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Viewing Order for Rurouni Kenshin?

The basic moral of the series is to never give up on life, regardless of what bad things you've done in the past or how bleak your future might look. Cherish the life you have now and enjoy the presence of good friends and do what you can to protect it, should the instance occur. This is portrayed perfectly through the interaction of Kenshin and friends, and especially his battles.

Before you check it out though, there are several things I need to point out.

First, there are multiple titles that go in the following order:

TV series (1-62)
Movie (optional)
Tsuioku-hen OAV ("Samurai X: Trust & Betrayal")
Seisou-hen OAV ("Samurai X: Reflections")

The TV series is actually 95 episodes, but ep. 63+ are all filler, meaning it has nothing to do with the original story. I would recommend you avoid this until you at least get the jist of the real story. In fact, you can ask anyone about the notorious Season 3, and most will say it just doesn't live up to the namesake. Actually, the series got cancelled because of such low ratings, so that should tell you something in itself already.

Season 1 (1-28) contains some filler, but still does a decent job of portraying most of the original material. There's a fair share of action, comedy, and plot events to build up the characters.

Moving into Season 2 (29-62, aka the Kyoto arc), you get a bit of a darker, more action/drama-oriented atmosphere. Every episode sticks to the manga almost panel for panel, and is the highlight of the series, in my opinion.

The movie has nothing to do with the main story either, though it was okay if you liked the series. Some of the references point to the events of Kyoto, so if you watched it without any prior knowledge, it probably wouldn't be as enjoyable. I wouldn't recommend it if you're watching the anime for the first time through because the end of Kyoto actually ties into the first OAV.

Tsuioku-hen is... pivotal. It's actually a prequel that tells the story of how Kenshin turned from the cold-blooded assassin he once was into the happy-pappy rurouni. I do not recommend you watch the OAV before the TV series. The problem with that is the transition.

Namely, the TV series is a fairly light-hearted and fun viewing. You get some slapstick humor, laughing moments, and that sort of thing. The OAV is the polar opposite; very dark, violent, and almost depressing. If you watch to the end of Kyoto, Tsuioku-hen will tie into a certain lingering plotline. And that transition from a lighter to a darker atmoshpere, is what will make it so much more enjoyable. A lot of people that saw Tsuioku-hen first, ended up not liking the series because of the reverse transition (darker to lighter feel), and it's a real shame. TRUST ME, you will not be dissappointed if you follow the order I suggested.

Seisou-hen, on the other hand, is not as good. For the longest time, I never made the effort to read much manga. But after hearing so many things about what actually happened after Kyoto, I had to find out. Needless to say, Seisou-hen is a very poor representation of it. In addition to being a prequel, Tsuioku-hen is actually a flashback that was to lead up to the final arc of the franchise, Jinchuu.

Unfortunately, what was written and illustrated into about 10 volumes of greatness ended up being only 4 good OAV episodes (Tsuioku-hen) and 2 crammed episodes of butchered misrepresnation (Seisou-hen). While the production qualities are excellent, the story is just horribly spliced, putting 8 volumes of manga into an hour of crap that didn't even tell it correctly. Even the creator of the franchise disowned it.

If at all possible, I highly recommend you check out the manga after the anime, at least for the full effect of the Jinchuu arc. But for now, I can say you'll like the anime if you follow my suggestions for viewing (TV series through ep. 62, then Tsuioku-hen).

By the way, I really dislike the dub. Being my favorite anime, I feel it fails in capturing the essence of all the characters and expressing the subtlties that make the dialogue and interacton so enjoyable. I could argue the faults forever from voice inflection to pronunciations, but I've typed enough as it is.

By the way, I really dislike the dub. Being my favorite anime, I feel it fails in capturing the essence of all the characters and expressing the subtlties that make the dialogue and interacton so enjoyable. I could argue the faults forever from voice inflection to pronunciations, but I've typed enough as it is.

I wouldn't even bother with the OAV unless you have a burning desire to see everything ever made in the universe of kenshin. it was awful, and my beloved english VAs were not even there

My favorite episodes are from the third season. I should state from the start that I'm not into most shonen manga, and really don't like Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece, Inuyasha, Hokuto no Ken, etc. The much beloved season two of Kenshin really is the most shonen of the three. The idea that the Kyoto arc is based around a boss and his mini bosses who the main characters has to fight really is a bit too much like so many other shonen titles. spoiler[[Having Kenshin fight to the brink of death only to start another fight is so shonen]] The episodes dedicated to the "ultimate fighting technique" also bothers me, especially since Sanosuke has one of these too.

Bearing this in mind I greeted the Meiji episodes with open arms. To me Kenshin is about the ending of old Japan, and the start of the modern era. This theme is illustrated in the third season with the idea of Christianity being introduced into Japan. I also love Sanosuke's story in the Christian arc, especially since he took such a back seat in Kyoto. spoiler[Having Kenshin lose his sight helped bring the others to the foreground, and illustrated how Kenshin isn't as invulnerable as in the Kyoto arc.] The Shougo and Sayo backstory episode is very touching. The Black Knights arc also contrasts Japan with the Western world. It illustrates how Japan thought they were so advanced, while science was advancing in other countries. This arc placed Yahiko into the foreground, and placed him in his most mature light. spoiler[It's funny when Yahiko and Sanosuke can't even pronounce the word "science" when Yutaro explains it to them.] In both arcs there is a nice commentary of a country that is unwiiling to embrace a new global community. spoiler[I love how in the end of the Christian arc it is commented how he West would frown upon the slaughter of Christians, yet they are still deported.]

My favorite stand alone episodes are from the Meiji season. The ring episode (title is a spoiler) is one of my favorites. Once again we start to see how Western traditions are creeping into Japan. We also see lots of Tae, an underused character who I always enjoyed, up to no good. My all time favorite episode would have to be the Misao/Aoshi episode. spoiler[The scene where Aoshi is reminded of a young Misao is particularly moving.] The young artist episode is another that I really enjoy. spoiler[Once again we see the theme of a changing Japan revisited as the artists final painting is Picasso-esque.]

I will agree that the third season lacks "intense build up to amazing combats with incredible characters." and has the least amount "good fights" but that is why I find it my favorite.

Quote:

A lot of time seem to be wasted in slow and boring scenes, and there definitely was a lack of "hardcore" fighting. The conflicts weren't resolved from fighting, but rather with random causes and effects, and that's just boring.

This is so true. The third season is more political, and the conflicts are not resolved with who can draw thier sword quickest. spoiler[The Christian arc ends with Kenshin using his negotiation powers with Shougo's lot, and the (Portuguese?) embassy resolving the conflict. The Black Knights arc ends with the much treasured plant being destroyed and nobody benefiting, when both parties could have got a miracle cure if they worked together.] I love these endings since they don't remind me of so many fight of the week series.

I will however admit that the Feng Shui episodes are really dull.

I will agree in the viewing order presented by many above. In regards to season 3 I wrote this as a reply to a few posters who were bashing season 3 for it's lack of action:

[snip]

Keep in mind this comes from a non-Kenshin fan's perspective, and probably will not apply to those who are fans of the genre/series. I find the third season of Kenshin amongst the best anime based off of a Jump manga, but then again I will mention once more I really don't like Jump manga.