The BEST episodes of Gintama season 4

#1 - The More Precious the Burden, the Heavier and More Difficult It Is to Shoulder It

Season 4 - Episode 30 - Aired 10/22/2009

Gintoki strikes down Jiraia and frees Tsukuyo from his twisted web. Chiding Tsukuyo for trying to shoulder every burden herself, Gintoki goes on to say that rather than throw away your life to die beautifully, it’s far better to live and be yourself – even if your life is not a pretty one. And finally, Gintoki expresses his anger toward Jiraia for betraying his own student, despite calling himself a master.

#2 - Everybody's a Santa!

Season 4 - Episode 51 - Aired 3/25/2010

The contest has finally begun but instead of a real contest to decide who's the real Santa, Kagura, Otae and the five Santas together with Shinpachi and Hasegawa are shown in various scenes playing a role like a school girl and not fighting each other like in a real contest. In each scene they imagine, the Santa has to show his kind of version what he would do as Santa and this is judged by Kagura, Otae and Hasegawa. Although in the end none of the Santas has any desire to continue with this contest so they all quit. The episode ends with Kagura, all along figured out the identity of everyone, wishing everybody a Merry Christmas.

#3 - It's the Irresponsible One Who's Scary When Pissed

Season 4 - Episode 29 - Aired 10/15/2009

Tsukuyo falls into the hands of Jiraia, her former master, and is held captive. Meanwhile Gintoki manages to survive the attack thanks to Zenzo, and he learns about Jiraia’s past. During the Amanto attack twenty years ago, Jiraia is said to have killed his own people within the Oniwabanshu, all for the sake of his devotion to the previous shogun. In the end Jiraia himself was the one to be terminated, but he managed to escape. Now his devotion is directed toward his own creation, Tsukuyo. Jiraia’s motive is to eliminate the bond that she has come to rely upon. And he intends to achieve that goal by setting fire to Yoshiwara and burning down everything!

#4 - Santa Claus Red Is Blood Red

Season 4 - Episode 50 - Aired 3/18/2010

It's Christmas in Edo and Kagura writes her father a letter. She is sad that Santa Claus never visited her. Moved, her father Umi Bozu dresses himself up as Santa and hides watching Kagura, Otae, Shinpachi and Hasegawa celebrate Christmas. When he finally jumps out of the bushes to surprise her there is another Santa, a dressed up Gintoki. Both of them think that their counterpart is real. They start punching each other when another three Santas show up (Sachan, Kondo and Kyubei). Kagura decides on a contest to see who's the real Santa.

#5 - Popularity Polls Can…

Season 4 - Episode 34 - Aired 11/19/2009

#6 - Not Losing to the Storm

Season 4 - Episode 47 - Aired 2/25/2010

In order to save Ketsuno Ana, Seimei agrees to Douman's proposal of a Shikigami Tag-Team Mystic Death Match. Seimei arrives at the arena only to be captured by Douman, but Gintoki and the gang appears to lend a helping hand. The first match ends in a draw after both the Ketsuno and Shirino clan contestants are disqualified. After seeing how they performed in the first round, Seimei accepts Gintoki and the gang's skills, and together they prepare for the next round. Rather than making a casting spells fight, Gintoki and Ketsuno Ana's shikigami, Gedomaru, try to beat up Douman, but are caught in one of Douman's illusion and Gintoki has his testicles rip off by Gedomaru's weapon. As Gintoki's testicles are accidentally damaged by Gedomaru, Seimei decides to fight Douman alone while the shikigami heal Gintoki.

#7 - When Looking for Something, Try Using Its Perspective

Season 4 - Episode 40 - Aired 1/7/2010

While on a job observing stray cats at a shrine feeding themselves,the Yorozuya waiting for the boss cat to show up with the name Hoichi. But as he finally shows up, and Kagura and Shinpachi jump out of the bushes to capture him, he escapes easily. So they ask Gintoki to help out, when they notice that he mysteriously disappeared.

#8 - Screw Popularity Votes

Season 4 - Episode 32 - Aired 11/5/2009

Character popularity results are announced to celebrate Gintama’s 182nd episode! Shinpachi is alone at the café, feeling depressed after learning that he’s still in 8th place in popularity, unchanged from the previous ranking. Yamazaki, who is in 9th place, drops by to say that boring characters such as they should aim to become the No. 1 steppingstone for others. For Shinpachi and Yamazaki, 8th and 9th place should hold the same meaning as 1st. But in reality Yamazaki can’t give up the hope of ranking higher, and runs off in tears. Shinpachi can do nothing but watch, when suddenly Yamazaki’s scream is heard in the distance!

#9 - An Observation Journal Should Be Seen Through to the Very End

Season 4 - Episode 38 - Aired 12/17/2009

Students at a temple school share their independent research projects completed during the past summer vacation. After one of the students finishes reading a well-written journal, the last one to present is a kid named Daigoro. Sleeping in on the first day of summer vacation, Daigoro arrived late at the radio exercises and met Madao, and decided to keep an observation journal about him.

#10 - Hometowns and Boobs Are Best Thought of from Afar / The Whole Peeing on a Bee Sting Is a Myth. You'll Get Germs, So Don't Do It!!

Season 4 - Episode 35 - Aired 11/26/2009

The Odd Jobs are requested to remove a hornets’ nest on the temple grounds. Fully armored in protective suits, what awaits the trio is a ginormous hive, like none they’ve ever seen before. Arguing that this wasn’t what they signed up for, Gintoki prepares to leave, but Kagura goes off and destroys the hive. The trio quickly plays dead to avoid getting attacked by the raging hornets, but are instead greeted by something quite unexpected...

#11 - Not Losing to the Wind

Season 4 - Episode 46 - Aired 2/18/2010

Weather girl Ketsuno Ana is giving the wrong weather forecast. Turns out she comes from a line of traditional Onmyojis, and her forecast is not derived from mere fortune-telling but actually by using her Onmyoji powers. But her weather forecast is being sabotaged by someone who is unhappy with Ketsuno Ana's career as a weather girl despite her being an Onmyoji. Gintoki and the gang arrive at the Onmyoji mansion where they come face to face with Seimei, Ketsuno Ana's older brother.

#12 - And into the Legend…

Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired 8/13/2009

At last, Gintoki and his friends confront the Great Archfiend. While the Leukocyte King can’t lay a finger on the Great Archfiend who has taken Tama’s form, Gintoki attacks without giving a damn. Angered by his reckless impudence, the Leukocyte King turns on Gintoki. The Great Archfiend then takes the form of the Leukocyte King’s father. But this time Shinpachi and Kagura attack him, and they succeed in kicking him off the throne. The Odd Jobs trio takes this chance to finish the Great Archfiend off, but...

#13 - Love Is Unconditional

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 6/18/2009

The time to settle the battle for the official fan club title is finally here. The match between Shinpachi and Hijikata is a card battle using Otsu chip playing cards. Never knowing such a thing existed, Shinpachi rushes to the vendor for some cards. Hijikata on the other hand is fully prepared and delivers the ultra powerful card “Melancholy 5-minutes before start”! Hijikata’s range of powerful attacks forces Shinpachi to stay on the defensive. Can he possibly find a way to make a counterattack?

#14 - We Know It's Best to Finish Yearly Tasks Before the End of the Year, But Then You Put It Off 'til Next Year for a Fresh Start. That's How the End of the Year Goes

Season 4 - Episode 39 - Aired 12/24/2009

Part 1 - While researching the Anti-Foreigner War, a reporter interviews Nagai, a former reporter from the war called Nagai in order to know about the White Demon's (Gintoki's alter-ego) activities in such time. He chronicles the events from war, explaining how the samurais decided to fight against the aliens. As Nagai is about to talk about the White Demon, he replaces him with the fictional robot Gundam to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the franchise with the same name. Part 2 - Kagura starts going to Kabuki-cho's physical fitness lessons where she meets a kid named Hongou Hiashi, whom she befriends. Suffering from a dangerous disease that weakens his body, Hiashi is absent from various lessons even though he promised Kagura to go to every lesson. During a rainy day, Kagura is the only person to come to the lesson, but Gintoki and her friends decide to join her. Next day, Hiashi returns to another lesson and sees Kagura once again.

#15 - If One Orange in the Box Is Rotten, the Rest of Them Will Become Rotten Before You Realize It

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 5/28/2009

The preliminary round for the Official Tsu Terakado fan club title is a marathon race. With Takachin in critical condition and Kagura taking the wrong route, team Shinpachi’s chances of winning look slim. But thanks to Gintoki’s quick thinking, Takachin makes an instant (and improved?) recovery and emerges from the hospital to rejoin the race! As the race gradually turns into a battle of deception, Shinpachi runs furiously for the goal. Will he be able to beat the tactical general Tosshi?!

#16 - The Heavens Created Chonmage Above Man Instead of Another Man

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/9/2009

The Shogun wants Gintoki, Kagura and Shinpachi to redo his mage. After Kagura is trying to ask the Shogun how he wants his hair done, she vomits and a Naruto gets stuck on the Shogun's head. Then the three Yorozuya try removing it with a razor and accidentally cut off the Shogun's mage. To cover up their mistake they try to find a replace for it.

#17 - Once You're Entangled in a Spiderweb, It's Hard to Get It Off

Season 4 - Episode 28 - Aired 10/8/2009

Gintoki and Tsukuyo infiltrate the Benigumoto, the Red Spiders, to get a lead on the man with the tattooed spider on his neck, but are discovered and quickly surrounded. The two manage to fend for themselves, when the man with the tattooed spider makes a sudden appearance and attacks Gintoki! The man then speaks as if he knows Tsukuyo. Who is this man?!

#18 - Never Losing That Smile

Season 4 - Episode 48 - Aired 3/4/2010

Seimei takes the risk of being dismissed as lead guardian of Edo by undoing the Shikigami placed throughout the city, and fueling himself with all their power to face Douman. Their fierce magic clashes, and Douman is forced onto the defensive as Seimei's techniques overwhelm him. Just when the battle seems over, Douman recalls the history between his family and the Ketsuno clan as repeatedly told by his father.

#19 - That Person Looks Different from Usual During a Birthday Party

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/23/2009

Otae and Shinpachi are invited to Kyubei’s birthday party. The two arrive at the Yagyu mansion with a birthday cake in hand, only to find the place filled with celebrities from the entertainment and political worlds and other various industries! When the two begin to feel out of place, they spot Gintoki, Katsura, Hasegawa, and Kamenashi (without his shell) causing a huge commotion. Naturally, with these members together in one place trouble is bound to happen…

#20 - Two Is Better Than One. Two People Are Better Than One

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 7/16/2009

Hijikata is on a stakeout near the apartment’s dumpster. There, a sleepy Gintoki comes to throw away his trash. Finding Gintoki’s persistent intrusion a burden, Hijikata arrests Gintoki for insulting and obstructing an officer on duty. But while pushing and shoving each other, Hijikata accidentally handcuffs himself to Gintoki. Hijikata calls Okita who is staking out a different location to come and unlock them and take Gintoki to the Shinsengumi Headquarters. Instead, Okita puts a second pair of handcuffs on Gintoki and Hijikata. In the midst of all this, the Radical Joi Faction makes a move.

#21 - Popularity Polls Can Burn in Hell

Season 4 - Episode 33 - Aired 11/12/2009

Characters unhappy with the popularity poll results begin attacking high-ranking characters. Surrounded by the low-ranking characters, Shinpachi attempts to escape across the rooftops but loses his footing and falls. Just when Shinpachi thinks he’s done for, he is saved by an unknown hand and manages to flee from Catherine and the other low-ranking characters. When everybody is an enemy, which character would be willing to lend a helping hand?

#22 - Are There Still People Who Go to the Ocean and Yell Out "Bakayaro"? / When a Person Is Trapped, Their Inner Door Opens

Season 4 - Episode 24 - Aired 9/10/2009

The Odd Jobs Trio are wrapping up a case and waiting for the elevator inside a skyscraper at night. The client is the president of a huge corporation, and the gang receives a handsome reward. It’s their first huge cash haul in a while, so Gintoki and the gang decide to celebrate by having yakiniku (barbeque). As they excitedly discuss which place they should go to, the elevator arrives. But just when they get on, trouble occurs.

#23 - Sleep Helps a Child Grow

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/16/2009

Kagura can't fall asleep, so she goes to Gintoki's room and troubles him about her problem. After few methods, she finally fells asleep while listening to a story from a radio show. Unfortunately Gintoki listened to this Horror story as well, and now he can't fall aleep.

#24 - It's Bad Luck to See a Spider at Night

Season 4 - Episode 27 - Aired 10/1/2009

Gintoki and the gang return to Yoshiwara at Hinowa’s request for the first time in a while. Although Hosen’s death has brought freedom to Yoshiwara, it’s also drawn the renewed interest of those who previously avoided Yoshiwara in fear of Hosen’s power. Yoshiwara is now troubled with an increased crime rate, especially illegal drug dealing. Odd Jobs are asked to capture the man responsible. The man in question is said to go by various names, titles, and even faces. The only clue available is the tattooed spider on his neck.

#25 - Beware of Foreshadows

Season 4 - Episode 36 - Aired 12/3/2009

Okita is going through a selection of sweets at the cake shop. As Okita leaves the store, a girl suddenly comes up and stabs him!! Calling Okita her father’s killer, the girl’s action seems to be fueled by a past case called the “Rokkaku Incident.” What is the connection between this incident and Okita, as well as the girl’s father? And more importantly, what’s the fate of Okita who’s been stabbed right at the start of this episode?!