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The Best Episodes of Haikyu!! Season 1

Every episode of Haikyu!! Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Haikyu!! Season 1!

Binge this in 10h 0m•Peaking at 9.1/10

Inspired by a small-statured pro volleyball player, Hinata creates a volleyball team in his last year of middle school. Unfortunately the team is matched up against the "King of the Court" Tobio Kageyama’s team in

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 1 - The End & The Beginning
    8.2/10(1452 votes)

    #1 - The End & The Beginning

    S1:E1

    Shouyou Hinata is enamored with volleyball; he is in the 3rd year of middle-school, and will not be discouraged by the fact that he has no teammates to play with. He finally scrapes together a team to enter his first and last official tournament.

    Director:Susumu Mitsunaka
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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  2. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 2 - Karasuno High School Volleyball Club
    7.6/10(1236 votes)

    #2 - Karasuno High School Volleyball Club

    S1:E2

    Before starting high school, Hinata had sworn revenge against Kageyama of Kitagawa Daiichi. But strangely enough he encounters the "king of the court" again, but this time in the gym of Karasuno High School. Their head-butting is unrelenting and they start their own match, but the third-year captain Sawamura disallows them from participating in the volleyball club until they learn to show team spirit. What now?

    Director:Koichi Kikuta
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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  3. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 3 - The Formidable Ally
    8.0/10(1180 votes)

    #3 - The Formidable Ally

    S1:E3

    Hinata and Kageyama are challenged to a match against fellow first-years, with the aid of second-year Tanaka. While they practice for the match early one morning, Hinata demands Kageyama to give him a toss, to which Kageyama responds: “I don't think you're essential in winning,” and refuses to toss him the ball.

    Director:Tomoko Hiramuki
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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  4. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 4 - The View from the Summit
    9.1/10(1199 votes)

    #4 - The View from the Summit

    S1:E4

    Hinata and Kageyama have second-year Tanaka on their side of the three-on-three match against first-years Tsukishima and Yamaguchi and third-year team-captain Sawamura. Tsukishima keeps razzing Kageyama, but is a high wall of defense to overcome.

    Director:Shintaro Itoga
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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  5. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 5 - A Coward's Anxiety
    8.3/10(1078 votes)

    #5 - A Coward's Anxiety

    S1:E5

    Kageyama is improving his natural skills as setter, and Hinata has natural speed and spring. When the two of them get synched, their combination brings them victory in the three-on-three match. So they are officially accepted as members of the Karasuno High School Volleyball Club.

    Director:Yasuo Ejima
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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  6. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 6 - An Interesting Team
    8.6/10(1048 votes)

    #6 - An Interesting Team

    S1:E6

    Karasuno High School Volleyball Club has challenged Aoba Johsai High School to a practice match. But even before the match begins, Hinata's anxiety level reaches maximum. And Kageyama has a "reunion" with his ex-teammate Kindaichi, who now attends Aoba Johsai.

    Director:Tomohiro Hirata
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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  7. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 7 - Versus the Great King
    9.0/10(1086 votes)

    #7 - Versus the Great King

    S1:E7

    The Hinata-Kageyama combo is back in form again, they won the next set, Karasuno has cornered Seijoh, and they're one step closer to victory. But at that time, Seijoh's captain Oikawa who was out on hiatus visits the court. How does Karasuno respond to super-offensive setter Oikawa's powerful serves?

    Director:Rokou Ogiwara
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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  8. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 8 - He Who is Called "Ace"
    8.5/10(1033 votes)

    #8 - He Who is Called "Ace"

    S1:E8

    His term of suspension having been served, second-year Nishinoya, the "guardian god" of Karasuno Volleyball Club shows up to among club-members during practice. On the other hand, Takeda is acutely aware of the need of a coach after the Seijoh match. He tenaciously requests Ukai Keishin, grandson of the illustrious coach Ukai, to coach the team. However...

    Director:Yoshihide Ibata
    Writer:Takuya Sato

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  9. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 9 - A Toss to the Ace
    8.6/10(1133 votes)

    #9 - A Toss to the Ace

    S1:E9

    On occasion of the practice-match against Nekoma, Sawamura tries to convince Azumane Asahi to return to the volleyball club. But Asahi refuses because he says he's lost face with Sugawara and Nishinoya. Meanwhile, Keishin, who has deep connections to Nekoma, is told by Takeda about the upcoming practice-match.

    Director:Mariko Ishikawa
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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  10. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 10 - Yearning
    7.7/10(982 votes)

    #10 - Yearning

    S1:E10

    Asahi proves his imposing presence as ace in the Karasu versus Neighborhood Association team practice-match. Hinata gazes in a awe at Asahi who possesses both power and height that Hinata doesn't have. But Kageyama, seeing him being so enamored, takes unexpected action to make Hinata focus on the game instead.

    Director:Shintaro Itoga
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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  11. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 11 - Decision
    8.0/10(965 votes)

    #11 - Decision

    S1:E11

    The Karasuno Volleyball Club is at training camp, getting ready for the practice-match against Nekoma and for the Interhigh preliminaries. Even while the team's intense training is showing promising results, Keishin is in a quandary: Who will he choose as setter against Nekoma, Kageyama or Sugawara?

    Director:Hirotaka Endo
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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  12. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 12 - The Neko-Karasu Reunion
    7.7/10(955 votes)

    #12 - The Neko-Karasu Reunion

    S1:E12

    The practice match against Nekoma has finally begun. Karasuno, with their ace and libero back in play, battles their opponent with the Hinata-Kageyama duo's fast attacks. But Nekoma finds an unexpected tactic to stop them...

    Director:Yasuo Ejima
    Writer:Toshimitsu Takeuchi

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  13. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 13 - Rival
    8.6/10(1078 votes)

    #13 - Rival

    S1:E13

    Hinata's momentum got thwarted by Nekoma's high-level defense and powers of observations, but he powers through to try quicks without closing his eyes. But his attacks don't go too well. Aided by their teammates, however, Inuoaka and Hinata are a close matchup.

    Director:Takatoshi Suzuki
    Writer:Toshimitsu Takeuchi

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  14. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 14 - Formidable Opponents
    7.3/10(949 votes)

    #14 - Formidable Opponents

    S1:E14

    Interhigh is coming up next month. The Karasuno volleyball club is pensive, tension rises. They endeavor in training individually and with clearer vision as a team, as they get more inspired. In the meantime, pairings of the preliminaries get announced...

    Director:Tomoko Hiramuki
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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  15. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 15 - Revival
    8.4/10(1002 votes)

    #15 - Revival

    S1:E15

    The much awaited day of Interhigh preliminaries has come. Karasuno's first match is against Tokonami High School. Sawamura battles against a former teammate in junior high, Ikejiri. The tournament is now official; one loss and you're out of the running. It's time for Karasuno's revival. Onward to the battle!

    Director:Kiyoshi Murayama
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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  16. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 16 - Winners and Losers
    8.1/10(1030 votes)

    #16 - Winners and Losers

    S1:E16

    Karasuno is winning the first round of Interhigh against Tokonami. But though Tokonami knows they're outclassed, they don't give up, they keep the ball in play. On another court, in spite of Michimiya's encouragement, the Karasuno girls' team is having a rough battle. Everyone is immersed in thought, but there can only be one winner!

    Director:Shintaro Itoga
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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  17. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 17 - The Iron Wall
    9.0/10(1465 votes)

    #17 - The Iron Wall

    S1:E17

    The second match of Interhigh preliminaries has begun. Azumane has a history with Date Tech, but he is determined to rise to the occasion. Date Tech's tactic is to throw their opponent off kilter with their serves - but Karasuno focuses on receives. The wall of Date Tech looms high; what will Karasuno do?

    Director:Takashi Otsuka
    Writer:Toshimitsu Takeuchi

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  18. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 18 - Guarding Your Back
    9.0/10(1317 votes)

    #18 - Guarding Your Back

    S1:E18

    Thanks to Hinata and Kageyama's cornerstone "freak quicks," Karasuno is in the lead against Date Tech. But with Aone blocking, Date Tech starts catching up to Karasuno. This is when the ace Azumane must prove his worth. Will Azumane blast through Date's iron wall?

    Director:Yumi Kamakura
    Writer:Toshimitsu Takeuchi

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  19. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 19 - Conductors
    8.9/10(951 votes)

    #19 - Conductors

    S1:E19

    Karasuno's volleyball team makes it to the third round and they'll be facing off with Aoba Johsai. Seijoh, led by Oikawa, shows even more combination plays than they did in their practice match together. Meanwhile, the coach comes up with a formation to stop Oikawa's powerful serve. And before their match, Kageyama, who is Oikawa's junior from junior high, decides to...

    Director:Hirotaka Endo
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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  20. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 20 - Oikawa Toru Is Not a Genius
    8.6/10(1031 votes)

    #20 - Oikawa Toru Is Not a Genius

    S1:E20

    The 3rd round Interhigh match against Aoba Johsai has begun. Without wasting any time, Kageyama and Oikawa start a setter battle. Well-experienced as a team, Aoba Johsai scores point after point against Karasuno with Oikawa's serves. Kageyama starts to panic. It's then that Karasuno's mood-maker, Tanak gets riled up. After seeing that, Oikawa...

    Director:Shintaro Itoga
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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  21. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 21 - Senpai's True Abilities
    8.6/10(972 votes)

    #21 - Senpai's True Abilities

    S1:E21

    Because Karasuno's plays become messy and the match's rhythm gets thrown off, they change setters. Sugawara goes onto the court in place of Kageyama and because he's always seen things from outside the court, he says he knows what's going on, and Karasuno starts their counterattack. Meanwhile, after seeing the match from the outside, there's a change in Kageyama as well.

    Directors:Tomoko Hiramuki, Tetsuaki Watanabe
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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  22. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 22 - Evolution
    8.4/10(1027 votes)

    #22 - Evolution

    S1:E22

    After being subbed back in Kageyama begins to try to communicate with each of his teammates. He begins to learn where the best setting point is for each of them, and Tsukishima comes up with a new attack that proves Karasuno can be a threat from all fronts.

    Director:Toshiaki Kanbara
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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  23. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 23 - The Point that Changes the Momentum
    8.9/10(1236 votes)

    #23 - The Point that Changes the Momentum

    S1:E23

    Aoba Johsai begins to pull away in set 3, forcing Coach Ukai to make some drastic decisions. Yamaguchi is subbed in as an ace server, but the pressure proves to be too much to overcome. A service error occurs, but the error allows Karasuno to calm down and climb back within two.

    Director:Koichi Kikuta
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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  24. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 24 - Removing The Solitary King
    9.0/10(1579 votes)

    #24 - Removing The Solitary King

    S1:E24

    Kageyama begins to match Toru point for point. The teams become dead even at 25 a piece. Long sets begin to drain both teams, and Toru acknowledges that Kageyama has realized what teamwork is all about and is no longer the solitary king. The game winning points are shown.

    Director:Susumu Mitsunaka
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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  25. Haikyu!! Season 1 Episode 25 - The Third Day
    8.3/10(983 votes)

    #25 - The Third Day

    S1:E25

    After suffering a heartbreaking loss to Aoba Johsai, the third years must decide if they will retire or participate in the spring tournament. Kageyama and Hinata vent their frustration on the court after their practice has been cancelled. The winner of the fall tournament is revealed, and Karasuno begins their first real practice to get ready for the spring tournament.

    Director:Jouji Furuta
    Writer:Taku Kishimoto

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"The End & The Beginning" is the best rated episode of "Haikyu!!" season 1. It scored 8.2/10 based on 1452 votes. Directed by Susumu Mitsunaka and written by Taku Kishimoto, it aired on 4/6/2014. This episode is rated 0.6 points higher than the second-best, "Karasuno High School Volleyball Club".