Gintama Vol 5

[meganbmoore]

I continue to be torn between wanting a plot, and thinking that a plot will just get in the way. This volume had some fine cosplay disguised as crack. Or is that crack disguised as cosplay. Beach samurai, a biker gang, fake exorcists, and forced crossdressing that managed to not annoy me.

I am particularly fond of Gin and Hijikata being scared of the ghosts, and Gin deciding to be parental and hold Kagura and Shinpachi’s hands in case they were scared (even though it was really because he was scared of the ghost). I’m also still “WTF?”-ing a bit over Okita saying he once tried to summon an evil spirit to banish Hijikata. Okita has issues. As does Kondo, if he’s asking an adolescent girl to babysit him when he goes to the bathroom. That bit managed to be both cute and not remotely pervy. Shinpachi also complained about Okita and Kagura always fighting. I assume that made the shippers happy.

And the biker gang! Seriously? Err…they got into that a little too eagerly. Especially Otae. Incidentally, I don’t particularly mind the “Woman who can’t cook” trope there. Mostly because anyone who implies there’s something wrong with her because of it isn’t likely to live long.

I also liked Kagura’s shopping channel addiction, and her run-in with not!Bankei to defend Gin’s sword…only to learn he bought it on the shopping channel.

And finally, is Sa-chan the masochist I’ve heard about? She seems interesting. If concerningly prone to losing her glasses. I wonder if Shinpachi and Gin had to give Kagura the birds and bees talk after that, though.
 

Comments

[neuclear.livejournal.com]

Yup, Sa-chan is the one you've heard about with her love of S&M, and not to give spoilers away but, uhhh...birds and bees talk doesn't really happen, since poor Gintoki and Shinpachi just try to make her NOT think about things like that--they get oddly defensive when it comes to her, and I love just how siblings-like they are. It's rather refreshing pace then all the wanna-be sexual tension a lot of other series input whenever it's two teenagers and an old-ish drifter under one roof...I really do think they're a lovely surrogate family to one another...

Oh and ahaha, yeah they all get pumped up for things...really easily in that series...really, really, easy.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I'm vaguely concerned for the day she brings a date home. Either he will die, or they will. (Maybe that's why we all assume Okita/Kagura...he could survive her family.) I enjoy the extreme gen-ness of the series. You have family setups, but no hints at all of 2-way liking.

[calixa.livejournal.com]

Honestly, Okita/Kagura is the closest the series gets towards a pairing, and that's only in a subtext-y kinda way. (Well, actually, no, there's Hijikata and a certain somebody's sister, but I have already told you how that one goes.)

Jumping in right quick...

[neuclear.livejournal.com]

As much as Okikagu fangirl as I am, and I love to agree, there is also to a degree some, not much, but just a little Gintoki/Otae. I'm not one to really see it, but apparently it's rather prevalent in a certain revenge arc...but then again even then, it's more her playing nursemaid really...

Re: Jumping in right quick...

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I can fairly see Gintoki/Otae. Not "see it in what I've read," but see the logic. It would kill Kondo and make Shinpachi's head explode, though. Kagura might approve.

[neuclear.livejournal.com]

That'd be a thought--though on the brightside, Shinpachi would finally have a father-like figure in his life...not a very good one but still.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I think Shinpachi's choices are Gin or Kondo.

As to which would be better...

[calixa.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I guess if you asked me what I thought the most likely Gintoki het ship would be, if there was one, I would probably go with Gin/Otae.

[neuclear.livejournal.com]

Well, you could count in Otsuu/Shinpachi if you wanted, but it seems Otsuu kind of doesn't really bother with Shinpachi's existence~

[neuclear.livejournal.com]

Ahaha, I think they're hoping that she never discovers puberty, though if it did end up being Okita, somehow, someway Kondo would be involved, and well not only will Okita have to deal with Gintoki and Shinpachi, but by proxy Otae as well. I really do just love how they don't force anything really, it's very nice to just be able to take it as it all is. Honestly this is one of the few fandoms I'm picky with fic, because I really just don't want to see the set-ups mangled...

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

HAHA! Yes. Really, the thought is the thing crackfic is made of. Then again, Gintama almost is shounen crackfic to start with.


...

Is that icon okita and Kagura?

[neuclear.livejournal.com]

This is so very true...

...Um, yeah, ahaha, they're my OTP of the series, really~