3 best episodes of Fruits Basket you should rewatch immediately

We can’t stop talking about Fruits Basket despite the anime show coming to an end many moons ago. But, for some reason, we feel that others may not feel the same. As time passes, we can feel anime fans slowly but surely forgetting how fantastic this anime is, especially when it’s compared to some of the newer dramatic shojo titles out there.

Nevertheless, Fruits Basket was once deemed the greatest anime of all time on My Anime List (MAL) for a reason, which is why we want to take a quick trip down memory lane to remind fans of what they may have forgotten all about.

Undoubtedly, every episode of Fruits Basket is one you simply can’t skip over since every episode is very important to the central theme/story of the anime. Even so, there are three specific episodes that we truly think are the bread and butter of this shojo anime. So much so that without them we’re not sure the anime would be worthy of once being the top anime of all time. 

As promised, here are the three best episodes of Fruits Basket!

Season 1, Episode 24: “Let’s Go Home”

The second to last episode of the first season of Fruits Basket was one that we felt had a lot riding on it because it set up whether or not the show would have a strong enough story to warrant a second season. Fortunately, our worries were unfounded because the final episode did this and much more!

By the end of this season, Tohru met most of the Zodiac members. But even though she met these Zodiacs, it seemed there was still a huge gap between them and a big chunk of missing information. She never really knew these Zodiacs, especially the first three Zodiacs she met, Yuki, Shigure, and Kyo. Yuki and Shigure’s story would be unfolded later, but she needed to understand the most about Kyo because, had she not, he was the one Zodiac member destined for the worst fate.

Tohru take her time to know that Kyo was what let the first domino fall to get to the eventual breaking of the curse. Seeing the events play out the way they did cement that Tohru is the perfect choice, as she can press through the ugly to get to her goal. What’s more, the events of this episode set up the fact that, like Tohru, we truly don’t know everything about the Zodiacs.

All in all, this episode was what made Fruits Basket more than the shojo/slice-of-life anime everyone thought they were signing up for.

Season 2, Episode 18: “Do You Wanna Kiss?”

Most of the female Zodiac members have suffered to some degree of physical or mental distress at the hands of their God, Akito. The same can be said for a few of the male Zodiacs. Yet, very few have gone through as horrible of a time as Isuzu, the Horse, did by the hands of someone who she is supposed to have reverence for.

In great detail, we see just how much Isuzu has had to endure as a child to her young teenage years. Her parents turned their backs on her when she needed them the most, she didn’t have any friends, and she was an outcast. But she finally got her glimmer of hope when Haru, the Cow, became the light at the end of the tunnel. Or so she thought.

Akito didn’t like the idea of having to share Zodiacs, so, as a jealous God would do, Akito tried to wipe Isuzu from the face of the Earth. It was through this act of violence that Isuzu learned that the world is too cold for gentle people, which is why Isuzu uses her own form of violence (be it words or physical) to push the true kind-hearted people toward a safer path where people like her parent or Akito can get to her.

Hands down, “Do You Wanna Kiss?” is one of the most emotionally complex episodes in all of Fruits Basket. We not only got to learn more about Isuzu and why she acts the way she does but also learned how toxic the curse of the Zodiac truly is and why, once again, “Let’s Go Home” served as proof that the curse can be broken so long as Tohru, Isuzu, and the rest of the Zodiacs are willing.

Season 3, Episode 13: “See You Again Soon”

“See You Again Soon” is the conclusion to an amazing story that has been nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster.

Between the pain and torture the Zodiacs suffered and Torhu’s endless pursuit of learning every one of the Zodiac members, it was almost impossible to not want a happy ending for everyone involved. Everyone has felt the true nature of why being bound to life by a toxic almighty being is a horrible, never-ending nightmare. And it’s high time everyone, including Akito, gets a break from all the pressure.

Even though that seems like a sigh of relief, a lot rode on this episode being close to perfect since this is the last fans will see of Fruits Basket. Thankfully, it certainly delivered in every way including, but not limited to, the Zodiacs being able to sit together peacefully and not have to worry about the curse, Yuki living his life with his held high, and Kyo and Tohru being a happy couple we’ve always wanted them to be.

This finale did everything a finale was supposed to do in that it tied all loose ends together while simultaneously giving us hope that the Zodiacs will press on to unlearn their trauma and ensure their children don’t suffer as they did. And the best part of all, the finale didn’t feel unearned because we sat through each emotionally-heavy episode involving the Zodiacs and saw how they persisted through it all.

“See You Again” breaks our hearts every time we watch it. However, its title serves as a gentle reminder that we should frequently revisit Fruits Basket, as this anime show is always waiting for us with open arms.

Fruits Basket is now streaming on Crunchyroll.