90s TV

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. 😀

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.

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!

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:

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.

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 ------------

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.

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! 😔 😔 😔

I’m keeping an open mind about Trigun Stargaze, but something feels a little off…  I’m really hoping the later episodes will prove me wrong.

What’s working for me 👍

1. Slower pacing

The slower pace gives Vash the space to actually grieve and begin healing from the destruction of July, The Hoppered arc was tragic and heavy, but it forced Vash to confront his responsibility and push forward to save Jessica and their family at Home. Episode 4, in particular, felt like a much-needed breather - Vash reuniting with Wolfwood, Meryl, and the people who care about him. The haircut scene was cute, a little glimpse of his old goofiness and sibling dynamic with Jessica.

2. Vash and Wolfwood

The duo dynamic is absolutely there. Vash checking Wolfwood for strings, Wolfwood bumping his head on the pipes while blinded. Those little moments are adorable. Even though they clash philosophically, Vash’s pacifism is clearly influencing Wolfwood’s actions. I also really liked how the English dub leaned into Wolfwood’s gruffness. I know some people prefer subs, but sometimes the dub does a better job conveying tone and colloquial intent. I’m really looking forward to the dub for episodes 4 and 5. Plus Johnny Yong Bosch will always be my Vash! 🥰

3. Backstory for some GHGs

Hoppered’s expanded story is great new material. Midvalley’s arc feels closer to TriMax; it really emphasizes how trapped and conflicted he is. Unlike other GHGs who are devoted to Knives, Midvalley feels coerced, driven by fear rather than belief.

4. Vash’s Pov of Meryl

Unlike Wolfwood, whom he constantly debates over their opposing philosophies, Meryl understands Vash’s pacifism and actively lives by it. She takes the time to learn about the Plants (both the ones kept in tanks and those growing in the ground). She comforts him when he needs it, draws out his laughter with some of her silly interview questions, and stands by his side even in the most dangerous moments. Every time she speaks, Vash looks at her with quiet awe. ❤️

What’s not working so well for me 👎

1. The world-building feels stalled

One of the strongest parts of Trigun Stampede was its world-building. We saw a map of No Man’s Land, felt the desperation of people surviving in a brutal, resource-scarce desert, and experienced that dog-eat-dog mentality as the foursome travel to July. Stargaze touches on this briefly, but it’s mostly confined to the Home ship, which just isn’t a very compelling backdrop beyond the Leonof action scene.

In TriMax, the Wolfwood vs. Midvalley fight takes place in a city where buildings are stacked on top of one another, packed tight with different kinds of people, which amplifies the urgency and danger. Here, the environment feels sterile and empty, which dulls the impact. And knowing we’re heading back there again next episode is kind of a bummer…

2. Not enough death

This might sound morbid, but Trigun is fundamentally about death and suffering. Vash’s pacifism only has weight because people die despite his efforts. Every GHG death meant something. Stampede understood that. With Stargaze, I’m starting to worry… (Hoping it doesn’t go the Stranger Things route) As weird as it is, I kind of hope Legato kills Midvalley next episode.

3. Vash feels like a side hero

The Hoppered fight works because it highlights Vash’s refusal to fight, letting Hoppered land his attacks. The Leonof encounter works because Vash uses his familiarity with Home to turn the tables. But in the Midvalley fight, Vash feels sidelined, relying on Luida and Leonof. It felt like a missed opportunity to really showcase Vash and Wolfwood working together as a unit.

4. No long wavy hair Knives

Sadly, I don’t think we’re getting those beautiful, long, wavy locks here. Another missed opportunity! 😔 Still, he looks damn good sitting in the back of that jazz lounge, whiskey on the rocks, surrounded by all those bodies.