The Best Episodes of Free! Season 1

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   7.3/10(95 votes)

   #1 - Reunion at the Starting Block!

   S1:E17/4/2013

   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

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   Director:Hiroko Utsumi

   Writer:Masahiro Yokotani
2. 

   7.5/10(75 votes)

   #2 - Memories in the Distance!

   S1:E27/11/2013

   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

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   Director:Eisaku Kawanami

   Writer:Masahiro Yokotani
3. 

   7.5/10(71 votes)

   #3 - Theoretical Dolphin Kick!

   S1:E37/18/2013

   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

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   Director:Taichi Ogawa

   Writer:Masahiro Yokotani
4. 

   7.6/10(71 votes)

   #4 - Captive Butterfly

   S1:E47/25/2013

   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

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   Director:Yoshiji Kigami

   Writer:Masahiro Yokotani
5. 

   7.4/10(65 votes)

   #5 - Trial in Open Water

   S1:E58/8/2013

   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

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   Director:Eisaku Kawanami

   Writer:Masahiro Yokotani
6. 

   7.6/10(65 votes)

   #6 - Shocking No Breathing

   S1:E68/15/2013

   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

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   Director:Rika Ota

   Writer:Reiko Yoshida
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7. 

   7.4/10(62 votes)

   #7 - One Style Final!

   S1:E78/21/2013

   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

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   Director:Naoko Yamada

   Writer:Masahiro Yokotani
8. 

   7.8/10(61 votes)

   #8 - Revenge in the Medley!

   S1:E88/29/2013

   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

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   Director:Yasuhiro Takemoto

   Writer:Masahiro Yokotani
9. 

   7.4/10(61 votes)

   #9 - Hesitant Loosen Up

   S1:E99/5/2013

   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

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   Director:Taichi Ogawa

   Writer:Reiko Yoshida
10. 

    7.2/10(61 votes)

    #10 - Irritated Heart Rate

    S1:E109/12/2013

    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

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    Director:Noriyuki Kitanohara

    Writer:Masahiro Yokotani
11. 

    7.2/10(61 votes)

    #11 - Furious All-out

    S1:E119/19/2013

    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

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    Director:Rika Ota

    Writer:Masahiro Yokotani
12. 

    8.3/10(80 votes)

    #12 - Distant Free

    S1:E129/26/2013

    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

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    Director:Eisaku Kawanami

    Writer:Masahiro Yokotani