The Best of Dragonball Z: Part Four

"Dragonball Z" is an anime full of tense moments, tons of suspense, and a never-ending slew of exciting conflicts. Picking the top moments out of the entire series can be mind-boggling. Amusing episodes, like the occasion when Bulma forces Vegeta to take his first earthly shower, stand out, but there are many more poignant and edge-of-your-seat moments to choose from.

Although it was shown only in a flashback early in the series, one of the first exciting moments that spring to mind is the one in which young Gohan, still a newborn, powers up his energy level enough to blast a hole through a tree. This incident was just a prelude to Gohan's future in the series, as he would go on to become one of the most powerful Saiyans on Earth. It was also extremely exciting for old-time "Dragonball" fans who had watched Gohan's father, Goku, grow in power and strength during the previous series.

A less jubilant and far tenser moment in the series came during the battles with the Saiyans from space, who brought with them their henchmen, the Saibamen. The little green Saibamen had the annoying ability to blow themselves up, destroying their opponents in the process. Yamcha, one of only two human member of the Z Frighters, bravely faced down one of the creatures, unaware of this special ability. He was killed in the battle, an early death in the series that would set a precedent for years to come.

One of the most important moments in the entire series came at the climax of the Saiyan Saga, when Goku was fighting bad guy boss Frieza. It was during this battle that Goku's power level rose to a new height, allowing him to change into what was called a Super Saiyan, and beginning the series of transformations that would become a staple of Dragonball fighting. This seminal moment was immediately followed by Goku's memorable speech to Frieza about who and what he was.

His words set the stage for the rest of the series: "I am the hope of the universe. I am the answer to all living things that cry out for peace. I am the protector of the innocent. I am the light in the darkness. I am truth. Ally to good! Nightmare to you! I am a Super Saiyan!"

A moment that told a lot about another character in DBZ came during the Cell Saga. The evil android Cell was set to absorb Android 18, who had been on his side up to that point. His goal was to use her power to transform himself into a more perfect form. Although the Z Fighters had been battling the androids, one of them, Krillin, had fallen in love with Android 18. When Krillin was given the opportunity to destroy her by setting off a self-destruct bomb, he was torn between love and logic. He finally opted not to set off the bomb, allowing Cell to eventually absorb her. Luckily, though, a subsequent encounter with Gohan caused Cell to un-absorb Android 18, and she and Krillin would be married later in the series.

An exciting, if not particularly dramatic, moment in the series follows Cell's de-absorption of Android 18. While Krillin and 18 are making their getaway, Z Fighter Tien distracts Cell with an impressive burst of energy called the Tri-Beam Cannon. And then does it again. And again. He repeats the process so many times it's easy to lose count. Although Tien is not typically considered one of the most powerful fighters on DBZ, he showed in this scene just how far he can push himself, pummeling Cell literally into the ground.

One of the most unusual moments in the series would have to be the fight between Dabura, the self-proclaimed "King of the Demons," and two of the Z Fighters, Krillin and Piccolo. Dabura's unique talent was to spit some sort of acidic substance at his enemies that would turn them to stone. It was a fairly unique attack in a series that usually relied on brute force for the progression of most of its battles. It also resulted in a rather suspenseful moment, when young Goten and Trunks accidentally knocked over the new Piccolo statue, breaking him into dozens of pieces. Fortunately, Piccolo's regenerative abilities precluded any real danger for him.

The final top moment on the list would have to be the one that involves the namesake for the "Dragonball Z" series and the Z Fighters. Gohan had been given the legendary Z Sword, and he was training to use it on the world-destroying Majin Buu. Goku, in an effort to help him test the sword's strength, began hurling heavy objects through the air for Gohan to cleave in two. The experiment went wrong, or right if you already know the secret of the sword, when it was shattered into pieces after striking the strongest substance in the universe, a large, heavy black cube. The destruction of the ultimate weapon at first seemed to be the worst possible development to occur at that point in the series. But it turned out to be for the best, since an ancient protector of the universe had been trapped inside the sword and was now released in order to begin training Gohan to become even stronger. Each fan of "Dragonball Z" is bound to have his/her own favorite moments from the show, but the importance and excitement of some episodes is undeniable.