1. No Need for Discussions!
The first episode opens with Tenchi's monologue as he reminisces about "those days." This narration is important, as it will become apparent at the last episode. On a stroll through the countryside, Tenchi comes across the site of crash-landing where he finds an unconscious girl. The revived girl, Ryoko, tells Tenchi that she is being stalked by a space pirate. When Tenchi's grandfather, Katsuhito, confronts this menace, it turns out the "space pirate" is actually Mihoshi, a bumbling Galaxy Police detective. Mihoshi's objective was to apprehend the wanted criminal Ryoko, but now she finds herself stranded on Earth. The Masaki household now has two new additions to the family!
2. No Need for a Princess!
On a trip back to her planet Jurai, Royal Princess Ayeka detects Mihoshi's distress beacon emanating from Earth and steers her space craft toward the Masaki residence, only to find her hated rival Ryoko. The rivalry between Ryoko and Ayeka has deep roots and goes far back to their childhood as the two girls recount to Tenchi their "traumatic" childhood encounters with each other. Ryoko and Ayeka present themselves as sweet and innocent(?) little girls who were victimized, but whose story will Tenchi believe?
3. No Need for Worries!
Ayeka's ship is destroyed after an out-of-control space battle with Ryoko and now she ends up stranded on Earth along with Mihoshi. Fortunately for Ayeka, her younger sister Sasami arrives on Earth to take her back home to planet Jurai. Despite the short time spent at the Masaki household, Ayeka had enjoyed her stay and even regrets leaving. This episode introduces two of the series' most popular and cutest characters, Ryo-ohki and Sasami! Like any other pet, Ryo-ohki has her favorite food-carrots, which spells disaster for the princesses who are trying to head back to Jurai.
4. No Need for Monsters!
Tenchi's grandfather Katsuhito warns the girls about a fearsome demon sealed inside a cave near the Masaki shrine, which naturally piques Ryoko's interest. Later that evening, Ryoko drags along a reluctant Tenchi to investigate the cave and takes advantage of the isolation to try to seduce him, but a jealous Ayeka shows up and a brawl erupts between the two alien girls. The ensuing fracas awakens the cave's demon, who turns out to be Washu, the mad scientist/genius! Anyone who's been imprisoned in a cave for 700 years is not likely to be in a good mood...
5. No Need for Partners!
Kiyone is one of the best Galaxy Police detectives. She believes that her goofy partner Mihoshi had died on her mission, until the day HQ informs her that Mihoshi is alive and well on planet Earth. Not exactly good news for Kiyone! She sets out for Earth, hoping that HQ had given her misinformation, but knowing somehow that it's true. And she's right. She finds Mihoshi waiting for her, smiling her guileless smile, and if that wasn't enough, Mihoshi's keeping company with: the most wanted space criminal, the missing royal princesses and the legendary mad scientist! Kiyone's nightmarish days are back! Meet Kiyone, the only "victim" character we have besides Tenchi. While she has never been part of the "regular" cast in the OVA series, viewers, knowing her from the Mihoshi Special and even the Tenchi movies, would now officially welcome her as one of the main cast members. Her interplay with Mihoshi is nothing less than hilarious, worthy of the name of "Miho-Kiyo Duo."
6. No Need for Resident Officers!
By an unexpected order from the Galaxy Police HQ, our mismatched duo, Mihoshi and Kiyone, are assigned to stay on Earth as resident officers. They move out of the Masaki residence to start their own lives in a meager apartment. Nothing can affect Mihoshi--she simply remains her goofy, cheerful self wherever she is. Kiyone, on the other hand, has all the worries in the universe. She now has to "baby-sit" her partner while struggling with the high cost of living on Earth. They have to work many hours on part-time jobs to make a living, and the moment they receive a duty call, they have to drop everything to rush in their spaceship, Yagami, to be at the scene of the crime. The "Miho-Kiyo Duo" is ever on duty, bound by a strange bond of rotten fate!
7. No Need for a Carnival!
One summer evening, an annual carnival takes place at the Masaki Shrine. Hoping that Sasami will enjoy a well-deserved break, Tenchi chooses to take her to the festival. What they discover, mixed in with the other booths at the carnival, are Ryoko's fish-scooping booth, Ayeka's shooting gallery, a fried noodle shop run by Mihoshi and Kiyone, and Washu's house of horrors...none of which are as normal as they look in the beginning! Carnivals are suppose to be fun, but this one proves to be a life-threatening adventure for Tenchi! To add to the commotion, as Ryoko and Ayeka start to fight (what else is new?), things really get out of hand. It's getting late at the night of the carnival...
8. No Need for a Genius!
Trying to make up the 700 years she wasted in the sealed cave, our genius scientist "Little" Washu works days and night on her inventions. To double the efficiency, she comes up with this wonderful idea of creating another Washu. Mecha Washu is completed, but something seems to be dreadfully wrong... Mihoshi's genetic data was input by mistake, and as a result, Mecha Washu has Washu's genius power combined with Mihoshi's silly mind! It's no wonder things get completely out of control! The only way to stop it is to destroy it. A volleyball game of life and death now begins. Hurry, hooray, Washu, fight!!
9. No Need for Memories!
In this part of the country where Tenchi lives, it's been many years since it snowed last. Sasami is thrilled to see the snow fall for the first time in her life, whereas Ryoko is miserable glued to the heater to keep herself from the cold. The men of Masaki family are pensive as the snow brings them back a special memory they share... Ayeka's spaceship Ryu-oh is found reviving and the day slowly wears by in a sentimental mood, when Tenchi is struck ill. With all the adults in the house drunk and asleep, it's up to Sasami to save Tenchi! As if to answer to her desperate prayers, a miracle happens...
10. No Need for an Arch Rival!
Meet Nagi and Ken-ohki, two new characters that are completely original in the Tenchi Universe series. Ryoko has a busy life being chased not only by the police, but also by a bounty hunter like Nagi! The street-hardened personality of Nagi could have made this episode rather hard-boiled, if not for Ken-ohki who functions as an "antidote" for Nagi's presence. If you don't already know from the Tenchi OVA series that Ryo-ohki is a girl, this is the story that makes it quite obvious. Meow!!
11. Time and Space Adventures Part I
Washu showcases her latest invention, the Dimensional Cause and Effect Controller. This outrageous device can completely change the world into whatever people want it to be. Everyone rushes to input their wishes into this Controller, driving it mad! Now Tenchi and company are at the mercy of the Controller as they wander from one parallel world to another. Princess Ayeka is hurled into her ideal world of feudal Japan, where she orders constables Mihoshi and Kiyone to eliminate Ryoko, the demon of Rashomon, who threatens to steal away her suitor, Lord Tenchi.
12. Time and Space Adventures Part II
The girls all continue to live out fantasies in their ideal worlds, thanks to the Dimensional Cause and Effect Controller going haywire. Sasami, as the Magical Girl Pretty Sammy, saves the day for Tenchi at his school, the same school which was supposed to be a peaceful stage for a sweet love comedy! Kiyone, in her world, seeks a new, quiet life in a northern region where a familiar group of kind and warm-hearted people await to help her. Mihoshi, in her world, is a housewife leading a carefree life as Tenchi's wife and Ryoko is the flirtatious next-door neighbor trying to seduce Tenchi.
13. Time and Space Adventures Part III
Ryoko, in another parallel world, has Tenchi as her gangster partner so she can live the action-filled dangerous life she's always desired. When all of these worlds are combined, it's no wonder that our story becomes a blind roller coaster ride! Washu is the only hope of bringing this mayhem back to normal, but when the time comes to leave her parallel world, will Ryoko choose to return back to the real one?
14. No Need for a Rebellion!
Tenchi's family and friends leave Earth for a distant journey to planet Jurai to investigate the mystery surrounding the planet's new ruler. The story follows them episode after episode, as they run, chase, blunder and wander through outer space. The opening monologue of Ryoko has a significant meaning as you will see in good time...
15. No Need for an Escape!
Tenchi and gang are now wanted criminals for attempting a coup d'etat! The Galaxy Police HQ armada, Jurai ships and people are just a sampling of the many new elements we will discover in the course of these episodes. Mitsuki, the ambitious Galaxy Police colleague of Kiyone, makes her appearance only in this episode. Katsuhito's (Grandpa Masaki) presence seems to have more influence in the story, and it will continue doing so even more...
16. No Need for Hiding!
With a long trip still ahead, Tenchi and company discover that they are quickly running out of money for food and fuel. At a nearby planet, the group sets up a karaoke bar, attracting only a few paying customers so far, but business is about to pick up as Nagi the bounty hunter pops in unexpectedly for a drink. Also, the childhood stories of Ryoko and Ayeka are recounted once again, showing them as 14-year-olds this time around.
17. No Need For Hunger!
A double whammy of engine trouble and a shortage of provisions almost disables Tenchi and company. Ryoko and Ryo-ohki volunteer to go planet-side on a food-run, but the pleasure-seeking Ryoko immediately get side-tracked, using up all the spending cash. With everyone aboard the Yagami on the brink of starvation, Ryoko looks for a quick way to get a hold of some much-needed money.
18. No Need for a Ghost!
As the Yagami wanders through the Sargasso Sea, Sasami and Ryo-ohki encounter Mirei, a lonely apparition who is looking for a playmate. When Sasami turns up missing, Tenchi and the girls form a search party to track her down inside an old, haunted spaceship.
19. No Need for Runaways!
The spaceship Yagami has had nothing but rotten luck ever since the trek to Jurai, and this time it is hijacked by teenage delinquents Amarube and Yura. Will Mihoshi and Kiyone ever get their Galaxy Police ship back?
20. "No Need for Swimsuits!"
At a planet-side beach resort, Tenchi and company take part-time jobs so they can pay for the repair of the Yagami. They work really hard because making money was never an easy task. Then, great news arrives; A local swimsuit beauty contest is offering one million Jurai money to its winner! Seeing a perfect opportunity to put their perfect figures to use, all our heroines rush to sign up. In the meantime, Nagi the bounty hunter happens to stop at Tenchi's beach stand for a drink. Confronted by Nagi, Ryoko tells her that their duel will just have to wait until the beauty contest is over. All the girls are out to compete for the glorious title of Miss Swimsuit!
21. No Need for a Checkpoint!
Tenchi and company are finally coming close to entering Jurai territory. They are almost there. The only hurdle between them and their destination is the heavily guarded security check point. Disguising themselves as a group of innocent students on a school trip, they just manage to clear the check-point when Mihoshi's blunder exposes their identities all at once! During the frantic running chase that ensues, a mysterious man shows up to help them escape.
22. No Need for Knights!
Tenchi and company manage to infiltrate the Jurai space territories. Unfortunately, Mihoshi's blunder once again makes them an easy target to spot for the Jurai Force. Katsuhito instructs them to head for the Jurai Sanctuary telling them that they will need help from the two legendary knights sleeping there. With Azaka and Kamidake finally resurrected from their long sleep and Katsuhito's true identity revealed to everyone's astonishment, the story rushes headlong into a stormy climax!
23. No Need for Karma!
Can it be? Can Tenchi be a direct descendent of the Jurai royal bloodline? That must mean his grandfather is...Meanwhile, Yosho impersonator, Kagato, finally reveals himself! It's a life and death duel between the heavy hitters of Jurai! Only one will be left standing...
24. No Need for Ryoko!
Kagato takes Ayeka back to Jurai to ensure his claim to the throne. Only Tenchi, with the Tenchi Sword can save her. Everyone, including Nagi, risks life and limb to get Tenchi into the Royal Throne Room to confront Kagato. Even the seriously-injured Ryoko, out of her desperate love for Tenchi, sacrifices herself to grant Tenchi's wish...to free Ayeka!
25. No Need for a Showdown!
Tenchi, Azaka and Kamidake invade the Jurai palace and head to the throne room. Before they can reach it, Tetta and Tessei, the two powerful knights serving the Jurai emperor, step in the way to stop them! Tenchi's friends drop one by one in their efforts to take out Tenchi's obstacles in order to allow him to take on the final opponent, Kagato! As the Evil Imperial Sword in Kagato's hand clashes against the Tenchi Sword in Tenchi's hand, cosmic sparks fly to determine who the true Jurai Emperor will be in this, the last battle!
26. No Need for a Conclusion!
After the final battle, things begin to wind down and return to normal, as if none of it really happened except for one thing...Where's Ryoko? Instead of a standard storyline, this touching episode the fate of each of our characters. It also takes the story all the way back to the first episode, like a circle, as well as leading to the beginning of the feature film, Tenchi Muyo in Love. You could say that it symbolizes the endless quality of the Tenchi Universe.