The Cost of Kindness

In a cruel world, when should we be kind? And if we understand how, would humankind be able to rid the world of evil?

The 2023 release of Trigun Stampede got me interested in the classic anime, so I wanted to make a video essay analyzing the series core themes which seemed to be retained in the transition. The heart of Trigun’s message of course lies in the space between Vash the Stampede and Nicholas D. Wolfwood. Vash believes everyone can be saved, while Wolfwood believes every situation requires a sacrifice. In essence, one believes man is inherently good, the other not so much. While an analysis of Trigun would certainly seem to say Vash the Stampede is correct over Wolfwood, and that kindness is the only proper response even when it causes one to suffer, I think it's worth discussing the implications of this, and if it’s something Trigun is saying that we shou;d truly follow. I think there may be something else more important, a concept brought up in both characters; atonement. If we atone for all our evil, can anyone be good? That will be the topic of today’s anime video essay, as we look for the cost of kindness.

The Cost of Kindness | A Trigun Anime Analysis Video Essay

#anime #trigun #videoessay #professorviral

[tikimillie]

The thing about kindness is that given to the right people, it will make someone’s day, if not week or month.
But if given to the wrong kind of person, it will just enable their cruelty…

[MADCATMK]

I'm disabled partly to scar tissue. Let me tell you, the pain from all those scars and wounds would be debilitating. I think you can look at it like Vash's "good" causes horrible physical pain, while the alternative causes horrible mental pain. People can and will break from both, the message is kindness is difficult/painful.
The final point it is important to show kindness to someone who is currently undeserving, to not take away their ability for later atonement.

[nauticalnachos]

in 2021, i was betrayed by my closest friends, they spread rumors, lies, said horrible things about me, it even got to the point where they tried to say i was not mentally stable and tried to put me in a mental hospital, in that period of time all i could feel was hate, and betrayal, i told my self that "i have seen the true colors of humanity" and that this was all connections with people and society had to offer, but even still, i made a choice, i realized that if i where to act on my hate, and do things i don't feel comfortable talking about here, id only be continuing the cycle, and i thought about how one day, that might lead to another person experiencing my pain, this video to me, is a real representation of that idea, and to me, that is something more special than words can describe

since then, life has gotten so much better, i went to therapy for the damage they did to me, started talking to people again, got my first job, gained friends, set goals, accomplished goals, and do my best everyday to help push back against the cycle, even if its for nothing, and to that end ive found purpose in my life, and reclaimed my freedom, i am happy once again

[Samortal]

For me the main point to take away from Trigun is to never give up hope, that you can change a cruel world by being kind. It might be difficult and take self sacrifice but oftentimes people forget that it is an option. Vash is the personification of this hope and maybe an inspiration for our world too

[anonymousyoutuber]

The on point thumbnail of kneeling before a cross with the title "the cost of kindness."

[NoOne-bjys]

I figured that Vash came to a sort of compromise between his and Wolfwood's philosophies at the end of the show. The fact he uses the punisher cross to save himself, is somewhat symbolic of this. But also I find it interesting Vash straight up shoots Knives, non-mortally, but its still not the way he usually deals with his opponents. He then proceeds to throw away his red coat, stating he will look to his own wisdom from then on. The red coat clearly represents his devotion to Rem, since it is the color of the flowers that she was associated with. Up until this point he had just blindly followed Rem's philosophy of kindness towards everyone regardless of the situation. But at the end of the show he decides to deal with things in his own way, not quite Rem's way, and not quite Wolfwood's way. Somewhere in between the two. At the end of the show after all his testing, he comes up with his own form of justice. At least this is my head cannon

[jevana]

I would say to read the manga. the source material is a lot more complex than simply "forgive even those who may not deserve forgiveness". Nightow, the creator and mangaka, is a Christian who, at the time of Trigun, was struggling with his faith, and it shows. Vash is also far more complicated a character than the '98 anime portrays. I would love to see your take on the story with the original source material taken in.

[jovenc]

I thought the planet they were on was called Gunsmoke?

One of the biggest problems with Vash's ideology is that he was the only one who could physically withstand the amount abuse needed to uphold his ideal. A normal human doesn't always have the third option.

[KatieCat]

I’m so glad Trigun is still getting recognition to this day. Absolute masterpiece.

[ericmcmanus]

Lagatos test for Vash is one of the best things iver ever seen in story telling. Especially because it was "kill me or let your friends die", not "kill that guy or lose this guy". It's so much more personal. And the fact that what Lagato really wants is for Vash to kill him is the cherry on top. Because that's even worse than if Vash lost his friends. He's lost people before, but he was always able to keep his soul pure by not killing anyone. Yeah, he might not always succeed in saving everyone, but at least he didn't murder anyone. But now he does. It's beautiful.

[denjismissingnut]

Bigolas is such a well-written character

[_.-._.-YK-._.-._]

I didn't interpret the message as "we must always show kindness and forgiveness", but plain and simple as it was stated: "no one can decide who deserves to die". If we are choosing to kill off bad people, that's completely subjective. Would we define it by harm caused? Then Vash could be justifiably killed due to the indirect consequences of his actions. Heck, wiping out humans could be justified if you care about other lifeforms. By harm prevented by killing them? We can't see the future - even if it's something that we think will immediately happen, like pulling a trigger, there will be wrong calls (was that man truly going to shoot, as the captain assumed, or was he not, as Rem believed?). By intention of harm? We can't determine that, and even if we could- once again Vash had once intended to kill a man before stopping himself, would that justify killing him in that moment his heart was set on murder? Or was it okay because the would-be victim was a murder himself? Isn't that just death penalty- in either of this criteria? But what standards should this penalty have? Are any innocent lives taken by judging mistakes be a justifiable sacrifice? And the not innocent lives taken, again, was it whoever decided's place to... decide? Would that actually decrease the bad in the world, when the life taken will also affect their loved ones? There are way too many complex situations- should one kill someone who was ready to kill their abusive partner? Should we kill someone innocent if it will save others who would otherwise die? If the answer is no to this, but yes to killing a criminal who would kill just as many people, then it's not really just about what saves the most people, is it? What if innocent person was actually partially guilty for the others' state, what % of guilt would it take for it to be okay to kill them to save the others?

TLDR so far: Who decides and how is it decided who deserves to die to save more people, or who gets to live?

Vash CAN'T be the one calling for execution because he operates on a planetary and centuries-long scale, divorced from human reality- as said in the video can his goal be considered good if it might not come to pass- but also, if the people alive today would have to suffer for an ideal hypothetical? This would go for any harm he intentionally caused, but the focus is on killing- because it takes the person's "blank ticket", and because it's one of the ultimate loss of autonomy - in most other situations someone could at least choose to die to escape their fate - and while you can always change your mind about sparing someone, you can't about killing them. He CAN be the one dishing out mercy because his body can withstand it- we can give anyone shit for not trying for the ideal outcome, but could anyone even reach it without the 1.5 century Vash has under his belt? With only a fraction of his constitution, gunsliging ability and accumulated knowledge? Wolfwood clearly couldn't and he was the human to be shown to be closest to Vash in terms of abilities out of the people trying to do some good. Vash only can have a body like his and be sent to the hospital so often because he can survive what would be a fatal encounter for others.

Wolfwood CAN'T be always merciful, maybe he could get better, but not do what Vash does. He'd die, plain and simple, and die he did. He CAN go for a non-ideal solution, because the ideal will rarely be an option he can reach and we can't expect someone to do what they're literally unable to.

[TheWarhoop]

Well done. I think you've drawn Insightful and honest but tough conclusions. What I find most fascinating is that modern game theory trials agree with you.

[troikas]

It's a tightrope to walk as one could easily follow this same reasoning and determine that empathy is itself dangerous or to be disregarded. While we can't sacrifice too much of ourselves for another when that other is not acting in good faith, at the same time the ability to choose compassion over condemnation even when that condemnation would be seen as justified can be a powerful engine of positive change. To quote one of my favorite shows; "Forgiveness is an act of compassion, we don't choose to give it because it is earned. We give it because it is needed."

While it is true there are no shortage of cruel people who would exploit such a gift given, it is also true that there are people whose entire life changed for the better because they were offered that chance, that clemency from someone and in that support found what they needed to heal and be better.

[JamesDecker]

Loss is inevitable. Regret is not.

There are mountains of sorrow we cannot move and, one way or another, we will all kneel there.

Shame is the dirt we must filter from the water of guilt which grows our better natures….

[elios]

kindness is something humanity is really lacking nowadays

[loregaming]

Kindness and atonement are ideas I've spent many hours agonizing over. This is a hard way to think your ideas are hard to swallow, but you put them elegantly, and you make your point clear. Keep up the good work i need to think on this.

[Ntsaved]

I just reached this spot on Trigun while I was sitting down to watch it completely in order. I love that timing.

[chipman]

You could also look at it as no matter what actions you take, selfless or otherwise, for good or evil, or even doing nothing at all, there is a cost that comes with it and it is ultimately up to you to decide if that cost is worth it. In vash’s case “no good deed goes unpunished”

[sterlinsilver]

The fact that the brother's name is, quite literally, "Millions Knives" will never not be funny to me