The Best Episodes of Rurouni Kenshin Season 1

#1 Fan Favorite
7.7/10(321 votes)
#1 - The Handsome Swordsman of Legend: A Man who Fights for Love
S1:E11/10/1996
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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Director:Kazuhiro Furuhashi
Writer:Michiru Shimada
7.2/10(270 votes)
#2 - Kid Samurai: A Big Ordeal and a New Student
S1:E21/17/1996
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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Director:Shinichi Matsumi
Writer:Michiru Shimada
7.4/10(255 votes)
#3 - Swordsman of Sorrow: The Man Who Slays His Past
S1:E31/24/1996
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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Director:Akira Shimizu
Writer:Michiru Shimada
7.5/10(244 votes)
#4 - Bad! Introducing Sanosuke, Fighter-for-hire
S1:E41/31/1996
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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Director:Unknown
Writer:Yoshiyuki Suga
7.8/10(236 votes)
#5 - The Reverse-blade Sword vs. the Zanbatou: Beyond the Battle
S1:E52/7/1996
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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Director:Nobuhiro Takamoto
Writer:Yoshiyuki Suga
7.5/10(223 votes)
#6 - The Appearance of Kurogasa: Visitor from the Shadows
S1:E62/14/1996
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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Director:Naoto Hashimoto
Writer:Michiru Shimada

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The 20 BEST Episodes of Rurouni Kenshin

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8.1/10(220 votes)
#7 - Deathmatch under the Moon! Protect the One You Love
S1:E72/21/1996
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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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.6/10(205 votes)
#8 - A New Battle! The Mysterious Beauty From Nowhere
S1:E82/28/1996
When local gangsters threaten the life of a beautiful woman, Kenshin and Sanosuke step in to save her.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.7/10(201 votes)
#9 - The Strongest Group of Ninjas: The Horrible Oniwaban Group
S1:E93/6/1996
Though her medical knowledge has saved Yahiko's life, Sansosuke suspects Megumi of producing the opium responsible for a close friend's death.
Director:Nobuhiro Takamoto
Writer:Yoshiyuki Suga
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Director:Nobuhiro Takamoto
Writer:Yoshiyuki Suga
7.9/10(198 votes)
#10 - Aoshi: Someone so Beautiful it's Frightening
S1:E103/13/1996
Having pledged to save Megumi, the Peace Force must first take on a band of ruthless drug dealing mobsters. But when a rift inside the gang leads to a change in leadership, Kenshin must confront a fighter whose powers he's underestimated.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
8.3/10(207 votes)
#11 - Farewell, the Strongest Men: The Clash of Light and Shadow
S1:E114/24/1996
Kenshin defeats a local mob's most powerful fighter, only to then face a gang leader who's determined to spread powerful new guns across Japan.
Director:Takashi Kobayashi
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Takashi Kobayashi
Writer:Unknown
7.3/10(192 votes)
#12 - Birth of a Boy Swordsman: The Battle of First Apprentice Yahiko
S1:E125/1/1996
When a criminal gang threatens a young girl he loves, Yahiko seeks Kenshin's advice on how to defend her in a lopsided fight.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
6.4/10(173 votes)
#13 - Strive for the Grand Championship: Toramaru's Sumo Battle Log!
S1:E135/8/1996
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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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.2/10(172 votes)
#14 - Save a Small Life: The Challenge of the Beautiful Doctor, Megumi
S1:E145/15/1996
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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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.3/10(165 votes)
#15 - Assassination Group of Fire: Jinpuu Squad on the Run
S1:E155/22/1996
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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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.5/10(162 votes)
#16 - A Promise from the Heart: The Secret Technique of the Shiden Renga Blade
S1:E166/5/1996
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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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
6.5/10(160 votes)
#17 - Fly to Your Dreams: The Adventures of Marimo, the Human Bullet
S1:E176/12/1996
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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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.2/10(163 votes)
#18 - Run, Yahiko: Get the Reverse-blade Sword Back!
S1:E186/19/1996
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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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.3/10(169 votes)
#19 - Raijuta's Ambition: Dream of a Forbidden Kingdom
S1:E196/26/1996
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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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.3/10(166 votes)
#20 - Revival of the Shinko Style: The Technique Which Heralds a Storm
S1:E207/10/1996
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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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.6/10(162 votes)
#21 - The Dissolution of a Nightmare: Raijuta's Ambition Concludes
S1:E217/21/1996
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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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.0/10(156 votes)
#22 - First Train Ride: Danger on a Runaway Locomotive!
S1:E227/31/1996
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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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.4/10(166 votes)
#23 - Sanosuke's Betrayal: The Fateful Reunion
S1:E238/14/1996
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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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
8.2/10(176 votes)
#24 - Midnight Battle: Sanosuke Verses Kenshin Revisited
S1:E248/21/1996
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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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.4/10(154 votes)
#25 - The Crimson Pirate: Kenshin and Kaoru Separated!
S1:E258/28/1996
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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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown