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The set opens with our heroes in dire straits as Gohan and Krillin are forced to band with their mortal enemy Vegeta against their mutual foe, Frieza. After numerous setbacks, Frieza’s tolerance for failure is at an end, thus summoning his elite fighting unit, the Ginyu Force to settle matters once and for all.
Beaten and battered, all hope seems lost for Gohan, Krillin, and Vegeta when Goku finally touches down on Namek, handily dispatching every enemy placed before him. Unfortunately, during the melee Goku is injured and is forced to recuperate, leaving the others to face down Frieza.
Insulted, embarrassed, and above all else enraged, Frieza decides to get his hands dirty. Unleashing one transformation after the next, the pint-sized tyrant dishes out multiple beatings to Gohan and crew. Even the timely arrival of Piccolo does little to turn the tides of battle.
There is hardly a quiet moment to be found here, as the episodes jump from one fight to the next. The accelerated pacing eliminates much of the down time, rarely allowing viewers to catch a break in between action. Previously, the chopping of the series helped to move the story along at a frenetic pace that benefited it, however with these episodes, the pacing feels a bit jarring, introducing the Ginyu Force the before their exit seven episodes later.
The animation looks good for its age given the digital restoration the series has gone through. There are still minor technical hiccups such as the re-using of cells and patches of grain. Once again, the lack of widescreen presentation hurts the release, especially considering its presentation in the format when it aired in Japan.
For fans of action, it’s impossible to resist Dragon Ball Z. For all its faults, the series has set the foundation for what a successful anime should be, and continues to do so nearly fourteen years after its original run. For fans of highstakes drama and scene after scene of knuckle crunching battles, Dragon Ball Z Kai is required viewing.
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