jul. 1989

While on their way to Earth, Vegeta and Nappa take a quick detour in an attempt to conquer the planet Arlia. Meanwhile, Gohan dines on the tail of a dinosaur, Launch runs from the police, and Goku continues down Snake Way.

Episode 12 - Napping on the Path of Snake: Son Goku Falls Off!

Release Date: 19 Jul. 1989

Krillin and Bulma search for Tien and Chiaotzu, who are training under a waterfall, and Launch tries to convince Tien to rob banks with her. Meanwhile, Goku gets a ride from a street sweeper and Gohan continues his training. Also, Piccolo trains by lifting the Pyramids with his mind, but he accidentally causes and earthquake which affects everyone.

Episode 13 - Keep Your Hands Off! Enma's Secret Fruit

Release Date: 26 Jul. 1989

Having fallen off Snake Way, Goku finds himself in the Land Below the Clouds. There he meets Goz and Mez, two ogres who will help him find his way back to Snake Way if he can defeat them in a series of challenges. Meanwhile, Tien and Chiaotzu climb Korin Tower; Launch meets Upa and Gora while trying to find a way to follow Tien up the tower; and Gohan runs from a tiger.

Episode 14 - Sweet Seduction: The Snake Princess' Hospitality

Release Date: 2 Aug. 1989

Having caught up to where he was when he fell, Goku continues down Snake Way. He stops at a palace, thinking it to be where King Kai lives, but it turns out to belong to Princess Snake, who likes him so much that she won't let him leave. Meanwhile, Gohan watches Piccolo train; Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, and Yajirobe begin their training with Kami.

Episode 15 - Escape from Piccolo! Gohan and the Storm

Release Date: 9 Aug. 1989

Gohan does his homework in a cave as he thinks about how much he misses his parents. He then makes a boat and sails across the desert, where he is chased by a giant bird. He crash lands on an island, and he befriends a tiger as he looks for a way to escape. Meanwhile, Piccolo splits himself in two and fights his doppelganger as part of his training. Also, Goku continues down Snake Way.

Episode 16 - Run Gohan! Back to Mt. Paozu Where Chichi Waits

Release Date: 16 Aug. 1989

Having crashed his ship because of the storm, Gohan is found on the beach by a group of orphans who he stays with for awhile.

Episode 17 - The Road to Victory Is Long

Release Date: 30 Aug. 1989

Piccolo begins heavy training with Gohan. At the Lookout, Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu grow impatient because they feel that they aren't learning anything from Kami's training, so Mr. Popo uses the time chamber to transport them back in time to planet Vegeta, where they fight two Saiyans.

Episode 18 - The End of the Path of Snake

Release Date: 6 Sep. 1989

Piccolo is forced to fight Gohan, who turns into a giant ape when he sees the moon that is projected from Goku's Saiyan spacecraft. Meanwhile, Goku reaches the end of Snake Way and meets King Kai.

Episode 19 - Catch Bubbles! The Struggle with Gravity

Release Date: 13 Sep. 1989

Before he can start his training, Goku must make King Kai laugh. Then, his training begins--he must catch King Kai's monkey, Bubbles. Meanwhile, Piccolo and Gohan continue to train.

Episode 20 - The Legend of Saiyans: Son Goku's Roots

Release Date: 20 Sep. 1989

In the next phase of Goku's training, he must hit Gregory, King Kai's grasshopper, with a sledge hammer; also, King Kai tells Goku about the history of the Saiyans. Back on Earth, Piccolo continues training Gohan, and Krillin, Tien, Chiaotzu, Yamcha, and Yajirobe train at the Lookout.

Episode 21 - Appear Shenlon! Saiyans Are About to Arrive

Release Date: 27 Sep. 1989

King Kai times Goku on catching Bubbles and Gregory, and Goku practices the Spirit Bomb technique. Goku then contacts Roshi and tells him to wish him back to life, and he begins his journey back down Snake Way. Meanwhile, as the Z Fighters finish their training, the Saiyans land on Earth.

Episode 22 - That's Ridiculous! The Saiba Men Sprout from the Ground

Release Date: 11 Oct. 1989

Nappa destroys East City, and he and Vegeta head toward Piccolo and Gohan; the other Z Warriors also fly to where the battle is going to take place, with Krillin arriving first; Yajirobe tells a group of people about the Saiyans.

Episode 23 - Yamucha Dies! The Frightening Saiba Men

Release Date: 18 Oct. 1989

The Z fighters and the Saiyans agree to fight a series of one on one matches, and Tien and Yamcha fight the first two saibamen while their friends watch helplessly on TV; Goku races back home as fast as he can; Yajirobe talks to a group of reporters about the battle.

Episode 24 - Goodbye Tien... Chauzu's Sacrifice

Release Date: 25 Oct. 1989

Krillin and Piccolo finish off the saibamen, and the surviving Z Fighters fight Nappa. Meanwhile, Goku passes Princess Snake's palace as he races home.

Episode 25 - Tenshihan's Final Scream! His Last Energy Beam

Release Date: 1 Nov. 1989

The battle with Nappa continues as Piccolo and Krillin try to ambush him while he fights Tien. Also, Kami senses that the end of his life is approaching, and Goku passes the street sweeper on Snake Way.

Episode 26 - Waiting Patiently for 3 Hours: The Candy Cloud Flies

Release Date: 8 Nov. 1989

As everyone stops fighting to wait for Goku to arrive, Nappa goes on a rampage and engages civilians and military personnel. Also, Goku returns to Earth and rushes to the battlefield.

Episode 27 - Leave It to Me: Gohan's Explosion of Anger

Release Date: 22 Nov. 1989

Piccolo, Krillin, and Gohan fend off Nappa as Goku makes his final approach on the flying nimbus. Meanwhile, Bulma thinks about happier times and the Ox King tries to stop Chi-Chi from joining the battle.

Episode 28 - The Savagery of Saiyan! God and Piccolo Die

Release Date: 29 Nov. 1989

As Kami fades from existence while Piccolo dies, he tells Mr. Popo to go to the planet Namek to retrieve their dragon balls; Gohan, in a rage, fights Nappa; Fortune Teller Baba arrives at the Kame House to announce Goku's return; Goku arrives on the battlefield and fights Nappa.