Norbert Daniels Jr.
April 9, 2015 
Last February we found out that Gintama would be returning for a new season this year. It’s been over two years since we had last seen any new episodes and the premiere episode of the new season doesn’t disappoint.
Gintama is a difficult show to describe to someone who isn’t familiar. The quick thing to say is that it’s a Shonen action/comedy about the adventures of three members of an Odd Jobs company. But there’s definitely a lot more to the show than that. Its setting is like if 19th century Japan, modern pop culture and sci-fi technology crashed into each other. It has an enormous cast that includes a masochistic ninja, an easily-distracted terrorist and a protagonist obsessed with eating sweets and reading Jump. If I tried to tell you exactly what Gintama is about and why it’s my favorite anime, it would take up an entire article, if not more, so hopefully this little bit of info will be enough to get you interested if you haven’t already seen this show.
After watching this premiere episode, I really feel like this season is getting off on the right foot. The show starts off by immediately breaking the fourth wall, because of course it does, that’s just the Gintama way. In a parody of a Japanese politician’s apology for corruption, the episode opens up with Gin apologizing for the anime returning. I was personally expecting a static shot of the outside of the Odd Jobs building or a throwback to Shinpachi introducing the premise in season one, but I still really enjoyed how this episode started off.
Instead of doing a one-shot, this season decided to hit the ground running by going straight into an arc. The story starts off with Gin trying to avoid paying his rent when he realizes that time has frozen for everyone except Kagura, Shinpachi and himself. After a bit of goofing around, the three try to figure out a way to get time flowing again.
The episode’s got the same humor that longtime fans have grown to love. I loved how the characters are ashamed that they couldn’t even get past the first episode on the air without messing up the show. Also present is the use of homages to anime/manga that runs through the series. Dragon Ball Z fans are going to appreciate the last few minutes.
If you’ve watched the earlier episodes of Gintama then you’ll feel right at home with this. The show doesn’t skip a beat at all. Gintama is my favorite anime and this episode gives me faith that it will stay this way. If you’ve never watched Gintama but want to start, then this is a decent point for you to jump in, though I suggest you start at a much earlier episode.
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Norbert Daniels Jr. is a freelance writer with a silver soul. You can listen to his podcast on appreciating and analyzing animation at SaturdayMorningBlockParty.com
© Hideaki Sorachi/Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, Sunrise, Aniplex
