Forum - View topicHow To Satisfy Your Curiosity About Gintama
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JaggedAuthor
 Posts: 981 |
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Fun piece. I think all the episodes mentioned throughout the article would be good jumping-in points for new fans. Comedically, I don't think the show hit its stride until about halfway through the first season, and even now, the humor is still evolving.
The hotpot episode is probably my top standalone, although its sort-of sequel is a close second. Seeing the characters act like self-centered jerks has always been the main draw of Gintama for me. The Shigeshige episodes are always comic gold, and the swimming pool episode is definitely among my favorites. I don't think the poor guy has ever been tormented by such a large crowd. |
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bobob101
 Posts: 201 |
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The true ideal situation is for everyone to watch every episode about 2-4 times like me. But since that isn't possible or healthy, I think this list is pretty good. The recent episode 284 which is the Fist of the North Star was probably the funniest of the season. I also suggest people should watch the arc of Okita's sister. Since one of Gintama's biggest traits is watching the show go from funny to crying, I think that arc has some of the most heartfelt emotions. Other arcs like the Night King or Beam Saber school arcs have both action, comedy and tears, but I think Okita's sister was the most effective arc in playing with emotions. Its always a question when a new character is introduced if they are going to die or become a cast member.
Also, for a major tease at the not so often touched main plot, watch the episode when Takasugi and Kamui take over the pirate fleet. Those three that I listed (sister arc, fist parody, bastards in SPACE) are also totally worth watching. |
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JaggedAuthor
Posts: 981 |
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^ Your avatar is taken from one of the episodes mentioned in this piece, if I'm not mistaken.
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EricJ2
 Posts: 4016 |
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Think the first question those non-viewers "curious" about Gintama would ask, missing from the article, would be "So what the heck is it ABOUT?
 " We can always get to the finer, more iconic single episodes after that.
(And don't gimme that "It's weird and crazy and we can't tell you what it's about!"--UY, Excel Saga and Sgt. Frog had just as many free-form ultra-specific pop-ref parodies, if not more, and those all had easily explainable premises.) If I see a show at 200 eps., I tend to fall into the One Piece/Fairy Tail stereotype and think "Fight serial" first, and avoid it for my very soul. If it's 200+ eps. and isn't a fight-serial, okay, you've sparked my curiosity. |
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Merxamers
 Posts: 720 |
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I loved this article! I have been inspired to watch the show now (i started it a couple years ago but never finished). I just finished HunterXHunter, so may as well start another really long show
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CookieBun
Posts: 43 |
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Thanks for writing this article Amy. I hope more people will feel like giving the show a try.
I'd also add Episode 153 – Sleep Helps a Child Grow. The cast is small in this episode and focuses on a situation most people can relate with - being unable to sleep. Very funny and requires no knowledge of the characters. |
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JaggedAuthor
Posts: 981 |
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The surprise ending to Kagura's ghost story makes me jump every time. |
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Jacquipuff
 Posts: 274 Location: Silver Spring, MD |
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I started watching Gintama years ago, then fell behind for a long time and have only recently started watching again, so I'm "only" up to episode 183 (in the middle of the popularity polls story), so I haven't seen most of the episodes on the list, but I do agree with the Bentendo Owee episodes being on there. The Dragon Quest parody part is especially hilarious.
Since the article already mentions one episode with the shogun, I'd like to mention another (or rather, two others that form one story), episodes 151 and 152, "A Conversation With a Barber During a Haircut is the Most Pointless Thing in the World" and "The Heavens Created Chonmage Above Man Instead of Another Man". I think it could be funny even to someone who hasn't seen the show before, since most of the important information, like how Shigeshige is the shogun, or how it'd be bad if Kondo and Katsura were to see each other, are mentioned within the episodes themselves. It definitely has a lot of the "grotesque" humor the article mentions, but if you're looking for that, I think these episodes are some of the best examples of what I've seen of the show so far. 
I also recommend episode 175, "People of All Ages Hate the Dentist". Well, you'll never hate your dentist again after seeing what Gintoki and Hijikata go through in this episode!
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Hameyadea
 Posts: 3679 |
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I remember that when I started watching the show, I was nearing the end of my patience by around episode #25 (included). I think my opinion about Gintama has changed at around episode #40-50.
Also, I can still remember the funny scenes from the episodes mentioned in the article. Still funny.
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razberry_yum
 Posts: 169 |
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Thank you for the article, Amy! Gintama does not get enough love in America and it so deserves it as it really is one of the best series ever created, and it is still going damn strong. In fact, the recent massive arc in the manga just goes to show that after 10 years in print, Gintama has not even peaked yet and is only getting better.
For the anime, whenever I recommend it to people, I always tell them to start with episode 3, and not with the official two-parter pilot. I almost stopped watching the anime when I first checked it out because of that pilot episode. Start with 3 and then maybe go back to 1 & 2 when you have time later on. I think your recs and other fans' recs here are great. Once you get through those eps and are now familiar with the characters, I would highly recommend jumping into one of the first major arcs, the Benizakura arc, since it showcases both the humor, history, and badassness of Gintama (eps 58 -61). The Benizakura movie, which is a rehash of those eps in better quality and with a few extras, is definitely worth a watch right after. If you're not hooked after all those eps and that arc, then Gintama is not meant for you. But if you're undecided, then check out another awesome arc, the Shinsengumi arc (eps 101 - 105). And finally, once you're hooked on the anime, PLEASE, for the love of GOD, READ THE MANGA! Yes, there are more than 500 chapters to get through, but it's sooooo worth it, especially once you hit chapter 500, the start of this on-going super awesome, multi-arc, SUPER DUPER ARC that's now spanning 53 chapters and still counting. And though many of the chaps have been animated, there are sometimes differences between the anime and manga that makes those stories worth a revisit. The writing is usually laugh-out-loud funny or it could be poignant and even powerful. I was 200 chapters behind, and then realized I had to backtrack since I forgot a lot already, so I basically had to read 300 chapters...went through all of them within two weeks, even with RL obligations. WORTH EVERY MINUTE!! So please, GIVE IT A TRY!!! JUST DO IT!!! (<--Gintoki's version, not whats-his-face's) |
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thekingsdinner
 Posts: 1109 Location: Geertruidenberg, Netherlands |
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THe only advice I can give to skip episodes 1 & 2 and start with 3. Some may already know this but episodes 1 & 2 are a special together, but it's really made for people who are familiar with the characters already.
Episode 3 is the actual beginning, as in, it adapts the very first manga chapter. That is all. The rest is pure gold. It's very hard to tell what my favorite episodes are, I love the whole show. |
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JaggedAuthor
Posts: 981 |
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The past year or so of manga material actually constitutes two arcs (and a third that just begun). However, since one continues right after the other, they kind of seem like one massive story - and really, they basically are.
It's not, you're good. |
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razberry_yum
Posts: 169 |
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As Amy mentioned, it's a revisionist history comedy...with about 20% drama thrown in. Basically, what would happen if aliens were to land on Earth in Japan during the age of the samurai. Hijinks ensue. |
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LinkSword
 Posts: 188 |
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This is actually a very good selection of episodes. I would have included the one where Gintoki and Hijikata visit the dentist's - 175 I believe - which is the one I've used time and again to reel people in, but yeah, all of these are likely to awaken the interest of new fans.
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EricJ2
Posts: 4016 |
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So, basically, Oh Edo Rocket with almost as many pop-ref gags?  Okay, I can CR that.
Point is, the column was preaching specific favorite-episodes to the geek-fans while trying to woo the newbies, and hey, don't forget the newbies are the one who need the story-establishing info first. Basic journalism. |
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