The Human Tragedy of Vash The Stampede (Trigun)

[@Bonsaipop]

Hi everyone this is Mike! Thanks for stopping by again! Im at TooManyGames right now so im a bit busy but we had a lot of fun making this video! Always a treat to go back to the classics. If you didnt know we are a part of the Anituber Anthology this year on @underthescopereviews you should check it out, the whole video is amazing! We'll see you next week! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHbLiXmOrJ2Xia8

[@saltymcsalt5241]

Holy shit thank you so much for doing an analysis on my favorite anime character of all time. Trigun literally saved my life from depression and made me view the world and In a more philosophic and beautiful light. It's so poetic with its storytelling and relatable especially and the crazy world that we live in today. I cannot thank you enough because this show deserves all the credit that it can get

[@hugo9846]

Crouching Moron, Hidden Bad Ass ..... perfect! Early Adult Swim is unparalleled in terms of television blocks. Trigun, Cowboy Bepop, ATHF, Sealab 2020, Inuyasha, FLCL, and Home Movies

[@markhernandez7229]

You should read the manga and you'll see what kind of shit he really goes through. I'm just saying buts it's pretty deeper then the anime

[@markhernandez7229]

I can give u a link and give u some info on why the manga and anime are SO different

[@markhernandez7229]

And trigun-(maximum) is the best manga ever. Also, not trying to be an ass tho

[@o0Avalon0o]

I saw this show at around 13 & it changed me. I'd come from a family of naricissists & just really angry people, so seeing someone so deeply care for life made the contrast blinding. It's a big reason why I became a firefighter & (years later) an EMT also.

[@itsasquid]

I'm sure someone told you this before, but thank you.

[@yehudiel4588]

@Gustavos Revenge everyone is allowed a little bit of narcissism, nothing completely wrong with that.

[@notabot3518]

@Gustavos Revenge what does your statement say about you?

[@DigiCube4]

Oh god this is awesome.

[@typicales1715]

@Gustavos Revenge Sounds to me like you don't understand narcissism very well.

[@crazy_teacup]

For someone who only watched the movie, Vash seemed like John Wick who got the assassin's training but actually wanted to become a therapist

[@keito-kun6618]

wow, that actually sums up Vash

[@awnaur0no919]

lol gtfo, he's superman or goku wit a inferiority complex & mad emotional/moral codependency; he's tha yin to knives yang. ig he WANTS to be like a spiritual therapist/blameless angelic martyr savior figure, but one of tha main points of tha story is his journey to tha realization dat even a superhuman cant play god, at least witout getting ones hands dirty

[@samfarabee2963]

Trigun has turned into almost an unknown anime in the ever growing popularity that anime has attained. Trigun is a CLASSIC if you haven't seen it you're missing out. Not only from the story within but at the end of every episode there's a monologue about various deeper topics that the series is addressing. Its great from start to finish.

[@chancethewrapperr]

New trigun sequelllllllll

[@zaphael7238]

Trigun was the first anime I ever saw, I remember feeling so disquieted towards the end. The themes were heavy, the characters were deep and message was done so well. I hate to think this show is not up there with the likes of Cowboy Bebop. It asked philosophical questions, it put idealism against reality and it stuck with me over a decade later. I miss these types of shows.

[@dealtanace]

its kinda funny cause it wasnt even that popular in Japan, its main success was in the US

[@sharebear421]

@@chancethewrapperrwe don’t speak of stampede

[@itsyourboywang5650]

I was so emotional when Wolfwood died. I felt Vash lost a brother. Milly lost a lover. And the orphanage lost their hero. Right after his confession you hear this: "I'm not ready yet! There's still so much left to be done. I want to stay, with them! I don't want to die!" God damn does it hit the feels.

[@krishnaeasy507]

Wolfgang is by far favorite character

[@CerealExperimentsMizuki]

So where Milly and Wolf an actual couple that where gonna get married or something??

[@KakashiHatake-mz6ug]

@@CerealExperimentsMizuki No nothing like that happened but it seemed as if they were really close

[@CerealExperimentsMizuki]

@@KakashiHatake-mz6ug I've watched the series now and I'm glad that my desired if not unknown outcome happened.

[@KakashiHatake-mz6ug]

@@CerealExperimentsMizuki Good

[@phantomblack5307]

I watch Trigun in 3 periods in my life: As a kid , when I was naïve and I thought everything is black and white As a young male living dark times loosing hope and deciding to bend the rules As an Adult understanding my past and fixing it to be a better person today. All three periods of my life Trigun hit home. This is why I truly love this anime

[@ignorethis214]

Same Inwatched it in high school when I just wanted action and violence, and now as an adult I rewatch it for the heart and the idealism.

[@erkii]

All good stories have the capacity to teach us new things in different parts of our lives. Good points.

[@emanuelarriaza3710]

Watch new one its cool im tell my twin to watch it lol

[@Zartack137]

Same shit with Gurren Lagann, just hits hard differently each time

[@Z1gguratVert1go]

I watched it when I was 30, years after it came out. It still managed to leave a mark, so I recently re-watched it. Even better than I remember.

[@haiperbus]

I pray every day that TRIGUN will get the brotherhood treatment

[@aarondev3218]

Schlomo Von Goldberg Same

[@inkonspikuous]

@@aarondev3218 Yeah...I did a fanart of Vash a few years ago after watching the series again...and I'm SO about that Trigun Brotherhood life....

[@DarthStrider]

Same

[@amirabudubai2279]

That would be bittersweet. On one hand, the story could be touched up and pacing improved, but on the other, I strongly doubt that it will get the budget/talent required to match the originals animation and art. The attention to detail in the original anime is legendary and still some of the best in all of anime. Take for example in the first episode, when they are blowing away the bar, they had accurate modeling of the innards of the things getting destroyed; imagine how long it took just to draw the jukebox alone getting torn apart. Then there is the shading. This is purely a matter of option, but I feel the old softer hand shading suits the show better than modern computer shading. No studio really does the old style anymore, so even if you getting a top notch studio it would almost certainly be the modern style. All things considered, I would still watch it. Not like it could harm the original, but there are other shows that I feel need the treatment more. Lets not forget that Jojo's was a failed anime(OVA) until the remake...

[@petersmith9254]

Schlomo Von Goldberg is classic don't need that

[@KloudKomfort]

I’m so glad you guys have touched on this anime. Such a great anime that’s no longer talked about

[@paulbeach8949]

i talk about it once in awhile

[@jeremiahwilson3873]

Trigun is my favorite anime! I talk about it all the time!

[@TheGearMango]

jeremiah wilson thank you i feel like people don’t understand how great it really is

[@jerryrose6895]

The nickname they had was Angels, self preservation is natural. Knives is only a villain because he was written that way but progress of civilization is built on destruction of the old, vash is a beta male a slave willing to sacrifice everything even the future for a moral code that is impossible to maintain.

[@jeremiahwilson3873]

@@jerryrose6895 what a load of horse shit. You should really look up what apha male is. Like scientifically not the rape culture inductive one. Next the progression of a civilization depended on the integration and improvement of the old. In fact the civilizations that are extinct today failed to do so. Now Kives being a villain is up to debate to a degree why one can argue that his philosophy is right his actions are the definition of villain like. Last point is that vash grows and is free from his experiences of the past. He still chooses not to kill therefore keeping his "unreasonable expectations" intact. He also realizes that there is a price to be paid for his code depending on the price he will break it. Do yourself a favor and watch the anime before you talk out of your ass.

[@CarlosCharris]

"the guilt means you care, but the path to redemption will never unfold if you stew in self-hatred." Bonsai Pop with the philosophical truth bombs.

[@Gfish17]

I don't feel guilt. I saw a little bit of the series . Tha guy with the guns and the glasses does more whining then shooting. How did he ever rack up a bounty i'll never know. First saw it a Adult swim.

[@jackalope2302]

@@Gfish17 He was blamed for leveling a city. He was actually indirectly responsible.

[@IsaiahINRI]

@@Gfish17 thats cause you have to *finish* the series

[@theyakkoman]

You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don’t try to forget the mistakes, but you don’t dwell on it. You don’t let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space. -Johnny Cash Fitting, since I, in a synaesthesia like sort of way, always found Johnny Cash and Trigun to be very alike I guess it's the wild west vibe of country with the sad, but still able to be goofy, and badass sinner looking for love and redemption. Simply put; if Cowboy Bebop is Miles Davis jazz, Trigun is Johnny Cash.

[@CarlosCharris]

​@@theyakkoman huh. What an interesting thought. I've only heard the most famous Johnny Cash songs. Following your idea of the equivalency between Trigun and Johnny Cash, what do you think are the top 3 or 5 songs that best encapsule that spirit?

[@The_Gallowglass]

"It is possible to make no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That's life."

[@kyle8971]

Vash the Stampede was the first anime I was introduced to and I fell in love with Vash. He was a certified badass with a heart of gold who I never fully understood as a child. 19 years later and I've watched more anime than I care to admit and I still look back on Vash with fondness. I'll have to go pull out my VHS player and rewatch the series as it has been far too long since I've seen my main man who wears a red coat.

[@shivur5073]

I bought the series on DVD for like $30 on amazon

[@diogomoreira4002]

Wow that sounds so good and nostalgic.

[@bZman]

When I was younger I picked up a few 3 anime dvd packs from FYE. They had Hellsing, Gungrave, and Trigun. I had only gotten it for Hellsing but it introduced me to this fantastic show

[@SOBEKCrocodileGod]

@@bZman all three are great shows. Love those gun-focused semi-gothic anime stories.

[@JohnFuklaw]

I've heard it said that the ultimate theme of Trigun is "Just because perfection is unattainable is no reason to not strive for it."

[@KenyoMurabu]

I've Also Been Using The Idea That: We don't need to be perfect, because we are perfect just the way you are. It's our own little imperfections about us that make us who we are, & that's what makes us perfect. People are trying to tell us that we'll never be perfect & that we need to stop trying to be, & just give up on trying to be perfect. In the end, just because the world isn't perfect, doesn't mean that it's not perfect to us. To understand the word "Perfection", you must first look at it from all angles. Then apply each of those angles, & ask yourself the question? What does "Perfection" actually mean to you as a living being? Don't try to change the world. Trying to become perfect, or more perfect is only going to make things worst, it's only going to delude you away from perfection, instead of just simply being perfectly who you are. People get this idea that you need to be someone else just because you shouldn't feel comfortably in your own skin for being who you already are, but that is a complete lie. Why should we pretend to be something we are not? We make our own choices in life, & do our own things, & to tell us that this isn't who we should be, that we should be someone else is just wrong. We are this way, because we chose to be this way, & we should know more of who we are then some random stranger who we've never met. We are just perfect in that sense, & nothing can or should change that, but us & ourselves. Something like that, =D These are many quotes i've used, & none of them are from any one source material. Trigun is a great Anime. I can't speak for the Manga, because i've never read any Manga, but I don't need to read the Manga to know the Anime is good. I've already seen it, & know it's good. =D

[@henrypaleveda7760]

that really does it justice

[@samuelhilt563]

If you chase perfection, you will catch exelence.

[@TheOneAndOni13]

And I think that's my new tattoo

[@LordDaret]

@@KenyoMurabu I simply run on the moral code respect: “treat others the way you want to be treated.” It can be easily flipped as in reverse it also means “others treat you the way they want to be treated.” Absolutism can never be upheld and should only be treated as a goal, but an adaptable belief lets you make decisions on an as needed basis rather than simply ignoring the situation or inevitable future.

[@TheUltimatePositionOfPower]

The real tragedy is that none of the other main characters ever TRULY find out what Vash actually is.

[@ElegeantFencer]

I think Wolfwopd knew what Vash really is. Or maybe I'm just remembering the manga version more than the anime.

[@joe_schmoe_420]

Nicholas d wolfwood worked for knives He knew what that noodle noggin was

[@KingCam20]

I think it's implied that towards the end of the series (in episode 25 I believe) that Vash basically tells Meryl his whole back story. It's during a scene where it cuts in on him having just told her everything, and then she asks him what he's going to do about Knives (or something like that, it's been a while since I've watched it).

[@Erk1234567]

There's a scene in the manga where Meryl lives most/all of Vash's past experiences after touching his angel form.

[@DiggyNutz]

He's a plant...lol.

[@jasonwaltman3566]

Vash is the person you always hoped you'd grow up to be but ever fall short of. I admire the character fictional or not.

[@Leispada]

I agree. The mans morals are what we should aspire to imo

[@samgourhan207]

I feel kenshin is the man vadh would want to be

[@dr.dylansgame5583]

@@samgourhan207 true but even kenshin considered going to killing more times than vash ever did not saying kenshin lacks morals or anything as he has the biggest heart and usually was backed into a corner figuratively when it happened so I don't blame him I would have immedialty thought the same thing in his shoes

[@samgourhan207]

@@dr.dylansgame5583 Definitely right there i just love kenshin. I really like vash but kenshin is where its @. Ken inspires me to this day

[@gypsydanger2148]

“Crouching moron” and “hidden badass”... very accurate description.

[@wbrennan2253]

Red at OSP did a Trope Talk about that concept.

[@philithegamer8265]

@@wbrennan2253 TV Tropes

[@wbrennan2253]

@@philithegamer8265 classic source for information.👍

[@philithegamer8265]

@@wbrennan2253 It's a great tool for understanding media tropes.

[@phylismaddox4880]

I enjoyed the video, but you got it wrong. Vash grows up - in so doing, he learns not that he has to give up his morality, but his extremism - just like his brother. Knives and Vash are mirror images, each driven more by the childish need to be right than by mature consideration. They are still childlike caricatures of Rem and the Captain. Vash never loses his morality - he loses his childish extremism. Vash learns that choosing right is more than a set of preconditions. The extreme legalism is replaced by the mature liberty. He is now free to choose the right rather than the rule. In the very end, Vash becomes a man. The story has been his - and Knives - coming of age.

[@TazHall]

That's a great point, the problem in Vash's belief is not the pacifism but the extreme self-condemning aspect of it and blaming himself for things he can't control. Neither are reasonable, healthy beliefs.

[@chat4538]

@Erwin Lii EXACTLY

[@BrieCS]

Yes this! He loses extremism, not his morality.

[@ildathet]

@Erwin Lii Yeah but it allow the story that is extremly dark at point to be more bearable, and the hardest moment to hit even harder. The death of the sax guy felt harsh because his goofy character, then legato's death hit even harder because of sheer contrast

[@extras5164]

He also realized he will do his best to try to save everyone again and knows there isn’t always an option to save everyone. He states he’ll just try again and learns not fo feel guilty, but now he has the realization that it’s not always possible and it’s not his fault

[@16xthedetail76]

The great thing about the show is that both nicolas and vash are equally compelling characters.

[@Dreams0fChaos]

The emotions in that episode with wolfwood was just too much that still get me today

[@Nempo13]

Wolfwood was an amazing character.

[@thegreatnihil7854]

Imagine believing is objective morality

[@Abdega]

Funny enough, I always thought this was perhaps Johnny Yong Bosch’s best role despite being one of his first VA roles

[@MauZangetsu]

Wait a minute.... JOHNNY DID HIS VOICE?! HOLY SHIT!! I am SO doing a mod replacing one of Nero's Devil Breaker with Vash's arm in Devil May Cry 5!!

[@MRT408]

Yup, and since then, all the characters he has voiced, I think of vash the stampede!

[@zalizoo0402]

I actually finished watching Bleach (Johnny voices Ichigo) before watching Trigun, so when I first heard Vash speak I was like "sup John, now I know the dub is gonna be good."

[@skullhammer9899]

Yong Bosch is my favorite VA. Any character he voices is always a great one

[@orbtain]

@@zalizoo0402 are you... me??

[@andrewlorick166]

Had to stop the video. Just the memories that came up when I heard “Double Dollar” made me want to rewatch the series.

[@Tobiasthepious_134]

Andrew Lorick Paintings Well..Third times a charm

[@DigiCube4]

: )..i'd almost forgotten what happiness looked like

[@mariolemus12]

A man who will slaughter the innocent, does the most evil of evil deeds with the price of $$60,000,000,000 on his head, yes I am that man *starts doing Macho Man poses* 😂

[@DigiCube4]

@@mariolemus12 YES I AM THAT MAN!..god i haven't heard that line in a full life time

[@Icneumone7]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWWpnKaDo9qgi5o

[@VivaLaDnDLogs]

Vash's screams of anguish still send chills down my spine.

[@jtillman8251]

Couple thoughts that popped into my head watching this... First, I don't think you're right to call Legato a nihilist. He's pretty clearly got a moral code and it's pretty much just Knives' code. He's a true believer and is almost certainly the only Gung-ho Gun that knows Knives' true aims aside from possibly Midvalley the hornfreak. He just happens to believe all humanity deserves what Knives plans to do to them. Second, I never got the vibe that Vash and his brother were literally "plants." I get how that could make sense from the evidence on the show, but "plants" also could be referring to them as integral parts of the large plants in the center of every major city. It's pretty heavily implied they could be angels. There's a lot of visual imagery hinting at that, and the way they're normally kept sequestered away inside the city plants feels a lot like a sanctum sanctorum, like a holy place where higher planes intersect with our own. There's also heavy use of christian symbolism in the plot (Vash literally chooses to take sin upon himself, physically takes up a cross, and saves all of humanity.) Them being angels makes a lot of sense in that context. Finally, it's a shame you didn't mention Wolfwood's plot since it really drives home the dangers of impressing your own ideals onto others. Wolfwood comes to agree with Vash about not killing and it immediately gets him killed. Not everyone can be a pacifist on a planet like Gunsmoke and trying to be one when you're not as advantaged as Vash is dangerous. My personal headcannon for the series is that Knives never actually wanted Vash dead. The Gung-ho Guns were Knives' arguments in what was from his perspective a philosophical debate with Vash (Knives never saw humans are more than pests or tools.) They were the worst humanity had to offer, and the idea was to convince Vash that humanity deserved to perish. That Vash obviously didn't perceive all of this as no more than points scored in some kind of abstract argument shows how disconnected the two were, as well as putting into stark contrast the cruelty of Knives' utilitarian philosophy. I think the two of them were literally superior beings, (angels or something comparable) sent to struggle over the fate of humanity. Knives to bring wrath, Vash to press for mercy. That Vash's connections to humans brought about the internal change he needed to come out ahead of Knives in the final struggle I think was very intentional. Humanity in a sense saves itself by being better than the cruelty of Knives and his thugs.

[@jessejustsick]

Man, this was well worth the read. Really delves into the underlying themes of this show. Thanks for posting!

[@Priceluked]

Interesting perspective but Vash and Knives literally are plants, plants meaning some sort of powerful entities that humans usually use to power things. It just happens that Vash and Knives have physical forms capable of moving outside of their cases. The angelic imagery is consistent with all plants as they are some sort of higher being as you said. But there was no fate or higher aspect of Vash and Knives' clash, Knives merely wanted to see humans extinguished in their entirety and Vash didn't want them or anyone to die. Ironically in the manga Knives ends up destroying nearly all the plants as well as nearly all the humans on Gunsmoke.

[@TazHall]

Well said

[@jtillman8251]

@@Priceluked I get that they're "plants" in the sense that they're the literal walking talking version of what's going on inside the city plants. I was pushing back against the videos take which came across to me as being an interpretation that they were plants, like intelligent vegetation. A sort of literal anthropomorphic stand in for the plants humans despoiled on earth. I don't think that's a take that is without any evidence, after all Knives repped plants pretty hard, but I think the higher dimensional beings interpretation is better supported. It also sounds like you're pulling a lot from the manga, which is fine but I can't comment on one way or another since I haven't read much of it. My understanding was that the show is best understood as it's own thing since they had to write an ending to an unfinished story and that the two are quite different. In light of that, I disagree about there being no greater power or whatnot involved... at least as far as the show is concerned. There's definitely enough hints that the city plants were pulling energy and biomass from some higher dimensional space, the nature of which leaves open the possibility of higher powers... an interpretation well supported by the religious imagery in the show overall and especially in the specific characters of Vash and Knives.

[@Fightanddie]

@@Priceluked sounds like a horrible ending lmao

[@123451234alex]

LOVE AND PEACE!! Trigun needs a proper anime reboot going more in depth into the manga and beautiful animation quality

[@hughjackwoman]

I agree. Even tho I love the anime it should get a reboot

[@kidneystone1345]

i just love the way it is, it's like a testosterone version of sailor moon

[@Plutonic_Blue]

Dude not every cult classic needs a reboot. That’s what makes these so special. The classic art style of trigun has so much charm. Just let it be

[@ZIMMERTODAY]

Ok so if it was done right yes a reboot would be good but knowing how the industry is no unless the industry improves than no don't mess with it

[@rupitbhandari-studio.death8100]

It already has a Movie. The animation is fantastic there.

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

I see Trigun, I cliccc

[@regriefing1807]

Yes indeed

[@yuryvinogradov3239]

Every time!

[@122Delta]

Poor gunslinging Ichigo.

[@clxwncrxwn]

R.I.P. NICHOLAS D. WOLFWOOD. 😭

[@Dreams0fChaos]

Same here, im not am anime person but trigun will always have a special place in my heart, i loved that anime.

[@latenightgaming5057]

The very first time I every cried for a cartoon character. And I mean heart broke as if I lost a friend. And that's how I knew it was a good show. Long life nicholas d wolfwood

[@Nempo13]

Wolfwood's death hit me hard when I first saw this show years and years ago. SUCH a good character.

[@latenightgaming5057]

@@Nempo13 he did have a great character arch man. I'm glade I'm not alone. Thank you for that

[@Leispada]

I raise a glass to this

[@YamiNoSensei13]

Agreed, I can think of very few anime characters whose death affected me as much as Wolfwood's.

[@latenightgaming5057]

@@YamiNoSensei13 felt like loosing a bro😢

[@maggiem6209]

This is one of those series that you keep coming back to. I bought this series from a video store when I was a young teenager and I have been returning to it ever since. I related to Vash, I wanted to help everyone all the time, even at great risk and injury to myself. I made a lot of sacrifices in my life for other people, simply because I wanted them to be happy. When I first watched the show, I had yet to grasp the concept that personal sacrifice was not always a good thing. In fact, today, I see that it rarely is, if done for the wrong people or the wrong reasons. When I first saw him, I saw his commitment to his ideals as admirable, perhaps even sustainable. And his shedding of his coat was very upsetting to me. I saw Wolfwood as a well-meaning cynic and didn't think much of it. I then went through a rough period in college, both a good thing and difficult. I had to come to grips with my poor boundaries and my naivety, because I, like Vash, gave too much of myself and didn't care enough about my own life when compared to what I could give to others. I came back to it again and I was shocked to see how much I had changed in how I related to the characters. I still saw Vash's efforts as admirable, but his commitment to them was not heroic any longer, but self-punishing. He still did great things, but he was less the goofy persona and instead was the tragic man trying to balance out the nature of a world that seems to have no love in it, by giving all of his own love, even if it was no longer good for him to do. By the end of that watch-through, I had felt more closely aligned with Wolfwood's philosophy, because, while I felt his attitude was also wrong, it was at least pragmatic. I've been sitting on the discs for a while and may rewatch them again in a few years, because I have a feeling I'll find something new.

[@shimmyjamily]

I'd love to know what your thoughts are when you rewatch it a third time

[@TheKamakaziChimp]

Can't stress how grateful I am for you sharing this in-depth and comprehensive overview of the brilliance of Trigun. It also wasn't simply because the author structured vash to fall into those compelling moments but also in part because "Johnny yong bosch" brought Vash to life with his portrayal of the character and the harrowing ordeals he had faced up until that point.

[@Maddrox]

I'm 30 have seen a lot of anime's and Trigun will always and forever be my favorite of all time.

[@RikouHogashi]

Same here and same Age Toonami is GOAT

[@BC-vl4rn]

Im 14 and I love 4 kids

[@rhiannon3168]

I absolutely love Trigun and it doesn’t get anywhere near enough love! Love this take on Vash the stampede:) great job Mike

[@androidsychoshocker]

Trigun is truly the Apex of anime to me. You just don't get anywhere near this level of writing, story, characters in anime today. Someone truly thought about and loved this story they birthed into the world.

[@shoopoop21]

Neon Genesis, Serial Experiments Lain, Paranoia Agent, and of course, Corey in the House.

[@FirstDagger]

Mob Psycho 100 and Houseki no Kuni are something you should watch if you really think that way.

[@androidsychoshocker]

@@FirstDagger I may have to look into those. It's just so hard to find anything worth spending time watching with Anime anymore.

[@ElegeantFencer]

Mob Psycho 100 is reallly similar to Trigun actually. The theme of valuing human life, having humility and compassion towards others, etc.

[@ibrahimrobinson8508]

Berserk And mic drop!

[@stephenjones3630]

I'm a 33yo man and this still makes me tear up. It's amazing when an anime can move you so much.

[@DjRenect]

I come back to the show every so many years. It lulls you into a goofy sense of security, before hitting you with the deep and hard hitting subjects. What it means to have integrity, to defend your ideals even if it means you might hurt those ideals at the same time. What is good, what is evil, and what wears the face of one to hide the other. Loyalty, feeling powerless, loss. This is a show about the human experience, and it does so in a disarming way. 10/10 from me. Ps THIS NEEDS A GOD DAMN PROPER REMASTER.

[@kenchristiansen2080]

Crouching moron, hidden bad ass. That is a great description. I to watch trigun again. There always seems to be someone new or something I don't remember.

[@kenchristiansen2080]

@bryan diaz varela actually the "to" is supposed to be "would." I didn't double check before I posted.

[@KryztalKitsu]

I wonder if he read that description of him on TV Tropes. That’s where I first heard of that trope reading about Vash.

[@TheMadSalviGaming]

I definitely agree with this. Still get teary eyed thinking about Vash, Milly's tragic love, and the other characters

[@lotusjewell9984]

Trigun was a f--king rollercoaster of emotions for me!!! So many times when I laughed and cried with Vash

[@Thisworldistoobig]

I've always felt the main "takeaway" of Trigun is this: Just because something is impossible, doesn't mean you shouldn't try to achieve it anyway. Vash learns that he cannot possibly save everyone. He has to break his own moral code, and take a life in order to save the lives of his friends. Even after this, when Vash confronts Knives, knowing that ultimately Knives basically won the argument and that his own perfect ideal of "saving all the lives" is impossible, he still disagrees with Knives' cold philosophy. It is the striving for a compassionate moral path as best as possible that is important and should be humanity's ultimate goal, in spite of being imperfect and flawed beings.

[@amyshaw6825]

For me Vash runs on a couple of rules. 'Life is sacred, it's wrong to end life because there's always the possiblity of change, no matter what.' His fault is that he applies this to everyone... except himself. At the end of the Anime he realizes that this also applies to him. He killed Legato. He had no choice. Heck, perhaps you can even say he messed up. But that's ok. Because his ticket to the future is blank, and he can move on. And so he does.

[@chigo999]

i agree! the journey not the destination. It is the effort you put that counts not whether u were able to achieve it.

[@DavidJohnsonFromSeattle]

I think there are layers to the whole spider/butterfly motif that you are missing here. Sure, it is true (and one of the best parts of the show) that Knives was proven right - you can't always save both the spider and the butterfly. You can be forced into the situation where one must die and you have to choose. But, I think there was a second point brought out at the end, which is that in order to destroy all the spiders, Knives became one himself and that was the danger of his philosophy. Vash, on the other hand, spent all of those years fighting with himself to keep him from becoming the merciless predator. AND that is the struggle that we all have to deal with which the show was pointing to the whole time.

[@LuceoX30]

You've earned my V.A.S.H. of approval!

[@LuceoX30]

*V* ery *A* awesome *S* tatistic of... Hentai?

[@Bonsaipop]

Seems right to me 🤣

[@tokashi1]

V.A.S.H Stampede of approval

[@gamerprestige7240]

2019 and about to rewatch Trigun Who with me!

[@lonelytaru]

Already done!

[@sleepinghermit7778]

I don't know anywhere to find it. I've looked.

[@sleepinghermit7778]

P.s. love the tiny Tinas pic.

[@gamerprestige7240]

some burrito Hulu has both the tv series and movie

[@sleepinghermit7778]

@@gamerprestige7240 thanks for the heads up.

[@SapphireLibra3]

*looks down* You did it again. I can really relate to Vash, a lot more than I thought I could, honestly. Just the other day I dealt with something that made me really hard on myself for a mistake I made. It was a small one, but it was the latest in a series of issues I tend to have when it comes to relating to other people. It may sound odd, but for me, being human is one of the hardest things for me to do. I clash mentally with a lot of human ideals, things fly over my head that most people just _get_. If I sound alien, well, that's how I feel a lot of the time actually. Yesterday it hit a head, where I began to think that I would always be alone in some way, shape, or form. I can't quite explain it, but this video... it sort of helped me see something within myself. It's okay that I can't relate to other people, and it doesn't mean I'm always going to be alone. I can forgive myself for failing at being human, because well, I'm me. Thanks again, guys.

[@jcarby23]

The irony here is your inability to relate to others and feelings of isolation are very innately human characteristics, so you're actually "humaning" quite well. Don't fret, for all humans/creatures are ultimately alone, and it's that aloneness that binds us all together as one.

[@kaylaherrera4274]

Sapphire Valley love you

[@hernandez0084]

Now, you're not alone, count on me

[@toatahu2003]

Hey kid, let me tell you something very important: You're not special. So, you don't relate to other people very well. You're lonely and feel disconnected from people. A lot of concepts fly over your head. You're probably a social outcast. None of that matters, you are still a human. You're not an alien, not a horse, not a rock, a human. If you don't feel like a human, then your problem is that you don't have the right definition of what makes a human, because believe it or not, you're one of us, period. If your definition of "human" does not include you and everything about you, you are wrong. I could tell you that you're not alone, and that there are millions of people out there that are just like you. Because there are. But that doesn't help you, you don't know any of them. I could tell you that what makes you different makes you special, and to be proud of those differences. But that is a lie. There are black sheep and there are white sheep, but they are both just sheep. Alternatively, I could get both my arms shot off and I would be different from most people. That wouldn't make me special, that would make me crippled. You, like all other humans, have flaws. You also, like all humans, have good traits. These are not fairly distributed. Not everyone can be the 6 foot tall muscle-bound jock, or the hot cheerleader, or the talented musician, or the scientific genius, or the super suave talker. Most of us end up with a much shorter stick. But you can take what you have, and make it BETTER. You can overcome and remove or reduce your flaws and work to make yourself a better, stronger individual. It will take a massive amount of hard work and effort, but while life won't just magically "get better" you can learn to make YOURSELF better, and to get back up when life knocks you down. You are going to fail over, and over, and over again. When you get knocked down, don't beat yourself up, life already did that to you. Analyse what happened, identify your own mistakes, if any, and then get back up on your feet and try again, and do better next time. "The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward."

[@blackfish86]

Just finished this and I'm so glad I watched it. Vash is the definition of integrity, sticking to your values (or guns if you will) as much as possible and finding a ways to maintain those values even when all seems lost. Also I love Milly Thompson and I love that she and Wolfwood got together "go on big girl!"

[@STRANGER1hingsESG]

Correction: no one died when the city of July and August were destroyed. All the people lived but a majority died because they were many miles from the nearest town and all the food and water were destroyed as well. It's stated in the show and I believe in the manga. Other than that you did a phenomenal job overviewing the show.

[@oldirtybastard9893]

Yeah the episode with the girl that asks vash to be her bodyguard reveals what happens. The ppl of July died because they all became homeless and so on.

[@trika91]

I think it’s revealed that Vash’s Angel Arm only destroys buildings and man made objects but not living things, while Knives’s Angel Arm can keep a city standing but wipes out all lives.

[@VidelxSpopovich]

@@oldirtybastard9893 It's one of the best episodes in the series. Her reaction to realizing it was Vash who was there for her is bone chilling.

[@Mactao100]

No, Vash killed praticaly everyone that were in the city, there is a chapter of the manga where it shows the people of July being evaporated by the blast

[@RUSTYdiscogs]

In the manga they died but in the show it was only buildings

[@simons5704]

One of the great analogy of Trigun and like you, I go back and watch it from time to time.

[@olivituss5140]

Trigun was my first anime, and it remains an absolutely clear favourite. Fantastic video! ♡

[@evanjuleen]

When Rem said "the ticket to the future is always blank" it changed me. It had never occurred to me that I would not always be beaten by my father.

[@dustinschouest8405]

Its so true. We write our own futures. We have the ability to change how our lives go.

[@henrypaleveda7760]

I know that those experiences leave scars, but how are you?

[@saltyluigi4011]

you aight bro?

[@jacob_is_fine]

I go back and watch this from time to time because this is my favorite series. This is one of my favorite videos. I can't recommend the show enough and I can't recommend this video enough.

[@michaelcox9855]

This is probably the most well voiced coverage of this anime I have ever seen. Well done.

[@Cooliex1986]

I am moved to almost tears, you just beautifully explained why Vash is my favorite anime character of all time (Gene Starwind a close second). When I first saw Trigun as a kid, I was moved that Vash was basically a Superman that could get hurt, and purposely did it to follow his ideals. It was a godlike character who was SO HUMAN. Vash is super relatable and I think that's why he means so much to me as a character. I can never watch the clip of him killing Legato without tearing up. It's such a well done scene where you've been with this character since the beginning trying so hard to keep his moral code, and how one man forced him to break it. He had no excuses, no accidents, and just the silence of the shot. No music, no nothing,m just the gun shot and Legato falling to the ground. Sorry, couldn't help but ramble, but thank you for making this video. I can share this and show people why Vash is my favorite anime character.

[@azizulfikri8392]

Trigun have always has a special spot in my heart. Vash is a idea which we all wanted to pursue but ultimately fail at some point in our lifes. However, I still hold his idea sacred because even if we fail, the fact we can continue and improve is what makes us human.

[@cloudstarr]

Nice to see the memory of Vash/Trigun lives on! Vash is to me what Clint Eastwood was to my dad.

[@obliviousedgechild3712]

Funny how many people who watched Trigun just shit on Vash a lot as a character and often calls him a coward for not killing those who chase him when they probably can't commit murder themselves. (maybe some would but they'll be overwhelmed with hesitation before doing so.)

[@ultraatari9298]

Oblivious Edgechild Agreed. It's all fun and games until you gotta make the hard choices. I know I feel that way about mods and the extent I'd go, but when my former bastard friends would say dumb shit like "oh people gotta die for the good of humanity" or liberally throwing around pedoes and what not deserving capital punishment I said could you put bullet in someone's head yourself? could you do it in front of their family? their kids? what about if you had to pull the trigger on their kids? Until you know your moral limits it ain't something to play with. These are people's lives, struggles, you're hurting way more than you realize But yeah mods are definitely evil enough to where I'd just ignore any regret or shame. It's what soldiers do. When they gotta make an instant decision and they know they did some really horrible shit all so their country can make some money, that's why they come back with PTSD.

[@LaRavachole]

I never understood those people. Personally, it's exactly Vash's force of will in keeping his moral code no matter how hard, impossible and painful it was that made him seem so strong to the point where he adapted to surviving without having to kill despite being able to easily do so with his skills. He's the opposite of a coward. In Vash's place, it would've been easier to just kill than otherwise yet he never chose that path until there was no other choice as it wasn't just his life on the line anymore, but others'.

[@Masterwar15]

It takes massive guts to let everyone that hates you live and continue chasing. Anyone that still thinks like this after seeing Vash's scars is just retarded.

[@schnoz2372]

One of the most rewatchable shows ever, and one that is worth every second

[@SawGoodMan]

Anyone willing to dive into the complexity of Valentinez Alkalinella Xifax Sicidabohertz GombigobillaBlue Stradivari Talentrent Pierre Andri Charton-Haymoss Ivanovici Baldeus George Doitzel Kaiser III is worthy of respect. As well as anyone who gets that joke.👍✌

[@thetravelerformallyknowasw7912]

I do. I hate it when you call me by my full name.

[@Acid_Ink]

Wesley Crusher Shut up, Wesley!

[@evanjuleen]

that's our boy! 💜

[@galaxy_kitten95]

Don’t hesitate to give him a call!

[@itaykerensm1629]

I'm so happy you used the bastion OST. Just hearing mother, im here made me tear up.

[@FireFoxBancroft]

also Outlaws.

[@thewheelman84]

Amazing how well the Bastion and Transistor soundtracks works with this. Great job!

[@Adam-ui3yn]

I interpreted that scene where he shoots Legato as ambiguous. I thought whether he pulled the trigger or Legato made him pull it was a question left to the viewer. Legato possibly sensed he would let them die and so chose to make Vash shoot him. Vash definitely had reason to pull the trigger, so distinguishing between if he did it or Legato made him do it would be challenging. Also I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere but I thought there was symbolism in her name Rem as in Rapid Eye Movement, the stage of sleep where we experience dreams. Rem has influence over the deep inner workings of his subconsciousness and she's often seen in visions/dreams.

[@TRSOE]

I'm not sure if you'll see this, but I wanted to thank you. Last year, I was living a very different life. While driving one day, I was listening to your review of Your Name, and your description of the movie brought me to tears. It was very unexpected. A lot has happened in the last year, but as I scroll through my feed and catch a glimpse of your videos, the echos of that sudden burst of emotion are still humming in my chest. Thank you.

[@geovani60624]

for me the moment the priest died and he is in the city trying to cheer himself up by eating some donuts but then breaking down crying was the hasdest for me to watch, really hope one day this anime gets as apreciated as it should but I'm pretty sure a remake would not look half as good as the original.

[@diezl202]

Excellent synopsis and commentary on one of my favorite anime of all time, thank you!

[@dizzydial8081]

I can't watch the video to completion because at 5:23 you convinced me to watch the anime and I don't want spoilers. Thanks. Really don't know how I went so long without watching this one.

[@ExBenzi2]

A simply fantastic examination of Vash the Stampede and Trigun. Thank you so much! I first watched this Anime about 5 years ago (re-watching it r/n). I remember thinking of it as rather goofy with some bad-ass moments „sprinkled in“ every now and then. My perception changed completely when Legato showed up. And boy were the stakes risen episode.by episode. I seriously got the feels, when Vash when he had to kill Legato. I felt his pain, his struggle, the devastating feeling when you have to face the end of an ideal you had been cultivating for so long. Might even shed a tear. Trigun is an absolute masterpiece and one of my favourite Animes of all times. I would love to see it remastered.

[@bella_daze3092]

I found Trigun through Trigun Stampede and- well- my god. I can’t believe I didn’t watch the og Trigun as a kid. I can see 11 year old 6th grade me, during one of the darkest moments of my life, watching this and learning from Vash. I’m glad I found it now, because now I can experience that. Vash is a beautifully written character for how human he is, and I love that so much. It’s wonderful

[@DongHuaReviews]

God damn guys. Straight from the space anthology to this. Thank you for keeping my weekend entertaining xD.

[@Rather-gl5dh]

I love trigun so much! And this video has amazing quality, how do you not have more subs?

[@katelynpringle5506]

To me, Vash is the paragon that all other paragons fail to measure up to. Because the show never pulls any punches on the trauma of his past or of the drawbacks of his personal philosophy, we’re really allowed to understand and empathize with him. Lots of paragons feel more like a representation of an ideal then an actual character, but Vash has always felt like a real person.

[@awnaur0no919]

his evolution as a character thru tha series is so dope. like he starts as almost a pastiche of tha typical post-goku invincible shoenen hero archetype & he/his pacifist philosophy basically dominate tha narrative, til legato & knives is introduced in tha 2nd, darker half, pulling tha rug out from under him/his worldview & deconstructing his establiahed characterization

[@sammy080798]

Was introduced to Trigun while I was stationed in Iceland back in 2001.... One of my all time favs and I've watched the whole series probably about 30 times since then.....

[@nickchurch2247]

This retrospective... is literally a work of art thank you for making it!

[@grumpycup4762]

I LOVE the Wild Arms music! Man that gives me chills...the memories. still one of the best JRPGs ever made

[@VilePain]

Yes! I was like I know this music. Good stuff.

[@colonelkenpachi5009]

Trigun is one of the very few anime i put above Cowboy bebop.

[@virusdapimp]

@Tomas Bell I'm with Tomas on this one. Cowboy Bee Bop is just too good.

[@caoilte8097]

I too love cowboy beebop

[@billylionisnotagoat]

its one of my core group i have to re watch at least once a year (GTO and BeBop being part of that)

[@colonelkenpachi5009]

@@billylionisnotagoat GTO is AMAZING. Have you finished the manga. I finished the manga then read the the shonan days spinoff and now I'm reading the GTO Lost Paradise continuation.

[@metalsadman]

i've watched trigun before cowboy bebop. bebop is still superior imo. spike is just a pretty god dam good well developed character and the ending.

[@danielled840]

Saving everyone was never the key issue, I think. He was always looking to the past for answers, and he realized he needed to choose his own path. I mean it's literally what he said at the end.

[@billiejean6520]

GLAD you and others are Still Talking about this......I know I’m late but I just finished the Series and Movie earlier today, I watched it about 2-3 yrs ago but I had stopped at episode 12 “DIABLO” so I started from there. Really enjoyed it and it’s one of my favorite Anime’s probably in my top five, Still wish the Show would get the brotherhood treatment, maybe one day.

[@Quincy_Morris]

I watched Trigun when I was 18 or 19. And it felt like a show I was nostalgic for from my childhood, a show I’d never seen before. I never knew something could seem instantly nostalgic.

[@Trogloglation]

Wow. Glad I clicked on this from Treesicle’s feed. You guys just earned yourself a new subscriber 👍

[@tora6738]

very cool amazing video your did really well in the anthology also good timing waiting for the premiere to finish keeping me entertained thanks

[@Bonsaipop]

thanks so much! Yeah we specifically didn't want to release during the anthology! Really glad you enjoyed it!

[@matthewjames3637]

I have a gigantic backlog of shows I need to watch but now I'm inspired to restart Trigun for the umpteenth time. I think I'll finally give the manga read as well.

[@YamiNoSensei13]

Be warned, the manga is MUCH darker. I think I made it less than halfway through. I don't usually mind dark stuff but the extreme contrast to the tone of the anime was just too jarring for me.

[@brotega]

I came here for a refresher on the plot of Trigun, because I haven't watched it in years. I left here with philosophical enlightenment. Well done!

[@chrysafisstamoudis9850]

300.000+ views and only 15.000 likes ? Come on ?! It is Trigun we are talking about ! Very nice approach and presentation of the anime. MY absolute favourite. Watched it for the first time about 15y ago and I still go back and re watch it with great love. The first time I had to "wrestle" to watch the first episodes as they were not so memorable .... and then Episode 12 happened and BOOM ... everything suddenly made sense. Love it!

[@Justin_Ebright]

Thou shalt not call thyself a fan of the anime if thou hast not experienced the Bebop of the Cowboy or the tragedy of the Humanoid Typhoon (Trigun) See you, Space Cowboys (Vash, Spike)

[@stolensentience]

Samurai champloo cannot be excluded either. It likely surpassed bebop of the cowboy. Both are perfect to be sure.

[@stolensentience]

tlessmo akira is too incomplete and nge is a bit of a mess by comparison imo

[@pramienjager2103]

"The only life we can sacrifice is our own." Damn. I nearly had to call a crisis intervention number.

[@OrionCallisto]

I love that you backed it with Wild Arms music Beautiful

[@Sashimi_luv]

That was therapy. I could spend all day listening to you talk. I feel like I've learned so much in a time I'm feeling so unsteady

[@LiquidWulf]

THE best anime series. No other hits the feels quite like this one, the storyline is amazing, and is 100% binge worthy.

[@VampiresCrypt]

I always liked Trigun and Blue Gender, they dont make animes like those anymore.

[@sasukekuniski1959]

im guessing blue gender isnt about gender.. but if someone in todays world tried to reboot it it would be full of tumblr fake gender trash

[@ChargeQM]

@@sasukekuniski1959 First off, fuck off with the 4chan edgy talk. Fake genders are the silly shit people make up like attack helicopters. Let people be what they wanna be, and call them what they wanna be called. It doesn't hurt you any. Second, the series is about aliens and surviving in a basically unwinnable situation. The name is probably Engrish-ed because it sounded cool to the writer, who cares. See popular stuff with names like Bleach, when cleaning supplies don't have much to do with it and the meaning is kind of a sideways reference to a cultural thing.

[@Blinkster93]

Fuck da transport helicopters!

[@VampiresCrypt]

@@sasukekuniski1959 huh didnt expect that answer but oh well. Blue Gender is actually a pretty decent mature sci-fi anime about overpopulation and aliens that took the world from mankind. It does have a stupid name yeah but its really good, you should definitely look it up. Trigun also has a stupid name I mean Trigun what does it even mean. About the 4chan stuff, just dont overgenerelaize.

[@jkay2853]

@@sasukekuniski1959 Seems like you pissed off a bunch of non binaries who identify as radishes, booooyyy you done fucked up now, prepare to get bombed, you aren't allowed to have the wrong opinion anymore, GET EM MY ANTIFA BRO! REEEEEEEEE!!!

[@steampunksamp80]

This anime was teased about a reprise, I’m so hyped for that, however Vash doesn’t seem like he would be

[@AnHero0624]

I just got my husband into this show and he’s definitely kicking himself in the ass for not watching it sooner.

[@mvsniper]

Dude, I really enjoy your music choices in each video!

[@Otokogoroshi]

I have a 20-year-old cat named Vash, who's still healthy and kicking! This show was fairly formative for me and I adore it, even if it often leaves me a little puzzled. I need to rewatch it. Thank you for this video!

[@brianknapp6215]

Trigun is an excellent, underrated series. Nice work here, laying out Vash's story for those not in the know. P.S.: please do a video on Roger Smith (Big O)

[@NemesisMKIII]

I hear that Wild Arms music! You cannot sneak some WA past me!

[@ImpetuouslyInsane]

Same with the Fallout 2 music. I always loved the track, "My Chrysalis Highwayman", so it was hard to miss. Fitting, Fallout kinda is a like a Futuristic cowboy saga (Especially New Vegas) so the music fits.

[@NemesisMKIII]

@@ImpetuouslyInsane Never played Fall Out, never will.

[@JH-ok5lx]

Wild Arms was the shit!

[@ljpal18]

@@NemesisMKIII why not?

[@NemesisMKIII]

@@ljpal18 I presume you're asking about Fallout? I will not because my ex loved it and tainted it for me.

[@shawnjb1989]

Trigun was the first anime I’ve ever watched and still remains my favorite

[@jinraiden3088]

Didn’t skip Ads because finally a fellow man of culture reviewed my top anime of all time. Love & Peace!

[@onepeice01]

Saw you guys make this video and watched a show I wouldn't have watched otherwise! Thanks!

[@glenmoody-elias1040]

Trigun has always been glorious, and most of all human. 'cept I was too distracted because my mind was going "Yep. That's Bastion's soundtrack alright."

[@cherryknight6911]

Great use of the Bastion Soundtrack.

[@CLOWNBOT00]

I *DID* used to watch this, when Cartoon Network / Toonami / Adult Swim were good. This was around before when the internet took off, so now I'm interested in the manga and watching the subbed version. Can't wait!

[@pandemonix5707]

It’s on Netflix UK at the moment 🥰

[@gamerfan1135]

It's on Hulu rn both versions

[@Drifthut]

Just commenting for the algorithm. Cause you guys deserve it. And the world deserves to see it.

[@shinobinokami774]

Thank you for this video. I showed it to some friends and it made them watch the entire show.

[@dankthegank1742]

Found out about this anime from some dude I used to play Diablo 2 lod with in '01. Tri_Gun_420 Miss ya bud

[@3Kefka6Palazzo9]

Diablo 2 Mephisto Runs on Hell mode all night and Trigun, brings me back, such nostalgia..... Are you familiar with the necromancer Poison_Trooper who made the Necromancer guide with over 120 minions that could kill Baal on hell mode with 8 players solo? That was me, before skeletons were upgraded I made the most powerful summoner necromancer on the US West Server and wrote a full guide for others under my character name Poison_Trooper. You just brought backk so many memories.

[@williamjenkins4913]

@@3Kefka6Palazzo9 That sounds pretty awesome. I beat player 8 with every character but my necro was a vanilla Bone Spear build. D2 is my favorite game if only because I have so many great memories of it.

[@househendoe7549]

Can you breakdown Gene Starwind, "Outlaw Star"? This was my favorite era in Anime even the art style.

[@ericschuller908]

Gene is a case of arrested development. He was stranded on Sentinel as a teenage boy after his father was murdered in front of his eyes. He is suave and calm as a bounty hunter on that backwater planet but quickly becomes unraveled when confronted with the unstructured and lawlessness of space. He had something of a reputation in this small pocket of nowhere, but quickly becomes a faceless nobody in space. He is forced to face his trauma time and time again as he acclimates to a life in space. It is only when exposed to this reminder of his traumatic past that he begins to move forward. When we first meet Gene, he has a lot going for him: he's young, good-looking, comes across as something of a bad-ass, and buries his lack of connectivity with others between the legs of beautiful prostitutes. Sex, alcohol, excitement, and partying. What more could he want? A lot actually. A man filled with wanderlust as obvious as his lust for women, Gene is held back by the means to leave the planet and move on with his life. This is remedied by Hot-Ice Hilda. As Gene and Jim are dragged along with Hilda to the Outlaw Star, he is forced to face his fear of space all over again. The first of many times. Melfina, the bio-android and sentient navigation system forms a close bond with Gene. His excitement and obvious intrigue upon meeting her causes him to take on additional responsibilities with his promise to help her find her origins and her answers. This forces him to reach outward to the stars. Gene's financial troubles and the pursuit of the Kei pirates after his ass force him into various situations that compound his stress. Suzuka is bonded to Gene by his mercy and her determination not to live his debt for sparing her life. Aisha's reliance on finding the Galactic Leyline anchors her to Gene and company as well. His once-controlled and reliable life is over. He is amidst the chaos of space, which could also be seen as the chaos of growing up and shaping one's own life. Just as friends orbit him as the center of the cockpit, they form a constant balance and rhythm to his forced maturity, adding to his life's experience and growth. Gene initially attempts to settle down all over again, but is constantly reminded of the promise he made that he fears he cannot keep. The chaos builds and eventually he is forced to take off and fulfill the promise he made at the beginning of the series. He has achieved trust with his friends that he entirely lacked. They fulfill they role of family that he has needed for so long. In Suzuka, he is able to trust his doubts to her. In Aisha, he finds someone who he can count on to watch his back in a fight. Jim is as a brother to him, and Melfina is the crux of it all. Gene is consistently seen as a lecherous pervert. He lacks any real relationship skills at all. He is a womanizing asshole and he knows it. Melfina is the purest relationship he has. When faced with his truest, most complete self within the Leyline, Gene chooses her and her happiness over any material wealth he could want. This is a classic trope of journey stories: it was about discovering his own desires. With his relationships and his maturity now complete, Gene is able bring an end to Hazanko and thus the story ends. Gene is hardly profound as a character, but is ultimately human with hidden depths and is easily related to. He is fun, sometimes dark, but goofy and looking to make a fast buck. His river is thawed and he moves on with his life.

[@Zer0Skateboard]

9:48 you automatically get a like for using fallout 2 music. That brought back a flood of memories

[@Mochi_Dough]

Trigun was THE FIRST ANIME i've ever seen when I was only 10! Thank you for the nostalgia, I maybe need to rewatch this gem!