Dragon Ball Z Ep 5: Gohan's Rage

We open on Gohan's true power being shown.  Somehow his power level is so high he manages to hurt Raditz with a headbutt to the chest.  Considering this child doesn't even train and he managed to do something Goku and Piccolo combined couldn't is pretty interesting and sets up the mystery of how Gohan is so strong.

While Raditz is distracted by his desire to kill Gohan, Goku grabs him from behind in a full nelson.  Now Piccolo has the time to charge up his attack, and he knows it will land because Raditz can't move.  The only problem with this plan is that Goku will be killed by the attack as well.  Goku being the hero he is sacrifices his life so that this villain can be defeated.

Piccolo taunts Raditz before he dies by telling him it's no big deal for Goku, as his friends will wish him back using the Dragon Balls.  Unfortunately for Piccolo and the Earth, Raditz isn't the only one who hears this information.  Before Raditz dies he tells our heroes that there are other Saiyans listening in, who are even more powerful than he is, and they are on their way now that they know about the Dragon Balls.  We also see the mysterious Saiyans talking with each other, already deciding they want to wish for eternal life so that they can become something called a Super Saiyan.  

This whole introduction is an important one, as it sets the course for this show. It opens our Dragon Ball universe up for endless possibilities now that we know there are other aliens out there who are very strong.  It also shows the writers are not afraid to kill off main characters even early in the series (even if they can be brought back).  Who would have guessed when DBZ started that Goku would be dead within 5 episodes?  We know at this point that anything is game in this series.

Dragon Ball Z ep 3: Unlikely Alliance

The episode opens with Goku down and unable to get up.  His brother Raditz wants him to kill 100 earthlings in 24 hours or threatens something bad will happen to his son Gohan.  Frankly, with what we know about Raditz already, there is no reason to believe he is lying about hurting or killing Gohan, this is one bad guy.

On top of all of that, Raditz has decided to conquer the earth and clear it of life, so they can sell it as the Saiyans do with other planets.  Though things seem hopeless, Goku remembers something that could aid him.  When he had a tail, it hurt him when someone grabbed it.  The same trick may work on his brother if he can get a hold of his tail.

Next thing you know Piccolo shows up on Roshi's island and it looks like things just went from bad to worse but Piccolo makes an interesting offer.  Piccolo suggests him and Goku should team up, forming an unlikely alliance, in order to defeat this new more powerful foe.....with the understanding that as soon as Raditz is defeated they become enemies again.  It's not the greatest deal ever but what choice to they have?

Meanwhile, Raditz gets a reading on his scouter that can't be correct.  His crying nephew Gohan has a power level higher than his Dad's and Piccolo's combined!  He assumes his scouter is broken until Goku and Piccolo show up and that confirms what his scouter was reading off to him.  How could such a little child, who doesn't even train, be so powerful?

Goku and Piccolo reveal they are both wearing weighted clothes and when removed their power levels a little higher but still no match for Raditz and he easily moves past them both and attacks without them even being able to react to it.  The episode ends with a standoff that it looks like our heroes just can't win.

I give this episode 3.5 out of 4 stars. 

Dragon Ball Z Ep 2: Reunion

Here we go, episode 2!  Things really swing into gear in this one.

We open on a little get together of some classic Dragon Ball characters like Krillin, Bulma and Master Roshi.  Not much has changed with them, besides not seeing each other for years.  Krillin wants a girlfriend, Bulma is mad at Yamcha for going out with another girl and Master Roshi is, well, still Master Roshi.

Goku and Gohan then shows up on Roshi's Island with everyone else.  We find out that Gohan isn't allowed to train in martial arts because his Mom thinks it's a waste of time and instead spends his time studying (which is why he is such a wimp unlike his Dad at that age).  Goku apparently hasn't been training much either but is still stronger (as noted by Master Roshi) then he was 5 years ago.

Here is where the revelations really start.  Goku's brother Raditz shows up and explains that Goku is an alien who was sent to Earth to destroy it (making Goku like Superman, just coming to another planet for the opposite purpose).  Because Goku hit his head as a baby he forgot his mission and started over with a blank slate.  He then grew up to be the hero we all know.  We find out why Goku turns into a giant ape when there is a full moon, it's an ability all Saiyans (Goku's race) have.

Raditz wants to recruit Goku for a job, but when Goku turns him down we quickly learn Goku is no match for his brother who has been out fighting powerful beings his whole life.  Since Gohan still has his tail (which is what lets Saiyans turn into giant apes) Raditz decides to recruit him instead.  At this point we see that DBZ is going to be very large scale and have epic battles with beings far beyond anything we have seen so far in DB.

4 out of 4 stars

Dragon Ball Z Ep 1: The New Threat

Hey guys, welcome to my first Dragon Ball Z review.  I have seen every episode before, but it's been a while so I have the pleasure of rewatching them for this review.

Where else to start but at the beginning?  The New Threat is the first episode of the series and picks up 5 years after Dragon Ball ended.  Our heroes have been experiencing a time of peace but things are about to change when a mysterious new villain arrives.

This episode mostly just introduces us to several of the main characters, including Goku, Chi-Chi (Goku's wife), Gohan (Goku's son), and Piccolo (the strongest villain from the original Dragon Ball).  It also introduces a new villain we know nothing about except that he can from another planet, somehow knows Goku (but for some reason calls him a different name) and is very strong (stronger than Piccolo). 

Though it's a fairly tame episode for this series it does it's job of showing what happened to some of the characters from the original Dragon Ball series, or introduces them to us for the first time if you have never seen the older series (you don't have to have seen the old series to enjoy this one, you will just know a lot more about the main characters back stories and connections to each other). 

This episode peaks a Dragon Ball fans interest to see what is going on and to find out who this new villain Raditz is and if he is stronger than Goku.  Though it's not that action packed it does set everything up for a future fight.

I give The New Threat a 2.5 out of 4 stars. 

Dragon Ball Z characters- Goku

Who is your favorite Dragon Ball Z character?  Which one is most like you?

My favorite character is Goku because he always trys to do what is right and stands up for those weaker than himself.  He was born strong but had to work hard and train to overcome virtually all of his opponents.  It's that constant struggle to become more than you are and to always improve that motivates him.  Even if he has no one to fight or defend the world against he would still be training everyday because it's what he loves.

There are many other memorable characters on the show but for those reasons mentioned above, Goku is the man!