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The Worst Episodes of Rurouni Kenshin

Every episode of Rurouni Kenshin ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Rurouni Kenshin!

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Ten years have passed since the end of Bakumatsu, an era of war that saw the uprising of citizens against the Tokugawa shogunate. The revolutionaries wanted to create a time of peace, and a thriving

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  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 20 - Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story, Act Zero (1)
    5.2/10(5 votes)

    #1 - Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story, Act Zero (1)

    S1:E20

    Kenshin and the group are enjoying some tea time together. The group probes Kenshin to entertain them with an interesting story from his travels, specifically requesting "a story that's unusual, fun, and includes a villain's defeat." To answer to their demands, Kenshin decides to tell them about someone he met when he was visiting a foreign settlement in the lively city of Yokohama. A foreign doctor named Elder who was always wearing a mask.

    Director:Keishi Kawakubo
    Writer:Kaoru Kurosaki

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  2. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 15 - That Man - Raijuta
    6.2/10(4 votes)

    #2 - That Man - Raijuta

    S1:E15

    Kaoru, Kenshin, and Yahiko visit Maekawa Dojo for a training session. The dojo is very lively, and Kaoru's training is well-received by the students of other sword styles. Then a swordsman named Isurugi Raijuta breaks in. He says he is concerned about the future of sword art, and the man, carrying only an actual sword, dismisses the idea of a bamboo sword match. In order to defeat the challenger, Maekawa, the master of Maekawa Dojo, takes on Raijuta, but...

    Director:Yu Harima
    Writer:Kaoru Kurosaki

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  3. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 19 - Tsunan & Nishiki Paintings
    6.2/10(5 votes)

    #3 - Tsunan & Nishiki Paintings

    S1:E19

    Tsunan is seeking to clear his decade-old unresolved regrets surrounding the Sekiho Army. Empathizing with him, Sanosuke joins Tsunan in conspiring an attack on the Home Ministry. However, Kenshin was waiting for them inside the building to stop them. Seeing the former Revolutionary warrior standing in their way, the same way they faced off against Revolutionary warriors when they were in the Sekiho Army, Tsunan's fighting spirit burns. A flurry of explosives are hurled at Kenshin.

    Directors:Misato Takada, Tetsuaki Matsuda
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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  4. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 18 - Sanosuke & Nishiki Paintings
    6.4/10(5 votes)

    #4 - Sanosuke & Nishiki Paintings

    S1:E18

    Sanosuke is visiting the sukiyaki restaurant Akabeko, where he always leaves his bill on a tab. One of Akabeko's workers, Tae, asks him to go buy a Nishiki painting from the painting shop on her behalf. Though Sanosuke had no interest in paintings, he finds one at the store that catches his eye. It was a painting of the man he looked up to as his master back when he was a member of the Sekiho Army, Captain Sagara. With a gleam in his eyes, Sanosuke makes his way to meet with the artist of the painting.

    Director:Yoshitaka Nagaoka
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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  5. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 14 - Yahiko's Battle
    6.8/10(4 votes)

    #5 - Yahiko's Battle

    S1:E14

    Yahiko, the sole student of the Kamiya Dojo, has started to step away from his training from time to time. He says he's merely going on a walk, but it is clear that he takes his swordsmanship training very seriously, and it doesn’t look like he's ditching to slack off. Curious about what he's doing, Kenshin, Kaoru, and Sanosuke decide to follow him. What exactly is Yahiko's reason for ditching?

    Director:Shohei Yamanaka
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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  6. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 16 - The Ideal Man
    6.8/10(4 votes)

    #6 - The Ideal Man

    S1:E16

    Raijuta, who wants to revive the murderous sword, considers Kenshin, who denies his idea, as an enemy. Raijuta initiates a fight using his actual sword, but Kenshin lands a blow that breaks Raijuta's sword and stops the situation from escalating further. After some time has passed, Yutaro, a boy who claims to be Raijuta's apprentice, arrives at the Kamiya Dojo. He claims he has come to challenge Yahiko, with whom he doesn't get along, to a match, but the way Yutaro holds his bamboo sword is no good...

    Director:Daiki Handa
    Writer:Kaoru Kurosaki

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  7. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 13 - Battle's End
    7.0/10(4 votes)

    #7 - Battle's End

    S1:E13

    In order to kill Kenshin, Kanryu uses his Gatling gun and rains a flurry of bullets at him, uncaring that the Oniwaban Group that was under his command would also be hit by this attack. In the face of this evil act, the Oniwaban Group make full use of their individual abilities to counter the Gatling gun. At this moment, theirs and Kenshin's purpose become one. Kenshin and the Oniwaban group team up to challenge the overwhelming power of a modern weapon.

    Director:Tetsuaki Matsuda
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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  8. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 26 - On the East Sea Road
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #8 - On the East Sea Road

    S1:E26

    Megumi is alone in Tokyo and coincidentally encounters Aoshi at Kamiya Dojo, who’s come back for another fight with Kenshin. Aoshi asks Megumi where Kenshin is, but she feigns ignorance. Unhappy with the lack of response, he threatens to kill her if she doesn’t tell him, when a man suddenly appears. Meanwhile, Kenshin encounters a young girl in the forests of the Hakone mountains as he makes his way to Kyoto.

    Directors:Toshiyuki Anzai, Shinsuke Terasawa
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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  9. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 27 - The Abandoned Village
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #9 - The Abandoned Village

    S1:E27

    The name of the girl that Kenshin encounters in the forests is Misao Makimachi, and she came from Kyoto to find Aoshi’s Oniwaban Group. Kenshin is surprised to hear his name. Upon seeing Kenshin’s reaction, she asks him if he knows where Aoshi is, but he keeps his mouth shut. However, Kenshin is touched by the emotions Misao has for Aoshi, in which he then decides to make the journey to Kyoto with her.

    Director:Koji Aritomi
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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  10. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 28 - Portrait of the Ambitious
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #10 - Portrait of the Ambitious

    S1:E28

    Kenshin steps into Shingetsu Village, a place where the Mishima brothers escaped from. The village is currently under the control of Senkaku, Shishio’s subordinate, who rules with an iron fist and uses violence to control the villagers. They are frightened of the violence and unable to do anything but obey. The village has decayed and exudes an unusual aura about it. Kenshin heads over to where Shishio is located with Hajime, who’s learned about the current situation and visited the village. In the background of these events, Eiji’s heart burns with the desire for revenge against Senkaku.

    Director:Toshiyuki Anzai
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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  11. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 30 - Encounter in the Forest
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - Encounter in the Forest

    S1:E30

    Sanosuke makes his way to Kyoto while trudging through the forest and getting lost at the same time. On the road there, he meets Anji Yukyuzan, a fallen monk currently in training. Sanosuke witnesses Anji unleash an astonishing strike up close, a technique that took Anji 10 years to acquire. There, Anji decides to teach Sanosuke “the Mastery of Two Layers,” an art of destruction. However, he requires Sanosuke to learn the technique within one month; if he fails, he will have to die. Against this unreasonable and excessive condition laid out to him, Sanosuke declares he’ll learn it within a week. The training for this technique, which will make or break his life, begins….

    Director:Yasuaki Fujii
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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  12. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 31 - Arrival in Kyoto
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #12 - Arrival in Kyoto

    S1:E31

    Kenshin and Misao arrive in Kyoto, where they’re welcomed by Okina, a grandfather figure to Misao. It turns out, Okina is a former member of the Oniwaban Group. Okina offers his help and Kenshin ask him to help find someone for him.

    Director:Yoshitaka Makino
    Writer:Kaoru Kurosaki

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  13. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 35 - Seijuro Hiko
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - Seijuro Hiko

    S1:E35

    Kenshin obtains a new sakabato. Having involved Seiku in this conflict, he decides to leave Aoiya before inviting any further danger. Meanwhile, Misao stops by Shirobeko, a beef hot-pot restaurant where Kaoru and Yahiko work part time, where she learns Kaoru is searching for Kenshin.

    Director:Ryuta Yamamoto
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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  14. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 36 - Meeting of the Warlords
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #14 - Meeting of the Warlords

    S1:E36

    Kenshin reunites with Kaoru and the rest at Seijuro Hiko's place, who is a master of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu. Seijuro learns from Kaoru that Kenshin goes around the country acting as a rurouni who helps people, when he then decides to pass down the last ultimate technique of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu.

    Director:Tomo Ookubo
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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  15. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 38 - Misao's Decision
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #15 - Misao's Decision

    S1:E38

    Aoshi injures Okina, leaves Misao behind, and shows up at Aoiya. He asks the Oniwaban Group where Kenshin is. Aoshi's in a ghastly state, but accepts what Yahiko and Kaoru tell him and decides to wait for Kenshin where Shishio is. Okina is on the verge of death but undergoes treatment by Megumi, who has come rushing to Kyoto.

    Director:Takashi Ueno
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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  16. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 40 - The Ten Swords Summoned
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #16 - The Ten Swords Summoned

    S1:E40

    As a result of passing down the ultimate technique, Seijuro endures a fatal wound.

    Directors:Koji Aritomi, Neri Mikawa
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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  17. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 42 - As If in Flight
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #17 - As If in Flight

    S1:E42

    Kenshin and Hajime realize that Shishio has another objective in mind that lies in Osaka. They meet up with Sanosuke there. To stop the Great Kyoto Fire, Kenshin asks for help from everyone at Aoiya via a letter while leaving Ryusaku Arato, the chief of police, in charge of supervising on the ground in Kyoto. Kenshin, Hajime, and Sanosuke head to Osaka Bay on a carriage after they finish their errands. Then, senior police officer, Hikozaemon Omi brings along Juro Kitazawa, a young 11-year-old boy who says he wants to meet with Arato.

    Directors:Yoshitaka Makino, Kim Surimu
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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  18. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 44 - The Great Kyoto Fire (2)
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #18 - The Great Kyoto Fire (2)

    S1:E44

    Kenshin and Aoshi engage in a battle on the deck of the ironclad Rengoku. Behind the scenes, Sanosuke manages to board the ship and tries to blow up the engine room with the explosives he got from Tsunan. However, Shishio's underlings Hoji, Shuzo, Toshiro prevent him from going any further. Meanwhile in Kyoto, Arato faces off against Kamatari and Henya alone to buy time for the police forces to evacuate.

    Director:Tomo Ookubo
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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  19. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 47 - A Beautiful Night
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #19 - A Beautiful Night

    S1:E47

    Shishio sends a dueling challenge directed at Kenshin, Hajime, and Sanosuke. The duel is to be held the next day on Mt. Hiei, northeast half way up the mountain in a small shrine with a six-storied torii. At Shishio's fortress, Hoji proposes a strategy to Shishio for an "absolute victory," when the Ten Swords assemble there.... And on the night before the duel, Kaoru talks to Kenshin as he stares up into the night sky.

    Director:Kosuke Kuremizu
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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  20. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 12 - Okashira - Aoshi Shinomori
    7.1/10(5 votes)

    #20 - Okashira - Aoshi Shinomori

    S1:E12

    At last, Kenshin faces off against Aoshi Shinomori, the head of the Oniwaban Group. In the Bakumatsu Era, the battle-obsessed "Oniwaban group" lost their meaning of existence after surrendering the castle they served without even being able to fight. Aoshi is unable to bear this regret and is in earnest pursuit of the title of the strongest warrior. As a former Revolutionary warrior, Kenshin cannot tolerate conflict without morality. Two men who made killing their profession in the Bakumatsu Era clash against one another, putting their pride on the line.

    Director:Yoshifumi Sueda
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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  21. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 10 - A Reason to Act
    7.2/10(5 votes)

    #21 - A Reason to Act

    S1:E10

    The pursuers from the Oniwaban Group haven't made an appearance for over a week, and during this time Megumi familiarized herself with the Kamiya Dojo group. Sanosuke, however, was still unsettled and feeling frustrated knowing that Megumi was the one who made the opium that caused his friend's death. Then one day, Megumi suddenly disappears. In a letter they found from her, it stated that she had left of her own volition, but Kenshin and the others found this to be unnatural. They decide to head to Kanryu Takeda's residence, the man who was sending spies after her.

    Director:Minami
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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  22. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 11 - Savage Han'nya - Honorable Shikijo
    7.2/10(5 votes)

    #22 - Savage Han'nya - Honorable Shikijo

    S1:E11

    Kenshin, Sanosuke, and Yahiko scramble to take back Megumi from the Kanryu residence. They are confronted by Han'nya, a spy of the Oniwaban Group. He trifles Kenshin with his martial arts skills and his "Arm-extension Spell", but Kenshin successfully conquers him when he uncovers the secret of the technique during the fight. Just when it looked like the battle was up, Han'nya removes his mask and reveals his startling true face.

    Director:Yoshitaka Makino
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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  23. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 21 - Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story, Act Zero (2)
    7.2/10(4 votes)

    #23 - Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story, Act Zero (2)

    S1:E21

    The current Kenshin has left his past as a manslayer and wished for a peaceful world. Though Elder looked at him with eyes of confusion, Kenshin knew that Elder also shared this same desire for a healthy society and felt a sense of comradery with him. Meanwhile, another doctor called Deian Ishizu was scheming to get rid of Elder, as Elder did not seek monetary gain in exchange for her medical services, and Deian thought this was disrupting his business. Deian hires Espiral, a master of Western swordsmanship, to get rid of Elder. However, it seems Espiral has an entirely different motive for taking on the job...

    Director:Shohei Yamanaka
    Writer:Kaoru Kurosaki

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  24. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 1 - Kenshin - Himura Battosai
    7.3/10(15 votes)

    #24 - Kenshin - Himura Battosai

    S1:E1

    11th year of the Meiji Era in downtown Tokyo. Kaoru Kamiya, the acting master of the “Kamiya Kasshin-ryu” style, was chasing after the “Hitokiri Battosai,” who was claiming to be a user of her sword style. One night, Kaoru meets a man carrying a sword. She immediately questions the man, but he seems to have absolutely no will to fight. “Is this the rumored Hitokiri Battosai?” As Kaoru dubiously looks on, the man introduces himself as Kenshin Himura, a “Rurouni.”

    Director:Hideyo Yamamoto
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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  25. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 6 - Kurogasa
    7.3/10(7 votes)

    #25 - Kurogasa

    S1:E6

    Kenshin receives a request from the police chief, asking for his help to take down "Kurogasa," a serial killer who has been repeatedly targeting former Revolutionary warriors. Kenshin and Sanosuke go to escort Jusanro Tani, who received a letter containing a death threat. As warned in the letter, at 1:00 a.m. sharp, Kurogasa appears. His true identity was Jine Udo, a vagabond slayer who had made a name for himself in the assassination business since the Bakumatsu Era.

    Director:Keisuke Nishijima
    Writer:Hideyuki Kurata

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story, Act Zero (1)" is the worst rated episode of "Rurouni Kenshin". It scored 5.2/10 based on 5 votes. Directed by Keishi Kawakubo and written by Kaoru Kurosaki, it aired on 11/17/2023. This episode scored 1.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "That Man - Raijuta".