The Best Episodes of Yu Yu Hakusho Season 1

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   8.0/10(700 votes)

   #1 - Surprised to be Dead

   S1:E110/10/1992

   Yusuke Urameshi is having a typical day. He's cutting class, arguing with teachers and getting into fights with his rival Kuwabara. But then Yusuke does something that betrays his killer rep. He dives in front of a speeding car to push a little boy out of harm's way! Yusuke has sacrificed his life for the sake of another, but is this really the end of this brash young man?

   Director:Noriyuki Abe

   Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi

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   Director:Noriyuki Abe

   Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi
2. 

   7.5/10(549 votes)

   #2 - Koenma Appears

   S1:E210/17/1992

   Pulled by the sprightly, pink-robed Botan, Yusuke enters a realm that is not quite normal -- the Spirit World. There, Yusuke meets Koenma, a 700 year-old ruler with the body of a toddler, pacifier and all! But there's no rom for laughs as Koenma gives Yusuke an ordeal to restore his life. Hatching a Spirit Beast!

   Director:Shigeru Ueda

   Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi

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   Director:Shigeru Ueda

   Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi
3. 

   7.7/10(545 votes)

   #3 - Kuwabara: A Promise Between Men

   S1:E310/24/1992

   Kuwabara was tormented by his rival's death. The loser in all 156 of his brawls against Yusuke , he's now lost any chance he ever had of evening the score! But with Yusuke out of the way, Kuwabara is the new kid to beat... which means he's making plenty of enemies. Yusuke isn't fond of this classmate, but if he wants to win back his life, he will need to give him a ghostly hand.

   Director:Kazunori Mizuno

   Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi

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   Director:Kazunori Mizuno

   Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi
4. 

   7.3/10(506 votes)

   #4 - Requirements for Lovers

   S1:E410/31/1992

   The Spirit World forgot an important question -- does anyone want Yusuke back? Koenma sends an Investigator to find out, and Yusuke's friends answer quickly when a fire threatens to char his earthly body. But will Yusuke give up the Spirit Beast, his one chance for revival, to rescue his friends?

   Director:Akiyuki Shinbo

   Writer:Sukehiro Tomita

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   Director:Akiyuki Shinbo

   Writer:Sukehiro Tomita
5. 

   7.6/10(487 votes)

   #5 - Yusuke's Back

   S1:E511/7/1992

   Yusuke has reclaimed his life, but has only one day to be revived by someone's kiss -— And that someone might be Kuwabara! Back in the flesh, Yusuke finds he can see supernatural creatures hiding in the living world, and quickly hunts down a demon criminal. With this move, he learns his adventure is only beginning. Yusuke is a Spirit Detective.

   Director:Junya Koshiba

   Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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   Director:Junya Koshiba

   Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa
6. 

   7.3/10(464 votes)

   #6 - Three Monsters

   S1:E611/14/1992

   Yusuke receives his first real case as Spirit Detective. Three demon thieves have muscled their way into King Yama's sacred vault, stealing the three Artifacts of Darkness. Yusuke must recover the artifacts and bring the thieves to justice before they unleash dark and deadly powers on the people of Earth.

   Director:Hitoyuki Matsui

   Writer:Hiroshi Hashimoto

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   Director:Hitoyuki Matsui

   Writer:Hiroshi Hashimoto
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7. 

   7.6/10(452 votes)

   #7 - Gouki and Kurama

   S1:E711/21/1992

   The oafish demon Gouki is using the stolen Orb of Baast to capture children's souls. If Yusuke doesn't track down and defeat this monster quickly, those souls will become the monster's next meal. But Gouki isn't the only one Yusuke has to worry about when the second thief suddenly appears. His name is Kurama, and to great surprise, he asks Yusuke for a favor...

   Director:Akiyuki Shinbo

   Writer:Shikichi Ohashi

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   Director:Akiyuki Shinbo

   Writer:Shikichi Ohashi
8. 

   7.7/10(460 votes)

   #8 - The Three Eyes of Hiei

   S1:E811/28/1992

   With two artifacts under his belt, Yusuke heads for his most dangerous challenge yet – the ruthless demon Hiei. But unbeknownst to Yusuke, Hiei is chasing him, and kidnaps his girlfriend Kayko! Unless Yusuke can retrieve the antidote inside Hiei's Shadow Sword, Keiko will become a brainless, monster slave! Can Yusuke close the case?

   Director:Junya Koshiba

   Writer:Sukehiro Tomita

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   Director:Junya Koshiba

   Writer:Sukehiro Tomita
9. 

   7.5/10(429 votes)

   #9 - The Search Begins

   S1:E912/5/1992

   Yusuke's three-day weekend is cut short when Botan delivers his next big case. Genkai, an aging psychic, will hold a contest to find a worthy apprentice to her powerful technique: the Spirit Wave. But an evil demon, Rando, plans to steal the technique and use it for mass destruction! Yusuke must go undercover and infiltrate Genkai's compound!

   Director:Shigeru Ueda

   Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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   Director:Shigeru Ueda

   Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa
10. 

    7.7/10(424 votes)

    #10 - Kuwabara's Spirit Sword

    S1:E1012/12/1992

    The candidates for Genkai's apprenticeship have been narrowed to eight. Among them: Yusuke, Kuwabara, and the disguised demon Rando! Genkai announces the final test will be a tournament, fought in total darkness. And Kuwabara's first opponent is swinging a supernatural sword!

    Director:Kazunori Mizuno

    Writer:Hiroshi Hashimoto

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    Director:Kazunori Mizuno

    Writer:Hiroshi Hashimoto
11. 

    7.6/10(421 votes)

    #11 - Hard Fights for Yusuke

    S1:E1112/19/1992

    In his first match of the tournament, Yusuke faces an impossible disadvantage. He can't see a thing in the pitch-black arena, but a hi-tech helmet allows Kibano to follow Yusuke's every move. Even if the battle-worn detective can survive Kibano, he'll have to fight his second match immediately -— against a lethal ninja!

    Director:Hitoyuki Matsui

    Writer:Shikichi Ohashi

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    Director:Hitoyuki Matsui

    Writer:Shikichi Ohashi
12. 

    7.6/10(416 votes)

    #12 - Rando Rises, Kuwabara Falls

    S1:E1212/26/1992

    Yusuke, Kuwabara, and young Shorin are the only fighters still standing in the Genkai Tournament. Yet Rando has not been found. Could this mean that Shorin is actually Rando? Or is the demon lurking somewhere in the shadows? The truth will soon be known, as Kuwabara faces Shorin on the haunted field of battle.

    Director:Akiyuki Shinbo

    Writer:Sukehiro Tomita

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    Director:Akiyuki Shinbo

    Writer:Sukehiro Tomita
13. 

    7.7/10(414 votes)

    #13 - Yusuke vs. Rando: 99 Attacks

    S1:E131/9/1993

    Kuwabara's body lays broken. Shorin is nowhere to be found. And with Yusuke's energy dwindling every minute, the evil Rando reveals his true and monstrous form. Now, can the injured Yusuke battle the human-hunting demon and close the case? How can he, when Rando has ninety-nine deadly techniques in his arsenal.

    Director:Junya Koshiba

    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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    Director:Junya Koshiba

    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa
14. 

    7.3/10(398 votes)

    #14 - The Beasts of Maze Castle

    S1:E141/16/1993

    Yusuke returns from training with the great psychic Genkai, and not a moment too soon! Dreadful Makai Insects are invading his own city, part of a sinister scheme to flood the earth with demons! With Kuwabara at his side, Yusuke dives into a forbidden demon city. His target: four deadly creatures known as the Saint Beasts!

    Director:Shigeru Ueda

    Writer:Hiroshi Hashimoto

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    Director:Shigeru Ueda

    Writer:Hiroshi Hashimoto
15. 

    7.5/10(391 votes)

    #15 - Genbu, the Stone Beast

    S1:E151/23/1993

    Kurama and Hiei, two demons Yusuke beat in his first case, join Yusuke and Kuwabara to battle the Saint Beasts. This awkward alliance must learn to trust each other quickly, as they struggle through the Gate of Betrayal. And waiting just beyond this trap is the first Beast —- a giant made of solid stone!

    Director:Kazunori Mizuno

    Writer:Shikichi Ohashi

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    Director:Kazunori Mizuno

    Writer:Shikichi Ohashi
16. 

    7.6/10(384 votes)

    #16 - Byakko, the White Tiger

    S1:E161/30/1993

    One of Yusuke's teammates has been badly injured, and Kuwabara insists on fighting the next enemy all by himself -— revealing his amazingly improved Spirit Sword! Before the bickering group can disagree, a ferocious roar slices through the castle. Byakko, the second Saint Beast, is waiting!

    Director:Akiyuki Shinbo

    Writer:Sukehiro Tomita

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    Director:Akiyuki Shinbo

    Writer:Sukehiro Tomita
17. 

    7.7/10(390 votes)

    #17 - Byakko's Lair

    S1:E172/6/1993

    After a harrowing fight on a collapsing bridge, Byakko is seemingly defeated. But as soon as the Spirit Detective team enters the castle's next wing, a fearsome tiger roar bids Kuwabara to round two -- in Byakko's secret lair. Can this Beast be beaten once and for all, in a room of molten lava?

    Director:Junya Koshiba

    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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    Director:Junya Koshiba

    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa
18. 

    7.3/10(419 votes)

    #18 - Seiryu, the Blue Dragon

    S1:E182/13/1993

    Two of the four Saint Beasts are dead -- or so Yusuke and his team believe! But in the chamber of Seiryu, a Beast who can trap his enemies in ice, an unexpected guest arrives. How can two Beasts in one room be stopped? And why is Hiei, a cold-hearted rogue, suddenly beset with emotion?

    Director:Hitoyuki Matsui

    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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    Director:Hitoyuki Matsui

    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa
19. 

    7.2/10(385 votes)

    #19 - Suzaku, Leader of the Beasts

    S1:E192/20/1993

    Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama and Hiei rush into the next part of the castle as they reach the final chamber where Suzaku awaits. Unknown to them Suzaku's master plan is being made - to capture Keiko.

    Director:Shigeru Ueda

    Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi

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    Director:Shigeru Ueda

    Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi
20. 

    7.3/10(375 votes)

    #20 - Seven Ways to Die

    S1:E202/27/1993

    Suzaku uses The Prism of Seven technique to create seven Suzakus. Not merely copies, each one has independent will and full powers - all aimed at the torture and annihilation of Yusuke.

    Director:Kazunori Mizuno

    Writer:Motohiro Tomita

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    Director:Kazunori Mizuno

    Writer:Motohiro Tomita
21. 

    7.5/10(373 votes)

    #21 - Yusuke's Sacrifice

    S1:E213/6/1993

    Suzaku releases another lightning fist attack, but Yusuke was up to the task as he himself unleashes his full power and he blasts Suzaku with his devastating spirit shotgun!

    Director:Akiyuki Shinbo

    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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    Director:Akiyuki Shinbo

    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa
22. 

    7.4/10(360 votes)

    #22 - Lamenting Beauty

    S1:E223/13/1993

    Yukina is a beautiful ice apparition whose tears transform into priceless jewels. Now a filthy human crime lord named Tarukane has kidnapped Yukina, planning to extract her tears through torture and make a fortune! Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Botan must quickly mount a rescue mission. But why is Hiei not allowed to know?

    Director:Haruo Nakayama

    Writer:Hiroshi Hashimoto

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    Director:Haruo Nakayama

    Writer:Hiroshi Hashimoto
23. 

    7.4/10(356 votes)

    #23 - The Toguro Brothers Gang

    S1:E233/20/1993

    Yusuke's Spirit Detective team continues toward Tarukane's mountain stronghold, facing a small army of grotesque demon guards. It seems an alliance has formed between human criminals and demon mercenaries, with money as the bottom line. Yet Kuwabara plows fearlessly ahead declaring he's in love with Yukina!

    Director:Noriyuki Abe

    Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi

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    Director:Noriyuki Abe

    Writer:Yukiyoshi Ôhashi
24. 

    7.5/10(361 votes)

    #24 - The Deadly Triad

    S1:E243/27/1993

    Struggling their way to the front gates of Tarukane's stronghold, Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Botan now face a much greater challenge: three notorious demon fighters known throughout Spirit World as the Triad! Can the Spirit Detective team fight three outlandish opponents on after another, and save the tortured Yukina?

    Director:Akiyuki Shinbo

    Writer:Sukehiro Tomita

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    Director:Akiyuki Shinbo

    Writer:Sukehiro Tomita
25. 

    8.0/10(374 votes)

    #25 - Kuwabara's Fight of Love

    S1:E254/10/1993

    One giant battle stands in the way of rescuing Yukina. Yusuke and Kuwabara versus the leaders of the demon mercenaries, the immensely powerful and bizarre - Toguro Brothers! What will it take to defeat the freakish duo in a fight where anything goes? Elsewhere, Kurama races to stop Hiei, who is entering Tarukane's stronghold with his own violent agenda!

    Director:Hitoyuki Matsui

    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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    Director:Hitoyuki Matsui

    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa