First Impressions
So I didn't really like this anime like this at first.
Or rather I found it hard to enjoy it initially.
Now, I'm not sure why I decided to try it again or what made me reconsider my feelings towards the series. I mean I could have been bored, or maybe I was looking for something to keep me busy for a while; after all, Gintama had a lot of episodes.
So I figured anything this long, had to be good, right? After all, One Piece taught me that and is a really good example of this.
Anyway, I didn't give up on it. I pushed forward and tried to change my mindset a bit. After all, I think this was my first comedy-centered anime; I was super used to Shonen and something a bit more serious and slightly dark with bits of comedy here and there. But once I changed my mindset, I honestly think the anime was a more pleasant experience for me. Not to mention, that this anime ended up becoming one of my favorite animes down the road.
Dislikes/Complaints
To be honest, I don't think I have too many complaints about this anime. I guess one thing I could say is that I didn't like the slow start in the beginning. But that could have been completely on me. So I'm not too sure if that even counts as a complaint or not.
But if there is someone out there that would say the same thing or had a similar experience, I would advise you to stick with it. Don't drop it just because you feel it's a bit slow; I promise you it will pick up and it will be worth every second.
Turning Points
So earlier I said that Gintama, mainly a comedy anime, became one of my favorite animes and I meant that a hundred percent. Let's get into the turning points and why:
1) The Fights
Don't let the light-hearted and comical nature of this show fool you, because when it comes to the fights and the action; the fights are amazing and will have you on the edge of your seat. It's almost like you can feel the raw emotion and the intensity. And once you piss off someone as laid-back and easy-going as Gintoki or Kagura, you're in for a world of hurt and regret.
2) The Women & Backstories!
If I haven't quite made it clear enough. I'm a complete sucker for women being well-written. It just absolutely excites me! This may be because I somewhat consider myself an independent woman of sorts and I just simply enjoy seeing it. Not only that, I feel like it makes the anime better when everyone can hold their own and can contribute. Anyhow, take Kagura for an example; she is a perfect example of a well-written woman as well as a female lead.
Not only that, she has quite the backstory - much like everyone else in the series - which is GREAT. It helps with the experience and the journey of enjoying the anime. Now Kagura belongs to the Yato Clan. And I must say, they kinda remind me of the Saiyan race because they are insanely strong, but the Yato Clan differs from the Saiyan race in clear ways. For example, one way the Yato Clan differs from the Saiyan race, the Yato Clan can't handle direct sunlight which is why you'll often see them carry an umbrella with them.
Another difference between the two is that the Yato Clan doesn't get miraculously stronger after being on verge of death and then being healed. However, the Yato Clan are pretty scary in their own right. What's interesting about Kagura is that she tries to suppress her Yato abilities and fight against their notorious blood-thirsty ways. Her older brother, on the other hand, is quite the opposite and seems to embrace the ways of their clan.
3) The Feels - Shogun Passing Away
Similar to the fights, the feels don't happen as often, but when the feels do hit, they hit. One really good example of this has to do with the Shogun. I remember when we saw the Shogun getting sucked in with Gintoki in his antics, which was always fun to see seeing as they always had funny encounters together. So when the Shogun was assassinated, it was completely unexpected and I was surprised that it hit me as hard as it did.
I mean, his passing was extremely impactful and I shamelessly began to shed a few tears.
Well, I think I was outright balling. But I have a lot of respect for anime that doesn't tend to have too much death in the series, yet still manages to make it impactful nonetheless. And maybe that's because everyone isn't getting snuffed out, which makes it have more of an impact. Or maybe the characters are just written so well that you end up getting attached to them regardless.
4) The Comedy
This is the main aspect of the series and I'd say it's done well. They even reference other anime as well like DBZ, One Piece, and even JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. I seriously feel like I've laughed so much and so hard just from this series alone; it's never a dull moment and these characters are always up to something. I don't know what's funnier, everyone's antics with Shinpachi & even the Shogun, or the way Gintoki continuously dodges Sarutobi Ayame.
Or even the way Shimura Tae dodges Kondou.
I could go on and on about the things that made this anime funny and enjoyable, but I think it's better if you watch it for yourself and enjoy it that way.
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