Episode 5 of Trigun Stargaze finally gives one of the franchise’s most enigmatic figures — Nicholas D. Wolfwood — a spotlight episode that blends brutal action, dark backstory, and a surprising dose of emotional nuance. While Vash the Stampede takes a breather (and a haircut), Wolfwood faces off against the disturbingly theatrical assassin Midvalley the Hornfreak, delivering one of the season’s most memorable and thematically rich confrontations so far.
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Episode 5 recap: Wolfwood vs Midvalley
This episode centers on Wolfwood’s clash with Midvalley, a musician-turned-assassin who weaponizes sound with a grotesque, saxophone-like instrument. Where the 1998 Trigun anime introduced Wolfwood earlier and left parts of his origin shrouded, Trigun Stargaze leans on the completed manga canon to provide a fuller portrait of both hero and villain. The result is an intense duel that plays out as much in psychological territory as it does in ballistic spectacle.
A darker, fuller take on Midvalley
One of the biggest strengths of Stargaze is how it upgrades formerly thin antagonists into layered threats. Midvalley isn’t just a fanatical follower this time; through a harrowing flashback, we learn he was groomed in the Eyes of Michael — the same organization that trained other killers — and later reduced to a terrified instrument of Knives’ broader plan. That trauma changes the fight’s tone: Midvalley’s goal isn’t necessarily to kill Vash out of ideology, but to recover him, and his relationship with Knives feels coercive rather than devotional.
Sound as a weapon: the murder-sax showdown
Trigun has always been able to blend absurdity and danger — equipping an antagonist with a death-dealing saxophone is peak Trigun — and the episode makes it work by leaning into inventive uses of sound. Midvalley’s auditory attacks create unique tactical challenges for Wolfwood, forcing him to improvise rather than rely solely on firepower. The choreography of the duel, with Wolfwood’s hulking Punisher crucifix-gun against Midvalley’s sonic assaults, keeps the episode taut and surprising rather than repetitive.
Character beats: Wolfwood, Vash and the supporting cast
Wolfwood remains one of the franchise’s best characters: equal parts weary fatalist and lethal defender. Stargaze gives him more context, and that inevitably changes how we perceive his choices. His alliance with Vash is reaffirmed here, and their differing moral compasses — Vash’s insistence on mercy vs Wolfwood’s pragmatic brutality — create a compelling counterpoint that the episode uses to good effect.
Vash himself is notably present in smaller ways this week, with a delightful visual callback as his classic spiky hair, round sunglasses, and red coat combo return. It’s a nostalgic design beat that signals the series’ willingness to honor legacy aesthetics while reworking narrative beats. Meanwhile, supporting threads simmer: Leonof/Emilio’s handcuff removal plays like a ticking time-bomb subplot, and Legato’s increasingly unsettling proximity to Knives’ containment hints at darker payoffs to come.
Milly, romance rumors, and aging-up Wolfwood
The episode subtly teases dynamics between Wolfwood and Milly that may recall the original anime’s romantic undertones. Stargaze’s Wolfwood has been aged up relative to earlier portrayals, which complicates any direct comparison to the 1998 series. The show seems to be playing a careful game: hinting at emotional closeness without committing to the same romantic beats as the older adaptation or the manga, preserving ambiguity for future development.
How Stargaze uses manga material differently
One advantage the modern remake enjoys is access to the finished Trigun Maximum manga. Where the 1998 anime adapted an incomplete source, Stargaze can pull from later volumes and character histories that were unavailable during that era. That extra context helps improve antagonist portrayals and deepens character motives, but the series still makes deliberate changes in pacing and tone to fit a contemporary audience.
Those changes create fresh unpredictability: even if key plot beats feel familiar to manga readers, the sequence and emphasis often diverge, which means even veterans can be surprised. The episode’s closing setup — Knives’ Ark launching missiles toward Home — raises the tension and promises imminent consequences for the Home ship crew, a narrative escalation that should intensify the next installments.
Visuals, pacing and why this episode works
Pacing is a highlight here: the Wolfwood-Midvalley fight occupies significant screen time but never overstays its welcome. The episode balances kinetic action with quieter character moments and a gruesome, effective flashback that contextualizes Midvalley’s trauma. Animation and direction emphasize the surreal horrors of sound-based combat and the physical heft of Wolfwood’s arsenal, producing an episode that’s both stylish and character-driven.
There are small risks — letting untrustworthy characters off the leash (Leonof/Emilio’s removed shackles) feels like setup for near-future complications — but those hazards also create narrative momentum. Legato’s eerie behavior around Knives’ containment adds another layer of dread, making the stakes feel genuinely ominous.
Where to watch
Trigun Stargaze is currently streaming on Crunchyroll. For more background on the franchise and its source material, you can refer to the Trigun Wikipedia page for a rounded overview (external link).
Watch Trigun Stargaze on Crunchyroll
Trigun — franchise overview (Wikipedia)
Final thoughts
Episode 5 is one of Stargaze’s stronger outings: it deepens Wolfwood while reframing an oddball villain into a tragic, coerced antagonist, stages a creatively tense action set-piece around sound, and teases darker developments across multiple subplots. The episode balances homage to the franchise’s past with fresh storytelling choices, positioning the series to escalate into consequential territory. If you’ve been waiting for Wolfwood to get his due, this installment delivers — and it leaves the show poised for an intense next chapter.
