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The Best Episodes of Rurouni Kenshin

Every episode of Rurouni Kenshin ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Rurouni Kenshin!

Binge this in 1d 15h•Peaking at 9.0/10

The Meiji Era was one of great renewal for Japan, where swords and killing were outlawed. However, many survivors from the time of Revolution still live, lurking in the shadows and waiting for a chance

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 14 - Save a Small Life: The Challenge of the Beautiful Doctor, Megumi
    9.0/10(186 votes)

    #1 - Save a Small Life: The Challenge of the Beautiful Doctor, Megumi

    S1:E14

    After a shady faith healer discredits her medical skills, Megumi's patients abandon her. And once a worried family panics and pays the phony shaman to heal their sick daughter, Megumi must intervene in order to save the young girl's life.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 13 - Strive for the Grand Championship: Toramaru's Sumo Battle Log!
    8.7/10(191 votes)

    #2 - Strive for the Grand Championship: Toramaru's Sumo Battle Log!

    S1:E13

    After jealous harassment forces an aspiring young man out of a sumo wrestling school, Kaoru steps in to take over his training.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 15 - Assassination Group of Fire: Jinpuu Squad on the Run
    8.7/10(177 votes)

    #3 - Assassination Group of Fire: Jinpuu Squad on the Run

    S1:E15

    A group radicals intent on assassinating political leaders attempt to recruit a local teacher into their cause. After finding that Heihachiro is a former foe who's now dedicated his life to helping children, Kenshin steps in to repel the assassins.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 16 - A Promise from the Heart: The Secret Technique of the Shiden Renga Blade
    8.7/10(174 votes)

    #4 - A Promise from the Heart: The Secret Technique of the Shiden Renga Blade

    S1:E16

    After saving Heihachiro's life, Kenshin sets out to stop the teacher's misguided former student from being used as a pawn in a game of political corruption.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 17 - Fly to Your Dreams: The Adventures of Marimo, the Human Bullet
    8.7/10(174 votes)

    #5 - Fly to Your Dreams: The Adventures of Marimo, the Human Bullet

    S1:E17

    Kenshin protects a circus ringmaster and his talented human cannonball daughter from the threats of a jealous competitor.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 18 - Run, Yahiko: Get the Reverse-blade Sword Back!
    8.7/10(174 votes)

    #6 - Run, Yahiko: Get the Reverse-blade Sword Back!

    S1:E18

    After stopping a restaurant robbery, Yahiko's boastfulness lands him in trouble with Kenshin's old foe, Gohei Hiruma. And once Yahiko agrees to a fight, Gohei uses the opportunity to steal Kenshin's Reverse Edged Sword.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Rurouni Kenshin

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  7. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 19 - Raijuta's Ambition: Dream of a Forbidden Kingdom
    8.7/10(183 votes)

    #7 - Raijuta's Ambition: Dream of a Forbidden Kingdom

    S1:E19

    While on vacation at the home of Dr. Gensai's niece, Kenshin and company attracts the attention of a wealthy but arrogant boy who wants to learn the art of swordfighting.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 20 - Revival of the Shinko Style: The Technique Which Heralds a Storm
    8.7/10(179 votes)

    #8 - Revival of the Shinko Style: The Technique Which Heralds a Storm

    S1:E20

    Though Kenshin tries to warn him of the bad influence, Yutaro continues to believe in Raijuta, unaware that the renegade is using him plot his revolution. So, when he's told that the government is out to stop him, Yutaro sneaks away to warn Raijuta.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 21 - The Dissolution of a Nightmare: Raijuta's Ambition Concludes
    8.7/10(172 votes)

    #9 - The Dissolution of a Nightmare: Raijuta's Ambition Concludes

    S1:E21

    After learning the truth behind Raijuta's duplicitous plan, an injury sidelines Yutaro, leaving Kenshin to fight the renegade Samurai alone.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 22 - First Train Ride: Danger on a Runaway Locomotive!
    8.7/10(167 votes)

    #10 - First Train Ride: Danger on a Runaway Locomotive!

    S1:E22

    During a train trip to Yokohama, Kenshin and his friends must save a wealthy English passenger from being robbed by thieves.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 23 - Sanosuke's Betrayal: The Fateful Reunion
    8.7/10(176 votes)

    #11 - Sanosuke's Betrayal: The Fateful Reunion

    S1:E23

    An artist's work leads Sanosuke to a reunion with an old army comrade, Tsukioka. But when his old friend wants him to join in avenging the death of their former leader, Sanosuke must stop him.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 24 - Midnight Battle: Sanosuke Verses Kenshin Revisited
    8.7/10(185 votes)

    #12 - Midnight Battle: Sanosuke Verses Kenshin Revisited

    S1:E24

    Following a lavish party at the dojo, Sanosuke can no longer resist joining his old army troop's plot to punish the government. However, in an effort to stop them, Kenshin is forced to take on Sanosuke.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 25 - The Crimson Pirate: Kenshin and Kaoru Separated!
    8.7/10(162 votes)

    #13 - The Crimson Pirate: Kenshin and Kaoru Separated!

    S1:E25

    In order to earn money for their dojo, the Peace Force signs on to help protect a merchant ship from pirates. However, to keep Kaoru from falling into the hands of the pirate's female leader, Shura, Kenshin offers himself in exchange.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 26 - Lightning Incarnate: The Noble and Mysterious Female Pirate, Shura
    8.7/10(163 votes)

    #14 - Lightning Incarnate: The Noble and Mysterious Female Pirate, Shura

    S1:E26

    After Kenshin's kidnapping, a bond begins to develop between him and Shura. However, while Shura is confident in the loyalty of her crew, the profits to be made from dealing opium draws them into a mutinous plan.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 27 - Burn, Island of Terror: The Crimson Pirate Chapter Concludes
    8.7/10(168 votes)

    #15 - Burn, Island of Terror: The Crimson Pirate Chapter Concludes

    S1:E27

    After her trusted colleagues betray Shura, it's left up to Kenshin to save her life and stop the pirate's opium smuggling scheme.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Rurouni Kenshin Season 3 Episode 24 - A Heat Wave from Beneath the Earth: The Three Sanada Demons!
    8.5/10(123 votes)

    #16 - A Heat Wave from Beneath the Earth: The Three Sanada Demons!

    S3:E24

    After surviving a fall into a volcano, the Peace Force comes across an injured Sanada Ninja who offers to help battle his former allies.

    Director:Akira Shimizu
    Writer:Yoshiyuki Suga

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  17. Rurouni Kenshin Season 3 Episode 25 - Schneider's Bet: The Collapse of the Black Knights!
    8.5/10(122 votes)

    #17 - Schneider's Bet: The Collapse of the Black Knights!

    S3:E25

    After their search leads them to the hidden cure, the leader of the Black Knights makes it clear that he has no intention of honoring his promise to cede control of Japan to the Sanada Ninjas.

    Director:Makoto Sokuza
    Writer:Yoshiyuki Suga

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  18. Rurouni Kenshin Season 3 Episode 28 - Feng Shui, Surprise Attack! The Mystery of the Pentagram Spread!
    8.5/10(122 votes)

    #18 - Feng Shui, Surprise Attack! The Mystery of the Pentagram Spread!

    S3:E28

    Following a series of accidents in town, a master of feng shui blames an imbalance in the Ki, a force which keeps all of nature's other forces in balance.

    Director:Naoki Hishikawa
    Writer:Masashi Sogo

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  19. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 1 - The Handsome Swordsman of Legend: A Man who Fights for Love
    8.3/10(342 votes)

    #19 - The Handsome Swordsman of Legend: A Man who Fights for Love

    S1:E1

    A mysterious wanderer known as Kenshin is taken at the Kamiya Kasshin Dojo, a martial arts school run by a young woman named Kaoru.

    Director:Kazuhiro Furuhashi
    Writer:Michiru Shimada

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  20. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 2 - Kid Samurai: A Big Ordeal and a New Student
    8.3/10(287 votes)

    #20 - Kid Samurai: A Big Ordeal and a New Student

    S1:E2

    Following an encounter with a young pickpocket named Yahiko, Kaoru risks her own freedom to gain his from some local gangsters.

    Director:Shinichi Matsumi
    Writer:Michiru Shimada

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  21. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 3 - Swordsman of Sorrow: The Man Who Slays His Past
    8.3/10(271 votes)

    #21 - Swordsman of Sorrow: The Man Who Slays His Past

    S1:E3

    After reining in some renegade police officers, Kenshin is recognized as the Samurai whose bravery helped establish the Meiji Era and is asked to rejoin the army.

    Director:Akira Shimizu
    Writer:Michiru Shimada

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  22. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 4 - Bad! Introducing Sanosuke, Fighter-for-hire
    8.3/10(261 votes)

    #22 - Bad! Introducing Sanosuke, Fighter-for-hire

    S1:E4

    Gohei enlists a vicious street-fighter known as Sanosuke to seek revenge against Kenshin. And even though Kenshin exposes Gohei's plan, Sanosuke makes it clear that the two of them will fight each other one day.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Yoshiyuki Suga

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  23. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 5 - The Reverse-blade Sword vs. the Zanbatou: Beyond the Battle
    8.3/10(254 votes)

    #23 - The Reverse-blade Sword vs. the Zanbatou: Beyond the Battle

    S1:E5

    After accepting Sanosuke's challenge, Kenshin encourages him to release his anger towards the corrupt Royalist forces.

    Director:Nobuhiro Takamoto
    Writer:Yoshiyuki Suga

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  24. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 6 - The Appearance of Kurogasa: Visitor from the Shadows
    8.3/10(243 votes)

    #24 - The Appearance of Kurogasa: Visitor from the Shadows

    S1:E6

    With a ruthless ex-Samurai killing high ranking politicians, the Chief of Police asks Kenshin to catch him. But as Kenshin confronts the deadly Jin-nai Udo, Kaoru's efforts to stop the battle end with her kidnapping.

    Director:Naoto Hashimoto
    Writer:Michiru Shimada

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  25. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 7 - Deathmatch under the Moon! Protect the One You Love
    8.3/10(236 votes)

    #25 - Deathmatch under the Moon! Protect the One You Love

    S1:E7

    After kidnapping Kaoru, the ruthless Jin-nai Udo draws Kenshin into the fight he's been seeking for years. Though Kenshin tries to resist, Jin-nai's powerful spell over Kaoru leaves him no other choice.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Save a Small Life: The Challenge of the Beautiful Doctor, Megumi" is the best rated episode of "Rurouni Kenshin". It scored 9/10 based on 186 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 5/15/1996. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Strive for the Grand Championship: Toramaru's Sumo Battle Log!".