Gintama: The Final Chapter - Be Forever Yorozuya

“How about we add something sad to make it seem like it’s the final one? Like ‘Farewell,’ or ‘Forever,’ or ‘Final.’”

• Gintoki Sakata, Episode 50 (Gintama)

Before watching Gintama: The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya it’s important to understand why some people were frustrated with it. After the end of Gintama’: Enchōsen, this film was supposed to tie up plot threads, answer the fan’s burning questions and wrap Gintama’s story up with a neat bow. So, did Be Forever Yorozuya manage to fulfil any of these demands?

No, of course it didn’t. It’s a Gintama film.

Those working on Be Forever Yorozuya were aware that they would never be able to offer any satisfying answers or solve any mysteries, so they didn’t even try to. This was a bold decision that ultimately worked in the film’s favour; especially when watched in hindsight. Rather than attempting to haphazardly patch a backstory together, the film charts its own course; offering up the usual mix of ridiculous humour and unique bittersweetness that only a series like Gintama could meaningfully balance.

By centring the main plot around time travel, Be Forever Yorozuya is given a large scope that allows the film to freely experiment with the story. Thankfully, it keeps its focus on three key moments in time which prevents the film from stretching itself too thin. Any story that deals with time travel often runs the risk of falling into over-explaining its premise, or inadvertently being trapped in a paradoxical nightmare. Be Forever Yorozuya decides to keep time travel as a story mechanic, so there is very little explanation behind how it works which works well for the narrative. However, it might be a little frustrating if you are wanting a story which focuses more on the implications of time travel. There is a strong balance struck between the past, present, and future, with each setting being given importance to the narrative. This is something that can be difficult to pull off in a film’s timeframe. The story utilises each setting well; focusing on particular narrative moments rather than spreading itself too thin and trying to cover too much.

The central narrative is also an interesting one that simultaneously slots into the wider Gintama canon while also setting itself apart; developing some ideas that would otherwise have had a major impact on the series. This means that there are a couple of twists that the film has which, while predictable, are very emotional and are built up well. This is especially true in regards to the handling of Gintoki’s past and how he is in the present remains both the same, yet distinctly different. This tentative handling of the narrative shows how this film, despite deviating from the series, manages to be a perfect distillation of what makes Gintama Gintama.

The weaving together of humour and emotional moments is, of course, another area where Be Forever Yorozuya shines. There is a captivating way this is done, simultaneously keeping the audience on their toes without feeling overbearing. This creates a comfortingly familiar experience that mirrors the main series. The film is aided by its clear focus on the overarching relationships between the cast; something that Gintama always puts to the forefront of its stories. Not only does this mean that the emotional moments shine brightly, but it also allows the comedic moments to push the envelope in a way that only a standalone film could achieve.

Gintama is, after all, a series that is completely carried by its characters. It is immediately apparent how important the main trio, as well as the wider recurring cast, is to Be Forever Yorozuya. They are each given moments to shine, allowing the audience to see them at both their best and their worst. Despite there being different versions of their characters, the audience can easily distinguish between them through both their personalities and appearances. This shows that the film handles the characters with a lot of thought, not throwing out their pre-existing personalities for the sake of the story.

It is a testament to how well characterised each member of the cast is and, outside of a small handful of moments, they remain consistent with their established personalities and roles. This makes it easy to become absorbed by the film’s comforting familiarity. The bonds between characters are used to their fullest, acting as the focal point for Be Forever Yorozuya allowing it to deepen the emotional aspects of the film while retaining its absurd comedy. There is a level of joy in wondering how different characters have changed and what effect that has on the story with there being enough variation from the main series to make the changes stand out.

This is matched by the character designs which are markedly different, standing out from their previous designs while still carrying an air of familiarity. This allows the audience to recognise the younger characters in their older versions. There are also some nice sentimental touches, such as Kagura and Shinpachi utilising elements from Gintoki’s outfit while making it their own. It subtly reinforces the bonds that they share without hammering it over the audience’s head. It’s also nice to see the film not taking the redesigns too seriously, such as Okita becoming a Rurouni Kenshin rip-off or Elizabeth walking straight out of a horror film.

Rather than trying to up the ‘coolness’, Be Forever Yorozuya leans into its absurdity, but this doesn’t mean that there aren’t some really engaging fight scenes. The smooth choreography and dedication to highlighting the character’s different fighting styles work to show how well the cast fits together. Fighting is also used sparingly throughout which means that the audience isn’t over-saturated and each carries an emotional weight.

With the ending credits paying a sentimental homage to the series, this film may not be a perfect film but it is a perfect Gintama film. When I first watched this film, unsure if the anime would ever make a return, it felt like a tender send-off. Nowadays, with the knowledge that Gintama returned only a few years later, I feel that Gintama: The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya was never supposed to be a film about saying goodbye but instead about saying “we’ll see you again.” Even if that means going back and starting the adventure all over again.