Arc Information
| Original Run: | 02 August 2009 – 01 November 2009 (14 weeks) |
| Corresponding: | Dragon Ball Kai Episodes 017 – 030 (14 episodes) Dragon Ball Chapters 241 – 278 (38 chapters; approx. 2.7 chapters per episode) |
| Filler Content: | 95% Canon / 5% Filler |
| Rating Shares: | Average: 8.2% Maximum: 9.4% (Episode 029) Minimum: 6.4% (Episode 018) |
Arc Synopsis
Goku and co. barely manage to drive Vegeta from the Earth. However, many of their allies were killed, and the Dragon Balls ceased to be. Thinking that there might be Dragon Balls there, Bulma and co. journey by spaceship to God’s birthplace, Planet Namek. However, at the same time Freeza had also heard of the Dragon Balls, and headed for Planet Namek aiming to find them. Knowing this, Vegeta came following after him, and then Goku came as well. The various warriors from around the galaxy began to gather on Planet Namek, and a new battle for the Dragon Balls begins.
On Planet Namek, Freeza and his men push the limits of inhumanity, killing anyone who gets in their way. Gohan somehow manages to rescue a Namekian child, Dende. Elsewhere, arriving on Planet Namek on his own, Vegeta also begins to slaughter Namekians and gather Dragon Balls. Defeating Freeza’s underlings, he aims to recapture the Dragon Balls Freeza already has. However, being no match for a transformed Zarbon, one of Freeza’s henchmen, Vegeta is captured by Freeza. Meanwhile, Goku continues training in the gravity room of his spaceship on his way to Planet Namek.
Kuririn was able to meet Planet Namek’s Eldest, but his Dragon Ball was stolen by Vegeta, who had escaped from Freeza. Because he was revived from the brink of death, Vegeta powered up even further. Though he had been beaten before, Vegeta easily defeated Zarbon in his transformed state. However, Freeza played his next hand and called on the even more frightfully powerful Ginyu Special-Squad. Before their overwhelming power, Vegeta, Gohan, and Kuririn were completely unable to put up a fight.
With the power of the Ginyu Special-Squad, Freeza was finally able to gather all seven Dragon Balls. However, not knowing the crucial method of getting one’s wish granted, he flies to the location of the surviving Namekian, the Eldest. Vegeta and co. were about to be killed by Recoom, one of the Ginyu Special-Squad, but at the last moment Goku finally arrived.
Episode List (017 — 030)
Gekisen no Yoake… Kibō no Hoshi wa Pikkoro no Furusato
Dawn of the Fierce Battle… The Planet of Hope is Piccolo’s Homeland
“Z” Director: Daisuke Nishio & Tatsuya Orime
Yunzabitto ni Nemuru Uchūsen! Namekkusei he Iza Hasshin
The Spaceship that Sleeps in Yunzabit! Blast Off For Planet Namek
“Z” Director: Jōhei Matsūra & Yoshihiro Ueda
Arata Naru Kyōteki! Uchū no Teiō Furīza
A Formidable New Enemy! Emperor of the Universe, Freeza
“Z” Director: Daisuke Nishio, Mitsuo Hashimoto, Jōhei Matsūra, Yoshihiro Ueda, & Tatsuya Orime
Furīza e no Hangyaku! Yabō ni Moeru Bejīta
Rebellion Against Freeza! Vegeta, Burning With Ambition
“Z” Director: Shigeyasu Yamauchi, Mitsuo Hashimoto, & Yoshihiro Ueda
Mamore Doragon Bōru! Namekku-seijin Sōkōgeki
Protect the Dragon Balls! The Namekian Offensive
“Z” Director: Mitsuo Hashimoto & Yoshihiro Ueda
Mōtsui Dodoria no Kyōfu! Bejīta ni Akasu Shinjitsu
Dodoria in Terrifying Hot Pursuit! Vegeta Learns the Truth
“Z” Director: Minoru Okazaki & Shigeyasu Yamauchi
Anyaku no Bejīta! Namekku-seijin o Osō Higeki
Vegeta’s Secret Maneuvering! The Namekians are Tragically Attacked
“Z” Director: Mitsuo Hashimoto & Yoshihiro Ueda
Yomigaeru Nakama-tachi! Bisenshi Zābon Akuma no Henshin
Resurrected Comrades! The Handsome Warrior Zarbon’s Devilish Transformation
“Z” Director: Yoshihiro Ueda, Mitsuo Hashimoto, & Shigeyasu Yamauchi
Pawā Appu da Kuririn! Ugomeku Furīza no Yokan
It’s a Power-Up, Kuririn! Freeza’s Nagging Premonition
“Z” Director: Shigeyasu Yamauchi & Minoru Okazaki
Kudake Chire Inbō! Gyakushū no Bejīta Tai Zābon
The Plot is Smashed! The Counterattack, Vegeta vs Zarbon
“Z” Director: Tatsuya Orime, Yoshihiro Ueda, & Shigeyasu Yamauchi
Isshokusokuhatsu no Pinchi! Gohan yo Sūshinchū o Mamore
A Hair-Trigger Pinch! Gohan, Protect the Four-Star Ball
“Z” Director: Shigeyasu Yamauchi, Mitsuo Hashimoto, Jōhei Matsūra, & Yoshihiro Ueda
Semaru Chō-Kessen! Ginyū Tokusentai Tadaima Sanjō!
The Super Decisive Battle Draws Near! The Ginyu Special-Squad Has Arrived!
“Z” Director: Yoshihiro Ueda & Tatsuya Orime
Tokusentai no Ichibante! Gurudo no Jubaku o Uchi Kuzuse
The Special-Squad’s Frontline Man! Break Gurd’s Spell
“Z” Director: Shigeyasu Yamauchi, Jun’ichi Fujise, & Kazuhito Kikuchi
Jigoku no Rikūmu! Tanoshimasero yo Bejīta-chan
The Hellish Recoom! Keep Me Entertained, Vegeta-chan
“Z” Director: Minoru Okazaki & Yoshihiro Ueda