Gintama anime ep 301/manga chaps 504 - 506
Dear Gintama gods and Sorachi-sama,
Oh have I been waiting for this moment! This meeting, for me, was YEARS in the making. When Kamui made his first appearance in the Yoshiwara arc, I quickly realized at some point how similar he was to Okita, that they were essentially two sides of the same exact coin, and to that end I’ve been imagining how their meeting would go with fevered anticipation should that day come about. I never thought it would actually happen, but when you magically fulfilled my wish to perfection in chapter 505, I almost cried in happiness. I remember the high I felt from seeing my dreams illustrated kept me in a joyous state for weeks afterward. Then, to see it given life in such a glorious manner in this episode, I am not ashamed to admit a few tears did wet my eyes.The gleeful, squeaky noises I was making while watching were actually hurting my poor dogs’ ears. My only lament is that everything happened too fast and was therefore over too quickly. I believe some dialogue was even cut out; especially missed was this one scene which so perfectly captured why Okita and Kamui was a match made in Gintama Heaven:
If it wasn’t already obvious, of course I ship Okita and Kamui (OkiKa? OkiMui?). I’m a silly fangirl, after all, how can I not? In fact, if I may just waste your time a little to delve further into my silly fangirl notions, in an alternate universe where I am the ruler of everything and everyone, not only would OkiMui be a thing, GinHiji would be bonafide canon, and so would TakaZura, KonTae and Shinbume. And actually, before OkiMui becomes a thing, I also am open to some dalliances between HijiOki and AbuMui. What about Kagura, you ask? Well in my universe she would be too busy ruling over Kabukichou and acting as personal bodyguard to Shogunness SoyoSoyo to have time for the likes of silly men (and if she should ever want to have some fun, there’s always Tamagahara). However, in this universe, I know only two of the above options are at all possible: KonTae and Shinbume, especially the former who are practically canon at this point (I’m kind of forcing it with Shinbume, I know…I just don’t want Shinpachi to be alone or with just his 2D/3D obsessions). All I could hope for in this universe is that Gintoki and Hijikata stay single and their lives continue to intertwine; Takasugi and Zura make up and be friends again; and Okita and Kamui have more dynamic meet ups like this; and maybe some day be friendly enough to have a drink together instead of going full psycho right at the get-go. In this universe, I also therefore support OkiKagu since they are quite adorable together and a perfect fit, and thankfully are close to being canon by now. If Kagura can one day make up with her brother, then perhaps Kamui could become a friendly bro-in-law with Okita in the future and my hope for them to have at least a friendship would be closer to being reality. (Well, that is…if Kamui doesn’t actually go ahead and commit patricide, in which case, I guess the chances of him and Kagura making up would be down to the negatives.) Anyway, that is my silly hope for the future of Gintama, and that is probably more than you ever want, need, like, or care to know about my silly fangirl way of thinking.
In fact, you are probably seeing red at this point because you’re most likely thinking, “here I am pouring my blood, sweat and tears over my masterpiece and all you care about are the SHIPS?? No wonder people hate silly fangirls like you!” All I can say is please, do not think for one minute that is all that matters to me. I would have loved Gintama no matter what, ships or not. The fact that it has a high shippability quotient is purely the scrumptious, delectable icing on an already decadent cake that is so orgasmically good that it is more than capable of causing a person’s clothes to spontaneously combust upon tasting. Gintama is the pandora’s box of all that is awesome and wonderful, and I doubt anyone who has come as far as I have in your story would disagree.
It was amazing that they were able to cover three chapters in one episode, but I guess that’s why some dialogue from the manga had to be regrettably excluded. Still, while things happened at lightening speed, they also did not seem rushed, if that makes any sense, and I was amazed that they were able to cover so much ground so quickly. I thought the reveal about ShigeShige wouldn’t come until at least one more episode, but then fitting it in this episode somehow made sense. The reveal was made more powerful by the music backing the moment. The bgm was also used effectively when Kamui made his entrance but I loved how it cut out to silence as soon as the showdown between him and Okita started. That was just PERFECT. I loved that it was Hijikata’s idea to have Okita on the ship; my God, if he hadn’t been there, Soyo Hime would’ve definitely been done for! I love that despite all of Okita’s ill intentions toward Hijkata, when it comes down to serious business, he always puts aside their differences and fulfills his duty by following Hijikata’s orders.
I loved seeing that serious look on Gintoki before he started to knock down the enemies. I almost wished everything wasn’t happening at sunset because I wanted to really see all that was occurring in better detail, in the air and on the ground. Still it was all just so well-executed! And just watching everyone work together filled me with so much joy. I loved the intricate plotting of all the double-crossing, ultimately to fish out the traitors in the shinobi clan. Lastly, on a more frivolous and superficial note, may I also say that Hijikata looks damned good in shinobi garb? Kondou wasn’t too bad either. Thank you for that and for everything else!
Yours truly,
A silly fangirl with yaoi dreams
(^3^)
Favorite GinHiji Moment:
(It was funnier in your original work, Sorachi-sama)