Gintama Has An Episode For Everything, And It's Usually Hilarious
Since late last year, I stumbled upon the Gintama anime on Netflix, and decided to watch it. That was hands down one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life.
The humour in this anime is so wild and crass that it’s hard not to laugh at the stuff they joke about. Even though a lot of the jokes make heavy references to Japanese culture, there’s enough for the series alone to pander to even an international audience.
As I watched more and more episodes of Gintama, I find myself experiencing things in real life and thinking, “Hey, there was a Gintama episode about this.” That’s when I realised that there really is a Gintama episode about almost anything you can think about.
And so, without further ado, I’m going to share with everyone my favourite comedic episodes in Gintama with relatable premises, that can be enjoyed with little or no knowledge of the show itself.
Queueing for Video Games
Episodes:
Play Video Games For Only An Hour A Day (98)
Life And Video Games Are Full Of Bugs (99)
This arc spans across two episodes, the first mainly being about queueing for a brand-new video game console, and the second, about actual video games.
The first episode makes fun of the things people do in queue, and the types of people who queue.
Play Video Games For Only An Hour A Day (98)
Life And Video Games Are Full Of Bugs (99)
This arc spans across two episodes, the first mainly being about queueing for a brand-new video game console, and the second, about actual video games.
The first episode makes fun of the things people do in queue, and the types of people who queue.
But the truly comedic moment comes when the characters start playing video games. The anime makes fun of Dating Game tropes, like running to school with a sandwich in one’s mouth, and Role-Playing Games like Monster Hunter.
One of my favourite moments was when Hijikata, who started the game with 3HP, immediately died because he accidentally stubbed his toe against a signboard.
There are so many funny moments in this arc other than the ones I’ve posted, so if you’re an avid lover of video games, do consider watching these episodes!
Escaping Prison
People Are All Escapees Of Their Own Inner Prisons (ep 110)I don’t want to spoil too much of this episode, because there is so much goodness in it and a plot twist that is guaranteed to make you double over in laughter.
Quite basically, one of our main characters, Katsura, has been imprisoned, and foils one of the inmates' plans to escape with his weird sleeping habits.
There are many other funny moments, such as Katsura nonchalantly insulting the scariest inmate’s ripped sleeves, and him actually getting all embarrassed about it.
This episode is one of my favourites, and can be watched without context, so I highly recommend it!
Going to the Barber
Episodes:A Conversation With A Barber, During A Haircut, Is The Most Pointless Thing In The World (151)
The Heavens Created Chonmage Above Man Instead Of Another Man (152)
This arc is about the Yorozuya gang having to take care of a Barber’s shop while he’s away for a while.
Unfortunately for them, the Shogun and a few other customers arrive for a haircut, and the trio just screws up again and again, until the situation is almost unsalvageable. I’ll let the following images speak for themselves.
This episode is so relatable, especially for someone like me, who always has trouble falling asleep at night.
Although annoying, Kagura is adorable in this episode, spiraling into an existential crisis because she simply cannot fall asleep. Because of this, she drags Gintoki down with her, and the two of them try different methods to make Kagura sleep, including eating and running rounds.
Insomnia
Sleep Helps A Child Grow (ep 153)This episode is so relatable, especially for someone like me, who always has trouble falling asleep at night.
Although annoying, Kagura is adorable in this episode, spiraling into an existential crisis because she simply cannot fall asleep. Because of this, she drags Gintoki down with her, and the two of them try different methods to make Kagura sleep, including eating and running rounds.
Being Stuck With Someone You Hate
Two Is Better Than One. Two People Are Better Than One (ep 166)It’s no secret that Gintoki and Hijikata hate each other, so when the sadistic Sougo handcuffs them together and abandons them in an alleyway, the two of them have to find a way to go about their day and avoid suspicion while they stalk a suspect that Hijikata was originally following.
Together, they have to overcome major challenges, like discussing how to use a toilet, and driving a motorcycle.
Meeting People in a Bathhouse
Episodes:We Ended Kind of Early So We're Gonna Start the Next Episode (Take Two) (219B)
The Bathhouse, Where You're Naked in Body and Soul (220)
The Yorozuya boys and the Shinsengumi team up against Hedoro and his family, have innocently come for a bath. Although the Dakini Tribe looks scary, they are actually very friendly, and I couldn’t help but feel bad for them throughout the course of the arc.
Nevertheless, there are countless hilarious moments where the men make mistakes and try to cover up with even more lies, thus making the situation far worse than before. The entire episode escalates into something completely crazy in a matter of minutes, and is extremely entertaining.
Attending a Funeral
When You Go to a Funeral for the First Time, You're Surprised by How Happy the People Are (ep 231)I don’t even know where to begin talking about this episode.
This might be the most popular comedic Gintama episode, because at no point in time watching this can you ever predict what is going to happen next. The way they made a funeral episode funny will always blow my mind.
Here are some out-of-context pictures that will make you wonder what this episode was even about:
This is a must-watch for anyone who’s interested in starting the anime, or anyone who likes anime at all.
Striking the Lottery
When Compared to Time in the Heavens, Fifty Years of Human Life Resembles Naught but Dreams and Lottery Tickets (ep 273)In this episode, Hijikata unexpectedly strikes the lottery and becomes insanely paranoid, thinking everyone is a gangster with a mohawk.
He then gets held hostage at the bank with Gintoki, by a bunch of robbers (with actual mohawks) who don’t know that he’s packing a fortune.
It’s a wild ride, and hilarious from start to end.
In conclusion, Gintama is an insanely funny anime, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good comedy. However, there are excellent serious arcs as well as the anime progresses, and an outstanding cast of brilliant, diverse characters. It’s a great anime all in all, and with COVID-19 still rampaging the streets, I hope that more people give it a chance while stuck at home.
It’s a wild ride, and hilarious from start to end.
In conclusion, Gintama is an insanely funny anime, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good comedy. However, there are excellent serious arcs as well as the anime progresses, and an outstanding cast of brilliant, diverse characters. It’s a great anime all in all, and with COVID-19 still rampaging the streets, I hope that more people give it a chance while stuck at home.
Written by yin
No Comment to " Gintama Has An Episode For Everything, And It's Usually Hilarious "