Ep 22. Farewell Shinsengumi Arc Part Six: Undelivered Mail

The anime series, Gintama, is a popular and long-running manga adaptation that is known for its off-beat humor, action, and inventive storytelling. It takes place in a fictional version of Edo-era Japan, where samurai coexist with aliens, and the government is corrupt and incompetent. The show follows the adventures of a colorful cast of characters, including the titular protagonist, Gintoki Sakata, a former samurai turned freelance odd-jobber.

Season Four of Gintama features an arc called "Farewell Shinsengumi Arc" that centers around the dissolution of the Shinsengumi, a group of elite samurai who are loyal to the ruling government. In Episode 22 of Season Four, titled "Undelivered Mail," the story continues with the fallout from the Shinsengumi's disbanding and its impact on its former members.

The episode opens with a brief montage of the various Shinsengumi members going about their new lives after leaving their posts. Some have become mercenaries, while others have taken on more mundane jobs. However, the general feeling among them is one of confusion and aimlessness, as they struggle to find meaning and purpose outside of the group that defined their identities for so long.

The focus then shifts to Hajime Saito, one of the most notable members of the Shinsengumi, who is shown walking through the streets of Edo, deep in thought. He stops at a mailbox and takes out a letter, clearly troubled by its contents. The camera then cuts to flashback scenes of Saito during his time in the Shinsengumi, highlighting his loyalty to his comrades and his intense dedication to his duties, even at the cost of his own well-being.

As the flashback ends, Saito looks up at the sky, seemingly lost in thought. The next scene shows him in a new place, where he has apparently taken up work as a bodyguard. He is shown protecting his client from potential attackers, demonstrating his formidable skills as a samurai. However, even in the midst of the action, Saito appears distracted, still grappling with the emotional upheaval of the Shinsengumi's disbanding.

The episode then switches to another former member of the Shinsengumi, Toshiro Hijikata, who is shown drinking alone in a bar. His demeanor is reflective and melancholy, and the bar's owner tries to cheer him up by reminiscing about the good times they had together with the other Shinsengumi members. However, Hijikata is clearly struggling to move on from the past, and the owner realizes that there is little he can do to help.

The episode continues to explore the different ways in which the former Shinsengumi members are coping with the aftermath of the group's dissolution. Some, like Saito, are thrown into dangerous new roles as mercenaries, while others, like Hijikata, find themselves adrift in a world that no longer makes sense to them. Throughout the episode, there is a sense of longing and loss that pervades the narrative, as the characters struggle to come to terms with the end of an era.

Overall, "Undelivered Mail" is a poignant and introspective exploration of the aftermath of the Shinsengumi's disbanding. The episode does an excellent job of delving into the emotional turmoil that the characters are experiencing, while also highlighting their individual strengths and weaknesses. With strong writing, top-notch animation, and a fantastic cast of characters, Gintama continues to be a standout anime series that appeals to audiences of all ages.