Ep 210. A Lawless Town Tends to Attract a Bunch of Whoohooey Folk

As Gintama Season 5 Episode 210 - A Lawless Town Tends to Attract a Bunch of Whoohooey Folk opens, the setting is the Edo period of Japan, which has been invaded by aliens led by the Amanto race. This development has brought tremendous change to both the culture and day-to-day life of the society. The samurai, a once-revered class in Japanese society, is now obsolete and looked down upon. Those who once were at the top of the society are now forced to find new jobs.

In this episode, we follow the journey of three friends, Gintoki Sakata, Shinpachi Shimura, and Kagura as they navigate their peculiar world. The story revolves around two main themes: the daily life of alien-occupied Japan and the trio's challenges in generating income as they navigate the world of odd jobs.

The episode starts with the trio walking past a poor village struggling with rampant crime. A group of thugs has taken over the town, terrorizing the residents and running various illegal businesses. Gintoki, Shinpachi, and Kagura stumble into the village, only to find the residents cowering in fear. The trio realizes that there is something odd going on as there is no way the village gets by on the limited resources produced there.

Gintoki soon discovers that the thugs are not the problem but rather the one who regulates everything. The mysterious town mayor pulls all the strings in the town, manipulating trade, controlling the villagers, and running it as a criminal organization. Gintoki and the rest decide to lay low and observe the town's politics before taking action. However, they soon find themselves immersing in the atmosphere of the town and getting involved in a set of bizarre events.

The episode is a humorous take on the idea of criminals operating with complete impunity in a lawless setting. The trio finds themselves constantly running into the mayor as he manipulates and spins the system to his advantage. The villagers are too scared to speak up against the mayor and his gang, primarily due to fear of retaliation. The trio realizes that they cannot take down the mayor's criminal enterprise single-handedly, so they brainstorm on how to liberate the village.

The episode also brings to light the difficulties of finding stable employment and making a living during difficult times. Gintoki, Shinpachi, and Kagura wander around trying to make ends meet by doing odd jobs, each more eccentric than the last. A running gag throughout this episode is that every new client they take on comes with a quirky personality or odd predicament.

Overall, Gintama Season 5 Episode 210 - A Lawless Town Tends to Attract a Bunch of Whoohooey Folk is an interesting episode filled with exciting action scenes, hilarious moments, and a social commentary that resonates with present-day society's issues. The episode effectively captures the spirit of Gintama, a show that seamlessly blends serious themes with humor in a way that is both thought-provoking and entertaining. This episode is a must-watch for fans of the series and for anyone looking for a light-hearted yet engaging TV show.