A Gintama chapter a day keeps the ending away...Lesson 525
MY 16 FAVORITE MOMENTS IN LESSON 525:
Thus begins the Farewell Shinsengumi Arc, one of THE best arcs in the entire series. It’s definitely in my top 3. If you haven’t already, I would urge you to watch the anime episode for this chapter (episode 308) because it is so beautifully done: everything from the animation, the score and the seiyuus’ performances is downright PERFECT. And of course we also get the awesome opening credits sequence with the title song from DOES. I didn’t post this up last night because I actually ended up watching episode 308 right after reading this chapter, and then decided to jump back to rewatching the entire Shogun Assassination Arc, cried over Shi-chan’s death again, and then was just too tired to focus so I just went to bed. No regrets. The SA Arc anime episodes were totally worth it, will always be worth forgoing my duties for. BNP totally did a great job. Of course I always wish they could have a bottomless budget when it comes to Gintama so that everyone’s facial features don’t get blurred out in faraway shots, but I really cannot complain at all since they otherwise executed the arc admirably.
1) I can’t say this is a favorite moment since Shi-chan’s funeral ceremony made me immensely sad, but the anime did such a glorious job depicting it (the music made the scenes so much more somber) that it will now forever be embedded in my mind just for the high quality alone.
2) The sadness and defeat in Gintoki’s eyes killed me.
3) Ugh.
4) My heart hurt for Zenzou. Hell, my heart hurt through most of this chapter.
5) I love that Sacchan was standing by listening to everything Zenzou was saying and probably sharing his feeling of failing their master and friend. I wanted to hug both of them.
6) This image just filled me with sadness first time I saw it. Even from the back Gintoki seemed forlorn.
7) I love that Kondou called him Shiroyasha.
8) This gutsy old man.
9) I was worried for Matsudaira since from all appearances at the time, Isaburou wasn’t exactly a good guy, but I did admire the dude for still trying to pull a weapon on him.
10) Just from this exchange I WISH they had more drinking sessions together. Kondou should have totally joined Gintoki and Hasegawa on their bar hopping adventures.
11) I loved that Kondou asked Gintoki about the Joui war...
12) ...and I loved Gintoki’s response about the lack of meaning in war. I usually try to just choose one or two panels to represent my favorite moment, but I couldn’t bear cutting out any of his words.
13) Their farewell toast to Shi-chan...but I didn’t even really have time to react to that much because of what happened immediately after.
14) I should have expected this as soon as NobuNobu became shogun, but it was still a shocking sight to see the Mimawarigumi actually show up to arrest Kondou.
15) ME TOO!!!
16) I just about FREAKED OUT at the word “decapitation”. I didn’t think it could happen, but ShigeShige’s death really started putting all sorts of doubts in my head about character safety.
SHIPS TALLY:
Gintoki x Kondou: it hardly seems appropriate doing this for such a somber chapter, but considering most of Farewell Shinsengumi Arc is somber anyway, if I’m going to stop here, I might as well just stop for the rest of the arc, and since that is not even humanly possible for me considering what lies ahead, I might as well carry on. The two of them sharing drinks together and shooting the shit was pretty sweet, even under the unpleasant circumstances. And Kondou entrusted his “last” words to Gintoki. They are my ship of course, but I’ve seen people support them so this is for those dreamers.
Disclaimer: Gintama is not only about shipping. Gintama is hilarious, clever, exciting, poignant, heart-breaking, loving, brilliant, and just so freaking amazing. It is only due to Sorachi-sama’s generosity that I can enjoy Gintama on yet another level, the shippy level, and I am forever grateful for that. GINTAMA IS LIFE AND LOVE.
6/15/2018
