#hijiitou

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A Gintama episode a day keeps the ending away...Episode 104

Episode Title: Important Things Are Hard To See

MY 18 FAVORITE MOMENTS IN EPISODE 104 (manga chaps 164, 165 and 166):

1) I had to laugh a little at the fact that the anime team employed one of their tactics for filling out an episode: they repeated Hijikata’s whole speech to Kondou from the last episode, which killed about 4 minutes or so.

2) His words...ugh, my heart.

3) I just loved the fact that Gintoki prioritized his client, Hijikata.

4) Nothing wrong with a combo of both.

5) I love their antics, although I did feel bad for Hijikata...had to hurt being a human bridge since Kondou isn’t exactly a small man.

6) This scene was just so cool: I appreciated the fact that both of them were aware that the other person was on the other side of the car so they were ready to attack as soon as the obstacle was sliced apart.

7) It was Itou saying the words which at first I don’t think actually applied to Takasugi, but really thinking about it, it’s not that it doesn’t apply, it’s that it could have applied but because Takasugi was fortunate enough to meet Shouyou, he was changed and was able to find someone who understood him.Too bad both of them still ended up along similar destructive paths.

8) For a very brief second, Itou actually looked like he was devastated, thinking his greatest rival was dead.

9) That was pretty brutal, but at this point, I still thought Itou would live through everything, albeit minus one arm. I figured that was punishment enough for someone who lived by the sword.

10) Itou’s mom really was the worst. 

11) Of course I started feeling bad for Itou, although I still think he could have made better choices in life.

12) The best type of human centipede.

13) Bless Kagura...she really was the MVP of this episode. Without her, none of the guys would’ve probably survived. As usual The Queen saves the day.

14) It kinda is but I still felt for baby Itou. Present day Itou, not so much.

15) Loved this glimpse of our Shinsengumi boys during happier, drunker time. I especially loved drunk Sougo.

16) First time I saw Bansai’s strings, I was totally impressed: I thought it was such a cool attack. I really miss that man

17) That was so unbelievably beautiful: his words warm my heart every time, but this time around, I actually got a little teary-eyed because I started thinking how early on he had said those words and how much that bond has grown further over the years.

18) I feel bad for Bansai now, but first time I saw this, of course I was cheering for Gintoki and totally awed by him.

SHIPS TALLY:

Gintoki x Hijikata: that’s Hijikata’s ass so of course I’d pay tribute to them.

Okita x Kagura: this really quick OkiKagu fight combo moment (Hijikata joins in pretty quickly) is probably what inspired the live action movie’s extended version of it and I cannot be more grateful.  

Kondou x Itou: if Itou had not been so damn traitorous and murdery, Kondou probably would’ve eventually made him the second vice captain of the Shinsengumi or something equivalent because Kondou’s love and admiration for him was pretty palpable. I almost feel like he sees Hijikata as his beloved little brother, but he regards Itou as an adult whom he actually borderline idolizes.

Hijikata x Itou: rivals make hot ships...of course nothing became of it, but if Sorachi-sama had been merciful, they may have very well challenged my OTP’s popularity.

Hijikata x Okita: that soft expression on his face. Obviously that was Sougo’s way of wishing Hijikata luck and hoping he’d survive.

Disclaimer: Gintama is not only about shipping. Gintama is hilarious, clever, exciting, poignant, heart-breaking, loving, brilliant, and just completely unbelievably amazing.  It is only due to Sorachi-sama’s immense generosity that I am able enjoy Gintama on an extra another level, the shippy level, and I am forever grateful for that. GINTAMA IS LIFE AND LOVE.

4/14/2019

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A Gintama episode a day keeps the ending away...Episode 102 (for reals this time)

Episode Title: Otaku are Talkative

MY 25 FAVORITE MOMENTS IN EPISODE 102 (manga chaps 160 and 161):

This might be my favorite episode of the arc. So much to love about it that I actually started out with close to 40 favorite moments, and only after going through them again and again was I able to pare it down to 25. I tried not to choose the same moments as I did for the original chapters, but I only half succeeded since the anime and seiyuus did such an amazing job bringing all my beloved scenes to life. 

1) Toshiiiiiiii!!!!

2) TOSHIIIII!!!!!! Ok Ok, I know I already did that, but seriously, how I can resist loving him? Look at that cuteness!! I just about died.

3) I loved this exchange so much, I actually spliced it with Donten so that every time the song comes on, it starts out with this conversation, up to Gintoki’s incredulous “gozaru???”.

4) Ack! SHE’S SO ADORABLE!!!!!

5) I will always love me some Yorozuya on Toshi violence because it’s just so funny and delightful. 

6) I often wondered how different Gintama would’ve been if Hijikata had stayed as Toshi. He definitely wouldn’t have been able to return to the Shinsengumi, so would he have just stayed with the Yorozuya? Of course that would’ve been the ideal situation. Just imagining the Kagura and Shinpachi ordering him around like a kouhai always brings a smile to my face, and then of course the added bonus would’ve been he’d be spending a lot more time with Gintoki. Yet, at the same time, I would’ve probably really missed Hijikata a lot. Especially that sexy, steely-eyed look of his, as above. We would’ve also been deprived of all his awesome moments in the future, so ultimately, I’m glad he turned back to the Hijikata we know and love. 

7) Itou looking his most evil. I was actually nervous when I first saw him feeding and petting the cat. I was so sure he would poison it or kill it. Thankfully that didn’t happen, but that look he shot at Yamazaki definitely made me immediately fear for Jimmy’s life. I think I was yelling at him to run the entire time.

8) Oh, and another thing that I would’ve definitely missed about Hijikata is the sexy way he smoked a cigarette. Only he could make me love something I hate so much.

9)  This hurt my heart so much because I imagined how much willpower it must’ve taken Hijikata to overcome his BOTH Toshi-ness AND his pride to beg the Yorozuya for help, all for the sake of his beloved Shinsengumi.

10) I was so shocked when Bansai stabbed Yamazaki because it looked like he pierced his heart. I just couldn’t believe someone so sweet, innocent and harmless like Yamazaki would be killed, especially since he has mostly been the comic relief of the Shinsengumi up to this point.

11) Ugh, that blood trail. So brutal.

12) I was devastated. I was so sure Bansai HAD killed Yamazaki. I of course immediately hated Bansai at that moment and wanted him very dead.  In retrospect, the fact that he didn’t really was a testament to Bansai’s strong moral character, despite the fact that he was technically a villain since he worked with Takasugi. 

13) That blush! Such CUTENESS!!!! I can’t even deal.

14) Again, Yorozuya on Toshi violence, I love. I imagine we would’ve seen a LOT more of that if he had stayed as Toshi and with the Yorozuya.

15) I loved this entire sequence so much, from the moment Gintoki grabbed Toshi to when he shoved him in the car.

16) Their collective braking makes me lol every time. Oh yeah, Toshi would’ve been a perfect fit with the gang. 

17) The Queen being awesome as usual.

18) Toshi’s expression: he looked like a little chick! So cute.

19) I really just love Toshi’s face. 

20) Proof that Itou didn’t recruit the sharpest pencils in the Shinsengumi pack: that dude spilled all the beans to the incredibly cute and strong ally who also inarguably sounded like a girl, when he should’ve known better since the Shinsengumi obviously do not have any female members.

21) I loved this scene so much because of just how cool and calm Kondou was, even though it had to be heart-breaking for him to realize the person he admired so much was betraying him, along with the men whom he had considered as his brothers. 

22) His speech...ugh, Kondou is so amazing. He so deserves Tae-chan and happiness.

23) As soon as Sougo walked through that door, my knees got weak from excitement. 

24) I died from his deadly sexiness.

25) The way he just cut down that random Itou follower was cool beyond words, and that was just like the tip of the iceberg. There was no way I could’ve been prepared for the supreme awesomeness that was to follow. Seriously, I felt and still feel so blessed that we got to see this killer side of Okita. 

SHIPS TALLY:

Gintoki x Hijikata Toshi: I will take Gintoki with ANY version of Hijikata. Gin-chan’s protectiveness towards him is valid, always.

Kondou x Okita: I felt the love, whether it be brotherly or otherwise, I’m ok either way cuz it was strong and obvious.

Hijikata x Itou: in a different life and universe, this would have been the beginning of a beautiful ship. 

Toshi x Kagura: FINALLY, someone admires and appreciates Kagura in the way that she deserves. 

Toshi x Tetsuko: it was actually nice to see Tetsuko again, and if Hijikata had turned to her for a sword, maybe all this wouldn’t have happened, but I did think it was cute how she got all blushy because Toshi was getting to close. 

Disclaimer: Gintama is not only about shipping. Gintama is hilarious, clever, exciting, poignant, heart-breaking, loving, brilliant, and just completely unbelievably amazing.  It is only due to Sorachi-sama’s immense generosity that I am able enjoy Gintama on an extra another level, the shippy level, and I am forever grateful for that. GINTAMA IS LIFE AND LOVE.

4/12/2019

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A Gintama episode a day keeps the ending away...Episode 101

Episode Title: Rules Are Made To Be Broken

MY 24 FAVORITE MOMENTS IN EPISODE 101 (manga chaps 158 and 159):

I LOVE THE SHINSENGUMI CRISIS ARC SO DAMN MUCH MY SMALL LITTLE HEART COULDN’T EVEN DEAL WITH MY OVERFLOWING LOVE AND HAS BURST MANY TIMES OVER

1) Lookit this cutie pie, all proud of his new little sword.

2) Sougo has never looked more like a teenager than in that moment.

3) Let’s be honest, only a future house husband like Kondou (and those two Shisengumi boys fanboying over it) would even care about something like that. 

4) Okita being totally vindictive about Kondou’s cooler sword.

5) No matter how many times I watch this scene, I would never stop wincing at how humiliating it is for Hijikata. It almost physically hurts me to see him uncontrollably debasing himself like that.

6) My opinion of Itou has softened somewhat over the years, but it wasn’t until the second live action movie that I really started to appreciate him. It’s really all thanks to Haruma Miura’s portrayal: when I look at Itou now, I can’t unsee his handsomeness.

7) Kondou is such a dork. Poor Sougo got hit by his embarrassment shrapnel.

8) Kondou REALLY is the last person to talk about not embarassing himself, but this does make Hijikata’s earlier degradation even more unbearable.

9) The slight change to what Kondou said to Hijikata in this moment made his words come off as even harsher than how they were in the manga. I felt so bad for Hijikata; it must’ve really hurt to be scolded in such a way by someone he loves and respects so much. Thankfully, he didn’t have much time to feel bad about it since Toshi immediately took over.

10) Even though it’s been ages since I had to worry about recording anything, I still feel enough nostalgia about those days to sympathize with Toshi.

11) That’s the face of sadism if there ever was one.

12) As if their reactions to Hijikata’s To Love-ru appreciation weren’t extra enough, the anime team gave it further boost.

13) Seriously, Hijikata’s rules are ridiculously harsh. If it were anyone else, that person would be a psychotic monster.

14) I was so embarrassed for him, and yet he answered that phone as if it were nothing, especially not that his literal guts and life were on the line.

15) Ok, not a favorite moment per se, but that freaking bulge is just ridiculous. 

16) Sexy demon vice commander is sexy. He can have my soul any time he wants it.

17) These Shinsengumi boys look more like the criminals they’re pursuing than actual police officers.

18) Omg how I WISHED they captured Zura or Gintoki rather than this random Joui rebel. The fact that he got to play sleepover with Hijikata is what’s MOST unfair about this whole thing. 

19) I love how protective Hijikata was of Okita, even though the favor was not returned at all.

20) Okita being a bullying senpai.

21) I appreciate the random, trivial little details the anime team sometimes adds to a scene, like that Justaway on the lint-roller. I couldn’t figure that thing out. Is it an image printed on the lint sheet? But why didn’t we see it earlier? Or did Kondou really just roll up a random Justaway lying around on the ground? I guess we’ll never know.

22) Hijikata is such a good little kouhai; it just made his senpai’s betrayal of him that much more heart-breaking.

23) This beautiful, conniving, sadistic little Prince.

24) This was a total gut-punch to Hijikata, but I still couldn’t hate Sougo for it.

SHIPS TALLY:

Hijikata x Itou: I was never on board with this ship until after watching the live action. 

Hijikata x Okita: Sougo really should’ve been the last person Hijikat would want to confide in considering their rivalrous and tumultuous relationship, therefore the fact that he turned to him anyway was really pretty adorable.

Kondou x Itou: Kondou was indeed pretty sweet on Itou. 

Hijikata x Yamazaki:

Disclaimer: Gintama is not only about shipping. Gintama is hilarious, clever, exciting, poignant, heart-breaking, loving, brilliant, and just completely unbelievably amazing.  It is only due to Sorachi-sama’s immense generosity that I am able enjoy Gintama on an extra another level, the shippy level, and I am forever grateful for that. GINTAMA IS LIFE AND LOVE.

4/11/2019

[razberryyum]

A Gintama chapter a day keeps the ending away...Lesson 164

My New Year’s resolution for 2017: re-read a chapter of Gintama every day starting from the beginning and relive the joy that is Gintama lesson-by-lesson. Hopefully I will never reach the end of the series should Sorachi-sama have a change of heart and never conclude it.

What I Loved in Lesson 164: I mean, do I still need to repeat it? EVERRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYTTHIIIINNNNNNNNGGGGGGG

Hijikata’s entire speech...just went right to my heart. He’s just so damn awesome.

RESPECT HIM AND WORSHIP HIM.

Precious gorilla rescued.

That smirk just kills me.

Poor Hijikata. Just seeing that made my spine hurt.

Kagura using Hijikata as a platform and of course Sougo’s entrance wins everything.

That bloody tableau of awesomeness behind him ...gods, I love Okita.

Hijikata the human bridge is precious.

Right in Gin-chan’s freaking precious crotch! This is not so much my favorite scene as I was most viscerally affected by it. I kinda hated Bansai for a while after that.

Gintoki teaching a young’un some manners. Should have also told him to stop ramming people’s crotch with his motorcycle.

Ships Tally:

GinHiji: I probably was more happy than necessary that Gintoki claimed Hijikata’s place as his customer, but I’m not at all ashamed about it. 

HijiKagu: there’s the naughty way of interpreting this, and then there’s the sympathetic way of interpreting this. If you ship them and therefore take the first interpretation, you can also throw in the fact that Kagura familiarly called him by his nickname. 

HijiOki: though his words may seem threatening, I’d like to think of it as Sougo’s way of keeping HIjikata on his toes and encouraging him to stay strong. So sweet that he’s looking out for him that way.

HijiItou: out of context, that could almost be the beginning of a love confession.

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.

6/15/2017

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A Gintama chapter a day keeps the ending away...Lesson 167

My New Year’s resolution for 2017: re-read a chapter of Gintama every day starting from the beginning and relive the joy that is Gintama lesson-by-lesson. Hopefully I will never reach the end of the series should Sorachi-sama have a change of heart and never conclude it.

What I Loved Lesson 167: yeah, I cried...again...I’m a wimp.

Gintoki’s fight with Bansai was just so awesome...

...especially with how it ended. Gin-chan is really just too amazing.

What Gintoki is fighting for. Look at how prominently Hijikata the Shinsengumi are featured!

Our fearless leaders back in control.

This time around, I was able to hold it together even through this emotional moment...

...but then quickly lost it as soon as Kondou did.

I don’t even love Itou and it hurt.

Ugh...I had to really hold on to the reminder that he was a traitor. Still sad.

Ships Tally:

HijiItou: one last time.

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.

6/18/2017