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sems-diarie · 2 years

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sem i was rewatching a couple of gintama episodes for serotonin and i can’t help but gush over how adorable gintoki is i love that man sm 🥺 do you have a favourite episode you remember or a fav arc?

OHHH YEAHHHHH

okay okay let’s get it going- so sorry this got embarrassingly long -

the shogun assassination arc STOLE MY BREATH AWAY. kamui and sougo had me by my neck (and still do) and the fact that we got to see gintoki n takasugi together again!? i absolutely adore watching them on screen together. also! i’ve always loved shige but this was the arc that solidified him for me.

the snow vacation arc w shige was so fucking funny, too 😭😭😭😭😭 when kagura and otae didn’t wanna touch him because he was greasy and stinky it had me in tears

okay and then, the farewell shinsengumi arc was so good. gintama, i feel like, is character-dependent because around here is when the overarching plotline becomes a bit confusing for me—but i love nobume and isaburo so much. the love her has for her—i wish for it. gintama proves itself over and over again to cherish family, but this was when i knew.

shinpachi’s saber beam arc had me so fucking emotional lmfaooo. it was so bad bc we were just coming out of the courtesan of a nation arc (which left me heaving and huffing for hours afterwards LMFAOOO) then the shogun assassination arc, and then farewell shinsengumi—back to back to back, i couldn’t breathe. but it also felt so good to see shinpachi love and be loved like that. it was a new side of him for me (i don’t rlly like his character but i do appreciate him when it counts). and we got the golden gintoki begging scene that still leaves me choked up to this day rmfaooo. he loves those kids so much bro. and he isn’t afraid to throw away his pride for them because he knows- he knows that pride will never be worth the pain it can bring.

i rewatch the joui 4 reunion arc a lot bc i like seeing them all together during the war 🥺 s’comforting.

the popularity poll arc 😭😭😭 it got GRITTY SO QUICK LMFAOOO. everyone was clawing for power. i also love how our mc was #1. hair flip. as per usual. and the way it started w yamazaki getting mugged 😭😭😭 LMFAOOO

i fucking LOVE the gender swap arc RMFAOOO specifically for kyuubei <333333 and tskuyou. she was so fine as a man i’d let them both breed fr

yoshiwara in flames and the red spider arcs are classics. gintoki and tsu are a compelling duo—which is why I ADOREEEE THE LOVE POLLEN SPECIALSSSSS. i especially liked the spider arc bc gintoki knows what good love looks like, what it feels like. and he wants that for tsukki. the way he gets so angry on her behalf (and maybe a little of his own) is exactly why he’s so dear to me as an mc. he carries his supporting characters with a special kind of oomf.

the saw arc with hijikata and sougo was unbelievable i hate them so much 😭

i am also especially fond of the jirocho arc. that fight at the grave yard was actually what got me into gintama!! i saw a clip of him gnashing that sword and knew i’d give ‘toki some babies lmfaooo. and also—the way he loves, the way gintoki gives so much love and protection even though he’s only felt it once from one parental figure in his childhood…. when he, kagura, and shinpachi got into that fight and they told him life wouldn’t be fun without him and he told them he just wanted them to live. i don’t think i’ll ever recover. he’s the only man in the world for me.

i also liked the jail arc!! watching gintoki terrorize the other prisoners 😭😭😭

i really liked the gintoki-hijikata soul switch arc solely for the new gintoki hair style.

oh my GOD. THE CHEATING ARC!?? WITH OTOSE AND OTAE AND TSKUYOU AND LITERALLY EVERY WOMAN IN THE MAIN CAST!? LMRMFKO i was laid out the whole time. and jealous ☹️ i wanna be his lil wife or whatever ☹️

i appreciate the arc on kagura and kamui’s home planet bc we got to see development from all sides of the fight (katsura blossoming into zura) and i love it esp bc where everyone started coming together again 🥺🥺🥺 kamui and kagura’s backstory had me geeked so hard. i will forever love that kagura doesn’t really hold it against him for leaving her (or, she does, but if he wanted to come home she’d take him in with open arms)—but it still makes me angry that he did.

last but not least (and the most obvious) the exact plot of the silver soul arc was messy but when i tell you i was geeked 400% in every episode. especially the part when everyone was sleeping and partying and just enjoying each other’s company. the greatest thing about gintama is it’s ability to make you feel like you’re there.

but anyways, generally? if the episode has gintoki and takasugi or shigeshige or kagura and sougo or kamui in it, it’s def a favorite. or if all the girls get together. and literally every episode with gintoki backstory gives me serotonin. or episodes where both the shinsengumi and odd jobs are in them. yeah :D

#gintama

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wynsnerdyrambles · 2 years

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Zankyosanka OP analysis

OK, first things first. As an OP analysis, this post will be delving into the foreshadowing of this OP, which means that spoilers for this arc will be discussed. You have been warned.

All right then, let's get started shall we? We'll tackle the OP in chronological order. Starting from the first shot, and going until the OP ends.

We start off with a shot of Kyojuro's handguard, and the shot zooms out, adding Tanjiro to the frame, clutching the handguard to his chest. In a literal sense, this shot represents the gift of Kyojuro's handguard that Senjuro gives to Tanjiro; since Tanjiro will be the one carrying out Kyojuro's legacy as a swordsman. From a figurative sense though, this shot represents the flame that Kyojuro's sacrifice has lit in Tanjiro's heart- as he very clearly is holding the flame shape over the heart, showing that he has set his heart ablaze, and is going to do his best to live up to Kyojuro's belief in him.

We are then treated to a series of fast shots that establish Tengen and his wives. We are first introduced to the wives by a trio of shots that establish their similarities to the main Kamaboko Trio. Makio shows off a headstrong look that shows her similarities to Inosuke, Suma shows off a sweet emotionality marking her similarities to Zenitsu, and Hinatsuru shows off a sense of kind responsibility similar to Tanjiro. Then we are given a flamboyant shot of Tengen's face, as we zoom out to Tengen sitting on a throne, revealing the fast shots to all be fitting within the same frame. This perfectly sets up Tengen's flamboyant personality, and this sense he has of being like a lord or a king. However, the order of the shots does a little more to reveal Tengen's inner self, away from the flashy exterior. The fact that the shots of his wives occur before revealing Tengen to me reveals that he puts the lives of his wives and others before himself- always willing to put his own life on the line, always putting others before himself.

The next set of shots we get shows off an aerial view of the Yoshiwara district, as well as some establishing shots of the Kamaboko squad looking proud and determined as they gaze into the middle distance, and we then cut once more to Tengen, as he perches upon a roof spire, gazing up at fireworks. These shots to me primarily have the purpose of establishing setting, as well as showing of more of Tengen's flashy side.

Then, the background freezes, as we are shown close-up shots of Tanjiro and Tengen, first looking at each other, then turning to look at the camera, then fading into a shot of both of them seeming ready to jump into action as the logo reveals itself. There have been a number of posts already showcasing the similarities this shot has to the other openings so I'll keep it brief. In 'Gurenge' Tanjiro is standing alone, showcasing the general themes of that arc: being able to stand up for yourself, alone if need be. In Akeboshi, The shot includes Rengoku in frame, but rather than moving in the same the two are splitting off in different directions from a single point, showing that despite their fateful meeting, Tanjiro and Kyojuro cannot go the same direction. Their battles are separate, and their intersection is only brief, albeit impactful. Meanwhile, in 'Zankyosanka' Tanjiro is not alone, he has Uzui's support, and to contrast how far behind Tanjiro felt with Rengoku, he's able to keep up with Uzui, and their fates lie in the same place- a battle with Upper Rank 6. (it also could symbolize the fact that Tengen makes it through this arc, albeit not unscathed.)

The next trio of shots take us from the rooftops to the bustling overwhelming streets of the Yoshiwara District. Our Kamaboko trio seems overwhelmed by the sheer flamboyance of the nightlife present there, and perhaps unsure of who the demon they're hunting might be in a night city like Yoshiwara. The trio all react in ways fitting their character. Tanjiro seems unsettled, yet determined. Perhaps this place reminds him of Asakusa, where he encountered Muzan. Zenitsu seems distracted by some of the beauty on display, showing off that Perhaps he's trying to distract himself from the mission at hand. Then we have Inosuke, who seems the most overwhelmed by Yoshiwara, he even knocks over a drunk fellow. It stands to reason that this may be the most densely populated place he's ever been. Meanwhile, in the canopy of the city, Uzui shows off some more Shinobi acrobatics, and stands boldly looking forward, showing the audience how Uzui is unfazed by the raucous and flamboyant city below.

The next trio of shots shows off Sumiko, Zenko, and Inoko, the best girls, in their undercover investigations. The shots also showcase the unique approaches each one takes: Sumiko is shown being helpful, Zenko is trying to impress some girls with Shamisen skills, and Inoko seems to have uncovered a lead.

The next few shots take a muted color palate, and shows a snippet from Uzui's so called 'unflashy' youth. This seems to be Uzui distraught by the wanton murder of his siblings, as we close on a side profile of him crying. This should be the audience's first glimpse of Uzui's other side. The side that is serious, full of regrets, and even some repressed self-worth issues. Fittingly, the only color that is not grayscale in this sequence is the blood on the corpses.

We then are greeted by a shot of Muzan, another thing that has remained consistent throughout the KNY OPs- followed by a shot of Daki's poised Oiran disguise, before her face splits into a wide grin, and the Obi of her blood Demon art strike out, obscuring the room in darkness, and leaving only the momentary glow of her eyes. There really isn't much going on here, other than serving the purpose of establishing the villains of the arc.

Now we get into the action, Tanjiro bursts from his room, sword ready, and begins to run towards the action, where he is met by Zenitsu, clearly asleep, and still in disguise. Inosuke runs along the rooftop, donning his boar's head, and followed by the MVPs- buff ninja mice. These guys were super cleverly concealed against the gray backdrop, and I approve of their inclusion.

The trio joins Tengen as they rush towards the explosion of obi that Daki has created, and we get more shots of Tengen being cool avoiding the tendrils of fleshy fabric, before we pan over to a shot of Daki- demon form fully revealed at last, sending out her obi to defeat Tengen, both with confident grins on their face. This shot establishes Daki's demon appearance, as well as her confidence, as she claims that 'Strong demons can do anything', but much like Tengen's flashy persona, this is in part a facade, as we see her confidence crumble before needing to call upon Gyutaro.

We are then treated to a shot of Nezuko on a rooftop, face down, being surrounded by sprouting vines, highlighted in a bright pink silhouette as her hair begins to float upward. This is very clear foreshadowing of Nezuko's full transformation, with the vines being reminiscent of her demon pattern, and the pink highlights matching the same color as her exploding blood technique.

Next we get some cool action shots: first of Zenitsu using Thunder Breathing against some obi, and the shot pans to include Inosuke at his back, showing off their teamwork against Daki. Then the shot rotates once more to show Tanjiro preparing a water breathing strike against more obi.

We then see Tengen flipping into the air to avoid some of Daki's obi, before nearly being caught off guard by Gyutaro's blood sickles, although he dispels them, his face looks grim, as he recognizes Gyutaro as the true strength behind Upper 6. The emaciated demon himself makes an appearance, albeit well obscured, and Tengen roars, preparing to strike with all his might, joined by Tanjiro. This shows that Tanjiro and Tengen will work together on this 'mystery foe', while Zenitsu and Inosuke handle Daki.

Then we're hit by some rapid fire shots of the site of the battle going up in an explosion, Nezuko as a human standing with her back to the camera in the snowy forests near her home, and Tengen kneeling respectfully at a grave (his brothers'?)

We then cut back to the firework laden backdrop of the rooftops of Yoshiwara, with Tengen, his wives, and the Kamaboko squad all standing with their backs towards the camera, watching the fireworks. We shift to a frontal view of the Kamaboko squad, with Inosuke's triumphant cheers (which I imagine represents the triumphant conclusion of this arc) cause Zenitsu to slip off the rooftop. This transitions nicely into a final action shot of the trio amidst a n obi laden backdrop, with Zenitsu using Thunder Breathing, Inosuke coming through with his dual katana, and Tanjiro making use of the Hinokami Kagura technique, which closes out the OP. This final shot of Tanjiro using Hinokami Kagura seems symbolic to me, as by the end of this arc, Tanjiro no longer uses Water Breathing.

10/10- have already watched again and again.

....

#zankyosanka #Aimer #kimetsu no yaiba #demon slayer #kny spoilers #uzui tengen #inosuke hashibira #zenitsu agatsuma #tanjiro kamado #nezuko #entertainment district arc #analysis #daki demon slayer

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gaundyfied · 4 years

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(Also posted on fanfiction.net)

AU! Picking up a human stray never crossed her mind. Or an attempt at an au where Kagura is the Kaguya-hime, an infamous on-call assassin of the Kaientai and she meets a newly orphaned and younger Okita Sougo.

(Sougo and his sister never met the Shinsengumi.)

Disclaimer: I've never wanted to be the gorilla but I root for Okikagu and Gintsu.

Beware of the grammar and inconsistency teehee~

Staying in Kabuki-chou has never been part of her plans, but it was raining outside, the announcer mentioned that it will last for the whole night because of a typhoon and if it didn't bother Kagura that Abuto would give her an earful later, she'll probably shrug it off. It's not as if she didn't enjoy staying on her favorite district, once in a while. But she doesn't have any place to stay, with Kamui cutting her budget and she couldn't risk encountering any humans on that particular night.

In her defense, she's been ready in case she'll be stranded somewhere. It was a good thing she bought a packed lunch worth a ten people in a nearby convenience store before going to the mission. The rain started to get stronger, though, and she's not on the right form tonight.

She has her sensei's old, dusty hideout in the second floor of a cabaret bar but it was too far; her wound threatens to open again and the only place she could get into was a shrine. What a luck. Heaving slightly, she limped towards the stairs, umbrella tightly grasped in her right hand as she tried to grit her teeth from pain. Her wounds are healing slowly and it was unusual. They probably used some of that poisonous weapons they got from the Kaientai. Those bastards.

She observed the surroundings as she reached the site. It was a shady place; an abandoned shrine settling near Oedo Park. She was sure she has never seen this before but she has no choice. She could hear Gin-chan whining how scary the place was but he wasn't here and he will never be. Thunder clapped from the sky, signaling that it was not safe outside. If only she didn't accepted that fucking assignment.

He was testing her, that one-eyed bastard. It was not enough that her brother vouched for her, he had to make her suffer too, just so he could be assured that she broke her ties with her perm-haired of a teacher. He's being paranoid and he should be. As if Gin-chan can be defeated by the likes of him. Not that it matters because the idiot was nowhere to be found and the only contact she has in this place was the courtesan of death living in the Yoshiwara. The Shimuras are in hiding and it was best not to know where they are. They'll be in danger if she knows.

Her mission was simple; infiltrate the bakufu building in Edo and search for Kihetai's mole being held on the upper part of the building. She passed albeit almost dying after being sliced in the abdomen by one of the samurais she met before she and the mole escaped. They parted ways, the said mole saying that he could distract the rest of the group. They'll meet at the terminal the next day.

If it weren't for the baldy and Kamui, she would never join Takasugi. Her father is missing, just like the shiroyasha while Kamui is unstable; only Nobume could control him as of the moment and she's in a mission too. He's using her brother as a leverage to leash her. To bind her entire being to him.

She reached the shrine, didn't even bother to take off her boots. Anego would probably scold her for being impolite but no one's here. Gently, she reached for her goggles, letting it stay on her neck before taking off her cape. The shrine was dark so she searched for some matches or lighter to make light. She copped a feel to the paper walls, expecting to be lead to whatever place that could have a source of light.

The rain continued to pour as she went inside a room that could be a kitchen. Trying as she might, she rummaged the cabinets when she heard a rustling in her back. Thinking that it was one of the guards earlier, she turned around only to see a guy, most likely a boy not far from her age. In his hands was a lamp, which she was thankful for, and a gun shakingly pointed at her.

She observed him or an effort to observe him in this unlit space. His face full of bruises and his left eye swollen. He looks like a street rat. "Oi, kids should be inside their home by now, you know."

He didn't answered her and instead cocked the gun. "You. What are you doing here?"

She wanted to laugh. What happened to Edo after she left she didn't know. All she could see though was a child holding a gun with so much fear and it made her uncomfortable.

"Hey. I asked you a question."

"I asked you first but you didn't answer. Put that down, brat."

He wasn't convinced, as he should be. Sighing, she raised her hands to admit surrender before talking to him again. "Look, I got food here, you got a light. We've both got nothing to stay so maybe we could trade?"

The boy continued to observed her before lowering down his weapon. Apparently, his hunger had won his internal battle between his self. That made her relieved. At least she dodge a bullet on that one. Literally. This was going to be a long night, she thinks.

II.

His name was of no important, he said, but she convinced him to at least tell her his family name. She learned that it was Okita after he glared at her but she preferred to call him chibi, which intensified the glare. His eyes reminded her so much of the silver haired samurai she has always followed. They reek of something that has been kept at bay, waiting to be freed.

"What about you?" He ended the silence.

Taking off the plastic in her cold dinner, she replied absentmindedly. "What about me?"

"Your name, China-bitch."

"You--" she sighed, not really interested to retaliate.".. just call me whatever you want, chibi."

It didn't surprise her that he wanted to know too. He's a curious one, that brat. Telling him her name is kind of a taboo to her. She hears anego shouting that abominable name as she remembers what entailed that morning. She couldn't tell the illusions apart so she obliterated the thought of the very name. She hates it now.

Still, he kept on pestering her that night as she munch on her sukonbu, her stomach quite full. At first, she thought he'd be disgusted by her chosen snack after their cold meal but he sat still, unbothered by her eating. After he didn't get what he want, he sat with her on the porch. The rain continued its onslaught while they watch its performance.

"Kaguya. Like that princess from the moon."

She hears him scoff, her cape resting on his shoulder. "An idiot name for an idiot woman."

That was the first time she laughed for a while. Of course it's silly.

It was surreal for her. For all she knows, handling a child, albeit someone who's near her age but still a child nonetheless, was a very tiresome task. She saw Gin-chan as he tried to keep her from trouble while knowing that she was an enemy of his kind.

Kagura wasn't a saint, that she knew. A yato kills and slaughters and murders so nothing will remain in front of him.

Who knows what she could do with this child.

III.

"China! Can we not sleep on a Love Hotel? I swear bed bugs are biting me." His crimson eyes examined the buildings outside.

"Beggars can't be choosy, chibi. Just be thankful that we have somewhere to stay. Do you want to sleep on the shrine again, huh?"

That shut him up. The idiot gets too sensitive whenever she mentions her nickname for him. Well, he should be. After all of the trouble she went through just so he could join her on her mission, he should be thankful that he'll be treated with a luxurious lunch.

Right after that night when they met, she entrusted him with Tsukuyo. At least there, he'll be protected while she could be assured that he's being treated properly. He promised the hyakka that she'll visit regularly but the brat just glared at her and told her to get lost. After that, their only communication was letter sending as it was the safest option.

This month, she was given a low-ranked mission and on Earth, fortunately. She was to escort some important amanto and well, she was ahead of her schedule so she visited the chibi. He was growing on her, she swears.

"Oi, chibi," she started as they peacefully ate their food on a nearby maid cafe. "Is Tsukuyo-nee okay? No one's bothering her, right?"

Her eyes twitched as she watched him pour down a handful of tabasco on his omurice. "Yeah. She's letting me patrol the Yoshiwara and training me at the same time."

"That's great, I guess."

She smile sheepishly as silence began growing again. On the bright side, she noticed his growth spurt. He was getting taller and she couldn't help but be proud. When she left that night, his small form was engraved in her mind. He didn't sniffle but she knows he was sulking.

"Well, it took you a month to visit again. Why bother visiting?"

She almost choked at his question. He sure got a loose tongue. "Aren't you a cheeky one? What if I just want to bother you?"

"Bullshit. Cut the crap, will you? We both know I'm not your responsibility."

It kind of stings, hearing him say it. She knows he was his own being but she kept on tying bonds that didn't matter.

"Yeah. That's right. So you need to earn some money too so you could repay me. I've got a list, chibi."

He stared, like always. He kept on attacking and she kept on dodging. Why can't he go with her? Why does she visit him? Why can't she erase the connection. Why, indeed.

IV.

Sometimes, she dreams of Kabuki-chou with Gin-chan and Shinpachi. Her breakfast filled with rice and egg on top. Sadaharu, licking her face as they walk on the park without any worries. Their adventures in Yoshiwara as her guardian slash teacher visited his wife.

Next day, she'll be seeing the flames engulfing the Shimura dojo as Kamui slashed through the wooden barriers. Soyo, chained and without consciousness as Takasugi claimed his trophy. Her hands connecting with her brother as he smiled sadistically.

'Choose, sister.'

This evening, she dreamt of the chibi and his tobasco as they ate without any care in the world around them.

"You shouldn't leave yet, Kagura."

"I can't, Tsukky. You'll be in danger, you know that."

"He's been sleepless, you know."

Me too, she answers in her mind as she rearranged her cape and goggles. It was hard leaving him. Letting him sleep on his own in Tsukuyo's extra futon without her in his embrace. She saw him pouted the other night as she explained her sudden mission. She remembered touching his growing hair as she murmured her apologies.

"Tell him I'll come back for his sister's anniversary." She said without turning back. While she could still leave without thinking that he's on his own again.

"Tell that in my face, China."

She couldn't help the smile forming on her face. "Yeah, I will."

VI.

She lost control of her body as she lay down on the bloody ground. There was red everywhere and her vision flickers every now and then. This was a suicide mission, she knew it from the start. Nobume warned her, Abuto even managed to hit her in the head just so she could understand the danger. But what could she do?

It was Shinpachi and Anego that are in danger and she couldn't betray them again. Not when her beloved sister carries that precious dark haired infant in her bossom. Not when she could do something this time.

She laughs at herself. She wanted to cry. Of course, she couldn't do it on her own. Who was she? She's just a product of a promise that is empty, a lonely rabbit searching where she would belong. Under the sky, she longed for her moon, awaiting the verdict of the gods above.

Kaguya-hime.

"Kaguya-hime, it's time to go back."

She could recognise that lazy drawl. His bokuto, touya-ko, tightly gripped by his hands. "Gin-chan, I'm no princess."

"Oh but you are. You're Gin-chan's lovely Kagura-chan. I'm sorry, I left you on your own. Daddy just have to do some unfinished business, you see."

"Silly, Gin-chan. You're not my dad."

He laughed and it really made her day. "Of course I am. So let me and your idiot guy do your job for you."

In the end, his ruby eyes and his sandy hair was the last thing she saw.

#gintama #kagura gintama #okikagu #okita sougo #shinsengumi #yorozuya #fanfiction

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animebw · 6 years

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Binge-Watching: Gintama, Episodes 164-166

In which I consider if Gintama has finally reached its highest point, things get a little too crazy, and one of my favorite tropes makes for one of my favorite episodes.

Have We Peaked?

I’ve talked a lot in the past about this show’s ability to constantly one-up itself with each passing arc. Every time I think it’s shown the extent of its capabilities in storytelling, it blows itself out of the water all over again. Just looking back on my old posts, the sense of giddy excitement I exude every time I see the show up its game is palpable. Gintama has always been a series of escalating delights, always leaving me hanging to see how it would possibly top itself next. But now, in the seventh cours, I’m beginning to think that at long last, at least for the remaining 40-odd episodes left in the first season, Gintama has finally peaked.

See, here’s the thing: Yoshiwara in Flames wasn’t just the single most epic, powerful, awe-inspiring arc of the show yet, it also pretty much came as the climax to Gintama’s third year. A massive, no-holds barred eruption of pure awesome serving as a final hurrah before the anime finally started to nip at the manga’s heels. And if there’s one feature that’s been the defining trait of Gintama’s seventh cours so far, it would be its aforementioned no-fucks-given attitude of throwing everything at the screen and lazily watching the spectacle unfold. After Yoshiwara singe-handedly crushed the entirety of the show’s past beneath it’s iron heel, we haven’t had any real moments of escalation or intense pathos. It’s all been side adventures, increasingly nonsensical goofs, and a general lack of the upward progression that drove us to the clash with the King of the Night. The show’s been building itself a golden throne for the past 150 episodes, making it bigger and shinier every passing moment; now, at the throne’s baptism in the blood of Yoshiwara, it sees fit to bask in its achievement by lounging on that throne and flicking peanuts down at the masses below.

And while that by nature prevents it from reaching some of the previous cours’ spectacular heights, it’s also not an unwarranted position. Gintama has earned more than enough goodwill at this point to take a step back and just relax. It seems this final year of Gintama is mostly going to be one long, contented exhale celebrating the majestic peak it managed to obtain, and honestly, that’s okay by me. If Yoshiwara is going to stand as the crown jewel until the season ends and we take a break for the manga to surge ahead again, eventually spooling into more stories to match Yoshiwara’s glory, then I’m totally fine with that. If any show’s earned the right to slack off a bit in its senior year, it’s this one. I can still enjoy all the good times it brings and the fantastic world it’s built.

And who knows, maybe I’m completely wrong and we’ve got an unexpected second wind of gloriosity just over the horizon. Stranger things have happened!

What Even

That being said, I do wonder if there’s a possibility that Gintama might be starting to lean a bit too hard into the nonsensical absurdity of its current state of being. Perhaps it was just a one-off occurrence, but one of these episodes had two of the hands-down the most batshit, incomprehensible skits yet, and I don’t mean that in a good way. A plot starts about the Odd Jobs crew having impersonators who are stealing their business, and they break down the copycats’ door to find (hilariously) that it’s the old Odd Jobs crew of mildly offensive black stereotypes we learned about a while go, and I was all excited to see where this would go... and then that plot just ends. Like, it really is that abrupt. Kick down the door, see the old odd jobs crew, cut to the next skit. What was the point of that? Why set that element up if you were literally just going to end it there? What even was supposed to be the joke?

And the skit that follows with the black-and-white filter is even more oddly detached from sense. Maybe I was just hampered by not knowing the show it was parodying, but I don’t think I laughed a single time in that entire stretch (except maybe when Shinpachi was getting thrashed by the propeller hats). There was just no train of logic to anything that was happening. Why were Gintoki and Kagura missing, and why was that never explained? Why was Ben the Reindeer chosed to parody whoever they were parodying? Why did they spend so much time speaking in circles around each other like an extensive inside joke they just assumed the audience would get? Why did we suddenly change gears at the end to end on a Terminator joke?

Look, as ridiculous at this show has gotten at points, it’s always had a clear logical throughline to the events that transpired. That’s how it manged to be so funny: the clarity of its storytelling meant you never had to stop and question how the absurd situation in front of you came into being, and you could enjoy watching it logically evolve to increasingly unhinged heights. Even when I haven’t gotten the references, the comedy was clear enough for me to get the intention. This, though? This just feels like complete gibberish. And look, some of this nonsense worked; the live-action bit with mannequin still frames was a delightfully bizarre fourth wall break that still followed the show’s established logic (”WHY AM I JUST GLASSES?!”) as well as getting in plenty of cutting jabs at the horrible conditions anime is usually made under. And Shinpachi’s “flashback” thought bubble justified how off the walls it got by the end (Seriously, why the fuck was Katsura suddenly Obama with a host of angry parasites up his ass?) with that framework, making you forget the whole thing was taking place in Shinpachi’s imagination until the end, paying off in a fantastic manner. This show can do absurdity excellently; I just worry relying on it too much might lead to more thought vomit like episode 164. Hopefully I’m worrying over nothing.

The Best Bromance

Thankfully, whatever bitter feelings I might’ve had about that fart of an episode were immediately trampled under the feet of episode 166, in which Gintoki and Hijikata become a victim of one of my absolute favorite tropes: two people who can’t stand each become physically trapped together and have to coordinate to get anything done. This is one of the most entertaining ways to force conflict between characters; when two polar opposites must find a way to get on the same page about everything, it can leads to all sorts of glorious shenanigans. And my god, Gintama might just have one of my favorite applications of that trope yet. I was laughing my ass off every single goddamn moment Gintoki and Hijikata were handcuffed together. The increasingly unhinged animation on their mad scrabble to escape. Their increasingly unhinged performances as their bickering reached new heights. Gintoki’s grandiose blather clashing with Hijikata’s straightforward antagonism. The “get on your knees” scene. The bathroom scene and all its gut-busting faces of agony. The god. damn. tango. Sweet Buttery Christmas, when I saw that rose in Gintoki’s mouth, I could not stop howling.

And to top it all off, we get a pitch-perfect rendition of the second reason this trope is so amazing: the scene where the two discordant characters finally work together and kick ass in their compromised position. Gintoki and Hijikata’s handcuffed duel with the terrorist faction was everything. It was creative teamwork utilizing the handcuffs to their advantage, blocking swords, swinging on vents, watching each other’s backs without having to say a word, and, of course, the classic “spin the other guy like an improvised flail” technique. For all their bickering, these two dorks really kick some serious ass together, and it was one of the most joyfully entertaining spectacles of the entire goddamn show. Their dynamic has always been one of Gintama’s most subtly brilliant weapons, contrasting arrogance and apathy and showing how well they can actually work together. Not gonna lie, I came out of this episode starting to ship them a little. Their interplay is just such a frigging delight, and when it’s thrust into the forefront with a trope so tailor-made for them as this one, it’s truly a thing of glory. What a wonderful fucking episode.

Odds and Ends

-”People that stupid can still be in a relationship?!” Let’s be real, we’ve all seen far worse couples in real life. Let them have this, Kagura.

-Oh yes, this new ED is perfection. The music, the sense of scale, the focus on Kagura... all of this, in my face.

-”Gintama Evolution!” FUCK

-”Don’t take off your clothes!” aksjdhasd

-So was the switch to digital broadcasting a big thing in Japan or

-One: Kagura closing the door with her feet. Two: Kagura making a supersized portion just so she can eat it herself. There’s no bigger point here, I just love Kagura.

-D’aww, Shinpachi loves his sister so much. What a good kid.

-”Have your way with me, Ginfluenza!” SACHAN NO

-Sweet merciful Buddha, Gintoki almost fulfilled Sachan’s wildest fantasies just there. That had me cackling.

-”That was really important to me.” Let’s be real, Shinpachi, you Otsu body pillow and Sachan deserve each other.

-”I’m surprised to hear that Kondo had any dignity to begin with.” DRAG HIM OTAE

-Leave it to Okita to slack off in the middle of a stakeout. Also, hey, Whinery! Glad you’re becoming a recurring fixture.

-”Aren’t you always key-n on mayonnaise?” “Clever! Very clever, but this isn’t the time for puns!” Even in the midst of his worst nightmare, Gintoki acknowledges talent when he sees it. Respect.

-”throbby vein boy” I swear to GOD Gin-san

-”Justice!” *punch* Somebody’s been watching too much JourneyQuest.

-”Want me to get down on my knees again?” help I love this

-”I don’t want to see his face for a while.” Oh just kiss him already you enormous tsundere

Happy birthday, Gin-san. See you lunkheads all next time!

#anime #the anime binge-watcher #tabw #sakata gintoki #gintama #gintoki sakata #shimura shinpachi #shinpachi shimura #kagura

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randomxfiction · 6 years

Text

Okay, I just really need to breathe.

Thoughts about Gintama’s Yoshiwara in Flames arc (EP 139-146)

Bare with me, cause my thoughts were still cluttered while writing this. Spoilers under the cut - - - -

Man, how do I start? Let me just put this out here: After re-watching the arc twice, I came to a conclusion that the whole Seita-Hinowa story as it is didn’t quite struck me that hard. I mean, the concept of it was good, as it talks about bonds stronger than blood. But overall, it didn’t tug much on my heartstrings. Some stories were better and more emotional than this one, either way, it still paved the tone on how the whole arc was presented.

Jumping right into it, some notable things I can’t get out of my head were of course, the introduction of new characters: Tsukuyo & Kamui.

I want to slightly talk about Gintoki and Tsukuyo’s first meeting. There was a joke that ran for some solid 2 minutes maybe? About the kunai stuck on Gin, and him denying it. I remember Shinpachi kept telling him “you’re definitely stabbed” and he’s like “no, i am not!”. Then he gets embarrassed in front of her/the hyakku? He definitely said something along the lines of “are they laughing at me?” and “now I’m too embarrassed to face them” so does these mean that he’s getting flustered in her presence? Also, you can’t deny that he’s definitely flirting with her. I mean, come on - the whole “you got stabbed” probably symbolizes that he got pierced in the heart by her. It’s good, but for me personally it felt too fast? Like, they just met, for fuck’s sake. Not that it’s out of character but I just felt it was too fast. Probably a love at first sight scenario for Gintoki. He also can’t stop saying “she’s too kind, she really is too kind” as he refers to Tsukuyo. Well? I guess our favourite samurai dork literally got lovestruck, huh? (Not to mention that Tsukuyo literally means “moon” and the whole sun & moon thing would make sense knowing that this arc is almost projecting Gintoki as the sun himself.)

Anyway, I’m still half-hearted with the whole Gintoki x Tsukuyo ship because the amount of Gintoki x Otae moments were too many from the previous episodes. Although I’m not a solid GinTae shipper, but so far, they have the most chemistry for me. And on top of it all, I feel like it’s too early to internalize Tsukuyo’s character when I still haven’t seen beyond the surface. I want to know more about her quirks and how she lives normally. Maybe from there, I’ll get a hang of her character more. She’s just still too shallow for me at this point. (Which is making me super excited for the future episodes!)

Moving on.

Here’s Kamui having an appearance and the moment he entered the frame, his sister Kagura came in with him. That was amazing. You can see the stress shooting up on her face. The more I watch Kamui, the more I get to like his character. I’m sure there’s some deeper reason on why he’s acting like that. I don’t know yet, but Gintama never failed to give their characters a very believable backstory that explains why they became the person they are at the present. So, I’m looking forward to know more about Kamui, and why he’s treating Kagura like that. Their sibling-dynamic just really hits home for me. It’s really well presented and you can feel Kagura’s emotions transcending from the screen.

Speaking of Kagura, god fucking damn that fight with Abuto was amazing. I do expected that Shinpachi would come off too weak and Kagura would play tank as she always does. But I was not ready for that creepy transformation power-up moment. Her face was fucking demonic, I swear, and it made it all the more moving for me. The more you look at her face, the more you understand that she has really sunk deep in the darkness, letting her Yato blood take over, and Shinpachi here, sealing their own sibling-relationship by calling out to her and getting her out from that darkness. That was really a big moment for those two main characters having a special familial bond that could go as far as “saving” the other from their own demons.

Also, fun fact that I noticed, Abuto’s voice actor is the same as Jiraiya’s. So when he was fighting I can’t help but hear the old pervert talking. Making it 100 times better.

Then we have Housen, the Night King. To be honest, he’s a fairly great villain. I liked the fact that he was Umibouzu’s rival, and the previous leader of the Yato. He’s fucking strong, man. But could he be a bit nerfed? I mean, he’s a fucking Yato for fuck’s sake, and he fought the Umibouzu for 3 days and 3 nights. He’s Kamui’s master, and he got defeated by Gintoki and the Hyakku? Not really convinced much, cause after all, Gin and the gang are still just human. Anyway, maybe this is what Kamui was talking about - that Housen became weak because of his thirst for the “sun” - which in the Yoshiwara world, it’s Hinowa. It could’ve meant that she made him softer, as seen in the last few moments where his life was flashing before his eyes. He literally saw flashbacks of the younger Hinowa talking to him about the sun, and how much she wants to help them make up. Anyway, he’s definitely a good villain. Strong and powerful, too. Imagine building a fucking underground city that’s untouched by the laws above.

Lastly, Gin’s character development. When he was fighting with Housen, we get to see a glimpse of his mind while in battle. It’s like he have this “chant” where he assures himself of things, reminding him to keep it together. Like he’s purifying his soul, almost praying for strength to protect what’s important for him. The way his eyes change when the scene was highly significant, and his sword fighting techniques were off the charts. Again, the fighting sequence as it is, won’t be the highest quality. But the way it was presented wasn’t bad at all. Infact, it was pretty moving for the first watch. After the hype goes down, I noticed how basic (not sure if that’s the right term) the animation were. But regardless, we don’t see him fight seriously like that too much so I’m all for it. My heart bleeds whenever he bleeds so I guess they made a pretty good job.

Ah, what else.

I feel like there’s more to talk about. For sure I’ve left a few more things here and there but these were all on top of my head. I really liked this arc and it stuck on me to the point that I don’t want to continue watching the next episode yet cause I’m still basking on the aftershock of this fucking arc. So, yeah.

Ending this by saying: its depressing how much this anime is underrated. Sigh. It’s just so good.

#gintama #yoshiwara in flames #spoilers #randomrants

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