TRIGUN STARGAZE: The Story of Hoppered Revealed

“The second episode of TRIGUN STARGAZE is deeply moving, revealing Hoppered’s backstory while ushering in the return of Vash the Stampede.”

We had to wait two years, but TRIGUN made a satisfying return with the premiere of STARGAZE last week. It was a reintroduction to this world and to the characters we know. A new episode premieres today on Crunchyroll with subsequent episodes releasing every Saturday.

THE TALE OF HOPPERED

The series premiere mainly focused on the journalists Meryl Stryfe and the newly introduced character Milly Thompson, while giving us a glimpse of Erik’s whereabouts. It was playing with a familiar feeling. This week’s episode does things differently. Indeed, it reveals the full story of Hoppered, who was also introduced last week as the crippled man who cared for Vash the Stampede, calling him Eriks. This character is only in the story for a short time, but the series still gives him enough time to be a fully-fledged character. His confrontation with Vash at the end of the episode carries emotional weight only because we get Hoppered’s backstory beforehand.

Hoppered’s backstory in the anime is the same as the manga, it’s what happens in-between that the anime does differently. It’s a profoundly moving story that turns into a proper Shakespearean tragedy here. Making Hoppered the caretaker of Vash as he quietly prepares his revenge gives his story greater depth and emotional gravitas. It’s not a character you hate, it’s a character you feel pity for because you understand his suffering. The confrontation with Vash is a powerful action sequence, but the action isn’t the heart of it; it’s the emotion. Hoppered’s swan song is both poetic and tragic. Having an episode like this right at the beginning of the season really sets the emotional tone for everything that follows.

VASH RETURNS

The incident of Lost July has left Vash the Stampede broken. This episode shows the return of the character we knew. It’s incredible how much the team behind the series can pack into one single 22-minute episode without anything feeling rushed. Vash’s return is earned. His pain and his sorrow are essential for his emotional journey. This parenthesis with Hoppered was needed for Vash to come back and fight again.

Moreover, Jessica made a brief appearance last week. This week, we get more context about who she is and her connection to Vash. She’s a character who appeared in both the anime and the manga. Like many elements in the series, there are changes made to the character that make sense for the series. Finally, Nicholas D. Wolfwood also makes a small appearance, true to his character. By the episode’s end, nearly everyone has returned—Million Knives being the notable exception. Holding Knives back for now is a wise decision, as his eventual reappearance will carry far greater impact. With the world reestablished and Vash’s return secured, the stage is now set for the characters to reunite and confront the final looming threat.

VERDICT

The second episode of TRIGUN STARGAZE is profoundly moving, revealing Hoppered’s backstory while ushering in the return of Vash the Stampede. The episode is steeped in emotional weight, unfolding with the tragic resonance of a Shakespearean drama.