DARLING in the FRANXX: Season 1
2018 · 24 episodes · ★ 7.0
What Season 1 of DARLING in the FRANXX
Humanity lives locked inside the Plantations, mobile fortresses roaming a devastated 22nd-century world. Beyond their walls, the Klaxosaurs, giant robot-like creatures, seem determined to destroy what's left of the planet. To fight back, the adults have created the FRANXX, mechs that can only be piloted by pairs made up of a boy and a girl who are physically and mentally in sync. The protagonists are teenagers called Parasites, who train with almost no idea what happens beyond the walls. Hiro, a former prodigy, and Zero Two, a mysterious horned girl who longs to become fully human, are at the heart of the story. Directed by Atsushi Nishigori, the season builds constant pressure: learn to pilot in time to defend what's left of civilization.
Season 1 Episodes
1x01 Alone and Lonesome
The land has fallen into ruin, and children represent the last hope for humanity. One of them, Hiro, fails to live up to that purpose and decides to walk away from it all.... until he meets a girl with horns.
Directing: Toshifumi Akai · Writing: Atsushi Nishigori · Starring: Kenyu Horiuchi, Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi, Takanori Hoshino
1x02 What It Means to Connect
The parasites struggle to come to terms with Hiro being the one who piloted Strelizia. Even Hiro can't really believe it himself. Things come to a head when he's ordered to participate in a mock battle.
Directing: Shouko Nakamura · Writing: Naotaka Hayashi · Starring: Kenyu Horiuchi, Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi, Makoto Furukawa
1x03 Fighting Puppet
After their failure in the startup trial, things are awkward between Ichigo and Hiro, who decides to ask to ride with Zero Two again.
Directing: Toshifumi Akai · Writing: Masahiko Otsuka · Starring: Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi, Ami Koshimizu, Marie Oi
1x04 Flap Flap
With the squad still feeling the aftershocks of the previous mission, things come to a head as the leaders run out of patience and decide to summon Strelizia back to the front lines.
Directing: Yuichi Shimodaira · Writing: Naotaka Hayashi · Starring: Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi, Makoto Furukawa, Nobuo Tobita
1x05 Your Thorn, My Badge
It's time for Plantations 13 and 26 to start kissing, and the squad prepares for the huge battle this will cause. They also have to get used to Hiro being Zero Two's partner, and so does he.
Directing: Noriko Takao · Writing: Naotaka Hayashi · Starring: Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi, Makoto Furukawa, Masamichi Kitada
1x06 DARLING in the FRANXX
Ichigo, Goro, and the rest of Squad 13 engage in a battle far more dangerous than any they've fought before, all while having their mind preyed on by the fact that this will be Hiro's third ride with Zero Two.
Directing: Yoshihiro Miyajima · Writing: Naotaka Hayashi · Starring: Soma Saito, Kenyu Horiuchi, Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi
1x07 Shooting Star Moratorium
Squad 13 is given a much-needed break after defending the kissing plantations in a fierce battle. They head to an unexpected location and find something even more unexpected
Directing: Toko Yatabe · Writing: Rino Yamazaki · Starring: Soma Saito, Kenyu Horiuchi, Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi
1x08 Boys x Girls
The boys get caught in a compromising situation, causing a rift within Squad 13. Will they be able to bridge this divide? And how will Zero Two react to the most human of spats?
Directing: Masato Nakazono · Writing: Naotaka Hayashi · Starring: Kenyu Horiuchi, Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi
1x09 Triangle Bomb
Soon after Goro becomes keenly aware of his feelings, he is put in a perilous situation. How will he and Ichigo respond in this do-or-die scenario?
Directing: Ryuta Ono · Writing: Rino Yamazaki · Starring: Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi, Natsumi Fujiwara, Ami Koshimizu
1x10 The City of Eternity
APE decide to give Squad 13 a reward in order to accelerate their development. The ceremony is held in a place Zorome has always dreamed of living in, and there he meets someone he has always wanted to meet.
Directing: Nobutoshi Ogura · Writing: Masahiko Otsuka · Starring: Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi, Makoto Furukawa, Masamichi Kitada
1x11 Partner Shuffle
Squad 13's growth has been remarkable, but Chlorophytum's score keeps going down. With this in mind, Nana and Hachi propose a partner shuffle, which finds an unexpected taker.
Directing: Takahiro Shikama · Writing: Hiroshi Seko · Starring: Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi, Ami Koshimizu, Marie Oi
1x12 The Garden Where It All Began
Squad 13 heads back to the Garden for testing, with Zero Two's emotional state worsening by the day. They run into Nine Alpha, who offers some insight about her, but the most revealing words come straight from the horse's mouth...
Directing: Yoshihiro Miyajima · Writing: Naotaka Hayashi · Starring: Soma Saito, Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi, Toshiki Masuda
1x13 The Beast and the Prince
In the deepest, darkest parts of a forest lived a strong and beautiful beast princess. Beckoned by the moonlight, she wandered into a land of humans, and in the moonlit garden of a small castle, she fell in love with a prince.
Directing: Manabu Okamoto · Writing: Naotaka Hayashi · Starring: Kenyu Horiuchi, Makoto Furukawa, Natsumi Fujiwara, Ami Koshimizu
1x14 Punishment and Confession
The information regarding Hiro's condition changes the entire dynamic of Squad 13, much to Zero Two's chagrin. She only wants to speak to Hiro, but people stand in her way one after another.
Directing: Yoshiyuki Kaneko · Writing: Hiroshi Seko · Starring: Soma Saito, Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi, Toshiki Masuda
1x15 Jian
The fierce battle to take the Grand Crevasse begins, and Hiro is forced to watch from the sidelines. Zero Two may have left, but Squad 13 is still concerned about the way she fights.
Directing: Toshifumi Akai · Writing: Hiroshi Seko · Starring: Soma Saito, Kenyu Horiuchi, Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi
1x16 Days of Our Lives
The parasites' living situation has changed drastically after the battle for Gran Crevasse. Zero Two's attitude toward them seems to have changed drastically, too.
Directing: Yuki Ito · Writing: Rino Yamazaki · Starring: Kenyu Horiuchi, Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi, Rie Kugimiya
1x17 Eden
Having seized Gran Crevasse, emissaries are sent out to demand the surrender of the klaxosaurs' leader. Meanwhile, the Nines visit Squad 13, and there a shocking discovery is made.
Directing: Ryoji Masuyama · Writing: Naotaka Hayashi · Starring: Soma Saito, Kenyu Horiuchi, Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi
1x18 When the Sakura Blooms
Squad 13 is told they will be abandoning Mistilteinn soon, and they decide to go out with a bang by making one last memory of their lives there.
Directing: Shigeki Kawai · Writing: Naotaka Hayashi · Starring: Soma Saito, Kenyu Horiuchi, Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi
1x19 Inhumanity
Dr. Franxx confronts the APE brass about what they did to Kokoro and Mitsuru, and their attitude makes him reflect on his past, the choices he and humanity made, and the path they took.
Directing: Takahiro Harada · Writing: Masahiko Otsuka · Starring: Kenyu Horiuchi, Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi, Rie Kugimiya
1x20 A New World
Humanity's operation to wipe out the klaxosaurs once and for all begins, and APE sends Strelizia to take control of Star Entity, the enemy's biggest weapon. However, the klaxosaur princess has other ideas.
Directing: Miyuki Kuroki · Writing: Naotaka Hayashi · Starring: Soma Saito, Kenyu Horiuchi, Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi
1x21 For You, My Love
There appears to be no escape from the impending destruction of Earth. But at the end of the world, Zero Two decides that she will keep her promise, no matter what.
Directing: Manabu Okamoto · Writing: Naotaka Hayashi · Starring: Soma Saito, Kenyu Horiuchi, Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi
1x22 Stargazers
Hiro is left shattered with an unresponsive Zero Two, and the children struggle to come to terms with the aftermath. Left all alone to battle for their survival, what path will they choose to take?
Directing: Noriko Takao · Writing: Hiroshi Seko · Starring: Soma Saito, Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi, Toshiki Masuda
1x23 DARLING in the FRANXX
The gang heads off to space to fight in what they believe to be the final battle. Meanwhile, Kokoro and Mitsuru stay behind to fight a battle of their own.
Directing: Takahiro Harada, Toshifumi Akai · Writing: Naotaka Hayashi · Starring: Soma Saito, Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi, Toshiki Masuda
1x24 Never Let Me Go Season Finale
While Hiro and Zero Two head to VIRM's home planet to defeat them, the rest of Squad 13 do their best to get life on Earth back on track.
Directing: Miyuki Kuroki · Writing: Naotaka Hayashi · Starring: Hiroki Goto, Katsuyuki Konishi, Ami Koshimizu, Shizuka Itoh
Season 1 Cast
Yuto UemuraHiro (voice)24 episodes
Haruka TomatsuZero Two (voice)24 episodes
Nanami YamashitaMiku (voice)24 episodes
Shizuka IshigamiIkuno (voice)24 episodes
Mutsumi TamuraZorome (voice)24 episodes
Aoi IchikawaMitsuru (voice)24 episodes
Hiroki GotoFutoshi (voice)23 episodes
Katsuyuki KonishiSeven Sages (voice)23 episodes
Kenyu HoriuchiWerner Frank (voice)13 episodes
Marie OiChild (voice)13 episodes
Akihiro TajimaSeven Sages (voice)12 episodes
Nobuo TobitaVice Chairman (voice)11 episodes
Saya HiroseStaff Member C (voice)11 episodes
Toshiki MasudaNine Beta (voice)9 episodes
Where to Watch Season 1 of DARLING in the FRANXX
Subscription
More info and links
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Season 1 of DARLING in the FRANXX have?
Season 1 of DARLING in the FRANXX has 24 episodes.
When did Season 1 of DARLING in the FRANXX premiere?
Released January 13, 2018.
Where to watch DARLING in the FRANXX Season 1
Available with a subscription on Crunchyroll and Crunchyroll Amazon Channel (availability may vary by country).
What is the best episode of Season 1?
According to TMDB user reviews, episode 1x04, "Flap Flap," with a 7.4.