After Gohan, Krillin, and Bulma arrive on Namek, they discover that evil forces are already at work on Namek looking for the Dragonballs also. They search high and low for Dragonballs, but usually come up empty handed. Soon Vegeta arrives on Namek as well and pursues the Dragonballs too. Vegeta clashes with Frieza's forces time and time again, as Gohan and Krillin avoid anyone they come across. Eventually they meet some of the Nameks and head to see Guru, the eldest Namek, who opens up their hidden power. During the mad hunt for the Dragonballs, Vegeta battles and kills Zarbon, Dodoria, and Kui, three of Frieza's strongest minions. Vegeta steals the Dragonballs from Frieza and is only missing one, the one Gohan found. In order to beat Frieza, Vegeta decides to team up with Gohan and Krillin.
Frieza is infuriated at Vegeta's insolence, and calls for the aid of the Ginyu Force, his elite squad of five fantastic fighters that can perform many stupid poses also. The Ginyu Force is made up of Captain Ginyu, Burter, Jeice, Guldo, and Recoome. The Ginyus steal the Dragonballs from the good guys and Captain Ginyu immediately leaves to take all seven to Frieza. He lets the other Ginyu members finish off Gohan, Krillin, and Vegeta. Guldo fights Gohan and Krillin and gets the upper hand. The only reason for this is because he can freeze time for as long as he can hold his breath. He has telekinetic powers also. Vegeta is disgusted at Gohan and Krillin losing to Guldo. So he dives in and kills Guldo easily.
Then Recoome steps in. He pretty much beats the heck out of the three Z Fighters. When all seems lost, Goku arrives. He has finally completed his 100x gravity training. He heals the three warriors with Sensu Beans. Burter's Scouter indicates that Goku's power level is 1,000. They are unaware that he is hiding much of his power from the Scouter. Goku roughs up Recoome and finishes him with a hard blow to the stomach. Burter and Jeice use their combined attacks on Goku who doesn't seem to be budging an inch. Burter ends up flying into the air. Goku moves fast and Burter lands right on his fist. Jeice is getting scared. He flies away to retrieve the aid of Captain Ginyu. Ginyu is angry at the failure of his amazing fighters. He leaves to fight Goku while these guys training to become Ginyu members, bury the seven Namek Dragonballs in the ground so Jeice can have a mound to stand on and show them stupid poses.
Captain Ginyu and Jeice show up on the battlefield to settle things after Vegeta kills the unconscious Burter and Recoome. During a large portion of the battle, Ginyu gets most of the punches on Goku. Then Goku powers up to 180,000 which is way above Ginyu's maximum. Ginyu then uses a tricky maneuver called the Ginyu Swap and switches their bodies. Ginyu (in Goku's body) leaves with Jeice to fool Gohan and Krillin. Elsewhere, Gohan and Krillin gather the Dragonballs and attempt to summon the Eternal Dragon. Then they realize they need a password. They are attacked by Ginyu and Jeice. A weakened Goku shows up on the scene in Ginyu's body. Gohan and Krillin use all their strength and are able to rough up Ginyu, because Goku explains that Ginyu doesn't know how to harness the power of his body. Ginyu smirks and powers up, but his power level only reaches 23,000. Vegeta arrives and kills Jeice with a Big Bang Attack to the face (Hey, that rhymes!). Then he kicks Ginyu's @$$ for awhile.
After he realizes his defeat, Ginyu attempts to steal Vegeta's body. Fortunately, Goku jumps in the path of the beam. Both Goku and Ginyu are now back in their original bodies. Ginyu tries the Ginyu Swap on Vegeta again. Goku throws a frog in the path of the beam and poor Captain Ginyu is banished to the body a mere frog. The battle with the Ginyu Force is finally over. In Frieza's ship, Goku spends some time healing in a rehabiliation chamber. When Vegeta falls asleep, Gohan and Krillin sneak away to an island nearby to make their wishes with the Dragonballs. Dende helps them. They revive Piccolo with their first wish. They use their second wish to bring him to Namek. They become confused when he appears all the way on the other side of Namek. Around this time, Vegeta wakes up and flies to the island to get his wish for immortality. Dende starts to make the wish. Then Guru dies and the Dragonballs turn to stone. Vegeta's wish for eternal life is denied. Right when Vegeta is about to kill Gohan and Krillin, Frieza arrives and he is very angry.
While making his way to the location of the others, Piccolo comes across Nail, who is badly wounded from his one-sided fight with Frieza. He absorbs Nail and his power level reaches 800,000. Elsewhere, Frieza transforms into his second stage and stabs Krillin with his horn. Dende heals him before he dies though. Piccolo arrives and puts up the best fight against Frieza. Until Frieza transforms again into his third form. Piccolo becomes badly outmatched. By the time Frieza achieves his fourth and final form, Piccolo is wounded bad. Vegeta challenges Frieza and doesn't seem scared by the villain's final form. Frieza kills Vegeta in the battle and then Goku shows up.
The fight between Goku and Frieza lasts many episodes. Goku hits Frieza with a powerful Spirit Bomb and they all celebrate, assuming Frieza is destroyed. But the evil villain returns and kills Krillin. Goku becomes a Super Saiyan for the first time and Frieza becomes horribly outmatched. But then Frieza powers up to 100% of his maximum power and makes an unexpected comeback. The fight continues for a few more episodes until Frieza gets chopped up by his own energy disks. After the fight, Planet Namek explodes and we are left wondering what has happened to Goku.
On Earth, the good guys gather the Earth Dragonballs and attempt to wish back Goku and Krillin. Krillin is revived, but Shenron says that Goku is still alive. Vegeta takes off in a capsule to search for him in outer space.
On to the Garlic Jr. Saga...
