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The Best Episodes of Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1

Every episode of Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1!

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War rages between the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance. With two new brilliant young leaders at the helm, anything can happen in this military space opera.

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  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 26 - Farewell, Distant Days
    9.5/10(1129 votes)

    S1:E26

    Ansbach misses; Oberstein protects Reinhard with his body while Kircheis grabs the weapons, but is killed in the process. Reinhard is devastated by his friend's death and is unable to make any decisions for several days. His admirals go back to Odin, arrest Lichtenlade for the murder attempt on Reinhard. Reinhard finally recovers and speaks to Annerose, who decides to retire to a small cottage; Reinhard feels left alone. Meanwhile, in Phezzan, Rubinsky decides to change his strategy, since the balance of power cannot be maintained: Phezzan will support the Empire. He sends Boltik as Phezzan's ambassador to Odin and replaces him with Rupert Kesselring.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 23 - The Fall of the Goldenbaum
    9.2/10(594 votes)

    S1:E23

    And uprising takes place in Westerland, one of Braunschweig's territories. He decides to kill all the inhabitants by a nuclear strike. Reinhard hears about the plan and wants to send a fleet to stop it, but Oberstein thinks it's better to let it happen, record it and use this monstruous act as a propaganda tool against the high nobles. Reinhard is against it, but Oberstein's plan succeeds because he lied about the time of the strike. The images are nevertheless broadcasted in all the Empire: Reinhard becomes the hero of the commoners and, even in Geiesburg, many think its time to get rid of the high nobles. The Lippstadt Fleet makes a last sortie, but is defeated; baron Flegel is killed by his men when he wants to make a suicide attack, and his crew flees to Phezzan. Merkatz, too proud to surrender, decides to kill himself, but Bernhard von Schneider advises him to take refuge in Iserlohn.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 21 - The Battle of Doria, and Then...
    8.9/10(555 votes)

    S1:E21

    Schenkopp takes control of the rebel planets on behalf of the Yang fleet. The National Salvation Military Council sends commodore Bagdashu to Yang to pose as a traitor to the coup in order to kill him, but Schenkopp manages to take him away. Yang's 13th Fleet meets the 11th Fleet in the Doria star system; the 11th Fleet is destroyed because its commanders turn down Yang's proposal of surrender. After the battle, Bagdashu decides to join Yang because his victory is certain. Meanwhile, in Heinessen, a peaceful gathering against the coup is held in a stadium. When the army tries to scatter it, it turns into a riot, and thousands are killed, including Jessica Edwards.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 15 - The Battle of Amritsar
    8.8/10(606 votes)

    S1:E15

    The Free Planets Alliance fleet are attacked: the 3rd, 7th and 12th fleets are destroyed and the 5th, 8th, 9th and 10th fleets are heavily damaged; only the 13th Fleet has managed to escape without taking too much damage. Admiral Lobos orders the fleets to regroup in the Amlitzer Starzone. Reinhard orders his admirals to regroup in the same area in order to destroy the remaining fleets. The Free Planets Alliance Fleet suffer further losses during the battle of Amlitzer Starzone (October, 15, 796 S.C. / 487 I.C.).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 7 - Iserlohn Captured!
    8.5/10(609 votes)

    S1:E7

    May, 14, 796 S.C. / 487 I.C.: a fake imperial spaceship docks into Iserlohn. Walter von Schenkopp, commander of the Rosen Ritter, pretends to have important information and takes control of the center of command. The Iserlohn fleet comes back, only to be destroyed by the fortress' main weapon, the "Thor's Hammer". The fall of Iserlohn dramatically changes the strategic balance: Yang hopes it will lead to a peace treaty. Back in Heinessen, he wants to resign, but is promoted to vice-admiral instead.

    Director:Noboru Ishiguro
    Writer:Hiroshi Toda

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  6. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 16 - A New Tide
    8.5/10(551 votes)

    S1:E16

    End of the battle of Amlitzer: Yang's 13th Fleet keeps the Imperial Fleet at bay, allowing admiral Bucock to withdraw the remaining fleets. After that, Yang manages to escape destruction (once again). Meanwhile, the Emperor dies without appointing an heir. Reinhard teams up with premier Lichtenlade in order to crown Erwin Josef II, one of the late emperor's three grandchildren. Prince Braunschweig and marquis Littenheim, fathers of the two others, prepare to seek revenge. Back in the Free Planets Alliance, Trüniht is appointed temporary chairman of the High Council, Bucock commander-in-chief of the Fleet, and Yang commander of Iserlohn. he takes all his staff with him, plus Attenborough and a new officer, Julian Minci, and hopes to have Alex Cazellnu appointed as commissioner of the fortress. Meanwhile, in Phezzan, Rubinsky takes his orders from the Grand Bishop of the Earth Cult.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 24 - Victory, for Whose Sake?
    8.5/10(447 votes)

    S1:E24

    After Yang's victory, the National Salvation Military Council loses its supporters and only controls Heinessen, well protected by the Artemis Necklace. Yang decides to use propaganda and asks Bagdashu to publicly admit that the Empire is behind the coup. Bagdashu's speech is widely broadcasted in Heinessen. The leaders of the coup are astonished, but Lynch, who helped them, says that's the truth. Meanwhile, Yang manages to destroy the Artemis Necklace. Hopeless, the leaders of the National Salvation Military Council decide to surrender, but to destroy all evidence of the Empire's involvement. Admiral Greenill and Lynch are killed in the ensuing gunfight. Democracy is restored. Trüniht, hidden by members of the Earth Cult, comes back to power.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 14 - The Liberation of the Frontier
    8.4/10(495 votes)

    S1:E14

    The Free Planets Alliance fleet has conquered more than 200 star systems (50 million inhabitants) without fighting. In Iserlohn, vice-admiral Alex Cazellnu drafts a supply plan, but he is worried about such a heavy burden: for him, Reinhard clearly wants the Free Planets Alliance to exhaust its resources on behalf of the liberated planets. The supply fleet is destroyed by Kircheis because Fork didn't think such an attack was possible. Yang, fearing a scorched earth policy, convinces his fellow fleet commanders to ask for a withdrawal. Riots break out on many planets because of the food shortage and the looting of the soldiers. Fork experiences a case of hysterical blindness in the face of his plan's failure. In Phezzan, Rubinsky grants a new loan to the Free Planets Alliance to maintain the balance: he hopes to economically control both the Empire and the Alliance. October, 10, 796 S.C. / 487 I.C.: Reinhard orders to launch the counterattack.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 3 - The Birth of the 13th Fleet
    8.2/10(648 votes)

    S1:E3

    In Heinessen (capital planet of the Free Planets Alliance), a memorial for the soldiers who died at the battle of Astarte is held. The warmongering speech of Job Trüniht, the Secretary of Defence, is interrupted by Jessica Edwards, whose fiancé was killed in the battle: she asks him why the advocates of war always sacrifice the lives of others while hiding in safer places. While going home, she is attacked by members of the Patriotic Knights Corps (P.K.C.), a nationalistic organization secretly led by Trüniht. She is rescued by her friends Yang and Dusty Attenborough and barely escapes death. The next day, Yang is promoted to rear admiral in command of the newly formed 13th Fleet. His mission: to take the Iserlohn fortress, a powerful space station which has repelled every attack.

    Director:Hiroshi Yamada
    Writer:Takeshi Shudo

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  10. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 17 - Before the Storm
    8.2/10(473 votes)

    S1:E17

    Julian Minci asks Frederica Greenhill how Yang became the "Hero of El Facil": 9 years ago. The Free Planets Alliance fleet, led by Arthur Lynch, fled the approaching Imperial Fleet, leaving 3 million people behind; Yang, one of the few officers left, organized the evacuation while the Alliance Fleet was defeated. Meanwhile, in the Empire, Reinhard thinks a civil war is about to break out; in order to avoid an intervention form the Alliance, he decides to infiltrate Lynch in the Alliance to stage a military coup. The move is hidden behind an exchange of 2 million prisoners of war. End of 796 S.C. / 487 I.C.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 22 - Courage & Loyalty
    8.2/10(439 votes)

    S1:E22

    Littenheim leaves Geiesburg with his fleet to recover the territories conquered by Kircheis. Because of its lack of discipline and overconfidence of its commanders, the Littenheim Fleet is defeated; while running away, Littenheim's spaceship opens fire on allies who are in the way. In the Garmisch fortress, Littenheim is killed by his men, enraged by such an attitude. Meanwhile, Reinhard's fleet arrives in the area of Geiesburg. The Lippstadt Fleet attacks him but is utterly beaten and barely avoids complete destruction thanks to admiral Merkatz.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 8 - Cold Cybernetic Eyes
    8.1/10(536 votes)

    S1:E8

    Paul von Oberstein, chief of staff of the Iserlohn fleet, is in trouble. He saw through Yang's plan, but his commander didn't listen to him, and he fled before the destruction of the fleet. The three chiefs of the Imperial fleet resign, but want to make him responsible of the defeat. Oberstein meets Reinhard and explains how, like him, he hates the high nobles and the Goldenbaum dynasty, and offer his help. Reinhard agrees and obtains his pardon by advising the Emperor to refuse the chiefs' resignations.

    Director:Noboru Ishiguro
    Writer:Shigeru Yanagawa

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  13. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 18 - The Lippstadt Agreement
    8.1/10(453 votes)

    S1:E18

    Prince Brauschweig and marquis Littenheim team up to overthrow the young Emperor and get rid of Reinhard. Count Franz von Mariendorf wants to join the conspiracy, but his daughter, Hildegard persuade him not to do so because a new order is rising under Reinhard. She goes to Reinhard and offer her family's allegiance. The high nobles create the Lippstadt League, led by Braunschweig and Littenheim; admiral von Merkatz agrees (although reluctantly) to command their military forces. April, 6, 797 S.C. / 488 I.C.: Reinhard strikes first and manages to arrest many conspirators, but Brauschweig and Littenheim flee and regroup most of their forces in the Geiesburg Fortress.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 19 - The Yang Fleet Sallies Forth
    8.1/10(441 votes)

    S1:E19

    Andrew Fork is released from the Hospital. Fork attempts to assassinate HQ chief Kubersly. Reinhard decides to lead the main fleet against Geiesburg while Kircheis, helped by vice-admirals Lutz and Wahlen, will take control of the other areas. Meanwhile, in the Free Planets Alliance, a military uprising begins (April 3, 797 S.C. / 488 I.C.). In Heinessen, a military coup overthrows the High Council (April, 13): the National Salvation Military Council, led by admiral Greenhill, suspends the democratic institutions. Trüniht goes into hiding. Yang decide to fight for democracy : the 13th Fleets leaves Iserlohn (April, 20) while the 11th Fleet goes out to stop it.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 25 - The Day Before Destiny
    8.1/10(472 votes)

    S1:E25

    Kircheis arrives at Geiesburg. He has an argument with Reinhard about the handling of the Westerland events. Reinhard assumes full responsibility for Oberstein's actions. A message is sent from Odin: Lichtenlade is plotting to get rid of Reinhard. Reinhard receives some rebel commanders. Adalbert von Fahrenheit joins Reinhard's team. Ansbach comes in with Braunschweig's coffin, but takes out a weapon and aims at Reinhard...

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 12 - The Invasion of the Empire
    8.0/10(489 votes)

    S1:E12

    In the Free Planets Alliance, the capture of Iserlohn has intoxicated the public, the military and the politicians. It is possible to invade the Empire from Iserlohn, and many people think it's time to conclude the crusade against tyranny. In the High Council, Joan Lebello (Secretary of Treasure) and Hwan Lewi (Secretary of Human Resources) think it's better to sign a peace treaty because the economy in on the verge of collapsing, but the Chairman explains that they will lose the next election unless they achieve a substantial military victory, so the High Council decides to invade the Empire.

    Director:Shinji Takagi
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 20 - Heavens of Bloodshed
    8.0/10(462 votes)

    S1:E20

    The Lippstadt League plans to draw Reinhard to Geiesburg in order to defeat him in a decisive battle. As a part of this plan, admiral Staaden has to lead a fleet to Odin in order to cut Reinhard's fleet from its base. Mittermeyer is sent to intercept Staaden, whose fleet is crushed during the battle of Altener and withdraws to the Rentenberg fortress. Reinhard decides to take the fortress, but the boarding parties are repelled by the garrison, led by admiral Ovlesser. An assault led by Mittermeyer and Reuenthal succeeds, and Ovlesser is taken prisoner. Reinhard wants to execute him, but Oberstein advises to send him back to Geiesburg. Ovlesser is released, but is executed by Braunschweig who thinks he was freed because he turned against him. Fear of treason spreads among the Lippstadt League.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 4 - The Afterglow of the Empire
    7.8/10(626 votes)

    S1:E4

    In Odin (capital planet of the Galactic Empire), Reinhard is promoted to imperial admiral after his victory at Astarte. With his friend Siegfried Kircheis, he pays a visit to his elder sister Annerose, the Emperor's favorite. In a flashback, Kircheis remember how he and Reinhard became friends, how Annerose was taken away from her home to be the Emperor's favorite and how they came to hate the high nobles and the Goldenbaum dynasty.

    Director:Kazuo Tomizawa
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 13 - When the Sad Rains Come...
    7.8/10(483 votes)

    S1:E13

    August, 22, 796 S.C. /487 I.C.: the invasion of the Empire has begun. Reinhard implements a scorched earth strategy: all food is taken from the frontier zone, so the "Liberation force" of the Free Planets Alliance will be forced to feed the inhabitants. Reinhard plans to attack the invading fleets when their supply lines will be overstretched. Commodore Ulrich Kesler carries out the orders but, in the process, has to face someone from his past.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 6 - The Knights of the Rose
    7.7/10(558 votes)

    S1:E6

    Yang decides to take Iserlohn by a ruse. The Rosen Ritter (Knights of the rose), a ground combat unit made of Imperial exiles, will pose as an imperial crew and infiltrate the fortress. Yang's staff is introduced: Murai, Patrichev, Fischer (a master of fleet maneuvers) and Frederica Greenhill, daughter of admiral Dwight Greenhill. The Iserlohn fleet is lured away from the fortress by decoys. When a damaged imperial spaceship asks for help, the commander of Iserlohn, who doesn't know where his fleet is due to radar jamming, authorizes it to dock...

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Hiroshi Toda

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  21. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 9 - The Klopstock Incident
    7.7/10(529 votes)

    S1:E9

    Thirty years ago, marquis Klopstock was exiled form the imperial court. He asks prince Braunschweig, the Emperor's son-in-law, to ask forgiveness on his behalf. Braunschweig invites him to his daughter's birthday party. Klopstock's real goal is to bring a bomb in order to kill the Emperor, who will be there. At the party, Reinhard clashes with baron Flegel. The bomb is taken away by accident and makes little damage. Klopstock commits suicide and all the incident is kept secret.

    Director:Shinji Takagi
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 10 - Jessica's War
    7.7/10(531 votes)

    S1:E10

    Yang is sent to Thernussen (Heinessen's second largest city) with his ward, Julian Minci, to attend a ceremony at the Military Academy. He meets Jessica Edwards, who is campaigning for the Peace Party candidate in an upcoming election. We learn that Yang, while being loyal to democracy, has no love for the current politicians. The P.K.C. sets a bomb in the Peace Party's headquarters, killing the candidate, but their plan backfires when Jessica, who is the new Peace Party candidate, wins a landslide victory.

    Director:Tatsuya Okamoto
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 5 - The Castrop Uprising
    7.6/10(618 votes)

    S1:E5

    A new admiralty is created for Reinhard. He chooses commoners and lesser nobles to command his fleets: August Samuel Wahlen, Cornelius Lutz, Karl Gustav Kempf, Fritz Josef Bittenfeld, Ernest Mecklinger, Wolfgang Mittermeyer and Oskar von Reuenthal. Meanwhile, Maximilian von Kastrop has rebelled against the Empire. He thinks he is safe because of the "Artemis Necklace", a system of powerfully armed satellites built with the help of Phezzan. Reinhard sends a fleet under Kircheis' command to put an end to the rebellion. He manages to destroy the necklace. Kastrop is killed by his retainers and is the only casualty of the operation.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 2 - The Battle of Astarte
    7.5/10(652 votes)

    S1:E2

    After the destruction of the 4th and 6th fleets, Reinhard's fleet engages the 2nd Fleet. When its commander is wounded, Yang takes command and manages to escape utter destruction. In Phezzan, Adrian Rubinsky, administrator of the planet, and Nikola Boltik, his main adviser, make comments on the battle and note that it won't change the strategic situation.

    Director:Yoshito Hata
    Writer:Takeshi Shudo

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  25. Legend of the Galactic Heroes Season 1 Episode 11 - The Actress Exits
    7.5/10(534 votes)

    S1:E11

    Susanna von Benemünde, a former favorite of the Emperor, wants to get rid of Annerose and win back the Emperor's love. She teams up with Flegel, who hopes that a scandal involving Annerose will lead to Reinhard's downfall. Annerose is abducted: she is to be killed and found with a supposed lover from the lower class. She is rescued by Kircheis, Reuenthal, Mittermeyer and Oberstein. Benemünde is forced to commit suicide. Flegel has been smart enough to leave no proof of his involvement, but Oberstein and Reinhard suspect him anyway.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Farewell, Distant Days" is the best rated episode of "Legend of the Galactic Heroes" season 1. It scored 9.5/10 based on 1129 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 6/20/1989. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "The Fall of the Goldenbaum".