Vash NEEDS Wolfwood to be GREAT | Trigun (Anime) Discussion

Trigun is a prolific anime from the 90's era, in the same class as Cowboy Bebop. It follows Vash the Stampede, a legendary outlaw and his journey to better the world, and fix his past. A contradictory character, given his serious and goofball moments, he eventually reaches another contradiction with Nicholas D. Wolfwood. Wolfwood believes the ends justify the means, while Vash sticks to a strict moral code. While they each make a different case, one thing for sure is the anime Trigun wouldn't be nearly as good with just Vash or just Wolfwood.
#Anime #Trigun #Wolfwood

[@MystaHassenSTL]

I find it interesting that Wolfwood was kind enough to give 2/3 of (whatever they ate) to each kid but kept 1 for himself instead of giving one to the mother.

[@ProfessorViral]

It fits with his mentality; kindness, but within realism. If he can continue to help people, he has to keep himself alive. Its like a mini summary of why he and Vash clash. Vash 100% would have given away all of his food, because he's kind but idealistic. Honestly, I wish I had thought about that moment more before now, I'm glad you mentioned it!

[@caitlinbrewer4843]

Wolfwood adores and is protective of kids but seems to have very little patience or care for most adults. Kids are honest and pure and worthy of help in his eyes, while adults are... messier. They lie and steal and screw over others for their own reason and pleasure. It is also parts of the reason I think Wolfwood grows so fond of Vash and Milly, who are both have a kindness and goodness to them that most adults lack. There is also the simple fact that the mother, being an adult, can simply handle being hungry longer and better than kids can.

[@swagikuro]

It's a sign of maturity in the writer, the fact that the story explores both worldviews and doesn't explicitly point to one being the correct one. These are philosophical questions that we still haven't figured out. A lesser crowd pleasing work could have easily gone the route of championing Vash's righteous views. Another good example of this is anime is in Kenshin: Trust and Betrayal, where the young and idealistic Kenshin is at odds with his older and cynical master.

[@TitaniumSeraph]

I love Wolfwood. I cried myself to sleep the first time I saw his death episode at 2am on Adult Swim all those years ago. He's an even greater character in the manga.

[@ProfessorViral]

I do wish there was more time to adapt everyone with their full development, but it shows how great the anime is that it still managed fine! I also love Trigun for all the memories people have with it, it's interesting to see stories of it from the Adult Swim days of old haha

[@ombra711]

I have the track that plays in my Playlist since the moment I first heard it. It was weird to find out he didn't die at that point in the manga.

[@alexaresco2063]

Wolfwood is still one of my top 5 favorite characters. His death hit hard but was the push that was needed.

[@Jester103]

I think Trigun gives a very special case of morality of Vash and Wolfwood We can't really point at either of the characters and go like hes right, hes wrong but to me Wolfwood's thinking at the end about how Vash was right wasn't wrong but it wasn't right either. Looking at Vash himself we can't really say hes right, doing all these things risking his life for someone who may not even worth saving but thats the beauty in it, in the show after Wolfwood's death I feel like Vash himself got the thinking that he was wrong and Wolfwood was right. I don't really have a concrete scene to show this but I feel like this is the case. Because no matter which path you're gonna choose you're never gonna get perfect, the opposite sides of the coin can never become each other but what they can do is to see each other and better themself

[@ProfessorViral]

It may have been a pretty quick of me to say that Wolfwood was wrong about being wrong, rather than leaving it ambiguous like, as you said, it really should be. But, very true, and I wish I had thought of that final line to use haha

[@MusabNaveed]

Although I think Vash was right and I do find myself agreeing more with Kantian Ethics, Wolfwood was just far more relatable as a Protagonist. Watching him dying in Church while in Repentance filled with Regret was Powerful. Wolfwood and Legato are what made this show a Personal Favorite for me, I would say.

[@ProfessorViral]

For sure. I'm also much more Kantian, but understand it's lack of reality and why Wolfwood argues he is in the right as well. The lack of a true right or wrong (which I think is maintained since he dies to pay the cost of Vash's way) is what makes the series so strong, and that would never be there without Wolfwood, and Legato as well

[@crewcutter2030]

when you found out that wolfwood is actually younger than he looks because he ages fast everytime he heals just makes his death sader.

[@ProfessorViral]

Is that a detail from the manga, or something I missed in the anime?

[@crewcutter2030]

@@ProfessorViral its in the manga, sadly i think they left it out in the anime. He is far more amazing in the manga and his struggles more detailed.

[@TheViper-yv6yp]

I'm a Wolfwood boy,always have been and always will be 😃

[@Spacehog1981]

Wolfwood was right. His way is what Vash followed when he killed Legato and rightfully so.

[@MusabNaveed]

@@Spacehog1981 Vash lost when he killed Legato and Legato won by forcing him to do that. That was a defeat.

[@Spacehog1981]

I mean, that's fine to have as an opinion. But I personally disagree. I think Vash was positively influenced by Wolfwood. He went from killing Legato to openly facing Knives with intent to kill and that was the right move. If he had kept his extreme pacifism the entire planet would have suffered under Knives' tyranny. He closed the series having become a dynamic charachter. The charachter's philosophy he most closely resembled was Wolfwood.

[@AJ_hwd954]

I remember watching Trigun for the first time on adultswim back in summer 2003, I thought it was alright, but when Wolfwood was introduced I was hooked!

[@ProfessorViral]

He helps to tone down the sometimes blind heroism of Vash, and without him we'd never see the reality of "good and evil" in the Trigun world

[@caitlinbrewer4843]

An additional layer of tragedy for Wolfwood 's death is that he (and Vash) were ultimately RIGHT! Chapel WOULDN'T have shot, we see that he does care about Nicholas and even tries to call out to warn him. If not for Legato, things would have been very different...

[@ProfessorViral]

True, something I really missed there!

[@skullsquad900]

It took an Alien to understand that all life is important, while the Humans were always out for material things...

[@ProfessorViral]

This is something I didn't think about because Vash is so humane I almost forget, but a very true point!

[@AuraCAP]

Someone in the comments probably already said this but The Manga Trigun Maximum does so much of this back and forth with more clarity and understanding… Wolfwood and Vash talk at length even. Wolfwood’s “childhood” (read the manga to know cause if you know u know lol) sets the stage for all these clues and supporting evidence. The Eye of Micheals etc. ESPECIALLY Vash’s relationship with Livio. That 100% is the bridge between Vash and Wolfwood on common ground. Playing for the same team. I would argue the section with Livio is the best.

[@ogrefyx6662]

I hate the moral dilemma with the tram: every time I think about the third option, in which no one was hurt.

[@ProfessorViral]

What I love about Trigun is the exploration of that third option. Oftentimes it's shown as something super achievable with no real cost when things settle. And we see that for a while in Trigun, and then the veil is lifted and we see that there has been a cost, and its hefty. It destroys Vash nearly entirely, and makes him susceptible to villains like Legato. It's not always an option, even when Vash forces it for so long. I love that most about Trigun.

[@mario-k.]

Its not about each philosophy being right or wrong, but rather about believing in the good of humanity to make the world a better place. Always shooting first strips the other one from making "the right" choice. Thats also why many prisons adapt a resocialising philosophy instead of the old punishment one in our world. Thats why Wolfwood thought he was wrong and wanted to live longer to see the world with this new mindset. However Trigun is nuanced enough to also realisticly show, that violence in rare occasions is the only/better solution, letting vash learn about the flaws of his worldview.

[@TazHall]

Thing is, it's not possible to live as Vash does without divine assistance. Vash himself has a supernatural source in that he is an inter-dimensional being with a massive consciousness and capacity to love EVERYBODY. Wolfwood illustrates desire for divine standard buffered by human limitation while Vash's mindset is open to faith and endless resource from heaven. Vash is child-like in that he hopes for and believes all possibilities. The Bible teaches with God, all things are possible. Example. I am a Christian, I live in both Wolfwood and Vash's reality every day and I choose between the two every day. There I things I cannot do on my own and depend on God's power to do. I pray, I see God heal, provide for someone or remove an evil spirit. That is something I do not have the capacity to do on my own and Jesus instructed that in order to use his power, I must be child-like and open to his power filling and flowing through me. I also must exercise integrity and submission to his will so that I can wield that power in a worthy manner. In that sense, I become "inter-dimensional" as I become connected to a supernatural reality beyond Earth's limitations. Jesus called it the Kingdom of God; His kingdom that is not of this world. Jesus Messiah died on the cross not just to forgive sins, but grant access to the limitless resources of Heaven and bring them down to Earth. Living the way Vash does requires relational connection and communion with a supernatural, endless Source. That is why in a sense, Vash is like an angel. The creatures he descends from are even called "Plant Angels" created to care for humanity in impossible environments. Trigun highlights the limits of human flesh. The Bible says the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, which Wolfwood embodied perfectly. I don't know if Nightow realized how close to reality he was with this show, that's why Trigun's reputation is enduring. The things closest to the ultimate truth tend to stand the test of time.

[@thesummaryguy3911]

When you're younger you gravitate towards vash, the older I get the more I gravitate towards wolfwood

[@MICOXD]

Great work dude, keep it up!

[@ProfessorViral]

Thank you! Took a bit of a departure for a bit, but hopefully I'm back for good now!

[@VilkatisM]

Both are right, but for me favorite "Trigun" character is Nicolas It's great that someone remembers him

[@ProfessorViral]

He, and Trigun in general, deserved a bit more attention!

[@d7b50]

You should make a video on the plants. I know what they are by definition but I don’t really understand them as deeply as I’d like after watching the anime and the anime movie

[@ProfessorViral]

Yeah, they were never really too well explained in the anime. I'm actually not super sure what they are myself. But, I could see what I can figure out and maybe make something!

[@elgatochurro]

@@ProfessorViral I hear the manga explains them more and gives Knives more reason for his genocide.

[@onionfrog]

I also do think it is interesting that even while yes, Wolfwood is a great character that fuels and fills that of Vash, he is still very much one of his own. From their different morals we see WHY Wolfwood has them, especially in the manga (which I personally recommend)

[@user-tf9cm6hj6y]

Great video bro!

[@ProfessorViral]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed!

[@mikehuff9793]

Wolfwood respects Vash because he can remember what it’s like to be innocent and to have never taken a life for your own survival. Wolfwood wanted Vash to stay innocent in the end.

[@williamwoolf8072]

wolfwood said he was wrong not because he committed immoral actions but because he completely gave up on trying. he probably could have found a better way for some of them if he genuinely wanted to but deep down he simply didnt want to.

[@ish58]

Wolfwood was definitely heroic, his flaws are what define him as human. He didn't really get the choice of pure pacifism Vash did because its been kill or be killed his entire life. Vash could even heal from his injuries and battle scars if he chose to but he doesn't. He's choosing to be a martyr which is ironic considering Wolfwood is a priest lol

[@ProfessorViral]

The human vs inhuman duality, and how they each play off of it, is one of the best things about the anime for sure. What it forces each of them to do, and what it means they can't do, all while they try to understand the other is masterful

[@ish58]

@@ProfessorViral Also I noticed rivals in anime usually dislike each other but Vash and Wolfwood are legit friends. They just differ on ideology, they're rivals in mindset not ability.

[@nevergonnagiveupuntilibeco5690]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.

[@ProfessorViral]

I had to give Nicholas "What the hell family do you think you're from!? I'm gonna tie you up in a reed mat and dunk ya!" Wolfwood some love

[@junebug4004]

I hope more people find your channel

[@junebug4004]

I think I need to watch one more to sub, so i'mma binges your vids.

[@ProfessorViral]

Glad to see things are working out! I do really appreciate you checking out these other videos though, I'm glad I was able to keep up the quality! : D

[@user-hr1up7zo5t]

Now that the new trigun-stampede is out what are your thoughts around the difference?

[@macelius]

Wolfwood is my favorite character, in many ways deeper than Vash.

[@ProfessorViral]

Although I focused on Wolfwood here, I think they each really need each for contrast to develop their depth. We see and love each side of the argument, and then witness what comes from their collision

[@florkiler6242]

why does Trigun get more and more "we want this to happen so lest just makes up some dumb shit real quick" like, the more I get to the and. it started so good

[@ProfessorViral]

For loving this anime, I will say it's flaw is being very "things just happen" at times. I think the reveal that Vash isn't human, paired with the point of what he does being so absurdly unrealistic to pull off makes it easier to stomach though. This actually gave me the opposite reaction, I started it thinking "eh, not great," and ended it loving the anime

[@Trilaan]

Have you read the manga? I like it much more than the anime. Either way, though, Vash and Wolfwood are in my Top 10 favorite fictional characters.

[@ProfessorViral]

I haven't read it yet, but I need to one day for sure!

[@LMGunslinger]

They never really resolved the issue wolfwood brought up during the caravan episode. A lot of people are gonna die.

[@3Kefka6Palazzo9]

All spoiler ahead . Vash learns in the end by throwing off the red coat recognizing that Rems way is wrong. Wolfwood dies believing in the philosophy of Vash yet in the end Vash learns Wolfwood is right, The tragedy is it comes to late after a good man Wolfwood dies following Vash's ideology only for Vash to realize he was wrong and it cost Wolfwood his life.

[@ProfessorViral]

I do mostly agree, but I think it's important that Vash doesn't kill Knives, and instead differs to his hope once more that his brother could change. While he learns from Wolfwood, I think he still follows his own ideology at the end, but with the influence of Wolfwood

[@elgatochurro]

@@ProfessorViral the idea I thought was him becoming his own person instead of a slave to the ideology

[@minixlemonade2335]

@@elgatochurro Its summed up with "I will survive!"

[@Dethbysheep]

If faced by an attacker there's nothing wrong with being killed or dying in battle. If you kill them your life continues on.

[@deltacharlieecho4732]

I wouldn’t say that Vash and Wolfwood are opposites in foundational morality, rather they are the same in their foundational morality but difference in their application of morality.

[@florkiler6242]

well the answer to that stupid ass coin is that there is more than just kill and not kill in most situations

[@zealotoftheorchard9853]

Spoilers I loved wolfwood, i was dissapointed when he died but it made sense within context

[@ProfessorViral]

Yeah, I think that was the only fitting end for him, in Vash's story

[@LordThree]

To long. I don’t have 13 minutes for this. I’ve seen every episode and own all the manga. Too LONG

[@ProfessorViral]

13 minutes is... too long for a video discussing a series with... over 8 hours of visual content... what? Not even making fun, genuinely shocked

[@florkiler6242]

damn its annoying this anime