90s TV

[tbpickle]

The People Of No Man's Land

Stargaze… I have a lot of thoughts about this season, and I’m still trying to sort through them. Honestly, I stopped watching after episode 8—but forced myself to come back and finish the finale.

I’ll probably write a longer analysis later, but the ending left me confused, sad, and just… empty. Not because it felt rushed. Not because everyone lived except Knives. Not because Vash ends up happy with his friends.

It’s because they all chose to leave No Man's Land. That felt like a cop-out.

At the end of TriMax, when Vash falls into darkness after killing Legato, he’s pulled back by what Meryl and Milly say:

"Our ancestors dreamed of a paradise among the stars, but instead fell onto this planet of sand. Still anything can happen."

"Facing a harsh reality is something you do here every day. You can't live if you let every little thing get you down."

"It's a nice place, isn't it? We're still alive, so let's see what comes next."

That’s what defines the people of No Man’s Land—they’re resilient, strong, and fiercely rooted. They don’t abandon their home. Not when there’s still hope—especially not after everything Knives created through his sacrifice.

This fic on AO3, “Home” by BreezzLee19 captures that feeling perfectly.

Manga translation by the talented team at Trigun Ultimate Overhaul

[tbpickle]

I've been thinking about what "home" means. It's a place where you've spent so much of your life that the landscape, the shops, the smells, and the people remain vivid in your memory. You can close your eyes and still find your way through it.

No Man's Land feels like that to me. It's a world so vivid and diverse, filled with extraordinary characters and unforgettable places. Why would I ever want to leave it?

[tbpickle]

It's the Chemistry That Sells It

I was pretty iffy about In the Clear Moonlit Dusk at first and actually dropped it after the first episode. But for some reason, I went back to it last night… and ended up binging all 12 episodes in one sitting!

Yes, the premise is tropey and, on paper, not particularly unique. But what makes the series work so well is the chemistry between the two leads.

Yoi is beautiful and smart, but she's spent so much of her life being defined by her appearance and treated like a "prince" that she's internalized it. She lets other people tell her who she is. Kohaku ends up challenging that complacency—not through some grand gesture, but through the casual, matter-of-fact way he sees her as a girl. That simple acknowledgment forces her to start questioning how she's allowed others to define her.

Kohaku, on the surface, comes across as a rich playboy, but beneath that carefree image, he's a fairly guarded person. What initially intrigues him about Yoi is how different she is from everyone else. She wants their relationship to be a secret. And because this is a "dating experiment," Kohaku feels a freedom he doesn't usually have. He allows himself to be more genuine around her in a way he can't with most people.

What really got me, though, was how authentically the show captures the feeling of a first real relationship. The insecurity, the nervousness, the confusion, the butterflies, the constant emotional whiplash—I remember all of that. The series portrays those feelings beautifully from both Yoi's and Kohaku's perspectives.

The relationships that truly last, regardless of age, are built on honesty. Both characters wear masks around everyone else, but when they're together, the masks are off and they're surprisingly open about how scared, uncertain, and overwhelmed they are by this strange new thing growing between them. Those quiet, intimate conversations felt incredibly real to me.

So if you can get past the trope-heavy setup, the real heart of the story is watching a mature relationship slowly blossom between two people learning to be honest with themselves and each other.

I'm really glad I gave this show a second chance. 😀

[starseneyes]

Trigun: Does Vash love Meryl?

There’s a lot of evidence to say the reverse is true, that Meryl harbors romantic feelings towards Vash, but I see a lot of debate regarding Vash’s feelings towards Meryl. I’ve combed through the series in both subbed and dubbed versions to support my theory that, yes, he has romantic feelings towards our dear insurance agent by series’ end. Now, I’m not saying he’s going to drop to one knee and propose, or anything, but there are signs that it’s there.

I’m not delving into the manga, here, just the anime, so bear with me. Also, this is going to spoil everything and be really extensive (anyone who’s read one of my Sherlolly reviews knows this to be true). So, you’ve been warned.

Keep reading

[tbpickle]

I ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ '98 Vash and Meryl!

Nightow admitted that he isn't particularly good at writing romance in his manga, but he was heavily involved with and worked closely alongside the '98 anime team during production. Considering the manga wasn't even finished when the anime was released, you can still tell he was rooting for these two, and that mutual deep feeling for each other carries into many aspects of TriMax.

[trigunhoe]

Alternate ending scene to Trigun 98

Source: https://trigunwiki.com/wiki/Roman_Album_TRIGUN_ART_BOOK/Yasuhiro_Nightow_interview

[tbpickle]

Reading this interview really shows how much thought and care went into making the ’98 anime, and how deeply it influenced the rest of Trigun Maximum. ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

The interview was from the Trigun Art Book and translated here. Now I need a physical copy of that book! 😀

[tbpickle]

On the foursome’s outfit changes

Vash wears different variations of his red coat, but it is always unmistakably red and long. The coat becomes a visual constant symbolizing his enduring long life, his values, and the weight of his responsibilities and grief. In the rare moments he’s without it, he feels lighter, more relaxed, closer to the person he might have been without that burden.

Wolfwood is almost always seen in his black suit. Like Vash’s coat, it functions as both armor and identity—a shield that reflects his role, duty, and the life he’s chosen. The one time he appears in casual clothing, he feels markedly different: more open, more vulnerable, even hopeful.

Meryl begins in white, a clear metaphor for her innocence and naivety in the face of a harsh world. After the feather incident in Dragon’s Nest, she disappears from the narrative, returning in the climax combat arc in Octovern City in more utilitarian, hardened attire. This shift suggests time spent processing trauma, deepening her understanding of Vash, and redefining her role beside him. Her new look signals that she’s ready to stand with him, not as someone to be protected, but as an equal. By the end, her return to white suggests that despite everything, she still believes in hope.

Milly’s wardrobe evolves in parallel with Meryl’s, though her palette remains softer and more earth-toned. It reflects her role as the emotional anchor—the grounded presence among them. Even in the final arc, her outfit doesn’t shift as drastically as Meryl’s, reinforcing her steady, unwavering support.

[mmeimono]

Thoughts that came to me when I was choosing his skin tone

[tbpickle]

Love Milly! And Meryl’s iconic twitching 🤣

[tbpickle]

Trigun Stargaze V2 Please!

I love Trigun Stampede so much! It captured the essence of TriMax while still bringing its own unique perspective. The music and theme songs set the tone perfectly. The level of detail in the characters, backgrounds, and world-building was incredible. I even miss Roberto!

Can we please get a remake of Trigun Stargaze and beg Kenji Muto to come back?! PPLLEEEAAASSE! 🥺🙏

[tbpickle]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Trigun (Anime & Manga 1995-2008), Trigun Stampede (Anime 2023) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Meryl Stryfe/Vash the Stampede Characters: Millions Knives (Trigun), Vash the Stampede (Trigun), Meryl Stryfe, Original Child Character(s) Additional Tags:  Vash's birthday, Established Relationship, Vash deserves to be happy, Meryl deserves to be happy, Happy Family Summary:

When Meryl gives Vash an unexpected birthday present, it opens the door to memories he hasn’t touched in years. Vash finds himself learning how to stay in the present with Meryl, with his family, and with a future that finally feels like his own.

[tbpickle]

The People Of No Man's Land

Stargaze… I have a lot of thoughts about this season, and I’m still trying to sort through them. Honestly, I stopped watching after episode 8—but forced myself to come back and finish the finale.

I’ll probably write a longer analysis later, but the ending left me confused, sad, and just… empty. Not because it felt rushed. Not because everyone lived except Knives. Not because Vash ends up happy with his friends.

It’s because they all chose to leave No Man's Land. That felt like a cop-out.

At the end of TriMax, when Vash falls into darkness after killing Legato, he’s pulled back by what Meryl and Milly say:

"Our ancestors dreamed of a paradise among the stars, but instead fell onto this planet of sand. Still anything can happen."

"Facing a harsh reality is something you do here every day. You can't live if you let every little thing get you down."

"It's a nice place, isn't it? We're still alive, so let's see what comes next."

That’s what defines the people of No Man’s Land—they’re resilient, strong, and fiercely rooted. They don’t abandon their home. Not when there’s still hope—especially not after everything Knives created through his sacrifice.

This fic on AO3, “Home” by BreezzLee19 captures that feeling perfectly.

Manga translation by the talented team at Trigun Ultimate Overhaul

[biancalattei]

my favorite senior citizen

[tbpickle]

Science!

So this “wonder drug” Conrad created supposedly heals the body instantly by forcing rapid cellular regeneration. But aging, biologically speaking, happens because cellular elasticity declines and regeneration slows over time. That’s literally part of how aging works.

---------- Ep 8 spoiler below ------------

Yet Leonof is somehow over a hundred years old using the same drug? And now we’re supposed to believe you can transfer this elixir of life by drinking someone’s blood — specifically Livio/Razlo’s? Maybe Wolfwood can revert his rapid aging by ingesting Vash's blood. 🤔

The science is not sciencing… At this point, I’m just going to categorize it as ✨Magic Science✨ and move on. I love anime!

[tbpickle]

I can't even...

Stargaze is really testing my faith in their ability to tell the Trigun story… Right now, all I feel is confusion, frustration, and disappointment. Stargaze Vash continues to irritate me. For the protagonist of the show, he's MIA and sidelined in his own story! 🤯 😡 🤬

I’ll probably keep watching the series since there's only a few more episodes left. Thank God! Just to see how Studio Orange fucks up a beloved IP and one of my all time favorite mangas. It's sad because I loved Stampede and was so looking forward to Stargaze.

At this point, I don't even care what happens to Wolfwood anymore.

If anyone knows what happened to the Trigun team at Studio Orange, please share! What happened!??

[thelightningstreak]

What killed me about Trigun Stargaze's new episode, "The Hurt Locker:"

Knives: "It takes too long for humans to change from their evil ways. It would be much faster to simply annihilate them all. "

Also Knives: Has spent 150 years trying to annihilate humanity

Meanwhile, Midvalley and Leonof: Turned away from evil in 1 day after being shown kindness. Full recovery and reintegration into society within 5 months

[tbpickle]

A great math lesson! 🤣 🤣 🤣

[hakucho-art]

soooo *twirls hair in her fingers*, there is that fiiiiic…

And it was really good and I drew something for it!

WIP „Marry me!“

[tbpickle]

One of my favorite fics! Thank you for making it come to life with your drawing. ❤️

[tbpickle]

Love Letter vs. Homework Assignment 

Stampede felt like a love letter to Trigun. It brought Yasuhiro Nightow’s space-western world  to life. Every character—both original and newly introduced—had a unique point of view and a sense of intrigue. It was the show that pushed me to rewatch the ’98 anime and finally dive into the manga. It genuinely impacted me. Vash and the rest of the gang live rent-free in my head.

In Stampede, we learned so much in such a short span. One episode alone gave us Rollo/Monev the Gale’s disillusioned backstory, Vash’s deep-rooted guilt and his struggle not to kill, and Wolfwood’s survivalist mentality. We learn about the Eye of Michael and GHG from the background radio news broadcasts and wanted posters. We saw Vash’s marksmanship, athleticism, and riding skills in action. So much thought was put into the details to show to us, not spell them out. I loved watching Studio Orange’s creative team walk us through their process, and hearing fans with real-life experience in shooting, fighting, and riding talk about how accurately Orange portrayed it all.

Stargaze, on the other hand, feels like a homework assignment… The key characters and manga panel references are there, but they don’t feel “real” and fleshed out. The stakes feel low; the conflict with the Home Ship and Ark was brief and ultimately hollow. We still don’t know how important Legato is to the story. EVERYONE is a side character standing around TALKING and there is no point of view nor a clear thematic throughline. Our main boy, Vash is idly on the side, has no agency, and is ineffective in moving the story forward. I’m starting to wonder if the director, Masako Sato, even read the manga or collaborated with Stampede director Kenji Muto… How does the Stampede creative team feel about Stargaze…? 

My disappointment just keeps climbing another notch. Such a bummer! 😔 😔 😔

[the-nysh]

Was reading thru trimax and it hit me that Meryl really is his anchor across all versions of Trigun, and specifically her voice is an anchor. There’s that moment after he kills Legato in trimax where Vash ends up dreaming/seeing visions of all the people he’s loved who have died, Wolfwood and Rem too, and you really get the feeling that Vash wouldn’t mind if he never woke up. But somehow he overhears Meryl giving that speech about how they (she) fights for and alongside Vash the Stampede, and that’s what wakes him up.

Y-yeah....:'))) Every time, the themes are consistent. (Meryl's so important guys!) Cause god, when he's suffering through his very worst--even through all the ugly, violent, horrifying parts, spiraling at his lowest emotional point, teetering on the very edge of giving up or completely losing (faith in) himself, she's there...to find and catch him when he falls. To Remind him that he's not lost or struggling alone in this too. ;o; And that is so......like the tender love inherent in their connection, softly restoring that faith in humanity and empowering his resolve to keep going without losing hope, is so gently anchoring and beautiful. <3

Like here, the way she gently holds his hand cradling his head on her lap, feeling (crying) his pain for him as he's struggling in half-awareness, encouraging and reminding him of that.

And here, the moment you described: the way he literally pulls himself out of that dark, aimless, unconscious abyss, gripping with his clenched fist (of revived determination) onto the anchoring sound (light) of her voice beside him bringing him all the way back to the world of the living. :')

(She's chosen to stand together, with him at his side, to help relieve the burden of his fight's long suffering, before he resolves to take the next necessary steps as a bridge connecting the hurt hearts of Plants & humanity.)

[tbpickle]

This is why Meryl is so IMPORTANT to Vash in all versions of Trigun. ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

[newtsnaturethings]

stargazing 🐛 🌌