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The Best Episodes of Rurouni Kenshin Season 1

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

Binge this in 10h 25m•Peaking at 8.3/10

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
    Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 11 - Farewell, the Strongest Men: The Clash of Light and Shadow
    8.3/10(233 votes)

    S1:E11

    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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  2. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 24 - Midnight Battle: Sanosuke Verses Kenshin Revisited
    8.2/10(193 votes)

    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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  3. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 7 - Deathmatch under the Moon! Protect the One You Love
    8.1/10(243 votes)

    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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  4. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 10 - Aoshi: Someone so Beautiful it's Frightening
    7.9/10(221 votes)

    S1:E10

    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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  5. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 5 - The Reverse-blade Sword vs. the Zanbatou: Beyond the Battle
    7.8/10(262 votes)

    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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  6. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 9 - The Strongest Group of Ninjas: The Horrible Oniwaban Group
    7.7/10(225 votes)

    S1:E9

    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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  7. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 1 - The Handsome Swordsman of Legend: A Man who Fights for Love
    7.6/10(357 votes)

    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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  8. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 6 - The Appearance of Kurogasa: Visitor from the Shadows
    7.6/10(250 votes)

    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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  9. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 8 - A New Battle! The Mysterious Beauty From Nowhere
    7.6/10(229 votes)

    S1:E8

    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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  10. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 21 - The Dissolution of a Nightmare: Raijuta's Ambition Concludes
    7.6/10(179 votes)

    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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  11. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 27 - Burn, Island of Terror: The Crimson Pirate Chapter Concludes
    7.6/10(173 votes)

    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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  12. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 4 - Bad! Introducing Sanosuke, Fighter-for-hire
    7.5/10(269 votes)

    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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  13. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 16 - A Promise from the Heart: The Secret Technique of the Shiden Renga Blade
    7.5/10(179 votes)

    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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  14. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 26 - Lightning Incarnate: The Noble and Mysterious Female Pirate, Shura
    7.5/10(168 votes)

    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 3 - Swordsman of Sorrow: The Man Who Slays His Past
    7.4/10(280 votes)

    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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  16. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 23 - Sanosuke's Betrayal: The Fateful Reunion
    7.4/10(183 votes)

    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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  17. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 12 - Birth of a Boy Swordsman: The Battle of First Apprentice Yahiko
    7.3/10(218 votes)

    S1:E12

    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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  18. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 19 - Raijuta's Ambition: Dream of a Forbidden Kingdom
    7.3/10(189 votes)

    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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  19. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 20 - Revival of the Shinko Style: The Technique Which Heralds a Storm
    7.3/10(185 votes)

    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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  20. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 25 - The Crimson Pirate: Kenshin and Kaoru Separated!
    7.3/10(167 votes)

    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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  21. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 2 - Kid Samurai: A Big Ordeal and a New Student
    7.2/10(297 votes)

    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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  22. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 15 - Assassination Group of Fire: Jinpuu Squad on the Run
    7.2/10(182 votes)

    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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  23. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 18 - Run, Yahiko: Get the Reverse-blade Sword Back!
    7.2/10(179 votes)

    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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  24. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 14 - Save a Small Life: The Challenge of the Beautiful Doctor, Megumi
    7.1/10(191 votes)

    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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  25. Rurouni Kenshin Season 1 Episode 22 - First Train Ride: Danger on a Runaway Locomotive!
    7.0/10(172 votes)

    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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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Farewell, the Strongest Men: The Clash of Light and Shadow" is the best rated episode of "Rurouni Kenshin" season 1. It scored 8.3/10 based on 233 votes. Directed by Takashi Kobayashi and written by Unknown, it aired on 4/24/1996. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Midnight Battle: Sanosuke Verses Kenshin Revisited".