“Dragon Ball Z“is a groundbreaking achievement in shonen anime that helped catapult the franchise to Akira Toriyama to unprecedented heights. Each “Dragon Ball” series has something unique to offer and slightly different flavors, but “Dragon Ball Z” is often celebrated as the pinnacle of the franchise. Many of the big moments and signature tropes of “Dragon Ball” occur in “Dragon Ball Z,” and the series wouldn’t be where it is today without the ambitious developments of the action-packed sequels.

Super Saiyan transformations, fusion, new alien species, and unforgettable villains with apocalyptic powers all originated in “Dragon Ball Z.” At 291 episodes, “Dragon Ball Z” is not a short anime, but there is usually something to enjoy in each episode, even in its numerous filler episodes. That said, what are the best episodes of the franchise according to critics on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)? It's time to find out.

10. Episode 229 – “Goku Vs. Vegeta”

Babidi has managed to gain control of Vegeta, who wants to fight Kakarot with all his might. Vegeta murders numerous bystanders in order to pressure Goku into fighting him with all his might. For a moment, Supreme Kai tells Goku that if he wants to fight Vegeta, he must fight him first. Goku points his hand at him and shows that he can launch something like a Genkidama at him, at which point Supreme Kai gives up on stopping the fight. Goku finally accepts the challenge but demands that the fight be held in a location far from civilization to avoid endangering the lives of innocent humans. Since Vegeta refuses to fight Supreme Kai, Babidi opens the gate for him and Gohan to pass through, on the recommendation of Dabura, who plans to defeat them. Meanwhile, Goku tells Vegeta that he wants to finish the fight using his maximum power, and Vegeta tells Goku that he wants to see the results of Goku's training in the other world, which infuriates Goku so much that he transforms into Super Saiyan 2, the same power Gohan had when he faced Cell. Vegeta isn't too surprised by this transformation, as he transforms into Super Saiyan 2 without becoming enraged.

9. Episode 35 – “A Miracle Happens! Gohan’s Transformation”

Vegeta tries to rip off Gohan's tail to prevent him from looking at his artificial moon and transforming into an Ozaru, but Yajirobe jumps in and stops him by cutting his armor with his sword, creating a distraction. Gohan recovers and, following Goku's telepathic orders, looks at Vegeta's moon and transforms into an Ozaru. However, unlike Vegeta, Gohan cannot control himself in this state. But quickly restrained by Goku and Krillin's shouts for him to defeat Vegeta, Gohan quickly regains some of his consciousness and resumes the fight, defeating Vegeta. Knowing that the artificial moon he created will disappear in less than an hour, he tries his best to cut off Vegeta's tail to cancel the transformation. Finally, Vegeta manages to cut off Gohan's tail in mid-air, but as Gohan falls to Earth, he lands on top of Vegeta and crushes him before finally reverting to his normal form. Vegeta pulls out his remote and summons his spaceship. As she crawls toward him, Krillin attempts to kill him with Yajirobe's sword. Goku tells him to stop and let Vegeta go. With his life spared, Vegeta boards his ship, vowing to the Z Fighters to enjoy their lives while they can, because the next time he returns for revenge, they will pay dearly. Moments later, Vegeta's ship takes off, with Vegeta collapsing from exhaustion, and leaves planet Earth momentarily, ending the battle with the Prince of Saiyans.

8. Episode 104 – “Freezer's Self Destruction”

As the imminent explosion of Planet Namek approaches, the evil Freezer continues his confrontation with Goku, using a pink destructive disc. However, the technique proves largely futile in his attempts to finish him off, something Goku himself makes Freezer acknowledge. However, the evil villain decides to fire a second destructive disc at him, hoping that both discs will follow Goku until one of them hits him or something else. Still, Goku has the situation under control and begins brutally beating Freezer to the ground. But just as Freezer was about to get up to retaliate, in a minor oversight, the villain ends up being cut in half by his own destructive disc and falls to the ground. Now, with this minor misfortune, Goku simply approaches Freezer to emphasize that he sowed the seeds of his own downfall through his arrogance and that he will now share the fate of Planet Namek. But in the midst of this, a dying Freezer begs Gokū for mercy so that he doesn't die on Namek, which angers Gokū, who complains to Freezer that Freezer is only out for his own gain and that how many of his past victims have begged him for mercy and pity for their lives and Freezer didn't even have the decency to give them a chance to live. But, even with all this and being the kind-hearted person that he is, Gokū decides to transfer a small part of his energy to Freezer, enough so that he can move and escape the planet's destruction.

7. Episode 66 – “The Legendary Super Saiyan, Gokū”

Goku finally arrives on Planet Namek and finds Krillin, Gohan, and Vegeta nearly dead. He gives them all a Senzu Seed and prepares to fight the Ginyu Force. With a single punch to the stomach, he knocks out Recoome. Goku's training with 100x gravity has exponentially increased his strength.

6. Episode 86 – “A Proud Saiyan Dies: Vegeta”

Goku has entered the battlefield stronger than ever and prepares to fight Freezer alone. It seems Goku may become a Super Saiyan, as he easily deflects Freezer's energy blasts. While Vegeta taunts Freezer, claiming Goku is the "true Super Saiyan," the tyrant easily finishes him off with an energy beam to the heart and a fit of cruel laughter. With his dying breath, Vegeta tells Goku what Freezer did to the Saiyans and begs him to defeat Freezer. After Vegeta is buried, Goku prepares to fight Freezer, who has yet to be defeated by anyone.

5. Episode 96 – “Gokū will avenge everyone’s death.”

To Freezer's horror, Gokū has finally become a Super Saiyan, surrounded by a golden aura; fueling this power is his rage against Freezer. When Gohan takes Piccolo to Gokū's spaceship, the Saiyan begins attacking Freezer, while the tyrant retaliates, but none of his attacks work against Gokū, now that he is a Super Saiyan. It seems that Freezer will finally be defeated.

4. Episode 30 – “A fight off the edge; Gokū vs Vegeta”.

Goku instructs Krillin and Gohan to leave the battlefield, as he doesn't want them to get hurt. With no one standing in their way, Goku and Vegeta begin their fight for the fate of Earth. Even with Goku using his Kaio-ken technique, Vegeta is even more powerful. Goku has no choice but to attempt a Kaio-ken x2, but even with this power increase, he still can't overpower Vegeta. His only option is to attempt a Kaio-ken x3, but the incredible power increase could destroy his body.

3. Episode 120 – “The End of the Freezer”

The "mysterious young man" confronts Freezer, King Cold, and their soldiers. The soldiers attack the stranger but are cut down by his sword. The stranger announces that he knows Goku and that he is a Super Saiyan. He transforms into a Super Saiyan, and the Z Fighters wonder if it is Goku they sense. Freezer tries three times to defeat the stranger, but fails. He throws a Death Ball 10 times larger than the one that destroyed Namek, but the stranger catches it and shatters it. The stranger then draws his sword and cuts Freezer in half.

2. Episode 237 – “Vegeta Fights for the Ones He Loves”

Trunks can no longer bear the brutal beating his father is suffering and rushes to his aid. Goten chases after him, and Piccolo is forced to intervene, but Goten also goes to Vegeta. Thanks to their help, Vegeta manages to briefly free himself from the monster. Piccolo fights Babidi and kills him to avoid further danger. At this point, Vegeta makes a difficult decision. He's just realized that he'll need all his power to defeat Buu, and that doing so will end his life. But he seems determined to do it. The decision has been made, and there's no turning back…

1. Episode 95 – “Gokū finally transforms into the Legendary Super Saiyan.”

The battle seems to be over, as Freezer has seemingly been defeated, and the Ginyu Forces have been driven from Kaio-sama's planet to Hell by the remaining Z Fighters. As everyone celebrates, Freezer reappears and pulls no punches; he first fires a blast at Gokū, but Piccolo dives in front of him and takes the blast, knocking him unconscious. Freezer then fires another blast and uses it to send Krillin flying, killing him. Filled with rage at the loss of his best friend, Gokū's power increases exponentially, and he ascends to become a Super Saiyan, with spiky golden hair and green eyes.

Source: Internet Movie Database