For those who’ve never watched DragonBall, season one puts you into the DragonBall Z universe without the need to watch the previous series. It definitely establishes how series the tone of the series is going to be. The animation has evolved, feeling more mature but retaining much of the original art style (though it has aged).

Two of the best elements of season one are the developing arcs by Goku’s rival Piccolo and Goku’s son Gohan. In preparation for the Saiyans Nappa and Vegeta, Piccolo takes Gohan to train him, and we get to see Gohan’s transformation from a whiny child into a warrior and Piccolo’s development from a villain to an ally. It’s great leading to one of the most significant moments in the series.

Season one also reveals the origins of Goku, who’s revealed to be an alien called a Saiyan sent to Earth to conquer it. Saiyans are alien warriors who love and gain strength from fighting. Those who’ve wondered about Goku’s origins, how he gets so strong, why he has a tail, why he eats so much, and his transformation into a giant ape; all your questions have been answered. Definitely a plot that gives depth to the story and opens the franchise.

And having introduced the Saiyans, let’s talk about our antagonists Raditz, Nappa, and Vegeta, Saiyans who’ve come to Earth to recruit Goke and use the Dragon Balls. Raditz is Goku’s brother, Vegeta is the Prince of Saiyans, and Nappa’s his right hand. I love these three as they represent what Goku could’ve been with their ruthlessness and the very nature Goku’s forgotten. I think all three actually have unique personalities, Raditz’s ruthlessness, Nappa’s an impatient brute, and Vegeta’s arrogance.

Some may think the season has bad pacing and honestly the episodes between the major battles does seem slow. But the build up from the fight with Raditz to the fight with Nappa and Vegeta is well worth the wait. Some of the best moments in the series are featured in this season such as the fight with Raditz, the epic fight between Goku and Vegeta, and Piccolo sacrificing his life for Gohan.

In the end, DragonBall Z (Season 1) just breaks nearly all my expectations. The storytelling is great showing the evolution from DragonBall to this sequel series which takes everything from DragonBall and takes it to the next level. DragonBall Z (Season 1)gets 4 out of 5.