So a lot to unpack symbolically in this episode and things to point out in general. First what Nai is doing to Vash and the other plants, ultimately boils down to being s3xua7 a55au7t, in Vash case because he's being forcibly used to impregnate the plants, by his brother mind you, and the plants can't consent to the act due to not truly having a sense of self and in the manga its confirmed that if a plant gives birth to an independent then the plant will die. Some of the symbolism tied up in this episode has Vash wrapped up in both martyr/Jesus symbols but also Mother Mary. Vash has a lot of maternal or just nurturing characterizations in him, with his interactions/relationships with kids (Rollo, Tonis, and Zazie at the beginning), his entire interactions with Rosa, his attempts at peaceful resolution between other individuals screams of a kindly parent trying to get unruly kids to calm down and listen, and how much he tries to embody Rem's wishes, ideals, and personality. Not to mention how nurturing he's trying to be to humanity as a whole on No Man's Land. Then in the design angle of this in both this and the manga (especially), when Vash's gate opens up it bares a resemblance to the, ahem, part of a woman that babies pop out of. And since you've already watched ep 12 by this point, the core inside the Gate (Vash's Gate) resembled an ovum with Nai's knife tentacles resembling sperm cells, making the assault allusions even stronger. But this situation also brings up Adam and Eve allusions as well, what with Nai's goal being for the twins to bring about their own Eden and creating/birthing a new race (of independents). It also harkens to how Vash would never agree due to being equal to Nai where as Eve was made from Adam's rib and therefore subservient to him. Nai is doing this to Vash screams of trying to make Vash be of/from Nai in order to get Vash to do what he wants. The martyr and Jesus symbolism sort of speaks for itself, what with him holding himself to a lofty ideal of peace, love, and pacifism in a time/place of great unrest while traveling aimlessly and attempting to help and save people who ultimately can't or won't be able to pay it forward. And of course his entire self sacrifice shtick. So yeah ultimately pretty dark and gross and really really toxic behavior from Nai. But on a lighter note, had Nai's plan succeeded and all those independents had been born, how exactly was he plannig on parenting at least 20 kids on his own? Cause I very much doubt he'd let humans near them, provided they hadn't all been killed, and Vash would've still been an unaware gate plant, so i just have the mental image of Nai desperately attempting to parent and manage numerous children that, in a twist of fate, are the same type of rambunctious trouble magnets/makers as Vash.
Ah, the only thing I dislike about Stamped... Knives getting into Vash and forcing him to impregnant their sisters... I was wierd out when I first saw that... Talk about symbolism all you want, it won't made it less weird af to me 😭 I didn't se that coming at all when watching... And after the finale we know those pregnant Plants are out there, so what are they planning to do?? Are we gonna see Vash looking for his lost Children in S2? 😂
So a lot to unpack symbolically in this episode and things to point out in general. First what Nai is doing to Vash and the other plants, ultimately boils down to being s3xua7 a55au7t, in Vash case because he's being forcibly used to impregnate the plants, by his brother mind you, and the plants can't consent to the act due to not truly having a sense of self and in the manga its confirmed that if a plant gives birth to an independent then the plant will die. Some of the symbolism tied up in this episode has Vash wrapped up in both martyr/Jesus symbols but also Mother Mary.
Vash has a lot of maternal or just nurturing characterizations in him, with his interactions/relationships with kids (Rollo, Tonis, and Zazie at the beginning), his entire interactions with Rosa, his attempts at peaceful resolution between other individuals screams of a kindly parent trying to get unruly kids to calm down and listen, and how much he tries to embody Rem's wishes, ideals, and personality. Not to mention how nurturing he's trying to be to humanity as a whole on No Man's Land. Then in the design angle of this in both this and the manga (especially), when Vash's gate opens up it bares a resemblance to the, ahem, part of a woman that babies pop out of. And since you've already watched ep 12 by this point, the core inside the Gate (Vash's Gate) resembled an ovum with Nai's knife tentacles resembling sperm cells, making the assault allusions even stronger. But this situation also brings up Adam and Eve allusions as well, what with Nai's goal being for the twins to bring about their own Eden and creating/birthing a new race (of independents). It also harkens to how Vash would never agree due to being equal to Nai where as Eve was made from Adam's rib and therefore subservient to him. Nai is doing this to Vash screams of trying to make Vash be of/from Nai in order to get Vash to do what he wants.
The martyr and Jesus symbolism sort of speaks for itself, what with him holding himself to a lofty ideal of peace, love, and pacifism in a time/place of great unrest while traveling aimlessly and attempting to help and save people who ultimately can't or won't be able to pay it forward. And of course his entire self sacrifice shtick. So yeah ultimately pretty dark and gross and really really toxic behavior from Nai.
But on a lighter note, had Nai's plan succeeded and all those independents had been born, how exactly was he plannig on parenting at least 20 kids on his own? Cause I very much doubt he'd let humans near them, provided they hadn't all been killed, and Vash would've still been an unaware gate plant, so i just have the mental image of Nai desperately attempting to parent and manage numerous children that, in a twist of fate, are the same type of rambunctious trouble magnets/makers as Vash.
Great breakdown with some awesome points! Thanks for sharing your insight on this.
And right!? How would he take care of them all?? Haha.
Omg Your theory is very interesting!!!
(I always thought that vash gates look so much like…yeah and it's even clearer when you see the inside of it.)
YAY!! Im so glad u guys are continuing these reactions for Trigun Stampede!! i was so scared u guys weren't gonna finished it haha
Yea! Finishing it up, finally! Sorry for the delay. Life for a little crazy. We’ll have the finale going up Sunday!
Ah, the only thing I dislike about Stamped... Knives getting into Vash and forcing him to impregnant their sisters... I was wierd out when I first saw that... Talk about symbolism all you want, it won't made it less weird af to me 😭
I didn't se that coming at all when watching... And after the finale we know those pregnant Plants are out there, so what are they planning to do?? Are we gonna see Vash looking for his lost Children in S2? 😂
Yea! It was WILD! Definitely eager to see what season 2 brings.