REVIEW: ‘Trigun Stampede,’ Episode 10 – “Humanity”

With Meryl and Roberto confronted by a dire question, Vash and Wolfwood rush to catch up to them. But what secrets await the group within the hidden lab where Knives plots his final moves against humanity in Trigun Stampede Episode 10?

This week’s episode opens up with an unexpected turn. With last week’s reveal that the masked character who had been hounding the group represents the worms and their interests, I figured that much of this episode would be focused on him. But, instead, Trigun Stampede Episode 10 abruptly moves away from this character and follows Dr. Conrad as he presents Meryl and Roberto with what he and Knives have been up to.

The doctor presents his experiments as his own pursuit to preserve humanity in the harsh world they find themselves in. Predictably, the morality of these experiments is quickly called into question, as are his ultimate motives. Given that he is in bed with Knives, someone whose sole goal is to wipe out humanity, the doubt seems more than justifiable.

This sequence of exposition and reveals is handled wonderfully. Despite a large amount of dialogue, the episode never feels bogged down. The information given is engaging, and the manner in which it is presented is superb. The voice acting on the part of Dr. Conrad delivers the character’s plan with enough drama to make the moments unsettling while never straying into cartoonish super-villainy. The animation further sells the sequence’s reveals thanks to how wonderfully it captures Meryl’s reactions to the many secrets she learns. Her horror, fear, and anger at the nature, goals, and results of the doctor’s experiments are excellently handled.

While Trigun Stampede Episode 10 draws Meryl and Roberto through the machinations of Conrad and Knives, Vash and Wolfwood face their own struggles as they rush to catch up to them. As they pass through the city of Julei, Vash’s beliefs and fears are once more examined.

This side of the episode is just fine. Aside from getting a look at the show’s presentation of an actual city in this world, this sequence only serves to reiterate what we already know about Vash. Of course, Wolfwood’s sentiments are also old news at this point, but given where the story seems to be headed as the two groups meet up, I can appreciate the writer wanting to emphasize one more time where Vash stands.

The final moments of this episode turn from tense to terrifying as new and old threats challenge the group. The shifts in the story’s dynamics as it moves into its final phase hit with a lot of force, especially for Meryl, who I except will have her biggest moment yet in the next episode.

Trigun Stampede Episode 10 manages to pull the cast into place for the season’s final run toward the finish in a way that is captivating and enlightening. What will become of this episode’s reveals and cliffhanger will hopefully live up to the superlative execution this episode delivers them.

Trigun Stampede Episode 10 is streaming on Crunchyroll.