"Welcome to my first ever review, it had to be gintama one way or the other due to it's massive influence over my life for the better and I will forever hold it dearly, anyways, I really hope that you enjoy this review, without further ado let us start!"
I am going to be using the following headings to review this anime:
Plot 10/10 x Characters 10/10 x Audio 10/10
*totally not biased says forever as he sips on his coffee
*...
Plot (arcs):
Personally, this is where gintama shines the most just behind it's phenomenal cast of characters. In this season, there are three arcs known as the "Kintama arc" x "Courtesan Of A Nation Arc" and finally the "Beam Saber Arc".
In the kintama arc we are introduced into a world that has no existence/recollection of gintoki but rather the perfected version of himself known as kintoki. Main objective in this arc? Gintoki making everyone remember his existence while eradicating kintoki from edo. This arc was very touching in the sense that even though everyone forgot about gintoki, sadaharu and tama never forgot about his existence and legacy, personally, this speaks volumes about how influental gintoki is on their lives as a whole. A character like kintoki who appeared for around 4 episodes can never be better than the likes of gintoki who has stayed for multiple years with 200+ episodes to his name. A perfected version of gintoki aka kintoki (testicles literally) was no match for the people in the kabuki district that had a bond with gintoki which further reinforces this idea. I mean if this doesn't show the impact gintoki has on all the other characters I don't know what will. This really wasn't the best arc from this season as the "courtesan of a nation arc" claimed victory by significant margins but nonetheless, this arc was fairly enjoyable with its fair share of comedy and vice versa.
In the "Courtesan Of A Nation Arc" which I like to believe is a continuation of the "yoshiwara in flames arc" (to some extent) we are presented with the past of gintoki which is rarely ever mentioned up to this point. It also introduces the characters "shoyo" and "oboro" who will play an significant role in the future which portrays the careful world building gintama is capable of doing. In short, Suzuran (Yoshiwara's most beautiful courtesan) made a promise with someone decades ago to meet each other at the next full moon but that certain someone never came and gintoki x tsukuyo decided to find where that person was. This led them to the house of the shogun as that "someone" was the former shogun. This dude.. I HATED HIS SOUL okay reasons? so much that I can't list them here ! Nobume (aka donut lovin' blue hair girl) and Isaburo by coincidence were protecting the shogun due to certain circumstances. This arc, THIS ARC, is the one to beat. As soon as gintoki enters the palace we get a glimpse of gintoki in his so called "beserk" mode as he goes head to head against Oboro. This fight had me shivering the entire time as I ached in pain being unable to tell someone my thoughts every second of the fight. This fight left gintoki in a near death situation but with the help of sasaki he was able to battle oboro the second time around and defeated him (oboro's whereabouts are unknown as of the end of this season). Seeing the shinsengumi, tsukuyo, nobume, white version of shinsengumi all helping gintoki fight against the previous corrupt shogun was truly a sight to behold. Gintoki has created a family in this series, a great family who will protect him even in the depths of hell, seeing everyone help him genuinely made me shed a tear. Overall, this arc is the best to date (until ep 300-) as the plot advances with no signs of slowing down!
Finally, the "Beam Saber Arc".. personally it was a bit underwhelming compared to the other two arcs but if you don't compare it was a decent arc that is able to hold it's own weight in this huge franchise. Being only 3 episodes we discover than Shinpachi and Otae had discovered their long lost instructor with the catch that he is a cyborg now due to a life threatening situation in space that rendered him limb-less. Another catch is that he is equipped with a beam that could destroy the entire of earth in which he has no control over it's detonation. I like this arc as it shows how far Gin is willing to go to protect those he loves and purposely makes himself the villain to prevent both Otae x Shinpachi from learning that exact truth. Gintoki even bows down to the Shinsengumi to protect Shinpachi. Since Gintoki himself is a very proud person the fact that Sougo himself says that statement makes it even more significant. Honestly this arc allowed me to confirm that Gintoki is the best character to grace this medium.
Characters:In general, the characters of this series are something that I will love regardless how much times I watch this series. In my opinion, there is no primary protagonist to this series, every single character is the main character of this story which is what makes it so special whether the role is small or large. We get to see every single character in action (except zura WHYYY) which creates a sense that everyone is bonded by the silver light of Gintoki himself as he adventures the beautiful but strange (in the funny sense) kabuki district. This exact bond is what lured me to gintama the second time for a rewatch, It's truly priceless that we are allowed to view the family that is the yorozuya and it is also the reason that I give it the non biased 10/10 rating.
Audio:
Simply unfair, it's just too good for me. We are introduced with the OP's "Sakura Mitsutsuki " and "LETS GO OUT" with the ED's "Moonwalk" and "Expect". In my opinion, every single OP x ED was stunning but "sakura mitsusuki" was beyond that. This song has reached 23 million views on youtube > as of 24.06.2021 and it fully deserves it. The visuals were exceptional, the song was beautiful, I can't stop looping this on spotify because of those reasons. SPYAIR really outdone themselves with this song and I can never thank them enough for it. If there was anything I wanted you to take away from this "review", I demand you to listen to "sakura mitsusuki". This song should be the sole reason that you (yeah you) decide to start gintama, It's that good and for those reasons, "sakura mitsusuki" carries the ratings to the impossible 10/10 totally not biased 100% no way.
In general, thanks to all of those who read my first ever review, If you think there is anything I should fix or improve on do let me know on a private dm on my profile! Keep it cool forever, see you next time fellow yorozuya members!from your friendly neighbourhood essay writer - forever
