Ohhhh boy… I've already watched this episode a bunch of times, why do I feel like this is gonna be a doozy to go through again? Well, it's been a journey. Thanks for doing this till the end, truly.
this episode rendered me speechless LMFAO i think i still have a lot more to say, but that will be in the follow-up video in two weeks (i'm on vacation rn 😎)
if there's anything you want me to cover in the retrospective, any questions you want answered, any themes you think i should explore more, let me know and i will answer/address/include it in the wrap-up video along with my own final thoughts.
I really enjoyed following your reactions and comentary in Stamped! And I'm so interested in those Manga Reviews too! After reading the Manga you can appreciate some Stampede details even more.
And If You Loved Satmpede Vash, Manga Vash is going to stole your heart even more. That Happened to me, and I feel Stampede S2 Vash is going to be more like his Manga Counterpart so I can't wait 🤗
Tbh I think if you’re looking for more concrete proof that Knives is still alive without relying entirely on meta knowledge it looks like after Knives speech while he’s burning up, it looks like Vash tries to contain the remaining energy to his Angel arm gun before he hits the ground in an attempt to stop his blast from destroying what remains of his brother. It’s possible this will be an explanation for his potential survival
Your analysis of Knives' perspective and emotional state is actually really interesting and not a common one. Most people i've talked to about him and me included, think that his mental fortitude actually surpasses Vash's, taking in consideration that he's been waging a war on the world completely alone for 150 years (regardless of how mistaken he might be on that), and when Vash actually fights back and Knives actually gets desperate, I interpreted that not as something like "I cant believe he's beating me" but as "Vash is actually about to throw away 150 years of work and our species only chance of ever being free". And he tried SO HARD and so many times to convince Vash that he's making a horrible mistake during their fight. It shows that Knives actually believes from the bottom of his soul that he's saving Vash and his people. It's heartbreaking. What an amazing character. Truly the best thing in Stampede.
THIS EPISODE MAKES ME SO VIOLENT (in the "i am going to scratch the walls, rip out the floorboards, bite the pavement" etc way)
Vash becoming purple, a mix of the blue/teal and red from his usual getup, blue being plants and red being humanity… him literally firing while his gun was empty despite the fact he ALWAYS counts and uses exactly how many bullets he loads… him and his brother's wings being two halves of a whole despite their ideals being on extreme opposites, "Nai is dead, you killed him"… his looney-toon ass jump out of the window!?! I LOVE THIS SERIES : ( I LOVE IT SO MUCH
Thank you for connecting the themes and aspects of the show together into coherent sentances, I am so bad at words and I'm so thankful for your weekly uploads 😭😭 I finally know what to say when I want to express how much this show means to me!! How it affects me!! How I relate to the characters!! Thank you, really!!
I was wondering what you would be hoping for/expecting for season (or rather, part) 2 of Tristamp? Although it closely follows the events of Trimax (or so i've heard), it is basically remixed and most of the fandom is unsure on where they will be taking the series (but still very excited!!). And also, is there anything that you didn't like from Tristamp? Very very curious :]!!
(P.S. hooly shit you look so cool in that Vash fit!! Awesome!!! 💖)
I've absolutely love your reaction to this series and the commentary you provided on it. I can't wait to see the second season of Trigun Stampede when it comes out.
Something I personally felt about Nai is that on some levels has always considered Vash to be on his side even if Vash does go against him. He has always referred to the Plants as belonging to them and even when he was lighting up like a christmas tree, he still declares he will create a paradise for the both of them. If he was more selfish and 'evil' he would have stated 'my paradise' instead of 'ours'.
When Nai stated "Nai is dead- you killed him" I like to believe it was more metaphorical than the literal sense given the moment. Nai seemed a lot more human when he was younger but became colder and ruthless as a way to protect himself and Vash who was basically powerless at the time. "you killed him" could mean "I became ruthless to protect you" or so is my head cannon. In one of the earlier episode in the flash back Nai stated something along the lines "I'll cut down the humans in place of our brethrens" as he now takes on the responsibility of freeing his brethrens. While Vash is like a Jesus figures for humans, Nai represents the Plants becoming a vessels for their voices and more predominantly their screams. I thought it was an interesting thought I had while watching the series over multiple time.
Something I'm not sure if it has been mentioned previously but in the Wolfwood's flash back you see an imagery of a lava becoming a moth in Wolfwood's hallucinations. I feel that could be a reference to species of moths who don't have mouths and as such can't eat. Their whole purpose upon reaching maturity is to mate and then die. I feel like this has a sad implications for Wolfwood as even the doctor said "this growth will come at a price".
I'm not sure why I've rambled on for so long but I love hearing your thoughts so I thought I might my own.
On a more light hearted note, do you ship Vash and Wolfwood? And if you do what dynamics do you think they would have?
Yoooo, love your coat and glasses! Where did you find them and can I buy a set. 👀
12:56 Boy ain't that a mood for the entire episode. U_U We are all distraught, fr. Oof, that poem you read perfectly encapsulates Vash, thank you for sharing. What a good character. What a good story. <3
I will say that I don't think Nai forced Vash to burn him alive just to hurt him, though; it was merely an unfortunate side affect of his drive and his mania and inability to know when to quit. But he I don't think he was ever truly trying to hurt Vash during their final fight, and Vash wasn't really trying to hurt him. Everyone likens their fight to two kids fighting over the remote for a reason. They are still, STILL trying to make the other see their side, even though neither of them can understand the other, and it makes me want to yeet my computer out the window every time. orz. Tumblr user Ciaran put it best, I think: theyre BROTHERS and their final fight is pure love. theyre trying to save each other but theyre also trying to protect a philosophy and a way of life and they dont get it. they cant talk to each other. theres nothing either of them can say that the other will understand. and they are both so so so sickeningly lonely for each other. nai wants to build a paradise for two, vash wants them to live among humans even if it means they spend more time running than they do at peace. and they both look at what the other wants and are filled with this deep grief and terror and fury because thats unbearable. its unbearable. how CAN vash say he would be alright being broken and hurt and used up and taken advantage of endlessly. and HOW can nai say that they would be happier by themselves, without people, that it’s better for humans to die. they look at each other with so much mourning. they look at each other with so much unspent love
I look forward to your dive into Maximum! It's a different beast than Stampede for sure, but I think you'll enjoy it all the same. Peace! ✌
during Nai and Vash's fight, my reaction is exactly the same as yours. It leaves me with 'not emotionaly recovered' until like…. a month or so? I just kept repeating the last episode to just…. be i guess (?)
Thank you for covering this (first part of the) series and sharing your commentary/thoughts about it — truly one of the best media analysis channels I’ve seen in a while! Your journey through tristamp has been so insightful and I have enjoyed every single one of your uploads and I’m sticking around for more!
What surprised you the most in this series? I was not expecting to come out of it being so fascinated by Knives and and the way you analyzed his breakdown here was so interesting. And despite all of Vash's pain that's inflicted by others or onto himself, he'll still choose Love & Peace
I have loved watching your response to this series. Seriously, you catch every freaking detail. You had like, the most premier first experience of it. It was just a joy to follow and live through it through you. Wow that quote at the end. I cannot wait to experience season 2 with you whenever that may be.
Idk if your taking questions or discussion topics but there's a lot of discussion especially with the manga but it's present in tristamp about the parallel or theme of bodily autonomy. With plants being female presenting and the exploitation and objectification of thier being standing as an allegory for assault. The sheer violating nature of the entire plant situation is uncomfortable and shocking and i think it says a lot about the cruelty and horror of that crime. Vash and Kni are these extreme reactions to processing that grief and healing. It's worth keeping this theme in mind as you read because it takes on a different approach in trimax but maybe you could touch on that.
I can't ask for anything more discussion wise because you've brought up stuff I never even thought of. Ohh, maybe you have speculation on the nature of Plants in general and the big question of why the twins were born. The plants don't seem entirely man-made. They always felt like a creature maybe reconstructed by man but never fully understood. Like I don't think Conrad was right with his theory of the Dependants not having souls. He's just grasping for a reason to explain the difference of the Independents. It brings to question why the twins were born and the nature of the divine in this universe.
"Nai is dead, you killed him" When I heard this line I thought that it was somewhat out of place. And then I realised that so far Vash has only been addressing Knives as Nai, his childhood name. And when Knives says that line, he means that Nai, that child, is dead. Vash killed him because Knives had to become someone else to save his brother. I like your interpretation, though. I believe Knives' heart is full of conflicting emotions which makes it impossible to interpret his actions in only one way.
7:37 Vash is now willing to actually shoot Nai (as opposed to ep.3. when he shot only at his knife-tentacles) but he's still picking non-lethal areas (shoulder, limbs). Someone also noticed that Nai's knives have three forms, and the one he's using in this fight is the non-lethal kind, with the sharp bits folded away. With the exception of when he killed those soldiers who were attacking Vash, of course. Both of them were trying not to hurt each other with their respective weapons. :') Makes the "Nai is dead, you killed him" line even more poignant and painful.
7:45 I was hoping you'd notice that detail, lmao. The director actually said he asked for that to be included in their fight, to make it feel like an actual sibling fight.
7:57 Someone also analyzed this moment, and I quote:
"I propose: he did that on purpose. Not in the I-want-to-smash-the-window-way. Not even in the I-am-bigger-and-stronger-than-you-way or I-am-so-pissed-no-thought-head-empty-way. Bcause Knives simply doesn't do those things. He is an evil mastermind who often hides in his Temple of Menace and Brooding playing piano. And when he does go out there, it's with an elaborate evil plan, minions he manipulates, and literal million knives of demon tentacles that do the job for him. He isn't Vash. He doesn't live his life in pursuit. He never had to climb through a window or make a quick escape. Vash jumps out of the window and his body just knows how to move to do that. He doesn't count how many times he'd done it but you bet it ain't the first window he broke. But Knives? He is stupid when it comes to his body because it's never really been tested that way.
It's Vash who catches bullets with his himself, wears a duster instead of bullet proof vest. it's Vash who goes around the desert, runs, and runs, and run, either somewhere or from a mob that wants his head. It's Vash who jumped through his first window like Knives, got injured, had to patch himself up, and had to realize well maybe there is a better way of doing this.
It's Knives who saw his brother curl into himself as he jumped into the glass, and thought that Once Again Vash Makes Himself Small when He Is an Angel Sent By God. It's Knives who goes starfish into the glass and thinks Ah shit I get it now. "
I’ve loved following along with your reactions to stampede! Your expressions were similar to mine the first time I saw ep 12. Just speechless! Also I rewatched that fight scene multiple times because it’s just so beautifully animated. Hope to catch you when season 2 airs ~
The thing I find fascinating about the religious allegory both outside, and within the story, is how Knives sees himself within that framework. I think sees himself, and parallels his actions, as the Archangel Michael (hence naming his organization "The Eye of Michael"). The Plants, and the higher plane, are the true God to him, and he is the servant punishing the Sinners. For his betrayal, Vash is Lucifer in Knive's eyes. Also young Nai definitely read too much Dune, and is doing a good job following the Leto II playbook with using his long life to weaponize a religion to gain devoted followers.
Watching reactions to Stampede & Gundam Witch from Mercury back to back, with their themes of sibling rivalry vs unconditional love (& basically f***ed up families working thru sh*t through violence). Damn. Anime this season is Hitting!💖😭
Also the intro to this episode always makes me laugh with how it's Knives who's into westerns as a kid. It's honestly so fitting when you consider a few old westerns are kinda anti-indigenous to native americans, and how ironic that Knives vibed with it considering how he feels about humanity afterwards.
Vash's non official black outfit getting canonised from this episode made me so randomly happy. The one figure I had of Vash I got from my 1st animecon was an alt design of Vash in a black coat, that I got 12 years ago, and seeing it as part of this reboot was a such a stylistic surprise that put a smile on face when i saw him get his original spiky hair along with it
I wanted to watch your videos slowly just because so that I have more to watch, but then I spent like hours watching your reactions ended up watching all the 12 reactions just one day. :') I gotta say I loooooved all your perspectives, analysis and commentaries. Honestly, it was such a refreshment to listening to someone who actually stands on Vash's side and can articulate his views of the world beautifully because Vash is not the type to really explain/depend himself or his beliefs and that often make viewers (and or people in general) to think his arguments are weak and contradicted. I, for one, am struggling to not to lose faith in humanity these days and sometimes do think like Knives (maybe a lot more than I want to admit) and when I first watched Trigun Stampede, I thought Vash's perspectives are kind of old-styled and naive. (Although I couldn't help myself but just love Vash anyways, regardless I agreed with him or not that time) Now, as I finished reading manga and behind interviews of the creators, I do started to understand where Vash was coming from as much as I understood Knives. It's actually really sad, knowing these two really do love each other but they're just so different. It always breaks my heart to see the image of the little twins looking up at the sky together holding each other while dying Knives saying 'Our paradise' in the end. I think without all the god complex and the hatred toward humans, deep down what Knives really just wanted was being happy with his little brother, not worrying about them being different or being dangerous because of it. (that said, some people think Knives jumped into the energy on purpose, to reduce the power that Vash shoot out from his angel arm so that Vash can survive instead of burst in to pieces because of the energies. Whether or not that is true, it did result Vash to control/reduce the amount of energies shoot out that ended up saving Vash's life. though it costed the whole city to get destroyed.)
Thank you again, for your videos and share your thoughts and analysis it was really fun to watch. I thought Stampede needs the reaction video that does more than just "reaction" and I'm so so glad I found your channel. I just loved how you focused and found all the little details and also how you have so many references about different things that including other anims and movies that made your points all rich. I hope you continue to post videos about trigun!! Maybe reading Maximum and re-watch the Stampede? That will make your analysis so much richer I believe. Wow that was a long comment. English is not my first language so sorry if I made any nonsense sentence here. I can't wait for your next videos!
26 comments
Ohhhh boy… I've already watched this episode a bunch of times, why do I feel like this is gonna be a doozy to go through again? Well, it's been a journey. Thanks for doing this till the end, truly.
this episode rendered me speechless LMFAO i think i still have a lot more to say, but that will be in the follow-up video in two weeks (i'm on vacation rn 😎)
if there's anything you want me to cover in the retrospective, any questions you want answered, any themes you think i should explore more, let me know and i will answer/address/include it in the wrap-up video along with my own final thoughts.
thank you all so much for watching 🙂
🤟&✌
I really enjoyed following your reactions and comentary in Stamped! And I'm so interested in those Manga Reviews too!
After reading the Manga you can appreciate some Stampede details even more.
And If You Loved Satmpede Vash, Manga Vash is going to stole your heart even more. That Happened to me, and I feel Stampede S2 Vash is going to be more like his Manga Counterpart so I can't wait 🤗
Vash Is too precious for this world 🤧💕
Tbh I think if you’re looking for more concrete proof that Knives is still alive without relying entirely on meta knowledge it looks like after Knives speech while he’s burning up, it looks like Vash tries to contain the remaining energy to his Angel arm gun before he hits the ground in an attempt to stop his blast from destroying what remains of his brother. It’s possible this will be an explanation for his potential survival
I HAVENT FINISHED YET BUT WHERE DID YOU GET THE COAT FROM
Your analysis of Knives' perspective and emotional state is actually really interesting and not a common one. Most people i've talked to about him and me included, think that his mental fortitude actually surpasses Vash's, taking in consideration that he's been waging a war on the world completely alone for 150 years (regardless of how mistaken he might be on that), and when Vash actually fights back and Knives actually gets desperate, I interpreted that not as something like "I cant believe he's beating me" but as "Vash is actually about to throw away 150 years of work and our species only chance of ever being free". And he tried SO HARD and so many times to convince Vash that he's making a horrible mistake during their fight. It shows that Knives actually believes from the bottom of his soul that he's saving Vash and his people. It's heartbreaking. What an amazing character. Truly the best thing in Stampede.
THIS EPISODE MAKES ME SO VIOLENT (in the "i am going to scratch the walls, rip out the floorboards, bite the pavement" etc way)
Vash becoming purple, a mix of the blue/teal and red from his usual getup, blue being plants and red being humanity… him literally firing while his gun was empty despite the fact he ALWAYS counts and uses exactly how many bullets he loads… him and his brother's wings being two halves of a whole despite their ideals being on extreme opposites, "Nai is dead, you killed him"… his looney-toon ass jump out of the window!?! I LOVE THIS SERIES : ( I LOVE IT SO MUCH
Thank you for connecting the themes and aspects of the show together into coherent sentances, I am so bad at words and I'm so thankful for your weekly uploads 😭😭 I finally know what to say when I want to express how much this show means to me!! How it affects me!! How I relate to the characters!! Thank you, really!!
I was wondering what you would be hoping for/expecting for season (or rather, part) 2 of Tristamp? Although it closely follows the events of Trimax (or so i've heard), it is basically remixed and most of the fandom is unsure on where they will be taking the series (but still very excited!!). And also, is there anything that you didn't like from Tristamp? Very very curious :]!!
(P.S. hooly shit you look so cool in that Vash fit!! Awesome!!! 💖)
I've absolutely love your reaction to this series and the commentary you provided on it. I can't wait to see the second season of Trigun Stampede when it comes out.
Something I personally felt about Nai is that on some levels has always considered Vash to be on his side even if Vash does go against him. He has always referred to the Plants as belonging to them and even when he was lighting up like a christmas tree, he still declares he will create a paradise for the both of them. If he was more selfish and 'evil' he would have stated 'my paradise' instead of 'ours'.
When Nai stated "Nai is dead- you killed him" I like to believe it was more metaphorical than the literal sense given the moment. Nai seemed a lot more human when he was younger but became colder and ruthless as a way to protect himself and Vash who was basically powerless at the time. "you killed him" could mean "I became ruthless to protect you" or so is my head cannon.
In one of the earlier episode in the flash back Nai stated something along the lines "I'll cut down the humans in place of our brethrens" as he now takes on the responsibility of freeing his brethrens. While Vash is like a Jesus figures for humans, Nai represents the Plants becoming a vessels for their voices and more predominantly their screams. I thought it was an interesting thought I had while watching the series over multiple time.
Something I'm not sure if it has been mentioned previously but in the Wolfwood's flash back you see an imagery of a lava becoming a moth in Wolfwood's hallucinations. I feel that could be a reference to species of moths who don't have mouths and as such can't eat. Their whole purpose upon reaching maturity is to mate and then die. I feel like this has a sad implications for Wolfwood as even the doctor said "this growth will come at a price".
I'm not sure why I've rambled on for so long but I love hearing your thoughts so I thought I might my own.
On a more light hearted note, do you ship Vash and Wolfwood? And if you do what dynamics do you think they would have?
Yoooo, love your coat and glasses! Where did you find them and can I buy a set. 👀
12:56 Boy ain't that a mood for the entire episode. U_U We are all distraught, fr. Oof, that poem you read perfectly encapsulates Vash, thank you for sharing. What a good character. What a good story. <3
I will say that I don't think Nai forced Vash to burn him alive just to hurt him, though; it was merely an unfortunate side affect of his drive and his mania and inability to know when to quit. But he I don't think he was ever truly trying to hurt Vash during their final fight, and Vash wasn't really trying to hurt him. Everyone likens their fight to two kids fighting over the remote for a reason. They are still, STILL trying to make the other see their side, even though neither of them can understand the other, and it makes me want to yeet my computer out the window every time. orz. Tumblr user Ciaran put it best, I think:
theyre BROTHERS and their final fight is pure love. theyre trying to save each other but theyre also trying to protect a philosophy and a way of life and they dont get it. they cant talk to each other. theres nothing either of them can say that the other will understand. and they are both so so so sickeningly lonely for each other. nai wants to build a paradise for two, vash wants them to live among humans even if it means they spend more time running than they do at peace. and they both look at what the other wants and are filled with this deep grief and terror and fury because thats unbearable. its unbearable. how CAN vash say he would be alright being broken and hurt and used up and taken advantage of endlessly. and HOW can nai say that they would be happier by themselves, without people, that it’s better for humans to die. they look at each other with so much mourning. they look at each other with so much unspent love
I look forward to your dive into Maximum! It's a different beast than Stampede for sure, but I think you'll enjoy it all the same. Peace! ✌
during Nai and Vash's fight, my reaction is exactly the same as yours. It leaves me with 'not emotionaly recovered' until like…. a month or so? I just kept repeating the last episode to just…. be i guess (?)
Thank you for covering this (first part of the) series and sharing your commentary/thoughts about it — truly one of the best media analysis channels I’ve seen in a while! Your journey through tristamp has been so insightful and I have enjoyed every single one of your uploads and I’m sticking around for more!
Your Vash jacket looks absolutely amazing btw!
What surprised you the most in this series?
I was not expecting to come out of it being so fascinated by Knives and and the way you analyzed his breakdown here was so interesting. And despite all of Vash's pain that's inflicted by others or onto himself, he'll still choose Love & Peace
"I could look at him all day"
ME TOO MY FRIEND. ME TOO
I have loved watching your response to this series. Seriously, you catch every freaking detail. You had like, the most premier first experience of it. It was just a joy to follow and live through it through you. Wow that quote at the end. I cannot wait to experience season 2 with you whenever that may be.
Idk if your taking questions or discussion topics but there's a lot of discussion especially with the manga but it's present in tristamp about the parallel or theme of bodily autonomy. With plants being female presenting and the exploitation and objectification of thier being standing as an allegory for assault. The sheer violating nature of the entire plant situation is uncomfortable and shocking and i think it says a lot about the cruelty and horror of that crime. Vash and Kni are these extreme reactions to processing that grief and healing. It's worth keeping this theme in mind as you read because it takes on a different approach in trimax but maybe you could touch on that.
I can't ask for anything more discussion wise because you've brought up stuff I never even thought of. Ohh, maybe you have speculation on the nature of Plants in general and the big question of why the twins were born. The plants don't seem entirely man-made. They always felt like a creature maybe reconstructed by man but never fully understood. Like I don't think Conrad was right with his theory of the Dependants not having souls. He's just grasping for a reason to explain the difference of the Independents. It brings to question why the twins were born and the nature of the divine in this universe.
"Nai is dead, you killed him"
When I heard this line I thought that it was somewhat out of place. And then I realised that so far Vash has only been addressing Knives as Nai, his childhood name. And when Knives says that line, he means that Nai, that child, is dead. Vash killed him because Knives had to become someone else to save his brother.
I like your interpretation, though. I believe Knives' heart is full of conflicting emotions which makes it impossible to interpret his actions in only one way.
Love the response and commentary ❤ I have a question! How did you make your jacket? Did you put it together yourself or did you follow a pattern?
7:37 Vash is now willing to actually shoot Nai (as opposed to ep.3. when he shot only at his knife-tentacles) but he's still picking non-lethal areas (shoulder, limbs). Someone also noticed that Nai's knives have three forms, and the one he's using in this fight is the non-lethal kind, with the sharp bits folded away. With the exception of when he killed those soldiers who were attacking Vash, of course. Both of them were trying not to hurt each other with their respective weapons. :') Makes the "Nai is dead, you killed him" line even more poignant and painful.
7:45 I was hoping you'd notice that detail, lmao. The director actually said he asked for that to be included in their fight, to make it feel like an actual sibling fight.
7:57 Someone also analyzed this moment, and I quote:
"I propose: he did that on purpose. Not in the I-want-to-smash-the-window-way. Not even in the I-am-bigger-and-stronger-than-you-way or I-am-so-pissed-no-thought-head-empty-way. Bcause Knives simply doesn't do those things. He is an evil mastermind who often hides in his Temple of Menace and Brooding playing piano. And when he does go out there, it's with an elaborate evil plan, minions he manipulates, and literal million knives of demon tentacles that do the job for him. He isn't Vash. He doesn't live his life in pursuit. He never had to climb through a window or make a quick escape. Vash jumps out of the window and his body just knows how to move to do that. He doesn't count how many times he'd done it but you bet it ain't the first window he broke. But Knives? He is stupid when it comes to his body because it's never really been tested that way.
It's Vash who catches bullets with his himself, wears a duster instead of bullet proof vest. it's Vash who goes around the desert, runs, and runs, and run, either somewhere or from a mob that wants his head. It's Vash who jumped through his first window like Knives, got injured, had to patch himself up, and had to realize well maybe there is a better way of doing this.
It's Knives who saw his brother curl into himself as he jumped into the glass, and thought that Once Again Vash Makes Himself Small when He Is an Angel Sent By God. It's Knives who goes starfish into the glass and thinks Ah shit I get it now. "
Oooh a readthrough of the manga? I would LOVE to see that, you'd pull some super interesting things out of it.
I loved this journey, THANK YOU.
I’ve loved following along with your reactions to stampede! Your expressions were similar to mine the first time I saw ep 12. Just speechless! Also I rewatched that fight scene multiple times because it’s just so beautifully animated. Hope to catch you when season 2 airs ~
Thank YOU for taking us along on your journey
The thing I find fascinating about the religious allegory both outside, and within the story, is how Knives sees himself within that framework. I think sees himself, and parallels his actions, as the Archangel Michael (hence naming his organization "The Eye of Michael"). The Plants, and the higher plane, are the true God to him, and he is the servant punishing the Sinners. For his betrayal, Vash is Lucifer in Knive's eyes. Also young Nai definitely read too much Dune, and is doing a good job following the Leto II playbook with using his long life to weaponize a religion to gain devoted followers.
Watching reactions to Stampede & Gundam Witch from Mercury back to back, with their themes of sibling rivalry vs unconditional love (& basically f***ed up families working thru sh*t through violence). Damn.
Anime this season is Hitting!💖😭
Also the intro to this episode always makes me laugh with how it's Knives who's into westerns as a kid. It's honestly so fitting when you consider a few old westerns are kinda anti-indigenous to native americans, and how ironic that Knives vibed with it considering how he feels about humanity afterwards.
Vash's non official black outfit getting canonised from this episode made me so randomly happy. The one figure I had of Vash I got from my 1st animecon was an alt design of Vash in a black coat, that I got 12 years ago, and seeing it as part of this reboot was a such a stylistic surprise that put a smile on face when i saw him get his original spiky hair along with it
I wanted to watch your videos slowly just because so that I have more to watch, but then I spent like hours watching your reactions ended up watching all the 12 reactions just one day. :') I gotta say I loooooved all your perspectives, analysis and commentaries. Honestly, it was such a refreshment to listening to someone who actually stands on Vash's side and can articulate his views of the world beautifully because Vash is not the type to really explain/depend himself or his beliefs and that often make viewers (and or people in general) to think his arguments are weak and contradicted. I, for one, am struggling to not to lose faith in humanity these days and sometimes do think like Knives (maybe a lot more than I want to admit) and when I first watched Trigun Stampede, I thought Vash's perspectives are kind of old-styled and naive. (Although I couldn't help myself but just love Vash anyways, regardless I agreed with him or not that time) Now, as I finished reading manga and behind interviews of the creators, I do started to understand where Vash was coming from as much as I understood Knives. It's actually really sad, knowing these two really do love each other but they're just so different. It always breaks my heart to see the image of the little twins looking up at the sky together holding each other while dying Knives saying 'Our paradise' in the end. I think without all the god complex and the hatred toward humans, deep down what Knives really just wanted was being happy with his little brother, not worrying about them being different or being dangerous because of it. (that said, some people think Knives jumped into the energy on purpose, to reduce the power that Vash shoot out from his angel arm so that Vash can survive instead of burst in to pieces because of the energies. Whether or not that is true, it did result Vash to control/reduce the amount of energies shoot out that ended up saving Vash's life. though it costed the whole city to get destroyed.)
Thank you again, for your videos and share your thoughts and analysis it was really fun to watch. I thought Stampede needs the reaction video that does more than just "reaction" and I'm so so glad I found your channel. I just loved how you focused and found all the little details and also how you have so many references about different things that including other anims and movies that made your points all rich. I hope you continue to post videos about trigun!! Maybe reading Maximum and re-watch the Stampede? That will make your analysis so much richer I believe. Wow that was a long comment. English is not my first language so sorry if I made any nonsense sentence here. I can't wait for your next videos!