Gintama: Mr. Ginpachi’s Zany Class Episode 10: Shortcuts Are Overrated (And So Are Bad Nicknames)

Let’s be real—who hasn’t tried to cut corners in school? Skipping a paragraph in an essay, shortening a presentation to 2 minutes instead of 5, or even giving your friend a ridiculous nickname that’s way too short (looking at you, anyone who’s ever called their buddy “J” instead of “Jason”). But Episode 10 of Mr. Ginpachi’s Zany Class—titled “You Can’t Just Shorten Everything”—takes that relatable chaos and cranks it up to 11 with the classic Gintama energy we all know and love.

For the uninitiated, this spin-off drops all your favorite Gintama characters into a high school where Sakata Ginpachi (our beloved Gintoki, but with a teacher’s tie) is stuck herding Class 3-Z—a ragtag crew of idol otakus, mayo addicts, and a guy who still thinks he’s a samurai (Zura, obviously). This episode dives headfirst into the joke of shortening everything: students try to abbreviate their homework answers to one word, call each other absurdly short nicknames (like “Gin” instead of “Ginpachi-sensei—big mistake), and even attempt to shorten the school day by faking a fire drill. Spoiler: None of it works.

What makes this episode hit so hard? The little things that feel like a hug to Gintama fans. Shinpachi is back as the straight man, yelling at everyone to stop being chaotic while secretly enjoying the mess (we’ve all been that friend). Zura steals the show with his latest scheme: he renames himself “Zu” and insists everyone call him that, leading to a series of confusion that ends with him accidentally joining the wrong club (a knitting group—yes, really). And let’s not skip the meta jokes: the episode playfully breaks the 4th wall to joke about how hard it is to fit all the original Gintama characters into a high school setting, which feels like a nod to fans who’ve been side-eyeing the spin-off’s premise since day one.

Even if you haven’t binged all 350+ episodes of the original Gintama, this episode still lands. The slapstick humor—like Kagura trying to shorten her lunch by shoveling mayo-covered rice into her mouth in 10 seconds—is universal. But for long-time fans? The reference jokes hit different. When Ginpachi yells at a student for shortening a history answer to “Samurai good, aliens bad,” it’s a subtle nod to the original series’ alien invasion plotline that’ll make you snort-laugh.

The best part? The episode’s heart. Under all the chaos, there’s a message: some things are better long. Like the way the class bands together to fix a mess they made (they accidentally shortened the school’s annual talent show to 5 minutes, and it’s a disaster). Or the moment when Zura realizes his “Zu” nickname makes him feel invisible—so the class throws him a tiny party to celebrate his full name (and his weird samurai obsessions). It’s the kind of warm, messy camaraderie that makes you wish your own class was half as fun (minus the mayo fights).

Is this episode perfect? Maybe not if you hate meta humor or chaotic school comedies. But for anyone who loves laughing until their sides hurt, or just needs a break from their own homework, it’s a must-watch. Just don’t try to skip any parts—you’ll miss Zura’s knitting disaster or Shinpachi’s iconic eye-rolls.

Final verdict: Skip the shortcuts, watch the whole episode. And if you ever try to call Zura “Zu”? Prepare for a samurai-style lecture (or a knitting needle to the head). Wakadaisho!

(That’s Gintama for “let’s go”—you’re welcome.)
— A fellow Gintama fan who now thinks twice about shortening text messages.
Rating: 9/10 (deducting 1 point for the lack of more mayo jokes… just kidding, Kagura had enough.)