“Trigun’s” artwork conjures up an image of Vash as a stoic badass gunslinger, but nothing is further from the truth; He’s really an air-headed goofball with a love for donuts. Despite wielding three guns — two handheld revolvers and a third one he conceals in his cybernetic right arm — he’s a pacifist who refuses to kill even the worst of his enemies. Vash’s adoptive mother, Rem, taught him that no one has the right to take the life of another person, and he’s carried that belief with him ever since. While people fear him due to his dreaded reputation, Vash is really all about love and peace.
The first episodes of “Trigun” are low-stakes, standalone stories. They’re centered around different bounty hunters trying to capture Vash, but focusing on the charm of the characters. Vash is a lovable hero from the get-go, while the short-fused Meryl and the ditzy, goodhearted Milly are a hilarious comedic duo. Things pick up in episode 5 when Meryl finally realizes that the goofy troublemaker she and Milly have been running into is really the Vash the Stampede.
From there, we start to learn more about Vash’s background. Episode 6 focuses on the vengeful pursuit of a young girl whose city he seemingly destroyed, while episodes 7-8 are the first to hint at his past with Rem. Episode 9 introduces Nicholas D. Wolfwood, a wandering, gunslinging priest who sometimes travels with the three leads. His introduction is when the stakes and themes of “Trigun” cement themselves.