Ep 13. The Number One Man in the Universe

In the thirteenth episode of To Love-Ru's first season, titled "The Number One Man in the Universe," we see the introduction of Zastin, a serious and skilled warrior from another planet. Lala's father, King Deviluke, has tasked Zastin with retrieving Lala and returning her to their home planet, as Lala has been causing chaos on Earth with her inventions. However, Zastin underestimates the difficulty of his mission, as he is constantly hindered by Rito and his friends.

The episode begins with Zastin's arrival on Earth, where he immediately begins searching for Lala. While he is initially intimidating, the gang quickly realizes that he is just another alien trying to abduct Lala. Rito in particular takes issue with Zastin's aggressive attitude and vows to protect Lala from him.

As the episode progresses, Zastin's efforts to capture Lala become increasingly clumsy and futile. He is constantly thwarted by Rito and the gang, who are surprisingly adept at defending themselves against his attacks. Meanwhile, Lala remains blissfully ignorant of Zastin's true intentions, believing that he is just another guest at the house.

As the day wears on, Zastin becomes increasingly frustrated with his lack of progress. He begins to doubt his abilities as a warrior and considers resigning from his position as the number one man in the universe. However, he is eventually able to regain his confidence thanks to a conversation with Rito, who encourages him to persevere despite his failures.

In the end, Zastin is unsuccessful in capturing Lala and is forced to return to his home planet empty-handed. However, he leaves with a newfound sense of purpose and determination, vowing to train harder so that he can one day defeat Rito and his friends. Meanwhile, Lala continues to invent new gadgets and cause chaos on Earth, much to the delight of everyone around her.

Overall, "The Number One Man in the Universe" is a lighthearted and comedic episode that showcases the playful dynamic between the show's main characters. While Zastin's appearance adds a new element of danger to the story, his clumsy attempts to capture Lala are ultimately more amusing than threatening. The episode's underlying message about the importance of perseverance and self-belief is also a welcome addition, grounding the story in a meaningful message without detracting from its overall light tone.