Gintama

Episode 317

Returning from its second-shortest hiatus, Gintama makes the jump from primetime to late night. Whereas past premieres have been hijinks-laden comedic affairs, the new season begins on a mostly serious note, continuing hot off the heels of the previous two endgame arcs. In addition to being light on gags, the latest premiere primarily functions as an episode-length info dump that sets the stage for what's to come while also answering several of the series' biggest questions.

Following a humorous cold open in which the Odd Jobs trio discuss their new timeslot, we discover that Gintoki, Shinpachi, and Kagura have been laying low in Akiba with Katsura's crew since the events of the Farewell Shinsengumi arc. However, thanks to Zura's lackluster attempts at keeping a low profile, Nobume quickly finds the group and arranges a meet-up between Gintoki's gang, Matako, and Takechi. We then learn that in the wake of Shigeshige's assassination, Nobunobu and the Harusame Elders turned on Kamui's Seventh Fleet, ordering a full-scale purge of this group and the Kiheitai. They even went so far as to enlist the aid of Umibōzu, the only being capable of going head-to-head with his super-powered son. Despite the Kiheitai's efforts to collect their comatose leader and flee the bloodbath, Matako and Takechi were ultimately forced to escape on their own, leaving the fates of Takasugi and Bansai up in the air.

As if this news weren't troubling enough, Nobume then proceeds to drop one of the biggest bombs in Gintama history. As Sasaki's former protégé explains, the Tendoshu's interest in Earth is directly tied to a planetary energy known as Altana (also known as “ley lines”). Although all planets possess this energy, Earth's is exceptionally strong, making it a prime target for the group. Altana is also the reason interplanetary travel and advanced space weaponry are possible in the Gintama-verse. Setting their sights on Earth's massive Altana reserves, the Tendoshu took an interest in Shoyo/Utsuro, a being who's uniquely imbued with this energy and unable to die, which explains how he survived his decapitation. After serving as the head of the Naraku for 500 years, Utsuro fled the group after catching wind of the Tendoshu's plans for him, assuming the identity of Yoshida Shoyo until his capture and subsequent execution at the hands of Gintoki. Having now ousted the Elders and taken control of the Harusame, Utsuro reveals that he's lived many lives and been reborn countless times. Now he seeks to end this cycle of suffering by putting an end to himself—and possibly the entire Earth by extension.

This wouldn't be Gintama if it didn't make the audience laugh before the episode had even passed the one-minute mark. In addition to the fourth wall-breaking cold open, the episode's first few minutes feature a number of sight gags and a steady dose of physical comedy. Gintoki waking up from a prophetic dream to find Elizabeth's pixelated testicles resting on his head serves as a suitably crude reminder that no matter how serious things become, this will always be a delightfully off-color comedy at Gintama's core.

However, the comedic tone comes screeching to a halt during Nobume's info dump. The information Nobume conveys is game-changing, but there's too much of it. While there are advantages to laying it all out on the table now, this method is not an example of skilled storytelling; the rapid-fire delivery is dense and overwhelming. Still, at the very least, it sets the stage for the next act in Gintama's endgame and gives us an extended glimpse of Utsuro at his most menacing. With the fate of the planet hanging in the balance, the stakes are clearer than ever, and the series finally has a clearly-defined master villain.

Unlike past premieres, episode 317 isn't a good jumping-in point for new fans, but longtime viewers are sure to eat up The Battle of Rakuyo's first installment. While light on laughs, this latest outing contains a lot of important information about the show's universe—perhaps even a little too much. With this information out of the way, the show will, with any luck, focus on action and humor in the weeks to come.

Rating: B+

Gintama is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Amy is an author who has loved anime for over two decades.