Legend of the Galactic Heroes Episode 3 Review: An Indomitable Prodigy

Legend of the Galactic Heroes gives us Reinhard’s raison d’etre in 24 minutes of great storytelling and careful direction. Episode 3 took the battle of the starships and into the determined mind of a young boy who was given a purpose, one he didn’t ask for but one he will follow through with the help of the only man he can call his friend.

Japanese Title: 常勝の天才

Plot

LotGH found the perfect place in the story for a retelling of the events that led to this point. After establishing the rivalry between the two protagonists, the history of the universe puts the two in their respective bastions. Once a united people, humanity left its ancestral home 800 years in the future from our present time to find a Galactic Federation that would be closer to all the new human colonies. That was the start of the new Universal Calendar and an era of prosperity. But as it happens, all eras of prosperity have an end that is usually followed by hunger and pain and frustration. During these difficult times, totalitarian regimes sprout through the rumbles and take hold of the situation. Thus, 310 years after the establishment of the Federation, the Galactic Empire was forged through the ashes, an empire that established its own calendar and went on to rule for 150 years of constant war with the remnants of the Federation. Considered rebels by the Emperor, they found the Free Planets Alliance and reestablished the Universal Calendar. And that was just the introduction.

The rest of the episode focused on Reinhard and his ascent into power. With a clever storytelling approach that kept the anchor in the present as it went back to explore the past, we learn how Reinhard and Siegfried were childhood friends, with Reinhard attached to a sister with whom a young Siegfried fell instantly in love. Annerose, a beautiful young woman who was as radiant as she was kind, was given to the Emperor to take the title of the countess and be his concubine. The ease by which nobility (of which Reinhard was a part) did everything they wanted, disregarding the common people and living in their own little royalty bubble, led Reinhard to seek an indirect approach to his young thirst for revenge. Taking back his sister was a noble goal for a young boy who found meaning in retrieving what was lost, but after graduating from the academy, his found a grander purpose, one that would change the status quo from its roots. He would become the Emperor and establish his own lineage.

Episode Highlights

Eyebrows: Annerose had the most exquisite eyebrows I have seen in an anime. Detailed and in the correct color. Take those eyebrows off and she looks like any other blonde anime sister during the 80s.

Themes & Trivia

Artificial Limbs: The use of prosthetic limbs or organs is one of the most common tropes in science fiction since the advanced technology allows for such to exist. They are often employed to give a character a beyond normal appearances, like the outworldly eyes of Captain Paul von Oberstein. Just think of Robocop where Alex Murphy is a cyborg or the prosthetic limbs of Darth Vader from Star Wars. If you want a few anime examples, think of Guts in Berserk, Jet Black from Cowboy Bebop, and Ed from Fullmetal Alchemist.

Comments

It’s safe to assume that the next episode is going to go back to Yang Wenli’s past. Yet, I am already afraid of what is going to happen. Having no clear division between good and evil and two protagonists with whose goals we can sympathize… I don’t want to CHOOSE! Yet, this duality gives taste to this story and the industry needs to feed us with good tales. I am sensing this is one of these.

A Future Emperor

GO REINHARD! I may be overreacting a bit, but I think I am with the blonde admiral on this one. If the first Kaiser has done it, then he is also capable of creating his own lineage of Emperors. History has already proved him right so many times.

Did you like Episode 3 of Legend of the Galactic Heroes? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to check the rest of our Spring 2018 reviews.