The Best Episodes of Free!
Every episode of Free! ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Free!!
The story revolves around Haruka Nanase, a boy who has always loved to be immersed in water, and to swim in it. Before graduating from elementary school, he participated in a swimming tournament along with his fellow swimming club members, Makoto Tachibana, Nagisa Hazuki, and Rin Matsuoka. After achieving victory, each of the boys went their separate ways. Time passed, and in the middle of their uneventful high school lives Rin appears and challenges Haruka to a match, showing Haruka his overwhelming power. Not wanting it to end like this, Haruka, gathers together Makoto and Nagisa once again and brings a new member named Rei Ryugazaki to create the Iwatobi High School Swimming Club in order to defeat Rin.
Top Episode Ratings Summary
The best episode of "Free!" is "Dive to the Future!", rated 8.5/10 from 38 user votes. It was directed by Eisaku Kawanami, Taichi Ogawa and written by Masahiro Yokotani. "Dive to the Future!" aired on 9/27/2018 and is rated 0.3 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Distant Free".
8.5/10 38 votes#1 - Dive to the Future!
Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 9/27/2018
Nagisa, Rei, and the rest of the Iwatobi Swim Club have come to cheer on their former teammates at the All-Japan Invitational. Makoto tells them the story of how ever since Haruka swam for the first time, he'd been swimming only freestyle.
Director: Eisaku Kawanami, Taichi Ogawa
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
8.2/10 66 votes#2 - Distant Free
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 9/26/2013
The Iwatobi Swim Club must win to advance to nationals. As the tournament draws near, the members get nervous. Meanwhile, Rin grows increasingly irritated. As it comes time for the medley relay, each member must find their own answer as they step up to the start line
Director: Eisaku Kawanami
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
8.1/10 41 votes#3 - The Eternal Summer of Beginnings!
Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 9/25/2014
Having faced his feelings honestly at last, Haruka tells Makoto, Nagisa, and Rei what he has decided for himself and his future. The Iwatobi Swim Club is once again fully united as they mount the starting block at nationals, ready to swim for themselves, for their friends, and now, for the future as well.
Director: Hiroko Utsumi, Ai Yukimura
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
8.1/10 20 votes#4 - First Swim in Another Country!
Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 7/26/2018
Rin, now living in Australia, trains hard every day with swimmers from all around the world. Then a Japanese guy shows up where his team is training, challenging each of his teammates to races and beating them one by one. Even Rin is surprised when this newcomer reveals his identity...
Director: Yasuhiro Takemoto
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
8.1/10 21 votes#5 - Metamorphosis of the Soul!
Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 8/30/2018
After the breakup of his middle school swim team, Ikuya decided to get stronger on his own and not rely on anyone. But Haruka, breaking out of his freestyle comfort zone to swim in the individual medley, tells Ikuya that he's not alone.
Director: Haruka Fujita
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
8.1/10 20 votes#6 - Streamline of Unity!
Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 9/20/2018
Makoto meets up with the members of the Iwatobi Swim Club who are in Tokyo for the nationals. Meanwhile, Haru continues his training.
Director: Taichi Ishidate
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
7.9/10 40 votes#7 - The Six-Beat Kick of Tears!
Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 9/4/2014
As the tournament continues, Sousuke finally tells Rin about how he’s passed their years of separation. Rin is concerned at Sousuke’s nonchalant attitude toward certain things and tries to speak his mind. Meanwhile, the Iwatobi Swim Club looks toward the relay final.
Director: Taichi Ogawa
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
7.9/10 18 votes#8 - The Grab Start of Hope!
Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 9/13/2018
Makoto has been unable to get in touch with Haruka following the friendly race at his training camp, making him worry that Haruka is dwelling on what happened. Then Nao approaches Makoto to tell him about a rumor he heard.
Director: Yasuhiro Takemoto
Writer: Reiko Yoshida
7.8/10 41 votes#9 - A Swim-Off in a Foreign Land!
Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 9/18/2014
Upon Rin’s invitation, Haruka finds himself venturing to “a certain country.” Knowing that Haruka has hit a wall worrying about his future, Rin opens up and speaks to him about his own thoughts and feelings. Afterward, Rin quietly asks Haruka what he will do about his own future...
Director: Naoko Yamada
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
7.8/10 20 votes#10 - A Solitary Medley!
Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 8/23/2018
With the college championships approaching, all the swimmers are training hard on their own in addition to their official club practices. Haruka is also undergoing some extra training, with coaching from the mysterious man they've been seeing around campus. Makoto is concerned about the arrangement, but Haruka assures him that he asked for the help himself
Director: Noriyuki Kitanohara
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
7.7/10 50 votes#11 - Revenge in the Medley!
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 8/29/2013
Haruka, Makoto, Nagisa, and Rei swim in their individual events. Rin becomes irritated as he remembers watching them swim back in grade school. Afterwards, the four Iwatobi Swim Club members must prepare for the medley relay.
Director: Yasuhiro Takemoto
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
7.6/10 23 votes#12 - Sprouting Dive Start!
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 7/12/2018
Haruka has entered Hidaka University, where he's now training with the swim club to prepare for a newcomer tournament. One day, he runs into Asahi, a swim teammate from middle school. Haruka is later joined by Makoto, who also moved to Tokyo, at a coffee shop to catch up with Asahi... and the topic quickly turns to Ikuya, another teammate they swam with in middle school. On the day of the newcomer tournament, Haruka and Asahi are in the same race for the first time in years... and the spectacle is watched by Hiyori, who calls Haruka an "inferior copy of Ikuya." After the race, as Haruka is walking through the halls with Asahi, he catches sight of Ikuya passing by..
Director: Eisaku Kawanami
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
7.6/10 18 votes#13 - Interference of Loss!
Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 8/2/2018
Haru, Makoto, and Asahi visit Shimogami University in hopes of talking to Ikuya, but even after looking all over campus, they can't find him. Hiyori, however, notices them and makes it his mission to keep them from seeing Ikuya.
Director: Tatsuya Ishihara
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
7.5/10 63 votes#14 - Memories in the Distance!
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 7/11/2013
Makoto and Nagisa watch with their breaths held as Haruka and Rin engage in an intense race. However, they notice that Rin appears to be have changed. At the same time, Nagisa prepares to start up a swim club with help from Rin's sister Gou.
Director: Eisaku Kawanami
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
7.5/10 59 votes#15 - Theoretical Dolphin Kick!
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 7/18/2013
The Iwatobi Swim Club needs one more member before it can participate in relays. Nagisa has set his sights on his classmate Rei, who is a member of the track team. Despite Rei's refusal to join, but Nagisa appears intent on recruiting Rei into the swim club.
Director: Taichi Ogawa
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
7.5/10 59 votes#16 - Captive Butterfly
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 7/25/2013
The Iwatobi Swim Club has a full roster now.As they begin to practice, they run into a little trouble.After a certain member claims that his swimsuit is to blame, the club makes a trip to buy new swimsuits.
Director: Yoshiji Kigami
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
7.5/10 54 votes#17 - Shocking No Breathing
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 8/15/2013
There's trouble at the beach. The four swim club members are forced to revisit their motivation to swim. After Rei asks Makoto about his odd behavior during the training camp, Makoto tells them about his past.
Director: Rika Ota
Writer: Reiko Yoshida
7.5/10 38 votes#18 - The Open Turn of Destiny!
Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 9/11/2014
The Iwatobi Swim Club continues their training. However, signs of confusion seem to keep surfacing in the silent Haruka’s swimming. Makoto and the others are worried about him, but try to continue acting cheerfully as though nothing was wrong. But one day, Sousuke appears, asking to speak to Haruka…
Director: Takuya Yamamura
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
7.5/10 18 votes#19 - An Ominous Workout!
Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 8/9/2018
The Iwatobi High School Swim Club is participating in a joint training camp with the Samezuka Academy and Soufuukan High School teams. Sousuke is also participating as an alumnus. In the midst of the excitement, Rei and Nagisa notice that something is odd about Romio's swimming. Then Shizuru tells them the story of what happened to Romio in middle school...
Director: Taichi Ogawa, Taichi Ishidate
Writer: Haruna Matsuda
7.5/10 18 votes#20 - The Mermaid of the Abyss!
Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 8/16/2018
Hiyori still remembers the first time he saw Ikuya smile. Both boys grew stronger through rigorous training while they studied abroad in America... but seeing Haruka threw Ikuya off his stride. Now Hiyori wishes Ikuya would just forget about Haruka for good.
Director: Naoko Yamada
Writer: Reiko Yoshida
7.5/10 18 votes#21 - Interval in the Evening Calm!
Season 3 Episode 9 - Aired 9/6/2018
Haruka's next race is the All-Japan Invitational, which determines who will represent Japan at the global level. To prepare for this important tournament, Haruka is invited to a special training camp.
Director: Shinpei Sawa
Writer: Haruna Matsuda
7.4/10 51 votes#22 - One Style Final!
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 8/21/2013
As prefecturals draw near, Haruka and the other swim club members continue to improve. Meanwhile, Rin reveals his motivations for swimming. The swimmers must now show what they have accomplished at the tournament.
Director: Naoko Yamada
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
7.4/10 48 votes#23 - Stormy Dash-Dive!
Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 7/3/2014
Haruka and his friends have grown after last summer’s tournament. Amidst the hustle and bustle of training for their individual events, their daily lives continue as usual. However, a new season now approaches!
Director: Hiroko Utsumi
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
7.4/10 37 votes#24 - Invincible Prime!
Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 8/7/2014
On the eve of prefecturals, Makoto resolves himself to broach a certain subject with Haruka. As the tournament begins, the Iwatobi Swim Club is extremely enthusiastic about its prospects. But will every member be able to pass the prelims of his individual events?
Director: Takuya Yamamura
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
7.4/10 35 votes#25 - Forming of a Slump!
Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 8/28/2014
At Samezuka Academy, the hot-blooded practices continue ahead of regionals. Meanwhile, the Iwatobi Swim Club trains diligently each day until sundown. Though Amakata-sensei is concerned, Haruka and the boys insist they want to practice as much as possible before the tournament.
Director: Eisaku Kawanami
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani