Gintama 236/ Gintama’ 35
Episode title: Don’t Say Goodbye Lionel
Source of subs: HorribleSubs
What happened in this episode:
The giant robot Kaien successfully dodges the first attack and actually sends back the missiles from the second attack, blowing up one Renho mothership’s arm and both of its own legs. The ship attacks Kaien with a giant drill, but combined efforts of Sakamoto and Gin-san destroy it and both Kaien’s arms.
The Renho supercomputer gloats that Kaien will not be able to defeat it now, but Kaien transforms into a giant cannon and Shinpachi says some heroic stuff which raises everyone’s spirits and prepares them for a full frontal attack.
The mothership is preparing to strike back, too, but Fumiko, who has somehow penetrated the ship, damages the brain of the ship and exposes its vulnerables to missiles. Her plan, unfortunately, means she would have to die in the explosion when everyone shoots at the planet’s core, but apparently she has no regrets.
It all ends without a big bang, and we are back on Earth, in the same scene that started the whole adventure.
And Katsura talks about looking again and gets punched again.
But there is one significant difference - nobody can remember Elizabeth anymore.
There is a flashback, showing what happened after the Rehno planet exploded. Elizabeth and everyone were caught in the explosion and were in a hospital on a Rehno spaceship.
Elizabeth shares heartfelt conversation with the comrades, they declare Fumiko, Earthlings and Elizabeth heroes.
Back on Earth, people start to realise something is wrong...
Another flashback, in which we find out that Elizabeth plans to stay with the Renho and not return to Earth to protect the freedom the Renho have gained.
Back on Earth, Sakamoto appears, and he has lost memory too. Not that it makes any difference to him.
Flashback to the Renho spaceship hospital again. Elizabeth talks to Katsura and there is a very heart-warming scene.
Elizabeth: “Katsura-san... I’m sorry.
This is why I did not want you to remember me. Because my mind was already made up. Because I won’t be returning to Earth. Because my resolve wavers every time I see your face.
That’s why I have no choice. I have to erase every memory you have of me.The only solution is to make you forget I ever existed. Because you have friends on Earth who still need you. Because I have friends here who still need me.”
Katsura: “How about we play one last game of Uno? If you win, you can erase our memories and send us back to Earth. But If I win,
Even after we’re back on Earth.”
Katsura: “Either way, this will be our last game of Uno. Give me your best shot.”
Elizabeth (thinking): “Did Katsura-san already know I would never return? You didn’t come to take me back to Earth? Then why..?”
Back on Earth, Katsura sits on a riverbank and mopes.
He remembers his last game with Elizabeth.
Katsura: “But you’re strong enough now. You’ll be able to survive out there by yourself.
Don’t worry about me.
They both start crying.
Katsura: “But if you believe in the path you have chosen, you must advance through your tears.
We may be thousands of light-years apart, but our paths will always cross.
Never forget.”
Katsura looks sad and feels lonely...
Katsura: “Elizabeth, everyone has forgotten about you. But it’s okay.
Gin-san comes to cheer Katsura up and play Uno with him.
Katsura: “What are you doing?”
Gintoki: “I’m dealing the cards again,”
Katsura: “That’s not what I meant. There is an extra hand.”
Gintoki: “What are you babbling about? There’s another person over there.
Katsura gets emotional again.
And everyone plays Uno with him, while the Renho spaceships fly away.
And after the ending song (or rather, the opening, they were switched this time), we see that Fumiko had actually survived to tell this story, and it turns out that Elizabeth will still be together with Katsura because General Eren was just a temp who stood in for Elizabeth on Mondays.
Katsura gets beaten up off-screen.
And thus ends the Renho arc.
Thoughts about this episode:
It was a really heartbreaking episode in so many moments! Katsura playing the last game of Uno with Elizabeth and promising he would never forget his friend! And Yorozuya noticing how odd it looks for Katsura to be alone because he is supposed to have a friend! And poor Katsura sitting on a riverbank all alone T_T I almost cried at that.
This episode really shows how important his friends are for Katsura. I think out of all Joi 4 he is the only one who would not be able to function properly alone, he needs comrades and supporters and friends, so it was really sad that he lost somebody so important to him. Well, at least at that moment it looked like he lost Elizabeth, but at the end of the episode we found out it’s not true. I was actually relieved - I don’t like Elizabeth, I think Katsura should have a cooler sidekick that would suit him better. But if he is happy with Elizabeth, then I’m happy too.
And Monday Elizabeth loved Katsura. Elizabeth said ‘Because my resolve wavers every time I see your face’, and that’s almost the same what Tsukuyo said to Gin-san this one time in Jiraya arc XD It was definitely a love confession, or as close as it can get. And it was actually kind of cute.
Talking about cute, I really lold at Katsura expressing regrets that Monday Elizabeth did not get to appear in Benizakura arc! It’s always fun when Gintama characters show awareness that they exist in an anime.
And more about cute - it was really adorable how everyone came to cheer Katsura up! It is really touching how much they care, and it definitely speaks volumes about Katsura - what a great guy he is that he inspires such people to take interest in his wellbeing and to care.
On the topic of Katsura being a great guy - he went to such great lengths for a Monday temp, see how much he cares about people! No wonder he is so loved and is such a great leader - he is such a warm-hearted and compassionate man!
Also, Katsura looked absolutely great in this episode, especially in the riverbank scenes - his long hair swishing in the wind, oh, be still me heart! XD
All in all, it was a good ending to a good arc, and I feel that we know Katsura slightly better now. And like him even more, if that is actually physically possible. The main theme of this arc was obviously friendship, and this really suits Katsura as he is such a loyal friend and a nice guy.
Source of subs: HorribleSubs
What happened in this episode:
The giant robot Kaien successfully dodges the first attack and actually sends back the missiles from the second attack, blowing up one Renho mothership’s arm and both of its own legs. The ship attacks Kaien with a giant drill, but combined efforts of Sakamoto and Gin-san destroy it and both Kaien’s arms.
The Renho supercomputer gloats that Kaien will not be able to defeat it now, but Kaien transforms into a giant cannon and Shinpachi says some heroic stuff which raises everyone’s spirits and prepares them for a full frontal attack.
The mothership is preparing to strike back, too, but Fumiko, who has somehow penetrated the ship, damages the brain of the ship and exposes its vulnerables to missiles. Her plan, unfortunately, means she would have to die in the explosion when everyone shoots at the planet’s core, but apparently she has no regrets.
It all ends without a big bang, and we are back on Earth, in the same scene that started the whole adventure.
And Katsura talks about looking again and gets punched again.
But there is one significant difference - nobody can remember Elizabeth anymore.
There is a flashback, showing what happened after the Rehno planet exploded. Elizabeth and everyone were caught in the explosion and were in a hospital on a Rehno spaceship.
Elizabeth shares heartfelt conversation with the comrades, they declare Fumiko, Earthlings and Elizabeth heroes.
Back on Earth, people start to realise something is wrong...
Another flashback, in which we find out that Elizabeth plans to stay with the Renho and not return to Earth to protect the freedom the Renho have gained.
Back on Earth, Sakamoto appears, and he has lost memory too. Not that it makes any difference to him.
Flashback to the Renho spaceship hospital again. Elizabeth talks to Katsura and there is a very heart-warming scene.
Elizabeth: “Katsura-san... I’m sorry.
This is why I did not want you to remember me. Because my mind was already made up. Because I won’t be returning to Earth. Because my resolve wavers every time I see your face.
That’s why I have no choice. I have to erase every memory you have of me.The only solution is to make you forget I ever existed. Because you have friends on Earth who still need you. Because I have friends here who still need me.”
Katsura: “How about we play one last game of Uno? If you win, you can erase our memories and send us back to Earth. But If I win,
Even after we’re back on Earth.”
Katsura: “Either way, this will be our last game of Uno. Give me your best shot.”
Elizabeth (thinking): “Did Katsura-san already know I would never return? You didn’t come to take me back to Earth? Then why..?”
Back on Earth, Katsura sits on a riverbank and mopes.
He remembers his last game with Elizabeth.
Katsura: “But you’re strong enough now. You’ll be able to survive out there by yourself.
Don’t worry about me.
They both start crying.
Katsura: “But if you believe in the path you have chosen, you must advance through your tears.
We may be thousands of light-years apart, but our paths will always cross.
Never forget.”
Katsura looks sad and feels lonely...
Katsura: “Elizabeth, everyone has forgotten about you. But it’s okay.
Gin-san comes to cheer Katsura up and play Uno with him.
Katsura: “What are you doing?”
Gintoki: “I’m dealing the cards again,”
Katsura: “That’s not what I meant. There is an extra hand.”
Gintoki: “What are you babbling about? There’s another person over there.
Katsura gets emotional again.
And everyone plays Uno with him, while the Renho spaceships fly away.
And after the ending song (or rather, the opening, they were switched this time), we see that Fumiko had actually survived to tell this story, and it turns out that Elizabeth will still be together with Katsura because General Eren was just a temp who stood in for Elizabeth on Mondays.
Katsura gets beaten up off-screen.
And thus ends the Renho arc.
Thoughts about this episode:
It was a really heartbreaking episode in so many moments! Katsura playing the last game of Uno with Elizabeth and promising he would never forget his friend! And Yorozuya noticing how odd it looks for Katsura to be alone because he is supposed to have a friend! And poor Katsura sitting on a riverbank all alone T_T I almost cried at that.
This episode really shows how important his friends are for Katsura. I think out of all Joi 4 he is the only one who would not be able to function properly alone, he needs comrades and supporters and friends, so it was really sad that he lost somebody so important to him. Well, at least at that moment it looked like he lost Elizabeth, but at the end of the episode we found out it’s not true. I was actually relieved - I don’t like Elizabeth, I think Katsura should have a cooler sidekick that would suit him better. But if he is happy with Elizabeth, then I’m happy too.
And Monday Elizabeth loved Katsura. Elizabeth said ‘Because my resolve wavers every time I see your face’, and that’s almost the same what Tsukuyo said to Gin-san this one time in Jiraya arc XD It was definitely a love confession, or as close as it can get. And it was actually kind of cute.
Talking about cute, I really lold at Katsura expressing regrets that Monday Elizabeth did not get to appear in Benizakura arc! It’s always fun when Gintama characters show awareness that they exist in an anime.
And more about cute - it was really adorable how everyone came to cheer Katsura up! It is really touching how much they care, and it definitely speaks volumes about Katsura - what a great guy he is that he inspires such people to take interest in his wellbeing and to care.
On the topic of Katsura being a great guy - he went to such great lengths for a Monday temp, see how much he cares about people! No wonder he is so loved and is such a great leader - he is such a warm-hearted and compassionate man!
Also, Katsura looked absolutely great in this episode, especially in the riverbank scenes - his long hair swishing in the wind, oh, be still me heart! XD
All in all, it was a good ending to a good arc, and I feel that we know Katsura slightly better now. And like him even more, if that is actually physically possible. The main theme of this arc was obviously friendship, and this really suits Katsura as he is such a loyal friend and a nice guy.