Picking up where the original Dragon Ball series left off, Dragon Ball Z gave us a version of Goku after he settled in for a few years as a new husband and father. After defeating King Piccolo, the young warrior had a relatively easy life for a few years until his older brother Raditz arrived. The first few episodes following Goku and the Z-Fighters' fight against the invaders from Planet Vegeta , known as the Saiyan Saga, completely changed our understanding of Goku's origin.
It was in these episodes that we learned that Goku was actually one of the last surviving members of the Saiyan race and that the other remaining members were coming to not only destroy Earth, but kill Goku if he refused to join them. This saga brought a new era to the Dragon Ball story, giving us stronger enemies, flashier techniques, and higher stakes. These episodes are so far behind us that most fans may have already forgotten what exactly happened in some of them, which is why we decided to take a trip back in time to remind you of some of the best episodes of the Saiyan Saga . You'll thank us later when you decide to watch them all again.
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10) “A SHOCK TEAM”
This episode marked the first time we saw serious fighting in Dragon Ball Z. Fans were stunned to see Piccolo reach out to Goku to help him defeat Raditz , but this episode showed us how even a Saiyan warrior lower class was a monster. 👿
Raditz created his Double Sunday near the end of the episode, which not only decimated the country but also left Piccolo armless (although we saw in later episodes that it wasn't the end of the world for him ). This episode really ended on a big cliffhanger, fans agree that they don't remember being so worried about their favorite Saiyan.
9) “DOUBLE LOSS”
Watching Nappa do whatever he wants with the Z-Fighters was definitely one of the hardest things we've ever had to watch. After witnessing the horrendous training they underwent to prepare to face the Saiyans , they were all reduced to insects in the face of Nappa's power. 🦟
After Piccolo's death, all hope seemed lost, as we knew Gohan and Krillin wouldn't stand a chance between them, but as we expected, Goku arrived at the last second in style. He possessed such confidence while standing in front of Nappa, but as the minutes ticked by, we all wondered if that confidence was truly justified. Spoiler alert: she really was!
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8) “BEYOND THE LAST CHANCE”
After Vegeta transformed into a Great Ape , Goku stood no chance against him. This episode made us all wonder if Goku would go straight back to King Yemma after he was revived. 👼🏻
It ended on a terrible cliffhanger with Goku caught in the hands of Vegeta's Great Ape, but loyal fans know that future episodes will mark the last time anyone says that phrase.
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7) “WHEN ENEMIES ALLIED”
Gohan's hidden power had been teased since the very first episode of Dragon Ball Z, but it was in this episode that we got to see it in action.
After enraging Gohan , Raditz received this iconic headbutt that many remember as the first time Gohan truly took a stand against an enemy in the series. Under normal circumstances, family should never fight, but this is a family feud that has our full support! 👨👩👦👦
6) “KAIO’S UNSURPASSABLE TECHNIQUE”
After seeing Nappa make his way with the Z-Fighters, we more than loved seeing Goku kick him on the battlefield. Of course, the highlight of this episode was the debut of Goku's Kaio-ken , which he used to cripple Nappa in order to save his friends.
After Nappa was defeated, Vegeta reacted by blowing him up, giving us our first glimpse of the ruthless Vegeta . When fans point out some of Vegeta's most heinous acts, this episode never fails to deliver. ✋🏻
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5) “GOKU SACRIFICES HIS LIFE”
For its time, Dragon Ball Z did some truly remarkable things that really shook up storytelling. Killing the main character in the first episodes was one of them. Left with no other options, Piccolo was forced to kill Raditz and Goku with his Makankosappo , marking Goku's first, but not last, death . ☠️
It was in this episode that Goku began his long journey through the Serpent's Path to meet Master Kaio. Unfortunately, Goku couldn't skip this step, just like many fans skipped the filler episodes detailing each notable step on this journey.
4) “THE GIFT OF STRENGTH”
This episode marked the point where Vegeta lost his tail for good, and it was arguably the last time Yajirobe actually did anything useful for the rest of the series. Unfortunately, Goku was still left battered by Vegeta's assault in his giant ape form, leaving Gohan to take his father's place in a battle where he was clearly outclassed.
This episode is ranked very high probably because it is the first time fans see the Genkidama in action. Goku, unable to even sit up straight, passes the Genkidama to Krillin, who has to shoot Vegeta, but when Vegeta manages to avoid it, Gohan redirects it and sends Vegeta into orbit. Fans who watched this episode when it first aired most likely thought the battle was over, but they were wrong! 😔
3) “THE FORCE OF DESPAIR”
Ten-Shin-Han doesn't get the credit he deserves. During the time of Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, he was one of the strongest Z-Fighters, and he had more heart than any other human, Krillin included. Not only did fans remember how strong the friendship between Ten-Shin-Han and Chaozu was, but Ten came out in force, unleashing a spectacular Kikohô that even knocked out Vegeta. 😴
In the end, the attack barely scratched Nappa , proving once again how resilient the Saiyans were. The saddest thing about this episode is that if only Nappa hadn't seen the attack coming, it most likely would have worked (according to Vegeta). If only Ten could have been a little more subtle when he attacked...
2) “AN AMAZING TRANSFORMATION”
The battle against Vegeta was more complicated than a simple duel between two saiyans. Like most fights in Dragon Ball Z, it was messy and fragmented, and when Goku failed, it was up to his friends to help him defeat the strongest opponent he had ever faced. Although Goku's Genkidama managed to weaken him, the Saiyan prince still had plenty of energy to finish off everyone, but when Gohan managed to transform into a Great Ape, Vegeta found himself crushed without the energy necessary to remain standing.
This episode surprised us all, as Goku decided to spare Vegeta at the last second, although between him and Nappa, Vegeta hadn't killed any Earthlings at that point. Ironically, he began to accumulate a body count of Earthlings as the series progressed. 🧟♂️
1) THE BEST EPISODE OF THE SAIYAN SAGA: “THE THIRD ATTACK”
Most notably, the battle between Goku and Vegeta gave us the first-ever tug-of-war, which became a staple of the franchise, pitting Goku's iconic Kamehameha against Vegeta's Garlic Cannon , which was capable of destroying a planet . This episode also showed us how useful the Kaio-ken was to Goku's arsenal, allowing him to jump Vegeta when his base power alone wasn't enough. Vegeta would later refer to this fight during their rematch set in the Buu Saga as the moment when his inferiority complex would begin to develop.
Unfortunately, Vegeta just had to be a big loser and get rid of that great ape transformation. Still, until then, it's safe to say that this episode brought us one of the most iconic fights in all of anime, setting Dragon Ball Z off to a great start.
