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The Best Episodes of Saiyuki

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

The Best Episodes of Saiyuki

Many years ago, humans and demons lived in harmony. But that unity ended when demons started attacking humans and plotted a mission to ...
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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 28 - Lonely – The Signal of Rebellion
    8.0/10(6 votes)

    #1 - Lonely – The Signal of Rebellion

    S1:E28

    Abandoning the Celestial Heavens, Prince Homura, Zenon and Shien decide to build a new world. They choose the tower and castle made by monster King Gailu and his warriors as their headquarters. The army of the Celestial Heavens, which is led by the self-professed gods, begins to attack and seize the tower. Leaving the battlefield, Prince Homura goes to see King Gairu with an offer.

    Director:Hitoyuki Matsui
    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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  2. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 3 - His God, My God – The Divine Platform
    7.8/10(8 votes)

    #2 - His God, My God – The Divine Platform

    S1:E3

    The quartet visits a huge temple on a rocky mountain. All the priests and apprentices live a strict life of studying the sacred scrolls and purifying their souls under the principles of 'no-drinking', 'no-smoking' and 'all tangible things are vain.' They are surprised to see Sanzo partaking in all of these forbidden things. Then, assassins sent by the evil monster Kogaiji attack the temple. Our heroes have to save the priests from the assassins' ghastly violence as the priests are prohibited from killing

    Director:Rion Kujo
    Writer:Akatsuki Yamatoya

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  3. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 2 - First Game – A Guide to the Land of the Dead
    7.7/10(9 votes)

    #3 - First Game – A Guide to the Land of the Dead

    S1:E2

    In a small town, our heroes meet a wounded girl called Ho-May whose friend was killed by an evil creature. Goku can not tell her he is a creature in human disguise. Our heroes are ambushed by a spider-women disguised as traveling entertainers. Goku fights with all his strength for the kindness of the girl and her father who prepared a tasty meal.

    Director:Toshio Matsuhashi
    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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  4. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 1 - Go to the West
    7.6/10(11 votes)

    #4 - Go to the West

    S1:E1

    A long, long time ago, in the Far West, there was a world called Paradise. This was the origin of civilization and faith, where humans and evil spirits coexisted in peaceful harmony. Suddenly, by a negative spiritual wave spreading over this world, the evil spirits and monsters become violent and begin attacking the humans. Ordered by the Celestial Heavens, a priest named Sanzo recruits his old comrades and sets out for the journey toward Indara in the faraway West to find the culprit behind this disaster

    Director:Hayato Date
    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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  5. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 4 - Crimson Tears
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #5 - Crimson Tears

    S1:E4

    The heroes visit the house of a young girl named Shun-Rey, who is waiting for the return of her boyfriend – the young apparition of a spirit. Sha Gojyo is surprised when he hears the name of this monster, Gee-Yen, which has the same as his missing brother-in-law. The townsfolk tell the heroes the monster that attacked humans in the forest looked like Gee-Yen. Shun-Rey runs to the forest.

    Director:Takashi Yamazaki
    Writer:Daisuke Yajima

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  6. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 5 - Pure Assassin
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #6 - Pure Assassin

    S1:E5

    Cheer-Rat (Yaone), one of Kogaiji's followers, wants to please her master. She asks Kogaiji to issue an order to destroy Sanzo's party. Cheer-Rat feels indebted to Kogaiji, who saved her from the monster the "Demon with One Hundred Eyes". Cheer-Rat plans to poison the heroes at a restaurant but hesitates after they save her from two drunken thugs. Cheer-Rat still wants to help her master so she makes a plan.

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai
    Writer:Akatsuki Yamatoya

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Saiyuki

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  7. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 6 - Mysterious Monk of the Talisman
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #7 - Mysterious Monk of the Talisman

    S1:E6

    Visiting a small temple, the heroes hear a rumor of Rick-Do, a savior who destroys evil spirits and monsters. The heroes discover Rick-Do is actually Sanzo's senior fellow disciple and fortune-teller Rikudo (Shukett). Rikudo is possessed by a fetish talisman. In pouring rain, Rikudo attacks Goku, Sha Gojyo, and Hakkai.

    Director:Shintaro Inokawa
    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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  8. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 7 - Farewell at Dusk
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #8 - Farewell at Dusk

    S1:E7

    When Sanzo is severely injured, Goku's head ring, which controls the balance of his magic, falls off. Goku can now deliver devastating blows. Rikudo realizes his disadvantage and flees. Goku loses control, become delirious, and attacks Sha Gojyo and Hakkai!

    Director:Masahiko Murata
    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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  9. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 8 - The Man Who Foretells Death
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #9 - The Man Who Foretells Death

    S1:E8

    The heroes arrive at a town where a bazaar is underway. They meet a dubious fortune-teller named Chin-Ih-So, who uses mahjong tiles to tell fortune. Chin-Ih-So precisely reveals Hakkai's past. Suddenly, a giant crab, apparently a ghastly apparition, appears to attack the heroes but efore they engage in battle, a tiny girl destroys the monster crab. She is Lilin, the younger sister of Kogaiji. Soon, Kogaiji and his followers arrive to help Lilin.

    Director:Toshio Matsuhashi
    Writer:Daisuke Yajima

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  10. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 9 - Lethal Trap – Battle Feast
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #10 - Lethal Trap – Battle Feast

    S1:E9

    The heroes and Kogaiji's band engage in a fierce battle. Kogaiji realizes the secret of Goku and his comrades' infinite strength in battle is the power of spirits – to fight for one's own is the best way to help others. The monster crab controlled by an evil sorcerer appears again. The parties agree to a truce to get rid of the monster crab.

    Director:Rion Kujo
    Writer:Daisuke Yajima

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  11. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 10 - A False Savior
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #11 - A False Savior

    S1:E10

    Sanzo and his comrades arrive in a village where the residents believe their village was saved by the priest Sanzo. Thanks to this story, the heroes enjoy an enthusiastic welcome. However, a false party of Sanzo appears and the heroes are mistaken for imposters. The villagers jail the heroes, believing the bogus priest is the real Sanzo. That night, a monster assassin appears and the village is in a panic.

    Director:Takashi Yamazaki
    Writer:Akatsuki Yamatoya

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  12. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 11 - Tragic Revenge – The Death Laughs
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #12 - Tragic Revenge – The Death Laughs

    S1:E11

    Awakened from a nightmare, Hakkai thinks about the girl he loved. When Sha Gojyo talks to Hakkai, a puppet controlled by the fortune-teller Chin-Ih-So attacks him and injects Sha Gojyo with the seed of a blood-sucking plant. The seed cannot be removed because it is too close to his heart. Sanzo tries to save Sha Gojyo by shooting the seed out of Sha Gojyo's body with a spirit-blasting gun. Sha Gojyo survives. Goku and White Dragon go out to fetch water and disappear.

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai
    Writer:Daisuke Yajima

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  13. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 12 - Wandering Destiny – Struggle in the Darkness
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #13 - Wandering Destiny – Struggle in the Darkness

    S1:E12

    The fortune-teller Chin-Ih-So approaches the heroes. Hakkai destroyed his family. Chin-Ih-So plots to cause Hakkai to go insane. Sha Gojyo and Goku are injured. Sanzo supports Hakkai in a silent battle with a dark, psychic world. Hakkai tries shake off a twisted illusion but, he is trapped by Chin-Ih-So's trick and suddenly attacks and wounds Sanzo. If Hakkai reverts back to himself, the heroes will quickly die.

    Director:Shintaro Inokawa
    Writer:Daisuke Yajima

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  14. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 13 - Crude Counterfeit – A Fruit of Death
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #14 - Crude Counterfeit – A Fruit of Death

    S1:E13

    Our heroes visit a temple where they grow a strangely shaped fruit. Two young disciples say they are taking care of the temple because the chief priest and all other monks left a month ago. Goku is hungry and reaches for the strange fruit. Sanzo senses something evil in the temple and the heroes decide to leave. Goku returns to prove nothing is wrong with the fruit of the temple but slips into a nightmare.

    Director:Masahiko Murata
    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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  15. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 14 - A Sweet Client – I keep My Promise
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #15 - A Sweet Client – I keep My Promise

    S1:E14

    Sanzo and three boys arrive in a small, remote village. When Sha Gojyo leaves to find pretty women, he meets a young woman who tags along with him. The woman tries to persuade Sha Gojyo to destroy a monster that killed her parents. Sha Gojyo is led to the monster's hideout and senses something weird is going on inside but does not realize it is a trap.

    Director:Tomoki Kyoda
    Writer:Akatsuki Yamatoya

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  16. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 15 - The Ill-fated Guy – Spell of Red
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #16 - The Ill-fated Guy – Spell of Red

    S1:E15

    The heroes have to sleep outside in the rain. Looking up in the rain, Sha Gojyo remembers three three years ago, he helped a young man named Chogo-Noh, who was laying on the roadside.Meanwhile, the Trinity Gods order Sanzo to arrest the man who massacred many monsters, who is Chogo-Noh.

    Director:Rion Kujo
    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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  17. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 16 - Be There! – A Praise for Staying Alive
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #17 - Be There! – A Praise for Staying Alive

    S1:E16

    Chogo-Noh flees into the woods to carry out his self-imposed mission. Suddenly, he is attacked by Crow-Man whose family Chogo-Noh killed. They fight and Crow-Man is shocked by Chogo-Noh's fighting spirit. Sanzo and Goku, who were tailing him, arrive and are followed by Sha Gojyo.

    Director:Takashi Yamazaki
    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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  18. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 17 - Garden of Eden – A Eternal Paradise
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #18 - Garden of Eden – A Eternal Paradise

    S1:E17

    Sanzo and his comrades find numerous stoned monsters in a monsters' town called "Tofu-Gai" at the bottom of steep ravines. Goku, Sha-Gojyo and Cho Hakkai turn into stone statues because they are monsters too. Left alone, Sanzo asks a monster woman named Koran how he can save his friends. Koran introduces Sanzo to an old man called Muhan, who governs the town. Sanzo has to find a way to save his friends.

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai
    Writer:Daisuke Yajima

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  19. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 18 - Vice or Justice – The Truth of Justice
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #19 - Vice or Justice – The Truth of Justice

    S1:E18

    Several monsters are missing. Yaone, a female warrior of Kogaiji, begins to investigate what is happening. Meanwhile, Sanzo and his three comrades find Tonpoo, an old friend of Sha Gojyo and Hakkai. Tonpoo tells the heroes he volunteered a militia called Fanron Troop, which consisted of humans tasked with hunting evil monsters. The same night, Yaone is captured by the captain of Fanron Troop when she sneaks into the camp.

    Director:Shintaro Inokawa
    Writer:Akatsuki Yamatoya

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  20. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 19 - Don't go Alone – Desperate Girls
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #20 - Don't go Alone – Desperate Girls

    S1:E19

    The heroes meet four beautiful sisters. Sanzo is reluctant to befriend them. Soon after they leave the sisters, the heroes discover the sisters want to kill them for saving the life of the eldest sister, who was possessed by a parasitic monster.

    Director:Masahiko Murata
    Writer:Akatsuki Yamatoya

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  21. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 20 - Sandstorm – Trap of Quicksand
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #21 - Sandstorm – Trap of Quicksand

    S1:E20

    A monster that ate the priest Sanzo Senior hides in the desert. The heroes go into the desert and fall into quicksand. The desert monster has set a trap because he believes he will get eternal life if he eats a priest of great virtue. The monster becomes enraged by Sanzo's arrogant and disgraceful manner. In an underground jail, Goku, Sha Gojyo and Hakkai are engaged in a desperate battle with incessant scorpions.

    Director:Tomoki Kyoda
    Writer:Daisuke Yajima

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  22. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 21 - Selfish Dream – Reckless Run to Ruin
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #22 - Selfish Dream – Reckless Run to Ruin

    S1:E21

    Five Sutras who are possessed by Sanzo and his comrades are needed for reviving Gyumao the Bull Satan. Trailing the Sutras, Kogaiji, Son of Bull Satan, crosses the desert and meets the heroes. Goku wants to help Sanzo, who is greatly weakened by scorpion poison but Kogaiji challenges him to a duel and proves to be an extraordinary warrior. Goku fears he cannot defeat Kogaiji with his normal power.

    Director:Rion Kujo
    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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  23. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 22 - Devastation – The Outcome of a Deadly Duel
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Devastation – The Outcome of a Deadly Duel

    S1:E22

    Goku takes out his head ring, which controls his infinite power; his sense of judgment vanishes, and he cannot recognize his friends and his enemies. With cruelty and violence, Goku begins to attack whoever he sees. No-one can stop Goku's devastating power but Sanzo manages to get up in front of Goku.

    Director:Hitoyuki Matsui
    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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  24. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 23 - Scapegoat – Reward of Subordination
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #24 - Scapegoat – Reward of Subordination

    S1:E23

    The heroes arrive at a Village with big canons sticking into the sky. They are surprised by a ceremony that offers a sacrifice to an evil monster that rules the residents. Hakkai is stunned by the young woman who is chosen as a sacrifice because she looks exactly like his dead girlfriend Kanan. The monster must be destroyed before the woman is sacrificed.

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai
    Writer:Akatsuki Yamatoya

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  25. Saiyuki Season 1 Episode 24 - Mother – Crimson Bond
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #25 - Mother – Crimson Bond

    S1:E24

    Goku and Sha Gojyo enter a village in search of food, and meet a young mother named Yan-Min, who is hugging a new-born baby. The baby's eyes and hair are red like Goku's. Yan-Min's husband is a human-looking monster; the villagers despise her for having a monster's baby. A man called Nijenye is interested in the sadness and hatred spawned in her heart, and plans to use her secret feeling for his own purpose.

    Director:Keisuke Onishi
    Writer:Daisuke Yajima

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Best Episodes Summary

"Lonely – The Signal of Rebellion" is the best rated episode of "Saiyuki". It scored 8/10 based on 6 votes. Directed by Hitoyuki Matsui and written by Katsuyuki Sumisawa, it aired on 10/17/2000. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "His God, My God – The Divine Platform".