Warning: SPOILERS for episode #3 of Trigun Stampede.Trigun Stampede‘s big villain, Millions Knives, is one of the elements that make this series a must-watch anime of the 2023 season. Knives’ motivations and ruthless methods set him aside from many other anime villains, and his actions in Trigun Stampede prove that this reboot will be just as violent as the original.
The protagonist of Trigun Stampede, Vash, aka “the Humanoid Typhoon”, is running away from a tragic past. In a flashback shown in the first episode, Vash’s twin brother, Millions Knives, destroys the fleet of Project SEEDS spaceships, sent from Earth to find inhabitable planets, forcing the few survivors to land on an inhospitable planet called Noman’s Land. In this Old Wild West-inspired world, Vash tries to do some good by using his abilities to help the people he comes across, but his connection with Knives ends up bringing misery and death to those close to him.
Knives’ Complete Lack Of Humanity Makes Him A Superb Villain
In episode #3 of Trigun Stampede, “Bright Light, Shine through the Darkness“, Knives makes his first appearance in the present of the series. Vash and his new friends, Meryl and Roberto, have helped the town of Jeneora Rock survive the attack of the Nebraska family of bounty hunters first, and then of a bomb-obsessed psychopath called E. G. the Mine. When things seemed to have settled down, however, Knives makes his appearance, with the intent of stealing Jeneora’s Plants, artificial creatures that can create food, water, and energy. Knives’ approach is anything but subtle, and he uses his powers to eradicate the town, killing almost everyone in the process, including women and children.
Knives’ cruelty is meant to set him up as Vash’s opposite. While Vash is a pacifist who refuses to kill even his deadliest opponents, Knives’ only purpose seems to be to eradicate every human being on Noman’s Land. During the attack on Jeneora’s Rock, Knives displays his Trigun Stampede new design and weapons that make him even more terrifying. The amount of destruction and merciless deaths shown in this episode are pretty unusual even for a mature shonen anime, and they really make Knives stand out as a villain who will not waste time making big speeches or enacting convoluted plans, but go straight for the kill.
In the original Trigun series, Knives is portrayed as a psychopathic, cruel, and sadistic character, who only cares about Vash (in a twisted way). While many anime tend to humanize their villains and make them relatable, Knives is an exception, and it’s good to see that the reboot has not changed that. Millions Knives enacts a mass murder immediately after his debut, establishing himself as a great villain that contributes to making Trigun Stampede a must-watch anime of the 2023 season.
Trigun Stampede is streaming on Crunchyroll.
