The essential episodes of Gokusen

Watch these 15 in order and you've got Gokusen — each pick states its reason.

1. 01

   S01E01 · Pilot · April 17, 2002 · 1h

   A zealous teacher goes on a rampage10.0

   Yamaguchi Kumiko, a new teacher at Shirokin High School, has been assigned to teach a class full of the school's most notorious delinquents. Unbeknownst to her fellow teachers, Yamaguchi is better equipped to deal with her rowdy students than most: as the granddaughter of the head of the Oedo family, she grew up around yakuza gang members and has learned to fend for herself. When one of Yamaguchi's students, Kumai, is accused of stealing a bag of money from the head teacher, she is forced to intervene to keep him from getting expelled. But is he really as innocent as he claims to be?

2. 02

   S01E02 · Top rated · April 24, 2002 · 45m

   Don't abandon your friend8.0

   When the students create posters making fun of her and the head teacher, Yamaguchi learns that they have given her a nickname, "Yankumi", which she unexpectedly embraces. One of the students, Minami, is seeing a new girl. One day, he arrives badly beaten and gets into a fight with another student, Sawada. It turns out that the girl Minami is seeing was also going out with a boy from another school, who calls him out on the matter. Inspired by her grandfather's yakuza values, Yamaguchi encourages the boys to stick up for their friend.

3. 03

   S01E03 · Top rated · May 1, 2002 · 45m

   Don't judge only by appearance8.0

   A serial purse-snatcher is targeting women in the neighborhood near Shirokin High School, and Uchiyama, one of the students in Class 3-D, is a prime suspect. Determined to prove Uchiyama's innocence, Yankumi and a few of her students set out to catch the real thief.

4. 04

   S01E04 · Top rated · May 8, 2002 · 45m

   If you fail, start over8.0

   Yamaguchi's fellow teacher Shizuka, who teaches English, is also working nights at a club in the Ginza district. One of Shizuka's students, Noda, who has developed a crush on her, gives her a necklace, and later follows her to the club, where he sees her throw away his gift. The enraged Noda posts pictures online, exposing Shizuka's second job to the principal, who threatens to fire her. After a talking-to from Yamaguchi, the principal promises not to fire Shizuka if all of the 3-D students can earn at least 30 points on their English midterms. Yamaguchi gets to work preparing after-school study sessions for the students, but will it be enough to save Shizuka's job?

5. 05

   S01E05 · Top rated · May 15, 2002 · 45m

   To fight is different from violence9.0

   Sawada finds Yankumi's lost phone and sets out to return it. In doing so, he ends up in a house filled with Yakuza and learns the truth about Yankumi's family from her grandfather. Meanwhile, the teachers are on the lookout for a violent gang of young men who have been attacking pedestrians, and Kumai has become smitten with a girl from another school, who he learns already has a boyfriend. Later that day, Kumai learns that the girl's boyfriend is the gang's next target. Concerned for her safety, Kumai rushes after them. While he is watching, the gang members corner the girl and her boyfriend, and the boyfriend runs off. What will Kumai do?

6. 06

   S01E06 · Top rated · May 22, 2002 · 45m

   Don't let bullying get to you9.0

   It's time for Shirokin High School's annual sports tournament, and the initially reluctant students of class 3-D have been goaded into participation by dismissive remarks from the head teacher, but they need one more student to field a basketball team. Incidentally, Yankumi has discovered that there's another student in the class, Yuki, who never shows up and she never even knew existed. But Yuki, who left because of bullying by Minami and Kumai, shows no interest in going back to school. Can he be convinced to return and face his fears?

7. 07

   S01E07 · Top rated · May 29, 2002 · 45m

   Believe in your own child9.0

   Yankumi is struggling through parent-teacher conferences, but when it's time for Sawada's meeting, his parents don't show up. Later, he receives a visit from a girl who turns out to be his sister. Through these incidents, we learn that Sawada lives alone due to a falling-out with his parents. When his sister takes an unnecessary risk, Sawada steps in to save her, but ends up shouldering the blame and getting arrested. The next day, the head teacher announces his expulsion. Can Yankumi and the boys of class 3-D do anything to help?

8. 08

   S01E08 · Top rated · June 5, 2002 · 45m

   Aren't you his mother8.0

   Because of Shin's scary story, Yankumi is scared to walk alone to the school hallway. One time she left her phone and thinks that someone was following her only to find out that it was a little boy. The boy was Yuta Nakashima-sensei's step son. The boy think of the Nakashima as her mom but since they aren't blood related, Nakashima thinks they are not. How will Yankumi give Nakashima her senses?

9. 09

   S02E01 · Top rated · January 15, 2005 · 45m

   Highschool is a once in a lifetime experience, do not waste it! ...That zealous teacher has returned!8.0

   In the first episode, two characters are introduced. Hayato and Odagiri. Hayato is the leader of class and childhood friend of Odagiri. For some reason, Hayato and Odagiri fought and now Odagiri Ryu quit school and is now working to some dangerous guy. Odagiri refuses to go to school as well. How will Yankumi bring back her precious student back to school?

10. 10

    S02E02 · Top rated · January 22, 2005 · 45m

    A person's power is not decided by his physical strength, there's a much more important thing within.8.0

    Yankumi has convinced Ryu to go back to school but Hayato is still against him. The atmosphere in class suddenly changed when the two met. Although Ryu isn't against the reconciliation thing, Hayato still holds grudge of what Ryu did in the past. While Yankumi tries her best to let the two make up, Hayato took Yankumi as an annyoing teacher leading him to challenge her.

11. 11

    S02E03 · Season 2 peak · January 29, 2005 · 45m

    You guys are my one-and-only students!! How can I desert you?9.0

    Some guys are around the neighborhood beating people up and claiming that if they have any problem, they can go to Kurogin high. They also say that they are Hayato and Odagiri. One night the two were set up on a crime they didn't commit and the worst is no one believes them and the police officer wants them arrested. How will Yankumi find the impersonator and clear her students name?

12. 12

    S02E04 · Top rated · February 5, 2005 · 45m

    Don't compare your life with someone else's8.0

    Girls are coming to Kurogin high and class 3-D are so excited but ended up scaring them. On the other hand, Tyuchi, another student met one of the girls in a books store shoplifting. Tyuchi didn't turn her in and brought her to an arcade instead. He then knew that the girl is the teachers pet who is considered "PERFECT STUDENT" of her previous teacher whom he didn't get along with. While in the arcade, the teacher caught them and got themselves in a serious trouble.

13. 13

    S02E07 · Top rated · February 26, 2005 · 45m

    Think seriously about your life9.0

    Yankumi is on a job hunt for after three months she's out of the school considering that the chairman hates her. On the other hand, her student will soon be so Yankumi tries her best to find a job for them. Tyuchi was the first but because of a street fight, he lost his chance of applying. Yankumi was disapointed but still tried her best to find jobs for them and made the students promise not to fight until graduation.

14. 14

    S03E07 · Season 3 peak · May 31, 2008 · 45m

    Don't make excuses for yourself!!9.0

    It's time for Akadou Academy's annual festival, and Yankumi encourages class 3-D to participate. At first, everyone is uncaring, but the promise of girls visiting the school during the event ignites their enthusiasm, and they agree to form a coffee shop named "Hottie Café". Trouble arises, however, when Ogata, Kazama and the others unwittingly piss off Goda Ryuuji, an Akadou alumnus with a notorious reputation, who retaliates by vandalizing the school the night before the festival.

15. 15

    S03E11 · Series finale · June 28, 2008 · 45m

    Yankumi's last tearful cry... Cherish life!!

    It's almost time for the finals, and class 3-D is determined not to fail in order to have a great summer break. Apart from that, they also have to avoid expulsion by not getting into any more trouble, but that appears unlikely when Goda is on the loose again. Swearing vengeance, he raids Akadou Academy and gravely injures Kazama, leading to immense chaos that seems impossible to stop, even for Yankumi herself.