Dragon Ball Z Review: Shouting, Powering Up and Fighting
8/10 — Dragon Ball Z (1989)
Pros
- Iconic fights and transformations
- Memorable villains
- Huge influence
Cons
- Slow pacing
- Padded episodes
Goku, a Saiyan warrior raised on Earth, and his friends defend the planet against enemies like Vegeta, Frieza and Cell. The series follows the original Dragon Ball.
What works
The fights are thrilling and the transformations iconic, particularly Goku’s first Super Saiyan. The Frieza and Cell sagas build great tension, and the series has a childlike enthusiasm.
Where it falters
Fights drag out for many episodes, with plenty of padding, and the pacing is notoriously slow.
Verdict
Great fun at its best, and legendary, if padded.
