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Gintama Anime Arcs Ranked

So, given that I’ve spent the last year posting stills from every canonical episode of Gintama, I thought I would take the time to write about the arcs in Gintama and rank them. I thought that people might be interested in reading about my ranking since it seems like a lot of fans of Gintama prefer the comedy arcs over the major story arcs, and I’m the opposite. That being said, I do think that some of the top comedy arcs can be considered better than some of the major story arcs, I just think the major story is better overall.

Once I get to the major story arcs, I’ll mostly be talking about them in conjunction with why they’re rated the way they are in comparison to the other major story arcs. Something like, “I think XYZ Arc isn’t as good as ZYX Arc because of this,” or whatever.

Again, just to reiterate, I do think Gintama is absolutely groundbreaking in terms of comedy, and many of favorite moments in Gintama are from comedy episodes. My top comedy arc is just as good as my favorite major story arc, just for entirely different reasons; it’s just that, in an overall list, the major story arcs will always be my top twelve because the major story feels like the point and punctuation of Gintama. You can say that the major story isn’t the point of Gintama, which is fine. Hell, I think Gintama’s essence is an anime that can perfectly blend two entirely different genres together in a way that makes “Gintama” it’s own genre that can’t be rivaled in any other anime or medium. However, I don’t think you can have four back-to-back major story arcs to close out an anime and not consider the major story the ultimate story in Gintama. But, like I said, I kind of have two number one spots for both the comedy and major story arcs, so just keep that in mind while reading this post.

Also, it’s worth noting that, while these arcs are ranked, there are some arcs I find to be just as good as a handful of others. I just wanted to try and definitively rank them, even though I may rate them the same in quality and enjoyment if I were using a scale rather than making a list. Anyway, I guess I’ll get to it, so hopefully you enjoy reading.

P.S. - First of all, spoilers, obviously. Second of all, the quotes and pictures in this post will be pulled from my posts, so if you want to see them in full, you can either search for the arc name or “gintama stills” on my blog.

P.P.S. - Just know that Tumblr decided not save my rankings from 31-18, so my comments on them won’t be as good as they were originally. Thank you, hellsite.

#60 - HDZ48 Arc (337-339)

“Could you not get all jealous because nobody's coming to your toilet?”

This is probably the only arc in Gintama that I 100% don’t like. Three episodes of this was torturous, if I’m honest. I just didn’t find it that funny, and I really don’t like Otsuu, so this arc wasn’t for me at all.

#59 - Kagura’s Boyfriend Arc (329-330)

“I used to think a grown-up's job was to run in front while the kids follow behind. But when they eventually overtake us, it's also our job to send them off with a smile, huh? Man, I can still keep running, though.”

I believe there are some people that say this arc is what hooked them on Gintama, which is really interesting to me. I did enjoy the sentimental moments that come with Umibouzu and Gintoki’s comments on Kagura, but the rest of this arc was boring to me. Maybe that’s because I don’t like Attack on Titan, I don’t know, but it felt like a weird watching experience.

#58 - Ryugujo Arc (115-118)

“Youth and beauty aren't what's important. It's more difficult to walk straight and true if your back is bent to begin with. As they say... it's better if you make your soul beautiful!”

I have honestly been waiting for a platform where I could flame this arc, and now’s my chance. No, I don’t hate it that much, but I had a difficult time getting through this arc. The emotion of the story didn’t hit me, and the punchline of Katsura and Gintoki turning into old men was lame. Still, Otae was awesome in this arc, and Zura and Gintoki getting to be badass like they were in the Joui War toward the end was mad cool.

#57 - Santa Arc (200-201)

“When we all love and support one another, everybody's a Santa.”

Not to sound like the bitterest person on the planet, but I don’t really like Christmas-themed things. I mean, that’s not the only reason I didn’t like this arc; it was another one of those hard-to-get-through ones. The episodes of Gintama that pick a gag and run it dead for the entire episode aren’t ever interesting to me, and they feel really longwinded, which is what this arc was. Plus it beat the Christmas theme dead, so it didn’t score well with me.

#56 - Excalibur Arc (334-336)

“I don't know or care how many blades you've eaten in your life. But I know that I've beaten many more than that!”

Are you getting the sense that the Slip Arc hadn’t been animated before because the arcs weren’t that great? Sorry, that was a bit mean; this arc wasn’t terrible. The Gintoki-getting-a-sword-stuck-up-his-ass thing felt unnecessarily vulgar—which is saying something for Gintama—but Sougo and Gintoki having beef was fun. So was Gintoki throwing shade at Hijikata and Kondo. It’s just that it felt like it was using vulgarity to force comedy rather than mixing the vulgarity into the humor to make the arc naturally funny like Gintama normally does. And on top of that, the actual story sucked.

#55 - Love Choriss Arc (228-229)

“Uh, wouldn't the virgin god rank below the toilet god? Below a god covered in shit.”

First things first, the first episode in this arc was boring as hell. I do think the last half of second episode was funny, especially considering Sougo and the ending, but most of this arc was average. I didn’t like “vehicle for humor,” if you will, in this arc either, that being the virtual people the characters were dating. Funny at the end, otherwise, meh.

#54 - Diviner Arc (195-199)

“To the samurai who was taking shelter from the rain... Thank you.”

Five episodes of this was bit rough on me, not gonna lie. Gedoumaru is a really fun character, and I came around to the Pandemonium gag by the final arc, but the rest of this arc was either average or, dare I say, bad. I tried to get into Seimei-Douman story—and I like both of them as characters—but it just didn’t do it for me, and the fight surrounding it felt like it took forever. I will say, though, the “Thank you, Gintoki/Yorozuya” emotion that came out of this arc at the end was really nice. And I do love Gedoumaru.

#53 - Hardboiled Detective Arc (84-85)

“No wonder I could never capture you. You were... always watching over me.”

Listen, this arc is not as bad as everyone says it is. Everyone shits on this arc and says it’s the worst in Gintama, but it’s not. I know. I know this is basically at the bottom of my own list, but that’s because there’s so much stellar content in Gintama that the good stuff gets pushed back. I thought the five minutes of stylized hardboiled dialogue in the first episode was charming, and I thought Kozenigata’s story was lovely. And this is arc is funny. Yeah, I said it. Were the constant hardboiled comments super annoying after a while? Yes. But Kozenigata is a fun character, and a sweet one when he comes in the later arcs. This arc gets shit on too much, and I’m here to give it some love.

#52 - Mother Arc (54-55)

“No matter what happens, your mother will always be proud of you.”

Yeah, I mean, there isn’t much to say with this one. It wasn’t boring exactly; it just wasn’t super engaging. Kyoushirou is a good character, and his story made me a bit teary eyed, but the rest of the arc was standard. Which isn’t a bad thing; it just means that it’s basic Gintama, and basic Gintama is still good.

#51 - Owee Arc (98-99)

“It's the end of the world when there are this many people who'd line up for a kid's toy. The world is corrupt. I'm beginning to understand Zura's feelings about wanting to destroy it.”

I didn’t realize this arc ended up so low on my list, but here we are. I do think it’s a pretty funny arc, and the Nintendo references are cool, I guess it’s just another one of those typical arcs for me. I feel the same way about this are as I do about the Mother Arc. Some parts of these episodes—like when Kondo and Shinpachi were playing a dating sim—were sort of dense, but other parts—like Gintoki and Hijikata ripping a game character in half—were really entertaining. So, it’s a mixed bag.

#50 - Correspondence Arc (126-128)

“He's not one to act on reason. If there's a woman crying in front of him, he's the type who would leave the woman he loves to go and wipe those tears. It's no wonder he's not popular with women.”

I think the story in this arc is really sweet, and I remember being really pulled in by it the first time I watched it. Both the main story with Kirara and the bits with Gintoki, Kondo, and Hijikata helping Shinpachi with his letters were awesome in different ways. Sougo was brilliant in this arc, as well. I think the arc as a whole isn’t as striking as others I’d rate similarly to this one, but there are many specific scenes that are really well done.

#49 - Monkey Hunter Arc (121-123)

“SG: Hijikata-kun, look at yourself in the mirror. There’s a fool staring back at you!

HT: I’m better off than a guy who’s dick got turned into a screwdriver, nimrod!

SG: You're an idiot. I'm better than a guy who's entire body—including his dick—got turned into a screwdriver. Idiot.”

This arc has some very funny moments in it, though the screwdriver thing got pretty beat to death. I know that was the point of the arc, but still. I didn’t get as fed up with the running gag in this arc as I would’ve in other episodes that do the same thing, though, because it was surrounded by the premise of the characters entering a game. The last episode got a bit dense, but for the most part, this arc is a good time.

#48 - Glasses Arc (207-208)

“I'm wearing the wonderful glasses which let me see your souls... on the inside.”

So, I love Sa-chan. I really do. I just didn’t think this arc was too terribly interesting. However, the Yorozuya + Zenzou antics were awesome. The emotional stuff with Sa-chan and Gintoki didn’t really get to me that much beyond the Gintoki-wanting-to-save-everyone stuff, and her glasses transformation at the end was pretty lame, but everything else was well funny. Okay, maybe I got a bit emotional.

#47 - Homeless Arc (331-332)

“Ultimately, maybe people are best off when they have to fight to live another day. The moment we have more than we need, our eyes start to wander.”

This was, by far, the highlight of the Slip Arc for me. Not only was it the highlight, I would go out of my way to recommend this to people looking to watch good Gintama content. The teasing Gintoki dishes out on Zura alone is reason enough to watch this, but the story is really heartwarming, and it’s great for Zura as a character, as well. I like this one a lot.

#46 - Vacation Arc (237-238)

“The worst part is when you're still clinging to hope when you die.”

I really wanted this one to rank higher because I adore Shigeshige, but alas. I don’t think there’s anything explicitly wrong with this arc, it’s just that there are funnier arcs. Shigeshige is always, no questions asked, a joy, so I still love this arc. Plus, you get Yorozuya-Shinsengumi-Jouishishi antics, and that combo produces some of the best content in this series.

#45 - Jugem Arc (221-222)

“Jugem Jugem Shit-Tossing the Life of Shin-chan's Two-Day-Old Underwear Balmung Fezalion Isaac Schneider 1/3 True Love 2/3 Hangnail Anxiety Betrayal Knows My Name Or Does It Really Ignore Calls Squid Dogfish Halibut Trout-Cod Dogfish... This Is a Different Dogfish, I'm Talking About The Dogfish Shark Kaluga Angler Ray Yuuteimiyaoukimukou Pepepepepepepepepepepepe All's Well That Ends Well Runny Diarrhea.”

Who wouldn’t love an arc about a monkey? Honestly, this arc is endearing because of the monkey, and that’s enough for me. Which, I guess, is all the arc is, really. An endearing monkey. I’m a sucker for animal stories.

#44 - Kintaro Arc (129-130)

“Don't die before your friend. I hate it when you have lots of friends here and there, and you go and die and make them all sad. So, you live until you're all alone and you cry alone. You watch them all die, then you die alone. Even if I cry, I'll never make a buddy cry. That's my rule when making a friend. So rest assured. You'll never need to cry because you're all alone. After you die, I'll cry for you. So rest assured and die, buddy.”

What’d I say about animal stories? This is another arc that I feel like people say is boring, but it’s sad and cute, okay? It made me cry hard, for real. I want a buddy like these guys had, honestly. I love this arc, though it isn’t blow-your-mind material. Zura is adorable, though.

#43 - Renho Arc (232-236)

“There were no goodbyes coming from the empty planet. Instead, he saw beaming smiles. For his treasures were still safe on the empty planet. At long last, he was able to find that treasure. A treasure that will never rust in the rain. The treasure of friendship. He wiped away his tears, leaving a smile, and flew off into space in search of new treasures.”

Yeah, I don’t like Star Wars. I’ll keep it a buck: the ending, Sakamoto and Gintoki fighting together, and the bits that talked about Shiroyasha and hinted at the Joui War were the only parts I liked in this arc. The rest of this arc, genuinely, would damn near be at the bottom of my list—it’s just that those good parts are so good to me. And they make up, maybe, ten minutes if you put them all together. That Gintoki and Sakamoto fight? How fucking cool was that fight? The dialogue, the nostalgia—everything about it was badass.

This one was hard to rank, but it made me tear up at the end, and I fucking love Shiroyasha stuff, so I’m putting it here because I can. Oh, and because Sakamoto finally makes a reappearance in this arc, and having him hang with Zura and Gintoki is so damn cool to me.

#42 - Hasegawa Prosecution Arc (94-95)

“Oh yeah, and about that rope. I'll bring it next time I come. I have no intention of getting you a rope so you can hang yourself. But... If it's a rope to pull you out of hell, then I'll bring you as many as you want. Just remember that.”

I think this arc is funny and touching, which is a specialty of Gintama’s. The Heidi references were over my head, though, so it wasn’t all amazing. However, I think Hasegawa is a character that often gets stuck with meaningful storylines, and it’s nice that he got to have one for him and his wife. Also, I enjoyed seeing more to Gintoki and Hasegawa’s friendship than gambling and drinking.

#41 - Otsuu Arc (157-163)

“We just have to live every second to the fullest! And the traces of the path we lived will be burned into the ground... That will serve as proof of our existence!”

For this arc to be seven episodes blows my mind. There is no need at all that this story had to be this long, but I digress. I do think it was a really good idea for Toushi to be dealt with, and most of the stuff in this tournament was funny since it mimicked Japanese variety shows. That being said, it was still focused on idol stuff since it involved Otsuu, and therefore, I didn’t like it as much as I would’ve liked to. Hijikata getting to be silly was fun, though, and the themes on existence and what it means were interesting.

#40 - Fuyo Arc (69-71)

“Everyone has times when they’ve come up against a wall and feel like giving up on everything and running away. But you mustn’t forget that during these times when the going is rough, the soul inside of you will try to create something to break through that wall. And don’t forget that in your suffering there is something very precious. We’re all suffering in agony with our own troublesome lives. Sometimes it comes to tears. When that happens, let it flow as much as it wants. If it still doesn’t stop flowing, then we’ll come and mop it up.”

This arc kind of disappoints me when I think about it because I adore Tama, and I don’t feel like this was the best introduction to her character. The plot of Ryuuzan and his creations was really dull to me, and the emotion behind the loss of his daughter/project was also lackluster. I thought there were funny moments, and I thought Gintoki’s parts in this arc—angry, emotional, and otherwise—were phenomenal, but the story wasn’t.

#39 - Tama Quest Arc (167-170)

“LK: I just had to be the copy of such a difficult man. Even now, I can't offer any words of gratitude or tears... What would you do in this situation?

SG: Smile.”

From Tama arc to Tama arc, I suppose. I do think this one was slightly better since the emotion hit a bit better. I loved Tama’s comments on Gintoki’s personality, and I love that he is the strongest person she could think of to protect her. There’s a subtle aspect to this arc of Gintoki confronting himself a bit, which was awesome. The rest of the story was, like the last one, lackluster. However, Gintoki was very present in this arc, and his parts made it a lot better.

#38 - Jail Arc (225-226)

“You chose a kind illusion over harsh reality. Since you made that choice, you're obligated to keep up the lie until the very end.”

Usually, when I think about this arc, I think about the comedy bits, but that’s not the reason I rank this arc higher than the ones below this, oddly enough. The warden’s story, to me, was really lovely. I think it made me cry, actually. Not to say the comedy bits aren’t funny, because I think Gintoki is absolutely badass in this arc, and it’s a nice callback to when Zura went to prison. Really, though I just adore the story in this arc.

#37 - Infant Strife Arc (51-52)

“You and this boy are like two peas in a pod. He’s even got those dead fish eyes of yours.”

I went back and forth with this arc because I don’t necessarily think the story with Ofusa was all that great, but Gintoki running around Kabukicho with a baby is the most adorable thing ever. And I love the fact that the humor for, like, half of this arc was in making the audience think Gintoki actually had a one-night stand that resulted in a baby. The emotion behind Ofusa’s story didn’t really get to me, but Kanshichirou’s cuteness did me in, I tell you what. One of the biggest reasons I like this arc so much, though, is because it introduced Nizou. I don’t really like Nizou that much, but the fight he had with Gintoki was so badass. Plus, in retrospect, knowing that this encounter connects to the Benizakura Arc is pretty damn cool. I like knowing that Gintoki has a little baby buddy out there, too. I hope he grows up to be as much of a mess as Gintoki is.

#36 - Kabukicho Stray Cat Arc (190-192)

“I once picked up another stray. On the verge of death, just like you, lying on the side of the road... A stupid cat that was your match in every way. I don't know how he ended up there though. Always seemed as though he were looking for something. Butting in where he wasn't wanted and pitting his own body to protect the things that were important for other people. Almost like he was trying to atone for something. Meanwhile, he kept nothing for himself. Didn't get close to anyone. He was always alone... Just like you... Maybe he was afraid of enduring the pain of loss again... Maybe he didn't want others to experience what he had... Perhaps he was trying to punish himself. But you know... There were other strays who were drawn to that idiot. Soon he could no longer stay alone. Maybe he just learned from them. That fatalism won't make anyone happy. Friends to protect, who protected him, may have given him the strength to move on. You protect and suffer losses. You're protected and suffer losses. But then you take on a new burden. In the end, it's just a cycle. That's life. Rough, isn't it? But you know, when I see the expressions on those three faces, I start to feel that it's not too bad.”

I didn’t know I would love the Gintoki-Zura-Kondo combo as I much as I do, but that’s the main reason I fell in love with this arc. Also, isn’t Zura the prettiest cat ever? The cat rescue thing wasn’t all that interesting, but Houichi’s story was really good. There was also that scene with Otose where she told Houichi about Gintoki and how he’d changed since meeting Shinpachi and Kagura, which was easily the best scene in the entire arc (no hate for Zura using Gintoki’s tail as a sword intended). The final scene was adorable, too. So, yeah, this is a good one.

#35 - Barber Arc (151-152)

“How can you put something so disgusting on the head of the most important man in this country?!”

I love me some Shigeshige. I mean, there isn’t much to say about this arc besides that it’s good ‘ol Gintama antics. Especially Gintoki panicking about messing up the Shogun’s hair. Kondo and Zura had a rough time in this arc, though.

#34 - Guardian Dog Arc (107-108)

“Lawless fellows like you and me have nowhere to go once we've lost our honor and humanity.”

This story is super good and super deep. Honestly, the quality of this arc blew me away a bit when I watched it the first time. While it isn’t as good as some of the other serious arcs, it is still reminiscent of them, and it’s still pretty damn good besides. Gintoki getting shot in this arc, too, was a moment that stood out to me beyond all the emotionality of the story because it was kind of shocking since most of his fights are swordfights. That’s probably weird to say, I guess, but I thought Gintoki’s piece in this story was really well done. Especially since it allows Gintoki’s principles to shine.

#33 - Host Club Arc (241-242)

“I've heard that Madame Yagami first appears as a goddess of fortune, then as a goddess of death to bring misfortune. Then what happens when she visits a third time?”

I feel like this arc was a better version of the Mother Arc, except this arc didn’t bother too much with a story and just focused on absolute chaos. I think the comedy was helped along by the fact that all the Kabukicho character introductions had been taken care of by this point, so it got to have a bunch of really fun interactions in it. Hijikata and Gintoki, as I’m sure you will figure out by the end of this post, are my favorite duo in the series, and this arc had a lot of their brand of crazy in it. Therefore, it was awesome.

#32 - Shinsengumi Death Game Arc (148-149)

“I've pestered you this whole time to drag you down. But looking back now, I don't think I actually hated you. I was probably just jealous... jealous of the guy who could easily do the things I couldn't... of the guy who possessed what I didn't. Hijikata-san... Sorry about causing you so much trouble.”

This arc gets me because Hijikata and Sougo really do hate and love each other as much as they possibly could for either extreme, huh? Well, I guess that was clearer on Hijikata’s end in this arc, but hey. The twist at the end of this arc was so funny to me? I don’t know why I didn’t consider it the entire time I was watching these two episodes, but because I didn’t, the twist hit so hard.

#31 - Afro Arc (294-295)

“Even if I have to use my sword to cut down the first person I ever thought would be my friend, the sounds of our swords clashing are the only words I can offer them.”

I didn’t think I would rate this arc as highly as I ended up rating it, but the introduction of Saitou was a really good one, though he didn’t have many other significant scenes after this arc. Zura often makes unexpected friends, and while this isn’t the best instance of that, it’s still a really nice story between the two of them. The humor of this arc was great, as well, but I thought the bond that formed between Saitou and Katsura had a lot of interesting facets to it.

#30 - Yagyuu Arc (76-81)

“I... can never become a man, no matter what I do. But I'll... become stronger than any man or woman, for you, Otae-chan... and I'll protect you, I promise.”

I thought this arc was formatted in a really interesting way since it was segmented in a way that’s similar to the Rakuyou Decisive Battle Arc or the Silver Soul Arc. It was fun learning about Hijikata in one episode and, in the next, watching Gintoki, Kondo, Toujou, and Binbokusai try to find toilet paper so they could get out of the bathroom. I enjoyed seeing Gintoki be worried about Otae, telling Kyuubei she could be whatever she wanted to be as long as she wasn’t a jerk, Shinpachi standing up for his sister, Kagura intentionally breaking Sougo’s leg—all of it was funny and emotional and awesome.

Kyuubei’s story, as well, was beautiful. Both because of her connection to Otae and her crisis of self. The friendship that comes out of this arc between Otae and Kyuubei is one of the best parts about this arc. A lot of characters in Gintama get a standard introduction—unless you’re talking about major story characters like Kamui and Takasugi—but Kyuubei’s introduction was accompanied by a really lovely story.

#29 - Ghost Ryokan Arc (131-134)

“Oiwa, it doesn't matter how many fangs you broke. You can discipline a beast, but he's not just a beast. He's worse. He's a wild animal.”

I don’t even like JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, but this arc was badass. If I was ranking these arcs solely based on uniqueness and comedy, this arc would probably crack my top ten. Everything from Gintoki working at the inn to the way he acted when he vowed to destroy the inn was so fucking cool. Gintoki was so different in this arc, and that’s why I love it. It’s a weird feeling to describe, but the second and third episodes are where you see it the most.

The first and fourth episodes in this arc are the reason why I haven’t ranked this arc higher, though, because Oiwa’s story wasn’t all that interesting. The first episode was standard Gintama, and the last episode where everything got sorted out was a bit dull. The middle episodes are still killer, though. This is an arc I find myself coming back to when I want to watch something unique.

#28 - Umibouzu Arc (40-42)

“If you have a parent who cares about you, what more do you need? I wish I had one... A family like yours.”

I know many people find this arc boring, but I don’t know, the impact it has on the future of the series makes it a great arc in hindsight, if not initially. It reveals some things about Kagura’s childhood, Kagura talks about the destructive nature of the Yato blood, and Kamui is mentioned for the first time in this arc. It sets up for something really amazing, and I think you can tell that the future of Gintama was gonna be next level in this arc. Plus, having Umibouzu and Gintoki fight together was awesome because it led to a few comments about Gintoki being on par with Umibouzu’s strength, which is insane? I know we all know that Gintoki is a badass, but him on par with the strongest Yato is so cool?

#27 - Memory Loss Arc (31-32)

“SG: Didn’t I tell you to forget all about me? I said we should live however we wanted to.

K: You didn’t have to tell us that. We’re already living the way we want to.

SS: We came here because we wanted to.

K & SS: We came here to be with you.”

This arc hooked me on Gintama. Everyone says the Benizakura Arc will do it, but nah, fam. Gintama was showing receipts earlier than that. I’d seen hints of it earlier—like in episodes 5, 9, 13, 17, & 23—but this arc did a lot to convince me that Gintama was going to be something really special, such as: showing me how serious the story could get through the disbandment of Yorozuya, showing me how well this anime could do serious and emotional plotlines, and showing me how profound the bond was between the Yorozuya members.

Had the second episode not spent a lot of time with Gintoki in the Justaway factory, I think I would’ve ranked it higher, but as is, I still love it. The effect this arc had on the rest of the series is astounding, and not just the emotional effects. I mean, how many Justaways have you seen in Gintama since this arc?

#26 - Scandal Arc (239-240)

“I wouldn't mind falling to the bottom of society with you.”

Let me just say that Hasegawa and Gintoki’s tryst was the best part of this arc. This arc is genius because it takes the absolute piss out of all of the most common male/female ships Gintoki is a part of, especially since it adds Otose and Hasegawa into it. At the risk of stepping onto a soapbox, I don’t think there’s room or reason to ship Gintoki with anyone since his separation from romance makes him a better character. However, him dating these six people at one time has got to be one of the funniest fucking things in Gintama.

Every once in a while, Gintama has these golden scenarios that make you go, “What a brilliant concept,” or “I wish this arc would go on forever,” and this is one of them. And the twist at the end? So fun. It’s great to rewatch too, knowing it’s all a trick. It isn’t the best in this category of golden scenarios, but it’s a really solid arc.

#25 - Kaientai Arc (290-291)

“You're no longer a pirate, nor a mere pebble. You're a diamond I found in the rough, a gem known as a comrade!”

This is where you’re going to see that I tend to favor arcs that have something to do with the main story, though that’s not always the case. The scene where Sakamoto meets the rest of, what will come to be known as, the Joui Elite Four is super fun; I love getting to see Joui Four in the past being idiots because most of their present day scenes, as you might imagine, are typically serious. At least when it involves Takasugi, though there are some exceptions, of course. Also, I adore Sakamoto as a character, and he has a really unique view on, not just the relationship between Earth and the rest of the universe, but life in general, and that’s showcased really well in this arc.

I know this arc focuses on Mutsu as well, but I thought that was a nice choice as well since the Kaientai don’t get much screen time. Plus, the reveal of Mutsu being a Yato is so cool and probably something I should’ve realized before this arc. And, even though Gintoki has more of a background part to play in this arc, his dynamic with Sakamoto is so fun, so I was happy to have more of it with this arc.

#24 - Frozen Time Arc (266-267)

“I don't know why you're talking about things 'beyond arm's reach' when he doesn't even have an arm!”

This is another one of those golden scenario-esque arcs, though not the best one. It’s weird because this arc is both only about Yorozuya and also about Yorozuya plus a handful of other characters, even though the other characters didn’t really do anything. There isn’t much to say about this arc, it’s just quality humor with a quality concept. Poor Hijikata though, honestly.

#23 - Confessional Arc (283-284)

“TS: Katsura. The next time we meet, one of us will be dead, but...

KK: the one still alive will create the brand new world. No objections here.”

This arc is so strange because the episodes are so different from one another. The first episode has got to be one of the funniest episodes in the entirety of Gintama. Gintoki was so fucking funny during this episode, and I don’t know if it was because he was panicked or because the Shogun was involved, but he killed me during the first episode. Any time Gintoki is the tsukkomi, it’s always a good time.

The second episode wasn’t really interesting for the most part, though the concept of Zura trying to out-leader the literal Shogun is funniest shit ever, but the last scene in the second episode is insane to me in its implications. Not only does it the conversation they have about building a new world foreshadow Shigeshige’s assassination, but it inspires Katsura to become the prime minister of Japan. Plus, after Shigeshige’s assassination, Zura thinks about the conversation in this second episode multiple times, and I think it’s a really interesting tool for his character to develop. This is, no doubt, the best unexpected friendship Katsura has made; the two of them knowing who the other was but deciding to silently observe the other side to enlighten themselves is the coolest thing. I know it’s a small scene to hang this arc on, but I really love it and what it means for the future of the series.

#22 - Beam Sword Style Arc (262-264)

“Listen up, you two. Tears are handy for washing away troubling and sad feelings. But when you grow up, you'll learn that there are things so sad, they can never be washed away by tears. That there are painful memories that should never be washed away. So people who are truly strong laugh when they want to cry. They endure all of the pain and sorrow while laughing with everybody else. You can cry all you want right now. But one day, you must become samurai strong enough not to cry.”

I know I said I don’t like Star Wars, but this arc was so needed in the narrative of Gintama. There’ve been arcs like the Umibouzu Arc or the Rakuyou Decisive Battle Arc that highlight Gintoki’s relationship with Kagura, and there’ve been arcs like the Kintama Arc or the Silver Soul arc that highlight Gintoki’s relationship with Kabukicho, and it was high time that Shinpachi got an arc like that. I loved learning how they saw each other and why that made them special to each other.

Otae being a part of this arc, too, I felt made this arc amazing. Hajime and the Shimuras told a beautiful story through their love for each other and their loss of each other; I found it to be a really moving story, and I’m glad that Otae and Shinpachi got that type of focus since they don’t often have the chance as the major story pieces are about Gintoki and Kagura. Also, the message Hajime had about always smiling was really lovely, and it stuck with the Shimuras. This is a sad story, but a special and profound one, too.

#21 - Rokkaku Arc (186-187)

“Some things in this world must be protected, even if it means getting your hands dirty. Some things can only be seen through a tainted eye.”

The Kagura-Sougo combo is in my top three favorite duos in Gintama, at least, if not my number two. Is that the only reason this arc was good? No, I love sad shit, fam. This was a good arc for Sougo. You got to see a different hue to Sougo’s character in this arc that didn’t really get revisited, but the characteristic of Sougo being willing to be almost a martyr fit him perfectly. In fact, it likened him to Gintoki in that way. And, through that, Yorozuya’s thoughts about Sougo developed. The tone of this arc, as well, was quite different from other, similar arcs, and I thought it pulled it off really well. Sougo is one of the most fascinating characters in Gintama, so I enjoyed that this arc explored him and his worldview a bit more. Plus, you gotta love those Kagura-Sougo interactions.

#20 - Character Poll Arc (182-184)

“There are plenty of colorful people, flowers, around us. And those flowers need dirt, a steppingstone, to bloom. We don't need to become number one in a popularity poll. We can be number one at being their steppingstones.”

Talk about a golden scenario, huh? What a concept this is, really. This arc is legendary. I mean, you got Hasegawa hanging, naked, from the ceiling; you got Hijikata and Katsura teaming up; you got the female characters setting out to destroy the highly ranked characters; you got floating rankings that stick to the characters for the entire arc—this arc is next level unique. Not to mention the fact that the anime staff went out of their way to fuck up the opening and change the ending to give this arc even more character. Real shit, my favorite moment in this entire arc is Sadaharu beating the shit out of Elizabeth. That was wild.

I mean, the first episode wasn’t as good as the rest, and the twist was predictable, but who cares when you got Gintoki wearing a mawashi and Tsukuyo awkwardly dancing and Kyuubei yeeting Zura into the next dimension? Honestly, the creativity of this arc is so fun. The only reason it doesn’t crack my top five comedy arcs is because of the first episode and because there are other arcs that are a touch better. But, regardless, this remains one of my favorites.

#19 - Dekoboko Arc (275-277)

“No matter what you choose, I'm sure you will continue to waver. But what's wrong with that? Manly? Womanly? Are those random values that others made up really what you were striving toward? If things were so clear cut, then neither men, women, you, or me would be leading such painful lives.”

Ah, the infamous gender bender arc. Genuinely, I didn’t think I liked this arc as much as I apparently do after making this list. Can we take a moment to discuss the character designs and seiyuu changes? Kyuubei? Hot as hell. Gintoki? Honestly, meh. Hijikata? Would’ve loved to see him with a different character design, but he was funny as hell in this arc. Sougo? Super cute, super sexy, super impressive seiyuu. Shinpachi? Cop-out, but Shinpachi doesn’t usually get affected by these kinds of arcs. Tsukuyo? Y’all, I almost dropped dead with how hot she was.

This is nearly the golden scenario to end all golden scenarios. Gintoki and Hijikata beefing over who’s hotter is ridiculously funny, especially considering that Hijikata is involved. Sougo trying to be feminine is beast, the fact that everyone changed their professions when they didn’t change back initially is hilarious, and Otae trying to squeeze Gintoki’s boob into a black hole had me rolling. Plus, Kyuubei’s story in this arc was very profound and touching. I enjoyed watching her decide who she wanted to be and being happy in that choice. Through that journey, the audience got experience a story that was both inspiring and validating, and I love that. So, yeah. This one is a good one.

#18 - Feigned Illness Arc (296-297)

“I forgot to return your parasol. In truth, I thought about holding onto it as a memento, but never mind raindrops or sunshine, you're a girl even boulders rain down on. You'll probably need this in heaven, too, right?”

This arc snuck up on me and punched me in the face. I was all set to get to the Shogun Assassination arc in episode 300, and then I saw Kagura pretending to be sick and Sougo deciding to basically kill her and said, “Who gave this arc permission to be so fucking funny?” Kagura getting to be the tsukkomi never happens, so the tone of this arc was weird as shit but so good. I also love the concept of Kagura capitalizing on her Yato constitution, like, go off.

The sad thing is, I really thought Sougo meant what he said about Kagura at the top of the second episode. I really thought, “He’s definitely gonna say he’s glad she’s dying in a minute, but I knew he cared about her in some way.” Next thing I knew, my dumb ass was watching Sougo shove his elbow into her throat and help arrange a giant funeral for her, complete with a tanning bed coffin for Kagura to melt in. I mean, I guess he did say some variant of what he said in this arc at the end of the Farewell, Shinsengumi Arc, but in this arc, he was just pure evil. And I fucking loved that. Also, this arc did actually make it feel like Kagura was gone at certain points, and that made me so sad? Good thing she only nearly died thanks to Sougo, huh? Dodged that boulder.

#17 - Okita Mitsuba Arc (86-87)

“I just... want the girl I love to be happy.”

This arc hit me hard, fam. The first time I watched this was so rough because it was still a relatively early arc, and I didn’t understand how painful Gintama could get. I had an idea for how serious it would get, but this one assaulted my emotions. I don’t know whether to consider this a Sougo arc or a Hijikata arc or one that represents both of them equally, but it hurt regardless. I feel like I just said this, but since Sougo is such a fascinating character, seeing him a.) be so beholden to his sister and b.) be so broken when he lost her was shocking. Not because I couldn’t believe it but because it was so special. Sougo crying at the end broke my heart. His complicated feelings for Hijikata, as well, was something I really enjoyed about this arc.

Hijikata’s part in this story was also super fascinating because it was all at once believable and strange that he was in love with someone. I found his story with Mitsuba to be overwhelmingly sad, but it also made me happy to know that they were always fighting for each other. This is one of those arcs, too—and I’ll bring this up again later—where you can see Gintoki playing an almost omniscient role in the Shinsengumi members’ lives. It’s a very subtle thing that happens sometimes—and mostly in major story arcs—where you can see that Hijikata, Kondo, or Sougo (though, usually, it’s Hijikata) learning from Gintoki because they’re experiencing something close to something Gintoki has experienced already, even if they don’t know it. Gintoki will end up being this well of advice and wisdom to guide these characters to acceptance or understanding of this situation because he sees his past in their present, and this arc is an example of that. It’s really emotional and really well done, and the themes are beautiful, so it’s always gonna rank highly for me.

#16 - Timeskip Arc (202-203)

“Shin-chan, you're a lucky boy. Because you have a goal to guide you through the darkness. The truly unfortunate are those who stand still without any sense of which direction to go. And it's hardest on the person who's running out in front when he can't tell left from right. True, they aren't nice enough to slow down for you. They may take a lot of detours... But you believe that he's moving forward, right? You're very fortunate to have someone like that, Shin-chan. No matter how far away he gets, you'll still be able to see him. And as long as you keep moving, I know that you'll be able to catch up. It only makes sense. Since I'll be there to kick you along.”

My opinion of this may be a bit biased at the moment because I just rewatched it, but I stand by the fact that this arc is freakin’ hilarious. Again, this is a golden scenario and a scenario, like the Frozen Time Arc or the Dekoboko Arc, where the entire world gets turned on its head. I couldn’t tell you if it’s Gintoki parodying Ichigo from Bleach at the end or the four babies or Zurako or Kondo and Otae being married or Hijikata being the Shinsengumi’s collective bitch, but this arc is something special. There’s so many singular moments in this arc that shocked me or had me rolling or made me think about how cool Gintama was that I had to stick this arc at the top of my list. Also, who knew Hijikata and Otae as a pairing is kind of a vibe? Just me? Anyway.

#15 - Patriot Reunion Party Arc (271-272)

“SG: A shadow won't appear on the ground unless there's light, no matter how dim. It wouldn't be a problem if one guy remembered you, right? So if we ever get in trouble, come help us out again, Kurokono.

KT: Sure. I'll always be standing right by your sides.”

I told y’all I’m a sucker for Shiroyasha and the Joui Elite Four. And, according to the blog I have for Kuroko no Basket, I’m also a sucker for this Kuroko parody. Honestly, the reason I love this arc so much is because of the flashbacks and the humor, but the heart of the story is actually really lovely, as well. The flashbacks were hilarious and showed Takasugi in a comedic way which, as I’ve said, doesn’t happen that often. Also, even though this arc is comedic, it does provide a bit of insight into the lives of Katsura, Sakamoto, Takasugi, and Gintoki in the Joui War and how they operated. It may be a ridiculous premise, but it’s still character development, and I loved it.

Now, Kurokono is an awesome character with an awesome story. I know he’s meant to take the piss out of the actual Kuroko and his story, but he actually became important to Gintoki by the end, and I thought the punctuation to this arc was beautiful because of that. Speaking of taking the piss, though, the fact that Sakamoto, Zura, and Gintoki got together in this arc and spent a full five minutes of it exclaiming over how dumb Takasugi is is amazing. Again, Gintoki gets to be—or, rather, has to be—the tsukkomi because Zura and Sakamoto are absolute crackheads. I feel for Gintoki, honestly. He’s got a hard life sometimes, dealing with them.

#14 - Kintama Arc (253-256)

“I can't do anything alone. Everyone here has their flaws and imperfections. But that's what drives us to work together to make up for those flaws. Together, we make the perfect main character.”

This is, no pun intended, also a golden scenario arc. This one made me cry a few times. Even though this premise is batshit funny, this arc is actually pretty serious. It isn’t like the other arcs that revamp the entire world; it’s lot darker, and the themes are both heavy and emotional. But I really loved that about the Kintama Arc. I loved that it focused, not only on the importance of a good main character, but on the importance of Gintoki being the main character in Gintama. Gintoki is one of my all-time favorite characters across any and every medium, and this arc was basically four episodes of why he’s so special.

First of all, the first episode surprised me with how serious and dark the tone became; when Tama found Gintoki in the alley, it almost felt like a major story arc. Actually, this arc is a lot like the Kabukicho Four Devas Arc or the Silver Soul Arc in the way Gintoki is able to bring Kabukicho together; the only difference is that, in this arc, they weren’t supposed to want to be by Gintoki’s side, but Gintoki’s character and courage made the characters of Kabukicho remember why they look up to him. I also enjoyed that Otae was included in the immediate Yorozuya family in this arc because she came in even before Kagura, so it made the entire arc more emotional, as did seeing all the people Gintoki has helped and made friends with come together to protect him. It was great arc to start what they thought was going to be the last season of Gintama, and it was a great arc for appreciating how special Gintoki is.

#13 - Soul Switch Arc (287-289)

“Goodbye, our other leader. And welcome back, our leader!”

This is the last golden scenario arc, and it’s also my ultimate comedy arc in Gintama. I told y’all already that I fucking love Hijikata and Gintoki, and this is the absolute best place to be if they’re your favorite duo. First of all, the fact that this arc is partially hinged on Hijikata being the leader of the Shinsengumi is hilarious since Kondo exists, but that only scratches the surface of why I love this arc.

The character design shifts when they switch bodies is awesome, Nakai Kazuya and Sugita Tomokazu did amazingly with the character switch, the multiple nods to how badass these two are, the importance placed on both of them for being great leaders, Sougo embracing being a Jouishishi, Kagura being disgusted by her body and Sougo’s being next to each other when they’ve been switch with Zura and Elizabeth, Gintoki and Hijikata both hitting on Otae, Yorozuya becoming a vigilante syndicate, the Shinsengumi going absolutely apeshit, half of Gintoki’s soul reviving a dead cat through it’s asshole, Hasegawa and Yamazaki literally being a collective piece of shit and beating the shit out of the giant cat monster—I mean, I could go on for days.

I really enjoyed seeing Gintoki and Hijikata develop an even stronger sense of appreciation and respect for each other and their organizations, and it was nice to see that these two characters inspire everyone else as much as they do. This arc is absolutely deserving of the title of my #1 non-major story arc.

#12 - Shinigami Arc (279-281)

“The only beings capable of turning people human again are neither demons that take human heads nor Shinigami that take their souls, but humans who sever their souls to save them.”

We’re onto the major story arcs, fam. Are you still with me? So, the reason this is my least favorite major story arc is probably because it was too short to seriously hook me. Until you get to the Shogun Assassination Arc, every major story arc has a small story within it that gets told on the surface with all the major story stuff beneath it. This small story with Asaemon wasn’t as good as the rest of them, but Gintoki’s place in this arc was really cool, both the look into his past and his views on mortality. Also, how cool was Nobunobu’s introduction? That last scene with Takasugi had me vibrating with the excitement of what was going to come out of the story next. Anyway, I did like this arc a lot from Gintoki meeting Asaemon to his fight with the 18th Yaemon to the Shinsengumi bailing Yorozuya out at the end. I just think the other major story arcs are a bit better.

#11 - Yoshiwara in Flames (139-146)

“A town changes when its people change. There may be days when the sun doesn't feel like peeking out from behind the clouds, but their light will never fade again.”

I’m gonna be real with you guys: this arc almost bottoms out as my least favorite major story arc—but then I remembered Kamui was in it. No, sorry, it’s not like this arc is bad at all. I mean, obviously; it’s #11 on this list. It’s just one of those major story arcs that doesn’t really feel like a major story arc, which, honestly, all it does for the major story is introduce Kamui. But what a fire introduction for a fire character, huh? Like, damn, Kamui has got to be one of the most entertaining characters ever created.

I’ll list some other really amazing things about this arc now so you don’t think I’m only ranking this highly because it’s a major story arc. First off, Kagura. Her fight with Abuto was next level beast. I mean, I felt bad for her that she “lost” to her Yato blood, but damn, she was cool as shit. The theme of the sun and moon shining through all despair to provide hope that permeated the entire arc was used really well. Tsukuyo being introduced as this badass yet super considerate paramilitary leader made me love her immediately. Gintoki essentially taking down one of the strongest two Yato was insane (before you say it, I know the Hyakka and Seita helped, but Gintoki fucked Housen up pretty badly). It’s just that Hinowa and Seita aren’t my favorite characters in the world, which is why it’s not the best major story arc ever. However, the fight at the end was badass, Kagura was badass, Tsukuyo was badass, Kamui was badass, and the emotional plotline was badass. So, I’d say this arc is still pretty bomb.

#10 - Red Spider Arc (177-181)

“From now on, you will swing that sword. Not to cut down your enemies. Not to cut away your weaknesses and protect yourself. But to protect your very soul.”

We’re into the top ten now, lads. When I think about this as a Tsukuyo arc, I don’t love it, but considering this arc as Shouyou’s introduction makes me feel excited about Gintama all over again. I don’t want to down on Tsukuyo because she’s awesome, but her story in this arc worked better as a catalyst for Gintoki’s story rather than as a story on its own. I did love her acceptance of who she was by the end, though. I remember being so excited to learn about Gintoki’s childhood and who the mysterious sensei was that Takasugi mentioned in the Benizakura Arc.

I love this part of Gintoki’s backstory because it’s the launching pad for so many of the things that make him a wise and kind main character. Plus, black-and-white Gintoki shows up for the first time in this arc, and that Gintoki is cool as hell. It’s always because he’s pissed, and since Gintoki doesn’t often get enraged, seeing him that way is one of the coolest moments of this arc and the other arcs where black-and-white Gintoki shows up. Even though I wasn’t entranced by the story on the surface of this arc, the fact that it led us to Shouyou is what makes me love it so much.

#9 - Shinsengumi Crisis Arc (101-105)

“Clean out your ears and listen up! I’ve never once fought for the sake of this cheap country. I couldn’t care less if the country or samurai fell. I have always... Then, and now... What I protect... has never changed!”

During my first runthrough of Gintama, I definitely would’ve ranked this arc higher, but after rewatching it, I think Itou is what made me drop it down a bit. I would like to say that I liked Itou’s story, but it was sort of bland and overdramatic. Unfortunately, that meant that one of the episodes in this arc was essentially a wash. However, the rest of this arc was amazing from start to finish. The conception of Toushi is one of the best things Gintama ever did. Not only is Toushi fucking hilarious, but his presence in this arc opened up an avenue for Gintoki to take an interest in Hijikata and the Shinsengumi in the same way he did in the Okita Mitsuba Arc. I love moments where Hijikata or the other Shinsengumi members learn from Gintoki and learn to respect him more for the wisdom and help he offers them. So that’s a great point in this arc, as is the Shinsengumi’s bond being explored through Hijikata’s story and Kondo’s rescue. Also, Sougo was hella badass in this arc.

The other part of this arc that always hypes me up is the part of this arc that has to do with the main story, which would be Gintoki’s fight with Bansai, though seeing Takasugi as well was fun, as always. Gintoki has this ability to draw even his enemies toward him because of his strength and resilience, and I love that Bansai became one of those people. The fight itself was also cool, of course, since Gintoki fighting is always cool, but also because Bansai’s way of fighting can be quite fascinating. Not to mention the fact that Gintoki brings down a helicopter, but who ever doubted he could do something so boss? My favorite part of those scenes, though, were the impressions you get of Gintoki. Bansai sees him—inaccurately—as a man who blindly fights the natural progression of change and time because he can’t let go of the past while Gintoki reiterates what we already knew about him: that he fights to prevent himself from losing anyone he loves ever again. In summary, Itou sucks, but this arc slaps.

#8 - Baragaki Arc (244-247)

“SG: Show me what you got, Demonic Vice-Chief. You're first. Let's see if you can take down the Jouishishi known as Shiroyasha.

HT: Sasaki, you chose the wrong person to use as a cog. Don't bother. You don't stand a chance against the biggest thorn in the bush.”

I cannot stress how much I fucking love the moment at the end of the third episode where Hijikata and Gintoki team up to fight the Mimawarigumi. I don’t know, because I haven’t made a list, but that moment has got to be somewhere near my top five favorite moments in Gintama. And not just that creepy smile they do at the end either, by the way. Everything from Gintoki baiting Hijikata by blowing smoke up his own ass by telling Hijikata he’s known as Shiroyasha to Hijikata saying he and Gintoki are the same to Gintoki kicking Tetsunosuke off the roof. It’s so damn cool. Plus, Hijikata’s reaction to Gintoki being a “big name Jouishishi” is the best thing ever. This is another arc where you get Hijikata learning from Gintoki, though not as much as in the Shinsengumi Crisis Arc or the Farewell, Shinsengumi Arc.

Tetsunosuke’s part in this arc wasn’t that interesting to me, and Isaburo also isn’t my favorite addition to the character list of Gintama, but Nobume got introduced in this arc, and she’s one of my favorite female characters in Gintama. I was more here for Hijikata’s backstory, the awesome fights, and the Shinsengumi dressing up in white uniforms than the whole Shinsengumi vs. Mimawarigumi thing, but the fact that Takasugi had his hand in the Mimawarigumi was interesting. Honestly, I think the quality of the action scenes and the humor of this arc make up for any low points in the plot. Maybe I’m biased because Gintoki had a badass ponytail in this arc.

#7 - Benizakura Arc (58-61/Gintama Movie 1: Benizakura-hen)

“SG: Takasugi!

KK: That’s how it is!

SG: Next time we meet, it won’t matter that you used to be our comrade!

SG & KK: We’ll cut you down with all that we have!

SG: So be careful not to meet us in the city!”

Every time I watch this arc, I get hype. I mean, I get more hype while watching the movie because the fight at the end and the soundtrack are way better, but this arc is a vibe. It’s the perfect story to tell to get the ball rolling on the Kiheitai and the main story. I still don’t think there’s an arc that can rival this one for initial amazement. There are cool fights after this point, and Gintoki’s been really badass in certain arcs, but there’s something about him standing on Benizakura to slash at Nizou or Gintoki and Zura fighting side by side that feels so epic. I think it was because it was the first chance you really got to see Shiroyasha in present day Gintoki; it was shocking how overwhelmingly wicked that seemed. Plus, Tetsuya’s comments about Gintoki’s strength was the first real exposure the audience got to just how skilled a fighter Gintoki was. After this point, it became commonplace to see Gintoki as the strongest character, but that concept was just being introduced in this arc.

So, this is an insanely good arc for people who love Gintoki, but the story was great, as well. Like I said, having this as the first major story arc was a great choice because it pushed the Kiheitai forward, hinted at Shouyou being the epicenter of the story, and hinted at Gintoki’s turbulence and tragic past. It also had Takasugi in it, and yes, he is in other arcs after this point, but the Benizakura Arc was the most significant appearance for Takasugi up until the Shogun Assassination Arc. It was a really good choice to put this stuff on the table before diving into Kamui or Shouyou or the shogunate. I’m gonna stay hype about this arc until I die, probably.

#6 - Kabukicho Four Devas Arc (210-214)

“We promise to protect everything which was dear to you. Thanks, pops, for leading me to these assholes.”

Weirdly, I think this is the most non-major story-like major story arc in the series. I mean, I guess you could say that about the Yoshiwara in Flames Arc, too, but the biggest thing this does for the main story is turn Kabukicho into its own character that will fight for Yorozuya. I guess the Harusame stuff sort of tied into the Harusame’s role in the later arcs, but most of that development happened in episode 215, which was right after this arc. However, considering how the Silver Soul Arc started, I think what this arc was did end up being really important to the main story. It does hint at Gintoki’s past by saying he’d lost something that made him want to protect Kabukicho, but there weren’t any explicit mentions of Shouyou or anything else going on with the main story. However, if you consider the Kiheitai, Kamui, the Shinsengumi, the shogunate, and Yorozuya to be major parts of the story of Gintama, then I’d also say that Kabukicho falls into that category, so I digress.

Anyway, that had nothing to do with why I liked this arc so much. It felt really colorful; I don’t know if that’s weird to say, but the stark difference between the heavy plotline we get with Jirochou and the lively one we get with Kabukicho fighting against the Shinra made it feel very vibrant. This is one of the few major story arcs in which I really loved the surface story, and in this case, that was Jirochou and Otose’s story, as well as Pirako’s. Black-and-white Gintoki shows up in full force in this arc, and that fight was awesome. I’ve said this about a few arcs so far, but the heart in this arc is amazing. It’s also an arc where Gintoki realizes that he can let go of his desire to protect Shinpachi and Kagura by pushing them away because they’re strong enough to fight by his side, and they want to fight by his side. It’s satisfying arc to watch, and it really connects you to Gintoki and Yorozuya, as well as the rest of Kabukicho. This arc did a lot to enrich the series.

#5 - Farewell, Shinsengumi Arc (308-316)

“SG: A long time ago, I went through something similar. There were two things I wanted to protect. I didn't wanna lose either one. But I ended up in a situation where if I didn't throw one away, I'd lose both.

HT: Which did you choose?

SG: I tried to protect both. But it was the same as throwing them both away. I still dream about it, and wonder if there was a better way to go about it. But there's no need for you to hesitate, is there? It's still not too late. You can still protect both. You can... You all can.”

Top five, baby. Ranking this hard was hard because I didn’t quality consistency was as good as some of the other major story arcs that are ranked below this, but ultimately, the brilliant parts ended up being some of my favorite parts in the series, so I had to put this arc here. The middle is the bit that I didn’t care for too much, but only at certain points. As I said before, I don’t find Isaburo to be that intriguing, so the fact that this arc had a lot to do with telling his story made it slip sometimes. However, the middle also had some really great Katsura-Kondo moments that I love a lot. The beginning and the ending few episodes, though, were so damn good.

I’m just gonna talk about the specific scenes that make this arc deserving of my top five. This might get long. In no particular order, let’s start with Utsuro’s introduction. That shit felt like the apocalypse incarnate; Utsuro has the biggest big dick energy in the world, and his first appearance was heavy. It changed the entire scope of the series. Also, I both hated and loved Gintoki’s pain and shock after seeing Utsuro’s face. Next let’s go with when Gintoki fucking laid out Nobunobu. That scene was so boss? Hijikata’s outfit was tops, first of all, but Gintoki taking that burden from him, both because he didn’t want Hijikata to do it and because he was pissed as well, was awesome. And Hijikata feeling bad because he couldn’t help Gintoki? I love sad shit, fam; I told you. Real quick, just gonna say that Elizabeth and Saitou beefing was hilarious.

One of my absolute favorite scenes in all of Gintama (well, there’s actually two from this arc) is when Gintoki tells Hijikata about Shouyou. Y’all know by now that I love when Hijikata learns things from Gintoki, and I think this scene is the moment when Hijikata really realized how much Gintoki had been through and why he’d been able and willing to help the Shinsengumi in the past. It’s where I think Hijikata decided to lean on Gintoki, just a little bit, so he could get the Shinsengumi back. Plus, the way Gintoki told that story was heartbreaking, especially because of what the story was and what Gintoki had to do.

All right, that fight on the boat? Badass. I don’t wanna harp on how much I apparently ship Hijikata and Gintoki (not really, but again, they’re my favorite duo), but them fighting together is always epic. Okay, finally, the last episode in this arc was also hella epic in tone but also really sweet and heartwarming. It felt like a goodbye since the Shinsengumi left Edo, and it felt cool because it was exciting thinking about what would go down when they got back. But it was also so beautiful seeing the Shinsengumi having what would’ve been their last interactions with Yorozuya for a long time. Kondo, Shinpachi, and Otae were cute because you saw that, in a weird way, they’d become a little family. Kagura and Sougo had the perfect goodbye for their relationship. That was good, not just because of the fighting, but also because Sougo and Kagura demonstrated how much they believed in each other and each other’s organizations. It was also where Kagura promised that Yorozuya would keep Edo safe, and I love that promise.

Hijikata and Gintoki’s scene was great for a lot of reasons: Hijikata acknowledging his gratitude for Gintoki and Yorozuya’s help in always protecting the Shinsengumi, the two of them switching their food, Gintoki thinking of Kondo as Shouyou, Hijikata and Gintoki laughing together—it’s all really lovely. Sorry for the essay, but hopefully you can see why the dip in the middle wasn’t enough to make me see this arc as anything other than amazing.

#4 - Courtesan of a Nation Arc (257-261)

“O: Were those two anything like Shouyou?

IN: No. One was trying to protect Shouyou's legacy. The other was trying to destroy Shouyou's legacy. But they had one thing in common. They both had such sorrow in their eyes.”

This surprised me that this would be in my top five, but the really hard left turn this arc took to push this story onto another level still blows me away, and that’s why it’s ranked so highly. There are, obviously, singular moments that make this arc epic. Gintoki breaking a sword with his teeth, for instance—gotta love black-and-white Gintoki—or the fight to get into the castle or watching Shouyou getting taken away or watching Kagura and Nobume nearly rip Sougo in half. Gintoki and his raw emotions during this arc were stellar, as well. The pain of losing Shouyou showed very obviously when he was talking to and fighting Oboro.

The big reason—or, at least, one of the big reasons—this arc is so cool, though, is the gigantic change in scale. You go from a short story about a courtesan in Yoshiwara to realizing that there is so much at play and so much at stake with the main story. It’s not just about Takasugi wanting to destroy the government anymore; it’s not just about Gintoki wanting to stop his rampaging friend. Now it’s about multiple parties and organizations trying to seize hold of the country; it’s about the Shogun stepping down; it’s about conspiracy and war and factions and death. This arc upped the ante exponentially, and it made way for the remaining major story arcs to take it even further. That shift is what makes this arc so damn good.

#3 - Rakuyou Decisive Battle Arc (317-328)

“Just like you, I used to be empty. Once I lost everything and learned how terrifying that could be, I kept living an empty life, with no meaning or name of any kind. But the ones who gave meaning to the empty me once more were the people who'd become a part of me at some point, your sister and everyone else. Those audacious pests just barged into my life and gave me a new name. That's when I realized that I hadn't actually lost anything. That I was just cowering and running away from it all. I'll never run away again... Not from protecting something or losing it. I don't need a title as fancy as 'strongest' or one as sorry as 'stupid brother from Earth.' I'm Yorozuya Gin-chan. I swear on this name they gave me that I won't lose... Not to you or myself. So, Kamui, you shouldn't lose, either.”

If I’m gonna get flak for any ranking on this list, this one might be it. I know there are quite a few fans that think this arc is longwinded and boring, but I genuinely couldn’t disagree more. First of all, the pacing was perfectly done. It builds nicely to the fight with Utsuro and then Kamui, and then it slows down to give context, and and then it ends by solidifying the whirlwind of emotions you pick up throughout this arc. Second of all, how can you not like an arc that has everything? It’s got classic Gintama comedy, it’s got Utsuro and his backstory, it’s got the conclusion to Kamui’s story, it’s got really badass fights including the one where the Joui Elite Four fight together again, it’s got themes of family and friendship all over the place, it’s got Kagura being a boss just like her mom, it’s got flashbacks, it’s got Zura calling himself “Zura,” it’s got a hella wicked ending—I mean, do I need to continue?

Well, I’m gonna, so bear with me. All those points I just mentioned were like little pockets of electricity to watch. This arc had so much substance and so much emotion, and the ending really did launch the tone of this series into another world. The last scene where you see the Altana Liberation Army preparing to invade Earth and Yorozuya standing ready to fight them was so haunting and so cool. I don’t want to sit here and write another essay addressing every scene that was extraordinary to me, but in my opinion, this arc was the perfect one to situate between the Farewell, Shinsengumi Arc and the Silver Soul Arc. I could get into Gintoki’s character development or Kamui’s or Takasugi’s or the many other moments that shone in this arc, but since this arc is twelve episodes, I’m gonna keep it brief and say this arc deserves more clout because it’s got a wealth of great stuff in it.

#2 - Silver Soul Arc (342-367 + Gintama: The Semi-Final + Gintama: The Final)

“This country... This whole planet is a rebel army that stands up to the universe!”

Speaking of arcs that are hard to summarize because they’re long. This arc is weird because it’s kind of broken up into multiple parts. You’ve got the fight in Kabukicho, the fight with Utsuro, and post-timeskip. However, all of those parts were so damn good. I have to say, the Shinsengumi, Takasugi, and Kamui returning in this arc had me hollerin’. They’re so beloved by the time the story reaches this point that having them show up felt really special, even though they hadn’t been gone long. I mean, the fight in Kabukicho was awesome all around. As I said, it’s reminiscent of the Kabukicho Four Devas Arc, except this arc had many more familiar faces, which was really fun. I also thought the way this arc spilt its time between what was happening on Earth and what was happening in space was a brilliant idea.

For one, this arc shoved Nobunobu in my face and made me super sad when he died, which I didn’t think would ever happen when he was introduced. For two, Zura and Sakamoto working together was really interesting, especially when they both got arrested and we learned about Prince Hata’s family. Plus, when Takasugi came in, it made that dynamic so much better—even though Bansai died in this arc, unfortunately. Gintoki doubting himself at the beginning was super interesting, too, because Gintoki doesn’t have much character development over the span of the series since it mostly already happened during the Joui War. You get the moment in episode 13 where he realizes that he’s picked up the burden of protecting Shinpachi and Kagura, you get the Kabukicho Four Devas Arc where he decided to let them fight alongside him, you get the moment in this arc where he nearly falters because he doesn’t think he’s strong enough, and you get his attitude shift toward Shouyou/Utsuro post-timeskip. You don’t need that much character development for Gintoki because he works best as a well-adjusted character, but the few moments we do get are really profound, so this was one of those moments.

The tone of this arc is really strange since it’s so long. It begins to feel like Gintama had always been the way it was in the Silver Soul Arc, but it also felt like the Silver Soul Arc called back all the feelings you’d get while watching the comedy episodes. At least, in the first stage of this arc. The Utsuro fight was super cool since you had the Shinsengumi members, Yorozuya, Kamui, and Umibouzu all fighting him together. It all felt really natural, too, this shift into every character, whether they’d met each other before or not, banding together to take Utsuro out for the sake of the world.

The timeskip was a bit disorienting, but after completing the story—rather than stopping at episode 367—I really liked it because it was almost an epilogue. There was still some fighting left to do, but you got to see how everyone was after they’d saved the world, so it was a good final chapter. I would say this was, hands down, the most emotional part of the Silver Soul Arc. Shinpachi and Kagura missing Gintoki, Gintoki missing them, Shouyou reemerging, Takasugi dying... sort of, everything being different and yet somehow the same, Gintama ending—it got to me a good few times. I will say, while seeing Gintoki and Takasugi team up and talk about Shouyou and all of that was cool, you really need the benefit of what comes after 367 (i.e. Gintama: The Final) to appreciate the timeskip portion of this arc. All right, enough rambling; this arc fills me up with emotions and happiness and excitement, so it’s beautiful.

#1 - Shogun Assassination Arc (300-307)

“The night is darkest just before the dawn. But keep your eyes open. If you avert your eyes from the dark, you'll be blind to the rays of a new day. So keep your eyes open, no matter how dark the night ahead may be.”

Was it disappointing to read this entire post just to see that my favorite arc is the same as everyone else’s favorite arc? Sorry, fam. But this arc felt next level but on a whole ‘nother level, know what I mean? I mean, obviously, not every character is on the stage for this one, but the cast of characters in this arc is still great. If I state the obvious, the Takasugi/Gintoki fight was in this arc. Which was badass because it was used to tell us the story of how Shouyou died. Which was super cool because it led to Takasugi realizing he should maintain the soul of the person Shouyou loved.

Shigeshige died. That’s fucking crazy, right? I was so damn sad, for real, but I was also shocked that he actually got assassinated. Call me stupid, considering the title of this arc, but I couldn’t believe the story really did that. And I thought it was a genius choice because of what it led to in the rest of series. Though Kamui wasn’t present for a lot of this arc, he was still there brightening everything up with his energetic and slightly psychotic personality. We got some really awesome moments with the Oniwabanshu through Shigeshige’s backstory, and we got some heartfelt moments with the Shinsengumi.

Backtracking a bit to talk about Gintoki and Takasugi, them seeing each other as their own alter ego is so interesting because it fits so well. And on top of that, the story of Shouyou’s death is probably the saddest moment in Gintama, in my opinion. It was just astounding how much emotion was built into that reveal and the relationships around it between Shouyou, Zura, Gintoki, and Takasugi. It was haunting and tragic, beautiful and intriguing all at the same time.

I know I talk about tone a lot, but that’s another reason that the Shogun Assassination Arc ends up being my favorite arc. Every other major story arc had a moment where you felt like something intense was going to happen or where something insane does happen. Some arcs, like the Silver Soul Arc, have multiple moments like that. But this arc was on a high the entire damn time; I was anxious and excited all the time while watching this because every moment made it seem like some real shit was about to go down, even though real shit was already going down. Also, this arc did not end in a happy way. It’s different from every other arc in that aspect because it had a hopeless ending. Sure, it was satisfying because the characters lived to fight another day, but it ended with the Shogun dead, the government in chaos, and the characters lost in the shuffle of what comes next. That was so fucking engaging to experience. It’s wildly different from every other arc in every way. In closing, whether it’s development, battles, death, comedy, drama, sadness, or love, this arc comes out on top every time.

Well, that’ll be it for this post that took me three days to write. I’m vibing with talking about Gintama as much as I can right now, and I’ll probably make more posts after this about it. Thank you to everyone who was a part of my little Gintama Stills project, thanks for reading this post!

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