Top 5 Gintama Moments (Appeal of Gintama)

This was an absolute monster to edit, but I loved every minute of it. Lemme know if more content like this is welcome!
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[@halnyx7488]

Another thing that I've come to realize with this series is the incredibly unorthodox setup of the traditional "rivals".
Normally the protagonist (particularly Shounen) is the character in the "Underdog" role, where he is a misfit character usually with little to no talent.
And the rival is usually the somber (or "edgier, broody") character with a very traumatic past who is the most talented in the group that pushes the protagonist to catch up to him/surpass him.
But Sorachi (be it by accident or intentional) wrote it where they've swapped places, and Takasugi is the underdog trying to catch up to or surpass the " talented" rival.
And what's pretty ingenious about this is that it makes it feel like we were always following the rival in this story, and the protagonist had gone down the route of a villain because of him.
And what's more it continues to grow complex with the inevitable clash they have, and both reveal how they have both been trying to come to terms with their loss as well as their own fractured bond.
Gintoki and Takasugi's rivalry is such an amazing development that goes unnoticed (except by the fans) since it's only lightly touched on in specific arcs and a few plot oriented episodes.
But this is what makes Gintama more consistent than most because Sorachi managed to write it in a way that it continues to carry the viewers/readers through the series, wanting to see more and know how it turns out.
And personally I think it's one of the top tier rivalries of all time.

[@halnyx7488]

Tbh I would normally agree that Gintoki is a person wise beyond his years, and that he doesn't dwell too much on his past since he's accepted it for what it is.
However watching videos and reading character analysis of Gintoki and his journey as a protagonist made me realize that he actually isn't what he seems.
First and foremost is the fact that he's actually just really good at keeping personal thoughts and experiences to himself, as he's grown very accustomed to carrying his own burdens (probably even before Shouyou adopted him) and not relying on others; usually because he doesn't want to be a burden to them.
Proof of this insecurity and habit of his is highlighted in arcs like the Four Devas, where the trauma of nearly losing Otose shakes his confidence in being able to protect the ones he cares for.
Second is that he does in fact suffer from his guilt and actually does dwell on his regrets from time to time.
This is shown when he actually opens up to Hijikata in the Farewell Shinsengumi Arc when he comes back to the boarded up station.
When Hijikata asked him how he felt when was faced with the trepidation of being unable to go back to the "old days" if he moved forward, Gin actually told him that he is in fact still haunted by that day;
When he had to choose either Shouyou or Takasugi and Zura.
And third was that the series had been inadvertently following Gin's growth all along.; albeit a unique development that someone coined as "inverse character development."
Something that I find masterfully woven is how much Gin had changed from the first chapter/(official) episode to the final one/last movie.
In the first episode Gin goes on a bit of a speech to the Amanto that he had failed to protect things and had nothing left.
And later midway through the series (2nd half of Silver Arc) he confessed to the Yorozuya team that he actually created this supposed "job" because he didn't have anything better to do; or to put it more correctly, he'd lost what he 'wanted' to do.
And when we reach the final movie we come full circle with his last fight with Utsuro+Takasugi, in which he changes his initial thoughts on "having nothing to protect" by stating that so long as he keeps what's important in his soul he will never truly lose; no matter how many times he faces the void.
The more I re-watched and re-evaluate the series, the more complex and intriguing this series becomes.
And honestly it only makes my fondness for the series and Gintoki stronger.

[@joleeneRnaylor]

Now I'm triggered by the shogun 😭😭😭😭 Great video!

[@rogueweeb7667]

Loved the way how you put that precious experience into words

[@davidwegescheide3796]

Loved the video, I will point out that there is a Lot of subtle character growth over the course of the series. One of the amazing things about the series is just how many themes and concepts are packed into it and how so many people can walk away with so very much.
One of the big themes here is trauma recovery. Gintoki, over the course of the series goes from waiting for his own slow, starvation death to father and caretaker steadily, bit by bit. To the point that when, at the end of the series, he has to repeat his original sin and break his promise to his own father figure, he knows this time he can do it. He knows he will be broken by killing Takasugi, but he also knows he will be able to put the pieces back together, to be able to progress forward because his friends and family will be there to help pick him up once more. Gintoki grows in thousands of small, subtle ways throughout the series, seen in background shots and small exchanges with his odd, strange family. Kagura does as well, so does Shinpachi, so does most of the cast. They each have long, steady character arcs that tweak them, they are never 'fixed' but they don't have to be. They all steadily become more honest with themselves and true to their natures, comfortable with those around them who have already accepted the best and worst parts of who they are.

[@somyaranjanmishra7096]

Very beautiful Gintama video