BEST EPISODES

Episodes marked with a "★" are episodes which appear in my personal top 20! Episodes marked with a "♥" mean that an episode introduces a recurring character! Also included in this list is each of the six movies whenever they would have been released chrnologically during the series' run.

• ♥ Episode 1 - I'm Lum-chan the Notorious! / It's Raining Oil All Over Town
• ♥ Episode 2 - Mail from Space - Ten-chan Arrives! / Mrs. Swallow and Mrs. Penguin
• ♥ Episode 3 - The Coming of Rei the Handsome / Die Dreamy-Man!
• ♥ Episode 5 - Sakura - Raving Beauty of Mystery / Virus in Distress
• Episode 7 - Electric Shocks Scare Me! / Voodoo Dolls of Vengeance
• ♥ Episode 8 - Neptune is Beyond My Closet / That Crazy Age of the Dinosaurs
• ♥ Episode 9 - Princess Kurama, Sleeping Beauty / Athletics in Women's Hell!
• ★ Episode 10 - Pitter Patter Christmas Eve
• ♥ Episode 12 - Battle Royale of Love / Father You Were Strong
• ♥ Episode 14 - Mendo Brings Trouble! / Constellation is Spinning
• ♥ Episode 15 - The Great Spring War / The Benten Gang's Return Match
• ♥ Episode 16 - Ah Lone Teacher! / Terrifying Visiting Day
• Episode 17 - The Fourth Dimension Camera / Demonic Running
• ♥ Episode 18 - Girls' Day! Introducing Ran-chan / Ran-chan's Invitation
• Episode 19 - The Tearful Diary of Tomorrow / Whose Kid Is This?
• Episode 21 - Duel! Ataru vs. Ataru / Wake up to a Nightmare
• Episode 22 - Great Space Matchmaking Operation
• Episode 23 - Big Springtime Picnic Uproar!
• ★ Episode 28 - Lum's Education Lecture Course for Boys
• ★ Episode 30 - A Beautiful Girl Brings Rain
• ★ Episode 32 - Shock Library - Quiet Please!
• ♥ Episode 36 - Rei's Return! Crisis in the Classroom!
• ★ Episode 38 - Steal Darling! Copy Operation!!
• Episode 39 - Thrilling Summer Date
• Episode 41 - Panic in Typhoon
• Episode 42 - Drunkard's Boogie
• ★ Episode 44 - After You've Gone
• ♥ Episode 50 - The Mendo Siblings!
• ♥★ Episode 51 - A Cat with a Grudge on the Stairs
• ★ Episode 53 - The Suicide Subspace Parttime Job
• Episode 57 - Domestic Quarrel – To Eat or Be Eaten?!
• MOVIE 1: ONLY YOU
• Episode 60 - Love Love Catchball
• Episode 61 - The Mendo Family... Masquerade War
• ♥ Episode 63 - Ryunosuke Arrives! I Love the Sea!
• Episode 67 - Seeing Togenkyo as a Hell Camp!
• ♥ Episode 70 - Dramatic Appearance! Mizunokoji Ton-chan!
• Episode 72 - Lum-chan the Ruthless Rebel
• Episode 73 - Big Showdown! Sakura vs. Sakuranbo!!
• Episode 74 - Ghost Story! Old Man Willow!!
• ★ Episode 75 - And Then There was Nobody!?
• Episode 77 - Darling's Dying!?
• ★ Episode 78 - Pitiful! Mother of Love and Banishment!?
• Episode 79 - Mendo Family - Summer Christmas
• Episode 85 - Galactic Teacher CAO-2's Revenge
• Episode 86 - Outraged! Piteous Kid Shutaro!!
• Episode 87 - Grand! The Mysterious Matsutake Pot!!
• ★ Episode 89 - Lum and Ataru - A Night only for Two
• Episode 91 - Who Will Be Miss Tomobiki!?
• Episode 94 - The Story of a Traveling Snow Dharma
• ♥ Episode 97 - Duel! Benten VS the Three Daughters
• Episode 98 - Lum-chan is Full!
• Episode 99 - Deadly! Standup Eating Wars!!
• MOVIE 2: BEAUTIFUL DREAMER
• ★ Episode 100 - Great Vault! Courageous Survival!!
• Episode 101 - Operation - Peek in the Woman's Bath
• Episode 102 - Sakura - Melancholy of a Youth Time
• ★ Episode 107 - Different Dimension Switch - Where is Darling!?
• Episode 110 - Un-re-mov-ab-le Rouge Magic
• ★ Episode 117 - Lum-chan's Becoming a Cow?
• Episode 118 - Great Achievement! This is Lum-chan's Youth Film
• ★ Episode 120 - Counterattack of the Primeval Animals! Panic at the Poolside
• ♥ Episode 122 - The Fox's Hard Feelings of Painful Love...
• Episode 130 - Blazing Hidden Trick! This is Straight Line Road
• ★ Episode 131 - Don't Die! Ryoko's Special Straw Doll!!
• ♥ Episode 132 - Matchmaking Hell! Is the Armored Daughter a Beauty? Beast?
• Episode 137 - Lum's Corageous Duel! Victory is a Nitpicky Hand
• ★ Episode 135 - What Do I Care for Talking Flowers!
• ★ Episode 139 - Tomobiki Highschool Survival! Who Are the Survivors!
• MOVIE 3: REMEMBER MY LOVE
• Episode 145 - Three Daughters Again! The Great Mission Tempting Darling!!
• Episode 141 - Underground Reincarnation! What's Darling Thinking!?
• Episode 143 - Far Spring! Tale of the Lonely Fairy!!
• Episode 144 - To Dream Land! Darling Battle Royal Abduction
• ★ Episode 151 - Boredom Syndrome! Is Tomobiki Town Wasting Away!?
• Episode 157 - I Love Darling's Kindness...
• Episode 158 - Pure Fox Again! Shinobu-san is Love
• Episode 161 - Small Magic Bin! What's To Become of Me!?
• Episode 163 - Goodness! Words Aren't Getting to Darling
• Episode 174 - I Want a Bride!! The Fox's Big Love Adventure!!
• Episode 177 - Wish Upon a Star! Ataru Family is Desire Panic
• Episode 178 - Kiss Courier! Darling's First Jealousy!
• Episode 180 - It's Strange! Sakuranbo Yoga School!!
• Episode 184 - Darling Great Misfortune! Four Dimension Fortune of Fear!!
• Episode 189 - Death-Defying House Call! A Teacher Occupation Desperate too!!
• MOVIE 4: LUM THE FOREVER
• Episode 195 - Great All Star Banquet! We are Immortal!!
• MOVIE 5: THE FINAL CHAPTER
• MOVIE 6: ALWAYS MY DARLING

BEST OVAs

• OVA 3 - Inaba the Dreammaker
• OVA 6 - The Electric Household Guard
• OVA 8 - Goat and Cheese
• ★ OVA 9 - Catch The Heart
• OVA 10 - Terror of Girly-Eyes Measles
• OVA 11 - Date with a Spirit

EPISODES THAT INTRODUCE RECURRING CHARACTERS

Go-to episodes for those getting to know the show's large, lovable ensemble cast.

• Episode 1 - I'm Lum-chan the Notorious! / It's Raining Oil All Over Town
  • Ataru, Cherry, Shinobu, Ataru's Parents, Lum's Father, Lum, Megane, Perm, Chibi, Kakugari
• Episode 2 - Mail from Space - Ten-chan Arrives! / Mrs. Swallow and Mrs. Penguin
  • Ten
• Episode 3 - The Coming of Rei the Handsome / Die Dreamy-Man!
  • Rei
• Episode 5 - Sakura - Raving Beauty of Mystery / Virus in Distress
  • Sakura
• Episode 8 - Neptune is Beyond My Closet / That Crazy Age of the Dinosaurs
  • Oyuki
• Episode 9 - Princess Kurama, Sleeping Beauty / Athletics in Women's Hell!
  • Kurama
• Episode 12 - Battle Royal of Love / Father You Were Strong
  • Tsubame
• Episode 14 - Mendo Brings Trouble! / Constellation is Spinning
  • Mendo
• Episode 15 - The Great Spring War / The Benten Gang's Return Match
  • Benten
• Episode 16 - Ah Lone Teacher! / Terrifying Visiting Day
  • Sanjuro, Mendo's Mom, Lum's Mom
• Episode 18 - Girls' Day! Introducing Ran-chan / Ran-chan's Invitation
  • Ran
• Episode 36 - Rei's Return! Crisis in the Classroom!
  • Onsen-Mark
• Episode 50 - The Mendo Siblings!
  • Ryoko
• Episode 51 - A Cat with a Grudge on the Stairs
  • Kotatsu Neko
• Episode 63 - Ryunosuke Arrives! I Love the Sea!
  • Ryuunosuke, Ryuunosuke's Dad
• Episode 70 - Dramatic Appearance! Mizunokoji Ton-chan!
  • Tobimaro
• Episode 97 - Duel! Benten VS the Three Daughters
  • The Spice Girls
• Episode 122 - The Fox's Hard Feelings of Painful Love...
  • Kitsune
• Episode 132 - Matchmaking Hell! Is the Armored Daughter a Beauty? Beast?
  • Asuka, Asuka and Tobimaro's Parents

DIANA'S PERSONAL TOP 20

1. Episode 32 - Shock Library - Quiet Please!
• Simply a fun, imaginative premise where every character gets something to do. Wendy is a favorite one-off character who would continue to get nods throughout the series.
2. OVA 9 - Catch The Heart
• A beautiful panic attack where some of the show's most frantic animation is put into some of its strongest comedy.
3. Episode 28 - Lum's Education Lecture Course for Boys
• Ataru surprises you with his sympathetic, caring side about as often as Lum surprises you with her underhanded, sociopathic side, and this episode hilariously set a precedent for the depths to which she's willing to sink. The first of multiple instances of time travel-related grooming throughout the show.
4. Episode 51 - A Cat with a Grudge on the Stairs
• An exemplar of the show's uncanny ability to smoothly transition between anarchic slapstick shenanigans and quiet, introspective beauty, not to mention it introduces one of the best recurring characters.
5. Episode 135 - What Do I Care for Talking Flowers!
• The show at its most outrageously funny with some of its most demented, borderline psychedelic visual gags. They say Mendo's classmates are still calling him "Pissboy" to this very day.
6. Episode 131 - Don't Die! Ryoko's Special Straw Doll!!
• It's no doubt that Mendo and Ataru are one of the show's strongest comedy duos, and this isn't the last time they'll show up on the list.
7. Episode 89 - Lum and Ataru - A Night only for Two
• Barring a collar-tuggingly dated one-off character, a cute and fun episode that delves a bit deeper into Lum and Ataru's relationship dynamic.
8. Episode 38 - Steal Darling! Copy Operation!!
• The show's many episodes involving cloning are all fantastic, but this one remains my personal favorite and has Ran in top form.
9. Episode 75 - And Then There was Nobody!?
• Of course, no slapstick comedy would be complete without an episode that is a gruesome and almost completely straight-faced adaptation of an Agatha Christie murder mystery.
10. Episode 120 - Counterattack of the Primeval Animals! Panic at the Poolside
• The first half of the episode starts normal enough but the second half quickly descends into total madness, it really has to be seen to be believed. Another great Mendo-Ataru one, and debatably their most homoerotic; which is a high bar to clear.
11. Episode 100 - Great Vault! Courageous Survival!!
• Interestingly, the show's only episode to not feature Lum at all, and surely the crowning achievement of Mendo-Ataru episodes.
12. Episode 107 - Different Dimension Switch - Where is Darling!?
• Enter The Ataruverse
13. Episode 151 - Boredom Syndrome! Is Tomobiki Town Wasting Away!?
• An otherwise unassuming chapter of the manga where Ataru accidentally drinks Lum's eyedrops is turned into hands down the most unrelentingly bizarre and obtuse episode of the entire series. Entire books could probably be written dissecting the lore of this episode alone.
14. Episode 44 - After You've Gone
• An iconic episode of the series, one of the earliest to fully flesh out Lum and Ataru by deconstructing their relationship to one another. Sweet and beautiful.
15. Episode 139 - Tomobiki Highschool Survival! Who Are the Survivors!
• Of the many instances where the show will be effectively hijacked by a random one-off character for an episode, this is certainly the most absurd and the funniest. Gundam 0079 fans are in for a treat.
16. Episode 117 - Lum-chan's Becoming a Cow?
• I may be slightly biased towards this one because it's the first episode of the show I watched, but in fairness it's a great introduction to everything the show has to offer- it's equal parts absurdly funny, experimental and surprisingly sweet.
17. Episode 53 - The Suicide Subspace Parttime Job
• When you were younger, did you ever binge-watch an entire anime over a weekend and it lead to you having dreams about strange non-existent episodes? What if one of those episodes was real?
18. Episode 10 - Pitter Patter Christmas Eve
• The first episode where it becomes clear Ataru may really love Lum after all. Hilarious and heartfelt in equal measure, it's a longstanding fan favorite for a reason.
19. Episode 78 - Pitiful! Mother of Love and Banishment!?
• For being such a constant presence, we know so little about Ataru's Mom. We don't even know her name. She's just... Ataru's Mom. But for once, we finally get to see what makes her tick in the show's most evocative, most philosophical and most downright nightmarish episode. Trite as it may be to say, this is like Perfect Blue and Inception at the same time, only a third the length and several decades earlier.
20. Episode 30 - A Beautiful Girl Brings Rain
• It may seem like an underwhelming pick, but like. The climax of this episode is the only thing that's ever made me both laugh and cry at once, and it simply gets me every time.

DIANA'S PERSONAL MOVIE RANKING

1. Movie 6 - Always My Darling
2. Movie 5 - The Final Chapter
3. Movie 3 - Remember My Love
4. Movie 1 - Only You
5. Movie 2 - Beautiful Dreamer
6. Movie 4 - Lum The Forever

Second Tier Episodes

episodes which are good or at least notable but not amazing

• Episode 64 - Goodbye Season
• Episode 66 - Happy Birthday My Darling
• Episode 105 - Scramble! Recapture Lum!!
• Episode 106 - Deathmatch! Ataru VS Mendo Brigade!!
• Episode 108 - Clash!! Queen Majesty and Ragaman's Love
• Episode 121 - Appeared Again! Hunter of Love Princess Kurama
• Episode 126 - Ran-chan Panic: There is No Tomorrow for Tomobiki Town
• Episode 133 - Love of the Armored Daughter! Maiden Heart is Shaky Wobbling
• Episode 152 - Look Out Ran! Kotatsu Neko's First Love Oden!?
• Episode 154 - The Mystery Priest Appears! Luck Bell Battle Royal
• Episode 168 - Space Survival! They are the Eaters
• Episode 188 - Darling Said He Loved Me