REVIEW: ‘TRIGUN STARGAZE’ Episode 12 — “Quo Vadis”

TRIGUN STARGAZE Episode 12, “Quo Vadis,” sees Knives (Ryuji Sato, High & Low: The Worst) strike out to bring down the Immigrant Fleet in a second Big Fall. With Vash (Yoshitsugo Matsuoka, Sentenced to be a Hero) trapped, the situation looks grim, but all hope is not yet lost. 

TRIGUN STARGAZE Episode 12 wastes no time leaping into the moment. With Knives’ unearthly dragon form screaming towards the oncoming fleet, the final clash gets started. We see the fleet launch a combined attack against the threat it faces. Dubbed “Thor’s Hammer,” it focuses all its energy weapons into one spot, amplifying them before launching them at the oncoming threat. 

The visuals in TRIGUN STARGAZE Episode 12 from Studio Orange are delivered with unblemished perfection.

The first of several gorgeously shot moments, the grand scale and raw power of the attack are captured skillfully through the camera. As the beam of energy is cultivated and released, the terrifying might of the attack is clearly conveyed through the visual presentation, the first of several moments that Studio Orange will deliver with unblemished perfection. 

But while it’s easy to get lost in the spectacle of the opening visuals, TRIGUN STARGAZE Episode 12 also weaves some lore into this grand moment. As the beam is prepared, we hear chatter between the ships’ comms, including the recognition that Knives is an independent. That this is readily apparent to them implies that a similar event has occurred elsewhere. Though we quickly learn that whatever it was, it didn’t hold a candle to what Knives has become. 

Knives easily avoids the onslaught of energy, to the collective shock of his opponents.

When the fleet’s attack is launched in TRIGUN STARGAZE Episode 12, Knives easily avoids the onslaught of energy, to the collective shock of his opponents. The monstrous damage left to the planet sees new scars form across its surface as energy tendrils lash against it. Shots of the innocent fleeing for their lives from the collateral damage of battle above are delivered with the same imposing camera work that thrusts the viewer into the midst of the chaos.

Happily, the people are not left to fend for themselves. Home arrives above the last human settlement, shielding it from the bulk of the rampant energy. Smaller debris is held at bay by the vigilance of Wolfwood  (Yoshimasa Hosoya, My Hero Academia) and Livio (Genki Muro, Ragna Crimson), as they blast rocks out of the sky, keeping hope alive for the bystanders below. Though hope may be fleeting for them.

The momentum-shifting moment at the turning point of TRIGUN STARGAZE Episode 12 hits magnificently.

Knives’ arrival at the fleet sees him grasp the entirety of it and begin to drag it into the atmosphere, beginning his prophesied Second Big Fall. With time running out, the last chance to save the day is born back on the Ark, as Meryl (Sakura Ando, Beastars) reaches out to the one group who could save the day: the plants. With the help of Elendira (Ayuma Murase, Leviathan) and Milly (Chika Ayamori, Zenshu), she calls out to all the plants and pleads for their aid.

The momentum-shifting moment at the turning point of TRIGUN STARGAZE Episode 12 hits magnificently. As the trio performs the Song of the Plants at Knives’ piano, Meryl’s pleas are answered. As the plants awaken, gorgeous color is poured into the moment, spreading a calming warmth across the unfolding tragedy. The tone immediately shifts as Knives’ power melts away, leaving him and his reborn brother plummeting back to the planet to have one last philosophical debate. 

The clash between brothers sees both lash out one last time, before Vash finally manages to reach Knives, both in a literal and figurative sense. The brief clash uses its unique setting to heighten the conflict, as one cannot help but feel the tension grow as the duo plummets back to the planet. 

The final resolution between the brothers is exactly what one would expect from the series.

The final resolution between the brothers is exactly what one would expect from the series. While the final moments of TRIGUN STARGAZE Episode 12 between them could be called hopelessly optimistic, that is the show’s M.O. To expect anything else feels unrealistic and would be asking the series to betray its own vision. Knives’ final moments are a beautiful gift to his brother, delivering an ending to the sibling rivalry infused with a love I wish all who struggle with family clashes could receive.

TRIGUN STARGAZE Episode 12 uses the remaining time it has after the final clash to establish what will become of the remaining cast and the people of Nomans Land. The joy and relief that wash over these moments are brought to life with the same care as the previous crisis. Seeing Vash and his friends laughing one last time is the only fitting end for the story—a bit of the hero’s signature “love and peace” to send the show out on. 

TRIGUN STARGAZE Episode 12 caps off a fantastic season. It delivers danger and hope in turn, settling its story in a way that is both captivating and emotional. Ending the season run the exact way it began. Perfectly. 

TRIGUN STARGAZE Episode 12 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.

Previous Episode | Season Review