REVIEW: ‘Trigun Stampede,’ Episode 4 – “HUNGRY!”

With Knives having taken the town’s plant and Vash exiled, he, Meryl, and Roberto find themselves wandering the desert with no place to be. At least until a place and a new companion find them in Trigun Stampede Episode 4.

This week’s episode opens with a man wandering out of the desert bearing a giant cross on his back. Franchise fans will instantly recognize Wolfwood, though what part he has to play in this version of Vash’s tale could be wildly different given what has already changed about the story so far. The introduction, though carries with it the right tone, as this man, wearing a crumpled suit with a literal cross to bear, feels like a walking mystery.

From its opening, Trigun Stampede Episode 4 catches up with its leading trio as they struggle to figure out what to do next. Meryl and Roberto are now wanted for their connection to Vash, greatly complicating their situation. To make matters worse, Vash is refusing to eat since their expulsion. This introduction does a lot of work in a short amount of time. It establishes mindsets and potential problems and allows for some solid banter between Meryl and Roberto. The trio’s drive is interrupted, however when they run into Wolfwood. Literally.

The rush to find help for this wanderer Meryl has hit with their car leads the group to a rather unexpected peril. Feeling straight out of a different sci-fi franchise, the group finds themselves struggling to survive a harsh environment as the viewer is introduced to yet another of the great dangers this forbidding planet pits humans against.

The visual presentation of this new threat is stellar. The scale and unique look of the problem are captured wonderfully by the design and animation. The show gives the new environment some unsettling energy, while still maintaining the core tone and atmosphere of the series.

As Trigun Stampede Episode 4 navigates this new peril, we see much of the episode come to focus on Vash and Wolfwood. As one would expect, a large portion of their dialogue revolves around Wolfwood questioning Vash’s willingness to imperil himself for others. The conversations between the two are well done, if not a bit predictable. Wolfwood sees Vash as a fool, which is kind of fair.

The biggest part of this episode I struggle with is the ending. When Vash and Wolfwood find themselves confronted by the proverbial “man behind the curtain” the duo confronts this new enigmatic problem. While the visuals are wonderful, the show goes all out to hype up the reveal of why Wolfwood lugs his cross around everywhere, the power level that is on display seems a bit over-the-top. It’s fun but feels like one of those moments that will leave me saying, “Why don’t they just do that again?” whenever a big problem is set before the group in the future.

Trigun Stampede Episode 4 delivers a lot I enjoyed, even if there is a minor hiccup or two. It’s fun, introduces new elements, and builds the larger plot up with some last-second glimpses of things to come.

Trigun Stampede Episode 4 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.