Trigun Stargaze ‒ Episode 3

Trigun Stargaze Episode 3: Gunplay and Guilt

This week's episode of Trigun Stargaze dives headfirst into action, showcasing Vash's impressive gunfighting skills against a horde of robotic adversaries. Forced out of his two-year slumber by Jessica, a young survivor from the crashed Home ship, Vash finds himself back at Home, the place where he and Knives spent their formative years. Home now serves as a sanctuary for a small group of humans and houses some of the most advanced technology on the planet. The previous episode hinted at an attack on the Home residents, and this episode reveals that the assailants are puppets controlled by Leonof the Puppet Master, a follower of Knives.

Leonof's Origins and Knives' Influence

The episode delves into Leonof's backstory, portraying him as Emilio, an unpleasant child who readily embraced Knives' ideology after witnessing his capacity for violence. The narrative initially presents a deceptive scenario where Knives appears atop a mountain of technological debris, seemingly cryopods, reiterating his desire for Vash to join his mission to eradicate humanity. However, this Knives is revealed to be a puppet projecting a holographic image. The show doesn't linger on this deception for long, promising to unveil Knives' true fate soon.

Thrilling Action and CG Animation

The majority of the episode's latter half focuses on Vash's exhilarating battle against Leonof's seemingly endless army of puppets. The animation, particularly the use of CG, allows for dynamic action sequences that would be difficult to achieve through traditional hand-drawn animation. Despite occasional jerky movements, the battle is thrilling, as Vash repeatedly empties and reloads his revolver, struggling to fend off the relentless puppets. Jessica aids Vash by manipulating the ship's gravity control lever.

Timely Intervention and Unspoken Emotions

The arrival of Wolfwood, Meryl, and Milly at a crucial moment leads to the heroes' victory. The episode leaves Leonof's fate ambiguous after he injects himself with a mysterious pink liquid, promising a future confrontation with Vash. There are hints of unspoken emotions, with Vash wanting to embrace Wolfwood and Meryl wanting to embrace Vash, but these feelings remain unexpressed.

Burden of Guilt and Responsibility

Vash reflects on Hopperd's words that he was "born to suffer," haunted by the deaths he inadvertently caused in JuLai. Despite being reunited with his friends and family, including Milly, Vash grapples with his deeply ingrained sense of responsibility for the humans he cares about. He struggles to accept their offer to share the burden of his grief and guilt. JuLai was not just a random place for him; it was a place he visited regularly for over a century, forming close bonds with the people who perished.

Knives' Fate and Future Plans

The episode reveals Knives' current state: reduced to a brain and nervous system in a vat, a consequence of the JuLai disaster. The narrative hints at the possibility of him being rebuilt, potentially into a form more disturbing than before. Knives' hatred for humanity remains unwavering, suggesting a continued path of conflict.