Dragon Ball Z

Toei Animation
Adventure / Fantasy / ActionTV291 EP/26 Apr 1989

Oshimeter

8.5
18,225 Ratings
— Want to Watch
— Watched

Synopsis

For five years, Earth's strongest fighter, Goku, has been living a quiet life with his wife and kid, until his alien brother shows up, tells him he's from a warrior race called the Saiyans, and that he was originally sent to Earth as a baby to destroy it. A head injury as a child wiped his memory, so instead of conquering the planet, he ended up protecting it. Now the past he never knew about is coming for him, and it brings threats way beyond anything he's faced before. That's the first two episodes. and then it just keeps escalating for 291 more. Dragon Ball Z is a TV series from 1989 by Toei Animation, and it's basically the template that modern shonen was built on. The power system revolves around transformations, Super Saiyan being the most iconic, and every new form feels earned because the stakes keep getting higher. The tone swings between genuinely tense fights and goofy comedy in a way that somehow works. If you liked Naruto's big emotional battles or the long-running crew dynamics in One Piece, this is where that DNA comes from. Yu Yu Hakusho fans will recognize the tournament arcs and escalating villain threats too. At 291 episodes there's filler, yeah, but the core arcs: Saiyan, Frieza, Cell, Buu, are the reason an entire generation got into anime. The soundtrack alone still hits.

Episode Guide

Oshimeter0-5960-7980-100Upcoming
1
Episode 1The New Threat
Great
93%
of 71 ratingsrecommend
2
Episode 2Reunions
Great
97%
of 74 ratingsrecommend
3
Episode 3Unlikely Alliance
Great
95%
of 65 ratingsrecommend
4
Episode 4Piccolo's Plan
Great
98%
of 74 ratingsrecommend
5
Episode 5Gohan's Rage
Great
97%
of 60 ratingsrecommend
6
Episode 6No Time Like the Present
Great
87%
of 72 ratingsrecommend
7
Episode 7Day 1
Great
85%
of 76 ratingsrecommend
8
Episode 8Gohan Goes Bananas!
Great
91%
of 74 ratingsrecommend
9
Episode 9The Strangest Robot
Great
94%
of 63 ratingsrecommend
10
Episode 10A New Friend
Great
82%
of 59 ratingsrecommend
11
Episode 11Terror on Arlia
Great
89%
of 70 ratingsrecommend
12
Episode 12Global Training
Great
77%
of 72 ratingsrecommend
13
Episode 13Goz and Mez
Great
78%
of 75 ratingsrecommend
14
Episode 14Princess Snake
Great
75%
of 59 ratingsrecommend
15
Episode 15Dueling Piccolos
Great
83%
of 73 ratingsrecommend
16
Episode 16Plight of the Children
Great
83%
of 65 ratingsrecommend
17
Episode 17Pendulum Room Peril
Great
90%
of 65 ratingsrecommend
18
Episode 18The End of Snake Way
Great
90%
of 70 ratingsrecommend
19
Episode 19Defying Gravity
Great
91%
of 58 ratingsrecommend
20
Episode 20Goku's Ancestors
Great
92%
of 78 ratingsrecommend
21
Episode 21Counting Down
Great
98%
of 58 ratingsrecommend
22
Episode 22The Darkest Day
Great
97%
of 62 ratingsrecommend
23
Episode 23Saibamen Attack!
Great
94%
of 60 ratingsrecommend
24
Episode 24The Power of Nappa
Great
97%
of 62 ratingsrecommend
25
Episode 25Sacrifice
Great
92%
of 78 ratingsrecommend
26
Episode 26Nappa's Rampage
Great
91%
of 63 ratingsrecommend
27
Episode 27Nimbus Speed
Great
94%
of 74 ratingsrecommend
28
Episode 28Goku's Arrival
Great
97%
of 71 ratingsrecommend
29
Episode 29Lesson Number One
Great
100%
of 61 ratingsrecommend
30
Episode 30Goku vs. Vegeta
Great
100%
of 71 ratingsrecommend
31
Episode 31Saiyan Sized Secret
Great
97%
of 70 ratingsrecommend
32
Episode 32Spirit Bomb Away!
Great
98%
of 65 ratingsrecommend
33
Episode 33Hero in the Shadows
Great
97%
of 69 ratingsrecommend
34
Episode 34Krillin's Offensive
Great
89%
of 77 ratingsrecommend
35
Episode 35Mercy
Great
84%
of 62 ratingsrecommend
36
Episode 36Picking Up the Pieces
Great
94%
of 75 ratingsrecommend
37
Episode 37Plans for Departure
Great
88%
of 74 ratingsrecommend
38
Episode 38Nursing Wounds
Great
68%
of 60 ratingsrecommend
39
Episode 39Friends or Foes?
Mid
56%
of 71 ratingsrecommend
40
Episode 40Held Captive
Mid
63%
of 59 ratingsrecommend
41
Episode 41Look Out Below
Mid
37%
of 56 ratingsrecommend
42
Episode 42The Search Continues
Mid
46%
of 63 ratingsrecommend
43
Episode 43A Friendly Surprise
Mid
59%
of 62 ratingsrecommend
44
Episode 44Brood of Evil
Great
90%
of 67 ratingsrecommend
45
Episode 45Frieza Strikes!
Great
95%
of 71 ratingsrecommend
46
Episode 46Defying Orders
Great
96%
of 54 ratingsrecommend
47
Episode 47Namek's Defense
Great
98%
of 61 ratingsrecommend
48
Episode 48The Hunted
Great
96%
of 53 ratingsrecommend
49
Episode 49The Prince Fights Back
Great
97%
of 53 ratingsrecommend
50
Episode 50Unexpected Problem
Great
88%
of 67 ratingsrecommend
51
Episode 51Vegeta Has a Ball
Great
94%
of 66 ratingsrecommend
52
Episode 52The Past and Future
Great
97%
of 59 ratingsrecommend
53
Episode 53Zarbon's Surprise
Great
92%
of 66 ratingsrecommend
54
Episode 54Guru's Gift
Great
96%
of 54 ratingsrecommend
55
Episode 55Piccolo vs. Everyone
Great
93%
of 64 ratingsrecommend
56
Episode 56Zarbon's Mission
Great
88%
of 56 ratingsrecommend
57
Episode 57Gohan, the Hunted
Great
95%
of 56 ratingsrecommend
58
Episode 58Unknown Enemies
Great
91%
of 71 ratingsrecommend
59
Episode 59Destination: Guru
Great
72%
of 51 ratingsrecommend
60
Episode 60Bulma's Big Day
Great
69%
of 65 ratingsrecommend
61
Episode 61Hidden Power
Great
91%
of 55 ratingsrecommend
62
Episode 62New Ally, New Problem
Great
95%
of 63 ratingsrecommend
63
Episode 63Guldo's Mind Binds
Great
94%
of 63 ratingsrecommend
64
Episode 64Recoome Unleashed
Great
97%
of 70 ratingsrecommend
65
Episode 65Let the Battle Begin
Great
99%
of 51 ratingsrecommend
66
Episode 66Goku's New Power
Great
97%
of 69 ratingsrecommend
67
Episode 67A Legend Revealed
Great
96%
of 56 ratingsrecommend
68
Episode 68Ginyu Assault
Great
74%
of 55 ratingsrecommend
69
Episode 69Incredible Force!
Great
95%
of 64 ratingsrecommend
70
Episode 70Frieza Approaches
Great
88%
of 69 ratingsrecommend
71
Episode 71Goku is Ginyu and Ginyu is Goku
Great
88%
of 54 ratingsrecommend
72
Episode 72Calling the Eternal Dragon
Great
91%
of 64 ratingsrecommend
73
Episode 73Gohan, Defeat Your Dad!
Great
91%
of 69 ratingsrecommend
74
Episode 74Captain Ginyu... The Frog
Great
94%
of 59 ratingsrecommend
75
Episode 75Password is Porunga
Great
94%
of 58 ratingsrecommend
76
Episode 76Piccolo's Return
Great
92%
of 53 ratingsrecommend
77
Episode 77The Fusion
Great
90%
of 62 ratingsrecommend
78
Episode 78Fighting Power: One Million?
Great
97%
of 64 ratingsrecommend
79
Episode 79Gohan Attacks
Great
96%
of 71 ratingsrecommend
80
Episode 80Piccolo the Super-Namek
Great
95%
of 61 ratingsrecommend
81
Episode 81Deja Vu
Great
83%
of 54 ratingsrecommend
82
Episode 82Frieza's Second Transformation
Great
91%
of 67 ratingsrecommend
83
Episode 83Another Transformation?
Great
90%
of 51 ratingsrecommend
84
Episode 84Dende's Demise
Great
90%
of 52 ratingsrecommend
85
Episode 85The Renewed Goku
Great
97%
of 65 ratingsrecommend
86
Episode 86The End of Vegeta
Great
98%
of 63 ratingsrecommend
87
Episode 87The Ultimate Battle
Great
94%
of 54 ratingsrecommend
88
Episode 88Clash of the Super Powers
Great
85%
of 68 ratingsrecommend
89
Episode 89Frieza's Boast
Great
87%
of 64 ratingsrecommend
90
Episode 90Bold and Fearless
Great
80%
of 56 ratingsrecommend
91
Episode 91Embodiment of Fire
Great
86%
of 69 ratingsrecommend
92
Episode 92Trump Card
Great
92%
of 68 ratingsrecommend
93
Episode 93Keep the Chance Alive!!
Great
90%
of 62 ratingsrecommend
94
Episode 94Power of the Spirit
Great
90%
of 63 ratingsrecommend
95
Episode 95Transformed at Last
Great
100%
of 56 ratingsrecommend
96
Episode 96Explosion of Anger
Great
96%
of 66 ratingsrecommend
97
Episode 97Namek's Destruction?
Great
84%
of 58 ratingsrecommend
98
Episode 98A Final Attack
Great
82%
of 61 ratingsrecommend
99
Episode 99Approaching Destruction
Great
92%
of 56 ratingsrecommend
100
Episode 100Gohan Returns
Great
87%
of 61 ratingsrecommend

Characters

Gokuu Son

Saiyan warrior Goku, raised on Earth, fights powerful foes to protect his friends and family.

Schemmel Sean

Vegeta

Proud Saiyan prince, initially villainous, evolves into a powerful, caring hero and family man.

Sabat Christopher

Gohan Son

Half-Saiyan scholar, Gohan, balances studies with extraordinary fighting prowess.

Clinkenbeard Colleen

Piccolo

Stoic Namekian warrior, initially Goku's nemesis, later a key ally and Gohan's mentor.

Sabat Christopher

Kuririn

Krillin: Goku's best friend, a powerful Z fighter, and loving husband and father.

Strait Sonny

MANGA BRIDGE

This season covers Chapters 195-519 of the manga. Continue reading from Chapter 195.

Manga cover

Community Feed

Someone and 100 others rated 8.6
EP 291
akumapulse★★★★☆VerifiedEP 39

Episode 39 of Dragon Ball Z takes a step back from the intensity of earlier battles and instead offers a lighthearted detour. The story shifts toward exploration and comedy as the travelers encounter a mysterious spacecraft, creating a tone that feels more like a playful interlude than a high‑stakes confrontation. This change of pace allows the audience to breathe, while still keeping the journey engaging. The rhythm of the episode is steady and relaxed, moving smoothly through moments of banter and discovery. The visuals remain crisp and consistent, with the spaceship interior and cosmic backdrop providing a distinctive setting that feels fresh within the series. Humor and character dynamics drive the writing, giving the episode a warm, found‑family atmosphere even though the plot itself is relatively thin. Emotional resonance comes not from dramatic stakes but from the camaraderie among the travelers, which makes the episode feel cozy and inviting. The soundtrack supports this mood with unobtrusive, light sci‑fi themes that blend seamlessly into the background. Ultimately, this installment works best as a comfortable pit stop in the larger saga. It doesn’t push the narrative forward in significant ways, but it enriches the journey by highlighting the bonds between characters and offering a playful break from combat. Episode 39 reminds viewers that Dragon Ball Z is not only about battles and power‑ups, but also about the quieter, comedic interludes that give the series its rhythm and charm.

2

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