Dragon Ball Z Revealed Gohan’s Destiny in its Forgotten 1st Episode

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Akira Toriyama built upon the original Dragon Ball in Dragon Ball Z, but the introduction of Gohan, Goku’s son, truly transformed the series. Like Goku at the start of Dragon Ball, Gohan begins as a kind, brave young boy with amazing hidden power, and he continues to grow stronger throughout Dragon Ball Z.

From the very beginning of Dragon Ball Z, the series hints at Gohan’s incredible hidden strength. However, viewers who watched the original English dub missed a key part of his history because of changes made when the show was translated and adapted for English-speaking audiences. The actual first episode of Dragon Ball Z focuses on Gohan, a detail lost on anyone who only saw the altered version.

Dragon Ball Z’s Original English Dub Was Heavily Edited & Censored

The way anime is dubbed into English has improved dramatically since the original release of Dragon Ball Z. While today’s dubs focus on being faithful to the original Japanese, that wasn’t always the case. When Funimation first dubbed Dragon Ball Z, changes were often made to make the show suitable for younger viewers, toning down violence and mature language. Additionally, time constraints meant they had to shorten the anime – condensing 67 episodes into just 53 for broadcast.

Some edits to the Dragon Ball Z series have involved cutting entire scenes or episodes. One of these is “The Strangest Robot,” which was likely removed because it didn’t have enough action. However, this episode is actually a key moment in Gohan’s growth and shows him becoming more independent. In fact, voice actress Masako Nozawa considers it one of her favorites. While other characters are also affected by these changes, Gohan loses a lot of depth and complexity, especially early in the series.

The editing of Dragon Ball Z often combines multiple episodes into one. This even happened with the very first episode! The original premiere, “The New Threat,” was joined with the second episode, “Reunions,” to create the first episode as we know it, “The Arrival of Raditz.” Someone new to the series wouldn’t notice these changes, as most of the removed scenes were non-essential moments featuring Gohan.

Dragon Ball Z’s “The New Threat” Perfectly Sets Up Gohan’s Arc

The first episode of the English dub of Dragon Ball Z, “The Arrival of Raditz,” ends with Raditz taking Gohan hostage. It actually shows more of the story than the episode “The New Threat,” where Raditz hasn’t even appeared by the end. However, the scenes that were cut were mostly focused on Gohan. These scenes were intended to introduce Gohan in a way similar to how Goku was introduced in the first episode of the original Dragon Ball, but the episode doesn’t successfully create that connection.

The episode “The New Threat” features four-year-old Gohan getting lost in the forest. This moment really shows the two sides of his personality – he goes from being scared to being fascinated. It’s lovely to see him charmed by things like butterflies and birds, because it perfectly captures who he is as a character. This contrasts with his father, Goku, who is busy chopping down trees and fighting animals, while Gohan wants to appreciate them.

This early episode highlights Gohan’s intelligence and quick thinking. When faced with a sabertooth tiger, he cleverly pretends to be dead, a tactic that successfully protects him. Despite this, Gohan also shows courage by standing up to the tiger when it takes his hat. He proactively tries to resolve the situation himself, instead of waiting for Goku to intervene.

Even a simple moment – like Gohan crying and running so fast it scares a tiger – hints at his hidden potential. It shows he can unlock greater strength when connected to his feelings, a key element in the early stories of Dragon Ball Z. While Gohan’s outburst against Raditz demonstrates his power, it feels even more impactful when seen as a continuation of this earlier display of emotional strength, rather than appearing out of nowhere.

Dragon Ball Z’s Edited Premiere Is More Focused On Goku Than Gohan

Goku is the central character in the entire Dragon Ball series. While his abilities greatly increase in Dragon Ball Z, the initial episodes don’t quite capture the intended focus on Gohan. In fact, the studio even thought about naming the series Dragon Ball: Gohan’s Great Adventure! The first episode, “The Arrival of Raditz,” particularly emphasizes Goku instead of Gohan, which feels like a misstep given Gohan’s importance to the story.

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Some minor changes to the story, intended to simplify Goku’s path, unintentionally hinder Gohan’s growth and make it harder to see him as the hero of Dragon Ball Z when the story later focuses on him. “The New Threat” offers a more relaxed, everyday feel, similar to the final episodes of the original Dragon Ball, which showed Goku and Chi-Chi adjusting to married life. The original version of the episode emphasizes Gohan continuing his father’s legacy, instead of simply repeating old patterns.

The episode “The Arrival of Raditz” jumps right into the action, skipping the everyday moments and Gohan’s initial journey. This means Dragon Ball Z goes straight to the Kame House with Goku and his friends. While Gohan appears, he doesn’t have much of a role. In contrast, “The New Threat” lets viewers understand Gohan’s personality through what he does in the story. Later on, Gohan grows incredibly strong, even exceeding his father’s power, but this impactful moment feels less earned if we don’t first see what makes Gohan special and inspires him.

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2025-12-23 05:43