I was completely blown away at how funny it was and how much I was laughing. This is the major selling point of the show. It. Is. HYSTERICAL. Perhaps your stomach is sensitive, and you live in constant fear of your gut busting. Don't watch watch this show. No, forget that, watch it anyway. You'll die with tears in your eyes and a smile on your face.
Yes, Gintama will forever be good for a laugh. While I feel it is unsurpassed in this aspect, it is not constant comedy. I make this point for two reasons:
1) In a way, it has a slow start. I did not immediately think I was watching a comedic masterpiece from the beginning. It was not truly Gintama until about ep. 25 (which is coincidentally when I realized I was watching a comedic masterpiece). What I mean by that is it needed time to become familiar; to feel itself out and establish what it is. The more you watch, the more you become aware of Gintama's style and the running jokes, of which there is an infinite supply!
2) This is probably the biggest complaint the show gets, and the main reason you can breathe between in place of perpetual laughter. This show can be serious. Seriously. Some people say that the solemnity kills the mood, that it should just stick to its usual gags. Gintama is mainly episodic with little connection from episode-to-episode, and it can indeed be fairly serious in some some of its standalone episodes, mixed in with comedy, of course. Personally, while I can sort of see why people are not as into it, I have no problem with it, and even welcome it as a sort of balance. What I understand less is the not liking the arcs Ithat range from 2-8 episodes) that have a more earnest approach. A different tone is set from the start and subsequently, though there are still funny moments, it is done in a bit more mature fashion where the show takes itself a little more seriously for the time being, especially with the arcs set in Yoshiwara. In fact, this is when the show's, for lack of a better word, 'badass-ness' is in full display. I never looked at the drama and emotional bits as a weak point, but instead reveled in it, amazed that something so funny could spin emotion so well. For me, it's a nice change of pace that shows how well-rounded Gintama is.
Having discussed the 'flaws', I'll briefly touch on other criteria, starting with the plot. There isn't any. As I said earlier, Gintama is episodic, each one being distinct and usually unrelated to the next. For the few short arcs that appear, a premise is set up, giving the show its only instances of an existing story. It is a shounen anime, published in JUMP with other great shounen anime, but it is a parody show first (which is often pointed out on screen, often through the nonexistent 4th wall). While the plot and various situations that arise each time are certainly good, they are not what make this show truly shine.
The characters. O MAN, DEM CHARACTERS. The highlight of Gintama and what separates it from any other anime. Put simply, they are fantastic characters. In fact, I loathe to assign them as 'main' and 'minor'. Every one has backstory, depth, flaws, likes, dislikes, quirks, and distinct personality. This extends through a large cast of characters where there may be entire episodes centered around secondary characters, or they may make short, pointlessly funny cameos, giving the series what little semblance of a connection between episodes it has. I will always love the array of characters and the idiosyncrasies they bring to the table, such as a mayonnaise obsession, sadistic/masochistic sides, an annoyance at a nickname, a bad case of hemorrhoids, a love for JUMP, and so many more.
The art is good, though nothing revolutionary. It improves as the series goes on. Its main function is to be diverse for the use of visual gags, and in case you were wondering: yes, it does its job well. The sound is in a similar boat. It is simple, diverse, and showcases the dialogue, changing according to mood, or to help drive home a punch line. As for the OP/ED, I thought it was an amazing soundtrack, though your musical taste may be different. Go figure.
Gintama is nothing short of outstanding and hilarious. Sitting through 262 episodes was one of the most enjoyable experiences with anime I've had. I cannot recommend this show enough. You're bound to enjoy it (just ask the MAL rankings). To end with, I'll leave you with a quote that sums up the show pretty nicely.
"If One Piece teaches you how to pursue your dreams, then Gintama teaches you how to live on even if your dreams have shattered."
