7.2/1085 votes#1 - Reunion at the Starting Block!
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 7/4/2013
After spending their first year of high school in peace and quiet, Haruka and Makoto run into Nagisa, a new student who was a member at a swimming club with them when they were kids. That swimming club is being torn down, so the three of them sneak in to dig up a time capsule that they buried in the back, which is when they are reunited with Rin, the fourth member of their group who left to study abroad.
Director: Hiroko Utsumi
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
7.5/1066 votes#2 - 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
7.5/1062 votes#3 - 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
7.5/1062 votes#4 - 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
7.4/1056 votes#5 - Trial in Open Water
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 8/8/2013
Haruka and the other club members decide to hold a training camp to prepare for prefectural. Each member follows his own regimen. However, Rei is unhappy about falling behind and heads back into the ocean at night to practice.
Director: Eisaku Kawanami
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
7.5/1057 votes#6 - 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
7.4/1054 votes#7 - 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
7.8/1053 votes#8 - 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
7.4/1053 votes#9 - Hesitant Loosen Up
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 9/5/2013
Prefecturals are over and the Iwatobi Swim Club members are pleased by the progress they have made. A local summer festival gives them an opportunity to relax. When Nagisa finds out that Rin is also at the festival, he orders Rei to follow Rin and make sure that Haruka and Rin do not meet.
Director: Taichi Ogawa
Writer: Reiko Yoshida
7.1/1053 votes#10 - Irritated Heart Rate
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 9/12/2013
Coach Sasabe begins training the Iwatobi Swim Club for the upcoming tournament. Meanwhile, Rei is unhappy about the fact that he's the only one who doesn't know about what happened with Rin in the past. After Rin expresses his frustration, Haruka decides to tell him about what happened when they were in grade school.
Director: Noriyuki Kitanohara
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
7.1/1053 votes#11 - Furious All-out
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 9/19/2013
After hearing about what happened in the past, Rei goes to Samezuka Academy to ask Rin what he wants. The night before Iwatobi and Samezuka leave for regionals, Rin calls Rei to explain how he feels about the relay. And then, Samezuka announces its lineup for the relay.
Director: Rika Ota
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
8.2/1069 votes#12 - 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
The Best Episodes of Free! Season 1
Every episode of Free! Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Free! Season 1!
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...
Genres:AnimationComedy
Network:Tokyo MX
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Reunion at the Starting Block!" is the best rated episode of "Free!" season 1. It scored 7.2/10 based on 85 votes. Directed by Hiroko Utsumi and written by Masahiro Yokotani, it aired on 7/4/2013. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "Memories in the Distance!".