Dragon Ball Z Episode 22: The Darkest Day

Canon/HIGH

Oshimeter

9.7

62 Ratings

5★

4★

3★

2★

1★

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EPISODE REVIEWS

hoho_hurricane

6 mo

That twist about Piccolo being from another planet called Namek is insane and it makes his rivalry with Goku feel even more intense now

sanemi_storm_133

6 mo

I cant believe Nappa just blew up that news helicopter without even looking and he is way more of a monster than Raditz ever was

charizard

6 mo

Nappa just wiped out an entire city with two fingers and it makes the threat feel so real because Goku is still nowhere near the fight

Episode Context

The wait is over. After episodes of buildup and dread, the Saiyan threat finally touches down on Earth, and the show wastes no time establishing the stakes. The destruction is immediate and visceral, an entire city wiped out to announce the arrival of Vegeta and Nappa. The tone here is heavy, oppressive, and deliberately suffocating any sense of safety the training arc might have offered. Piccolo, Gohan, and Krillin step into the spotlight as the reality of what they're facing becomes undeniable. There's a revelation about Piccolo's heritage woven into the tension that adds unexpected emotional texture. The pacing is relentless, designed to make you feel how outmatched the heroes are before a single real blow is traded. This is Dragon Ball Z shifting into a higher, darker gear.

Runtime24 min

Filler StatusCanon

Plot ImportanceHIGH

Air DateOct 11, 1989

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