TheChez.net

By ssjrem

There are 291 total episodes of Dragonball Z. It was so hard to pick my favorites. I had to keep narrowing things down over and over again. If I could, I’d do a list of fifty or so, but that’s just way too long. Dragonball Z is divided into four central (Saiyan, Freeza, Cell, and Buu–though, it could be argued that the Saiyan and Freeza sagas arcs are one and the same) arcs and then sagas within those arcs. I decided, in order to get this list down to a manageable size, I had to limit myself to just one episode from each saga. With that, here we go.

Saiyan Saga: Saiyan Sized Secret

Of all the episodes in the Saiyan saga, I felt this was the best. It embodies what’s great about DBZ, fast paced fighting and ridiculous powers. Goku is pushed to the limit by the saiyan price Vegeta and is forced to use the triple kaioken, knowing that it might destroy his body in the process. He’ll do anything to protect the earth. This is the second episode of their battle, but it’s much more iconic what with the kaioken x 3 and the epic Kamehameha vs. Galick Gun battle. It’s good shit. You can witness the beginning of Vegeta’s pride being torn to shreds as he can’t accept that Kakarot, a low level saiyan, has surpassed him in strength. This episode is DBZ at its finest.

Namek Saga: Incredible Force

The Namek saga has its fair share of good episodes, but it serves mostly as build up to the epic battles with the Ginyu Force and then Freeza himself. This episode is one of my favorites mostly because it takes me back to my childhood. It first aired when I was like eight years old and when Goku powers up and that Ginyu Force theme is playing, it makes me feel like a kid again. Shit is really starting to get desperate and you can feel that a showdown with Freeza is looming. Even Captain Ginyu shits his pants at Goku’s full power of 180,000. I love that power up scene. It’s one of my favorites. Kaioken is just awesome in general.

Freeza Saga: Explosion of Anger

This was really, really difficult to choose. Lots of good episodes in this saga. In the end, I had to give it to the power of super saiyan. I choose this episode, the one after Goku transforms for the first time, because it’s the first time we really see what super saiyan is and what it’s capable of. Goku was nothing to Freeza before this and now the roles have been reversed. Goku is pissed off and fucks Freeza up throughout the episode. This was back when super saiyan was badass shit, before we had seven year old kids transforming like nothing. That was the way it’s meant to be.

Android Saga: The Secret of Dr. Gero

This episode is a perfect example of Vegeta at his very finest. He finally ascends to super saiyan and kicks some ass. He takes no prisoners and hands Android 19′s ass to him without even trying. 19 never stood a chance once Vegeta made the jump to super saiyan. The situation looked hopeless; Goku had been defeated, crippled by his heart virus. Then Vegeta comes in and fucks shit up. When 19 thinks he’s won, Vegeta presses his feet into the android’ss face and then literally rips his fucking hands off. He’s a badass. It’s what he does.

Cell Saga: Silent Warrior

This was another very, very difficult decision. Lots of good shit here. Part of me wanted to choose “Bow to the Prince,” but I just did a Vegeta-kicking-ass episode, so I couldn’t do that. So, Silent Warrior it is! Cell has been fucking shit up and took out Piccolo like he was nothing but trash. Now he’s about to absorb 17 and become even stronger. Not if 16 has anything to say. Android 16 is an awesome and very underrated character. Up to this point, we haven’t seen him fight and we have no idea of his power. Well, the guy is fucking strong. He’s on a level comparable to Cell and matches him all the way. He’s smart too and he rips off Cell’s tail so he can’t absorb the androids. Unfortunately, Cell can regenerate. I honestly would’ve liked to have seen 16 do more in the series, but that’s how things go in DBZ sometimes. Characters just get cast aside.

Cell Games: Save the World

The Cell Games is my favorite saga in all of Dragonball Z. It’s got fucking everything. And it’s got so many good episodes, but the decision on the best one was very easy to arrive at. It has to be Save the World. A full twenty minute episode of the most epic beam struggle ever between Cell and Gohan. The characters have gotten strong enough to destroy entire solar systems now and so much is on the line. Goku has passed the mantle on to Gohan and he has to save the day now. Plus, we have all the other characters jumping in and trying to do everything they can to help Gohan. Then, at the end, when Vegeta finally jumps in and hurls a Final Flash (arguably; the name of the attack is never stated) at Cell, clearly actually hurting him a little, Gohan unleashes everything and obliterates Cell. It just looks so cool. Gohan’s one handed kamehameha as these walls of pure energy surround him. It is so fucking epic. I’m a big Gohan fan and this is the pinnacle of his awesomeness before he becomes a pussy in the Buu saga.

World Tournament Saga: Goku vs. Pikkon

Honestly, this saga is kind of lame. There really isn’t much in here. It’s mostly just stupid shit like Gohan going to high school and going on dates and retarded shit of that nature. It kinda pisses me off. The best part of the whole saga is the first five episodes when Goku participates in an afterlife tournament against the universe’s best fighter. This culminates in the final match when Goku battles Pikkon. It’s a pretty damn cool fight and it really makes me wish that Pikkon were a canon character. He had some really cool attacks and is just a badass character. And then Goku somehow combines the kaioken and super saiyan too, which I guess he can only do when he’s dead. Otherwise, the strain would kill him. Anyway, that’s Goku vs. Pikkon for you.

Majin Buu Saga Part One: The Long Awaited Fight

I love the Majin Vegeta part of DBZ to limit this to just one episode. Plus, after that point, DBZ drags on and doesn’t really have much good shit. So, here I present the first episode from the Majin Buu saga. For over a decade, Vegeta had had all this rage building up inside of him and he had never gotten his rematch with Goku. Furthermore, he felt as though he had been softened by his wife, child, and time on earth. He wanted to return to his cold and ruthless ways from years past. Thus, he allowed himself to be possessed, but only to gain the power necessary to combat Goku. His pride and will are so strong that he can actually resist Babidi, the wizard posessing him. He is so obsessed with fighting Goku that nothing will stand in his way. The fight between these two is epic and fast paced. Vegeta takes no shit and beats the shit out of Goku several times. Were they allowed to finish the fight, I think Vegeta would’ve emerged the victor. But I’m Vegeta fanboy and I’m biased. Sue me.

Majin Buu Saga Part 2: Final Atonement

If I had to pick my favorite all time episode of DBZ, it would come down to Final Atonement and Save the World. I’m still not sure which I’d choose. Admittedly, there isn’t a whole lot of action during this episode. It’s mostly just Vegeta coming to terms and realizing what he has to do. He’s realized that he has been changed for good and can’t reclaim that evil that once dominated his heart. He embraces and son and then prepares to face down Majin Buu. He is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice. For the first time, Vegeta is fighting for someone other than himself. The animation of this episode is gorgeous and the last five or so minutes are phenomonal. “I’m going to crush you…. and throw you into the wind,” says Vegeta to Buu as energy swirls around him. I love that moment. Vegeta then gathers all his power and unleashes everything he has. It’s a very poigant moment. For all the awful things he’s done, Vegeta knows that he will go to Hell, but he doesn’t even care. He just wants to defeat Buu and save the people he’s come to care for. It’s epic. I wish the Buu saga could’ve ended with this episode. But, alas, the show goes on.

Fusion/Kid Buu Saga: Spirit Bomb Triumphant

This is precisely where DBZ starts to drag on and get a little ridiculous. It’s downright annoying, but it certainly does have its good parts. I thought about going with “Vegeta’s Respect” for this one, but I’ve given Vegeta enough, I think. Spirit Bomb Triumphant is a good one, too. It’s in some ways similar to Save the World in that the entire episode is an energy struggle, though with some new twists. It is cool to see everything come together at the end of the series. I like that it’s not just one person saving the day. I like that it’s not Goku or somebody unlocking a new super saiyan level and finishing the enemy. Everyone on the entire planet gives their energy to the spirit bomb. They all join together and donate everything they have. We get to see glimpses of dozens of characters dating all the way back to the very first episodes of Dragonball. Over four hundred episodes at this point and so many characters; The Spirit Bomb is a nice way to wrap things up. Thus ends my favorite DBZ episodes. I’ve got a whole bunch of dragonball z blogs lined up, so there will be more on the way. Until we meet again.