7.5/10293 votes#1 - Case 1_1: Los Angeles Connection
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 7/9/2020
Makoto and his partner make their living conning the innocent. But when a simple scam on a tourist goes awry, he's soon out of his depth in Los Angeles.
Director: Yoshino Shirahata, Hiro Kaburagi
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
7.5/10250 votes#2 - Case 1_2: Los Angeles Connection
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 7/16/2020
Dangling from the Hollywood sign, Makoto recalls his path from salesman to a life of crime. Back on the ground, he learns more about "confidence men."
Director: Takashi Katagiri, Tetsuaki Matsuda
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
7.6/10232 votes#3 - Case 1_3: Los Angeles Connection
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 7/23/2020
Makoto tells Laurent how he got into Eddie's good graces, but keeping up the con isn't easy, and the LAPD is monitoring the situation closely.
Director: Tomoko Hiramuki, Tetsuaki Matsuda
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
7.9/10232 votes#4 - Case 1_4: Los Angeles Connection
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 7/30/2020
With construction proceeding on the new lab, Makoto enjoys LA in the company of Eddie's enforcer, and Pola Dickens sets her sights on him.
Director: Ryoji Masuyama
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
8.6/10286 votes#5 - Case 1_5: Los Angeles Connection
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 8/6/2020
The pressure is on as everyone watches Makoto make the first batch of Sakura Magic, but with Agent Dickens in his ear, things take a very serious turn.
Director: Yoshino Shirahata, Yukiko Imai
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
7.3/10199 votes#6 - Case 2_1: Singapore Sky
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 8/13/2020
Two years later, Makoto gets an honest job as a mechanic once he gets out, while Laurent and the crew reunite for a job in Las Vegas.
Director: Takatoshi Suzuki
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
7.5/10192 votes#7 - Case 2_2: Singapore Sky
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 8/20/2020
The crew heads to Singapore to begin the con on the two princes and the fixed Path Finder Air Race, but Makoto has concerns about Abbie's mental state.
Director: Takashi Katagiri
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
7.2/10185 votes#8 - Case 2_3: Singapore Sky
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 8/27/2020
When their first strategy fails, Laurent recruits some extra help, using Makoto's skills as a mechanic to deal with the stubborn elder prince.
Director: Yoshino Shirahata
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
7.4/10184 votes#9 - Case 2_4: Singapore Sky
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 9/3/2020
Not realizing who the bookies are, the greedy prince places a series of eye-popping wagers. Abbie's harrowing past begins to affect her focus.
Director: Tetsuaki Matsuda
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
7.8/10196 votes#10 - Case 2_5: Singapore Sky
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 9/10/2020
With the air race finals on the horizon, all the pieces move into place. Makoto has a serious talk with each pilot before making a wager of his own.
Director: Katsushi Sakurabi
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
7.5/10182 votes#11 - Case 3_1: Snow of London
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 9/17/2020
Working as a sushi chef while living in France, Makoto attempts to plan a con without Laurent's help after a pompous Englishman terrorizes the locals.
Director: Yasuhiro Akamatsu
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
7.7/10184 votes#12 - Case 3_2: Snow of London
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 9/24/2020
In London, Laurent and the team put their payback con against the "007 of the art world" into action. Cynthia reminisces about art and love.
Director: Yukiko Imai
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
8.0/10186 votes#13 - Case 3_3: Snow of London
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 10/1/2020
Makoto searches for Thomas, the art forger connected to Cynthia, to create a fake version of "Snow of London." Laurent and Abbie's plan continues.
Director: Mai Teshima
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
8.2/10207 votes#14 - Case 3_4: Snow of London
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 10/8/2020
Laurent's fake dark auction begins with outrageous prices. Among the bidders, Coleman and Cynthia vie over "Snow of London."
Director: Yoko Kanamori
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
8.0/10161 votes#15 - Case 4_1: Wizard of Far East
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 10/22/2020
Determined to rebuild his life, Makoto parts ways with the team and returns to Japan. He lands a job, but doesn't know what he's gotten himself into.
Director: Ryoji Masuyama
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
7.9/10155 votes#16 - Case 4_2: Wizard of Far East
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 10/29/2020
Cynthia and Shi-won arrive in Japan to start the con on Scarlet Company. Makoto and his boss accompany them to the UAE to witness a kidnapping.
Director: Yoshino Shirahata
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
8.3/10168 votes#17 - Case 4_3: Wizard of Far East
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 11/5/2020
A delegation from the Shanghai branch of the Suzaku Group arrives in Tokyo. Summoned to translate, Makoto realizes the interpreter looks familiar.
Director: Tetsuaki Matsuda
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
8.6/10181 votes#18 - Case 4_4: Wizard of Far East
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 11/12/2020
Two months after the end of the con, Makoto still works for Akemi. One night he receives a visit from a man he thought he saw die in front of him.
Director: Yukiko Imai
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
8.3/10162 votes#19 - Case 4_5: Wizard of Far East
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 11/19/2020
A younger Laurent joins a group of con artists including Oz after unknowingly aiding them in Paris. As they travel around the world, he falls in love.
Director: Yujiro Abe
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
8.9/10209 votes#20 - Case 4_6: Wizard of Far East
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 11/26/2020
On their last job, the team passes Dorothy off as an Ethiopian princess and stages her kidnapping for the Shanghai group. Then it all goes wrong.
Director: Mai Teshima
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
7.9/10149 votes#21 - Case 4_7: Wizard of Far East
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 12/3/2020
The final phase of the con on the Shanghai group starts when Laurent returns to the city. The stakes are higher than ever, with no margin for error.
Director: Yoko Kanamori
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
8.3/10164 votes#22 - Case 4_8: Wizard of Far East
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 12/10/2020
Both sides prepare for a fateful meeting in Tokyo, with Laurent and Makoto acting as translators. Everything depends on Makoto's choice.
Director: Ryoji Masuyama, Takashi Katagiri
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
7.9/10186 votes#23 - Case 4_9: Wizard of Far East
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 12/17/2020
The Wizard of the Far East pulls off one final magic trick, and some people finally get what's coming to them.
Director: Hiro Kaburagi
Writer: Ryota Kosawa
The Best Episodes of Great Pretender Season 1
Every episode of Great Pretender Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Great Pretender Season 1!
Supposedly Japan's greatest swindler, Makoto Edamura gets more than he bargained for when he tries to con Laurent Thierry, a real world-class crook.
Genres:AnimationDramaComedyAction & Adventure
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Case 1_1: Los Angeles Connection" is the best rated episode of "Great Pretender" season 1. It scored 7.5/10 based on 293 votes. Directed by Yoshino Shirahata, Hiro Kaburagi and written by Ryota Kosawa, it aired on 7/9/2020. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "Case 1_2: Los Angeles Connection".