The second episode of TRIGUN STAMPEDE, titled, “The Running Man” was an interesting continuation of the first episode’s general atmosphere, and with the introduction of two zany new characters, there is a lot to take from the second episode.
Filled with even more physical comedy and classic Vash the Stampede silliness (while under a literal hail of bullets), the second episode solidified the TRIGUN STAMPEDE anime’s new direction which has seen it do away with much of the original Trigun series’ mystery surrounding the titular man.
The SEEDS of Evil
The episode begins with another heart-rending glimpse back into Vash’s past, his separation from his guardian Rem, and the terrifying sight of his brother, Knives, laughing maniacally as the area surrounding their crash site burns. Knives refers to Vash as “an accomplice”, triumphantly, sadistically relishing some “brilliant success” as their mothership containing their cryogenically frozen shipmates comes to an explosive end.
Adult Vash is seen setting at a desk while listening to a voice coming from the nearby radio droning about the importance of Plants in the survival of humanity while contemplating whether this survival was truly just good luck, or a case of genuine misfortune. As Vash listens, a tiny robot scuttling across the floor appears to be watching him. Its appearance is particularly unsettling as it looks just like a complex virus or bacteriophage. Whatever its significance, the presence of this robot is ominous.
Et Tu, Dude?
After the opening credits, the radio is again heard, this time while Vash, Meryl and De Niro are in Rosa’s bar enjoying drink. The top news story is concerning the escape of two highly dangerous criminals from May City Prison. The Nebraskas, as they are known, are responsible for 69 counts of manslaughter and twelve attempted murders, which unsettles some of the other patrons because it isn’t far away. Off-screen, Vash fills his companions in on the fact that he has an evil twin brother who is the one responsible for the thefts of various Plants across the planet. The story sounds too convenient for them to believe immediately, but they’re interrupted by Rosa’s son, Tonis, who brings Vash Worms to cheer him up. After Rosa kicks Tonis out, Vash and company are surrounded by armed men.
While the first episode showed how truly valiant and heroic Vash actually is (and, by extension, the deep extent of Knives’ evil), it also showed how unlucky the guy is. Right after saving No Man’s Land from their rapidly deteriorating water crisis caused by old and clunky machinery (which replaces the greedy machinations of a capitalist in the original Trigun series), the people he just saved set their crosshairs on their one… two… no, three-time saviour. Their reasons for betraying Vash and the others are quite sound – children live there, after all, and they cost a lot of money to keep alive. Despite their obvious intent to kill, Vash only evades their attacks in a dizzying, tossing and turning chase sequence filled with comedic moments from Vash himself as he tries not to get killed. The chase ends not far from the exit, and they are caught; however, a large vehicle threatens to flatten Tonis before Rosa can get to him. Vash saves them both, and the unknown attacker demands an audience with Vash.
Nebraskas
Meryl and De Niro follow Vash as he leads the Nebraskas away from the town. Eventually, the two run out of fuel, so they disembark their vehicle to engage Vash directly. The Nebraskas are a father-son duo consisting of an old mad scientist and his musclebound son enhanced through cybernetics. Despite their provocations, Vash refuses to challenge them and chooses to run away instead. Once they’ve gained distance, an incensed Meryl tells Vash that his actions are more cowardly than heroic or kind, because all he’s doing is running away from pain. In response, Vash agrees that he may be timid, but he wonders if it’s really always imperative to fight everything head-on, “even if it gets someone killed”, which leaves Meryl at a loss.
Having given up on the big fish, the Nebraska the Elder realizes that he was sitting on a goldmine the whole time – the city is bound to have a Plant, and those go for a killing on the black market, not to mention the fact that they are empowering for those who are provided for by one. Despite her best efforts, Rosa and the others are unable to keep the Nebraskas at bay. Vash catches wind of their plight through the police scanner in Meryl and De Niro’s cruiser, and is able to intervene before Gofsef inflicts a heavy blow on Rosa.
Head-On
Vash engages the Nebraskas, but continues to make evading attacks his main priority, which greatly angers his opponents. When asked why he won’t shoot, Vash sends the question right back and Nebraska Sr hilariously quips that rockets for his RPG are incredibly expensive, so he’d rather hold onto them where he can. Despite eventually firing his sole rocket at Vash, he’s unable to hit him, and instead destabilizes the platform they're standing on. Vash tries to appeal to the Nebraskas humanity by emphasizing how important it is that the village keep their Plant. Vash’s pacifism irritates the senior, who reminds him that not too long ago, the very people he’s trying to save were trying to kill him. Despite that, Vash is determined to save them because they were once kind to him, but the conversation doesn’t end up going anywhere as the old man draws his pistol, and fires.
Vash finally draws his weapon, but only to fire a round directly at the one coming towards him. He reholsters his weapon and reiterates that he only wants to help; however, they find themselves on literal shaky ground as the old rusty platform they’re standing on gives way. Realizing that the Plant is the most important thing, Gofsef sacrifices the few seconds he had to save himself, to save the Plant, and ends up falling along with the platform. However, his stretchy arms come in handy, and with a little bit of convincing, Vash is able to get Rosa and the rest to help Gofsef back to safety. Vash and the Nebraskas start preparing to leave, but Rosa summons them back to her bar for a celebratory drink.
The Running Man
As the people are drinking, Vash gets up discreetly to fetch his things and go. As he begins his departure, more of those virus-like robots are seen scuttling across the saloon’s sign, and away from his room. As he walks out, De Niro is out there having a cigarette, waiting for him. He asks if Vash intends to leave without saying goodbye, and Vash tells him that he doesn’t like staying in places for too long. De Niro, despite being jaded, is quite sharp and deduces that Vash is leaving out of necessity, trying to keep Knives off his trail.
They’re interrupted as those virus-bots live up to their ominous appearance and cause a stir at the saloon. Referred to as “Lost Technology”, the viruses insert their payload into Gofsef, which leads to his unfair demise via an explosion. Filled with dizzying camera movements and interesting shots of Vash running away from his pursuers in the first part of the episode, its attempts at humour were at times undermined by the seriousness of the moments they came in, or merely just over-the-top reactions to the goings-on. That being said, it also presented a chance for Vash's friendship with Meryl and De Niro to grow even further.