The BEST episodes of Arakawa Under the Bridge season 1

Every episode of Arakawa Under the Bridge season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Arakawa Under the Bridge season 1!

Kou Ichinomiya is the son of a wealthy businessman who holds firm belief in his elite status. As such, he is determined to avoid becoming indebted to anyone; but one day, after a run-in with some mischievous kids on Arakawa Bridge, he ends up falling into the river running underneath. Luckily for him, a passerby is there to save him—but now, he owes his life to this stranger! Angered by this, Kou insists on paying her back, but this may just be the worst deal the arrogant businessman has ever made. The stranger—a stoic, tracksuit-wearing homeless girl known only as Nino—lives in a cardboard box under the bridge and wants only one thing: to fall in love. Asking Kou to be her boyfriend, he has no choice but to accept, forcing him to move out of his comfortable home and start a new life under the bridge!

Last Updated: 12/18/2024Network: TV TokyoStatus: Ended
Bridge
star
9.17
84 votes

#1 - Bridge

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/5/2010

Falling off a bridge while trying to get his pants back Ichinomiya Kou is saved by a woman named Nino. Desperate to live up to his family motto of never being indebted to anyone he tries to pay Nino off only to find that she is completely uninterested in his riches and prefers living under the bridge. Desperate to the point of panic to be rid of his debt to her he asks if there is anything she wants. "Could you fall in love with me," she responds and so Kou ends up living under the bridge as well doing his best to fall in love with her.

Directors: Shinbou Akiyuki
Watch Now:Amazon
8 Bridge
star
8.93
70 votes

#2 - 8 Bridge

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 5/24/2010

Ric is visited by his secretary from his outside job. Thinking quickly he comes up with an elaborate lie about why he is under the bridge only to have it fall apart within minutes. Later he shares his first kiss with Nino. Unbeknownst to Ric his father is aware that he is living under the bridge and sees his actions as a affront to the family name.

Watch Now:Amazon
5 Bridge
star
8.58
71 votes

#3 - 5 Bridge

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/3/2010

After discovering Sisters one fatal weakness Riku meets P-Ko the resident vegetable farmer and local clutz. Afterwards the bridge holds a welcoming party for Stella and Riku tries to convince the mayor to give Stella a new name in a bid to reveal her true nature.

Watch Now:Amazon
2 Bridge
star
8.55
75 votes

#4 - 2 Bridge

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/12/2010

Recruit is introduced to the other people living under the bridge. He finds out from Sister that the rest of the inhabitants want to kick his ass for being Nino's lover.

Watch Now:Amazon
7 Bridge
star
8.54
69 votes

#5 - 7 Bridge

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/17/2010

Ric starts his first day as a teacher. Nino and the helmet brothers show up for class, but everyone else thinks up a way to get away from Ric's "helpful" instruction. Stella tries to muscle Ric out of her territory as the day progresses.

Watch Now:Amazon
11 Bridge
star
8.53
66 votes

#6 - 11 Bridge

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 6/14/2010

Sure now that his father is behind the plan to evict the residents under the bridge, Ric decides to launch his own counter proposal and turn the area into a park so the resident can stay. However his fathers reputation and the "help" the residents scare away Ric's contractor. At the same time the "horrifying" weakness of his father is revealed, will Ric discover it in time?

Watch Now:Amazon
6 Bridge
star
8.44
72 votes

#7 - 6 Bridge

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/10/2010

Ric discovers that he is actually quite good at teaching, at least in comparison to Nino's "advanced" swim lesson. He decides to make his official job teaching so that he can "correct" the inhabitants under the bridge and escape back to the sane world.

Watch Now:Amazon
4 Bridge
star
8.32
71 votes

#8 - 4 Bridge

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/26/2010

Riku and Nino go on their first date. Later Stella the little orphan girl arrives and challenges Riku to a game of play fighting. After a humiliating defeat at the hands of Stella Riku and Sister go to see Maria the riverside farmer.

Watch Now:Amazon
10 Bridge
star
8.19
67 votes

#9 - 10 Bridge

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 6/7/2010

Sisters holds a fire drill involving a real fire. Riku's father beings his plan to correct his fallen son by evicting the residents under the bridge and to renovate the riverside.

Watch Now:Amazon
12 Bridge
star
8.15
67 votes

#10 - 12 Bridge

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 6/21/2010

Ric and Star become shooting stars and Nino makes a wish upon them. A mysterious man appears and derails Ric's father, Seki, plan to redevelop the riverside. Thinking that Ric was behind his failure he comes to the river to confront Ric. He succumbs to the same fate as Ric and encounters Nino, though he remains true to the family motto and refuses her help. Ric finally works up the courage to call his father and tells him even if wins he will still love Nino, Nino learns how to answer a phone.

Watch Now:Amazon
13 Bridge
star
8.15
67 votes

#11 - 13 Bridge

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 6/28/2010

Ric plans on building an amusement park for Stella and the metal brothers to go to and nearly kills himself coming up with a plan. In the mean time the residents build one themselves with "realistic" life threaten situations included. Ric and Nino continue to work on the puzzle of "you and me".

Watch Now:Amazon
3 Bridge
star
7.82
76 votes

#12 - 3 Bridge

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/19/2010

Rec is interrogated by Sister and Hoshi about how far he has actually gone with Nino. To their frustration he admits that absolutely nothing has happened. Realizing that to pay off his debt to Nino he has to do more to act as here lover he decides to take her out on a date, using all of his rich guy power to impress her.

Watch Now:Amazon
9 Bridge
star
7.81
67 votes

#13 - 9 Bridge

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 5/31/2010

Riku learns more about the past life of Star. Stella discovers that Sister is in love with Maria and a battle of epic proportions ensues.

Watch Now:Amazon