Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These

Episode 4

Given how the format of Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These has played out so far, it was relatively easy to predict we'd be getting a Yang flashback this week to complement the Reinhard one we got last episode. However, unlike that previous episode, which was able to draw on the structure of the older LOGH version for a remake with some presentation details altered, this one draws from multiple points of backstory. As such, even if the conclusions are the same as before, this full flashback actually feels like the freshest Die Neue These yet.

The biggest strength of this episode is how intimately it feels involved with its characters. Reinhard's flashback had some personal heart, but it still felt detached thanks to the recollection-style framing device. In Yang's case, we're dropped into his academy years with no preparation, so the story being told gets to stand on its own. If you've seen the bits and pieces from the old show that covers some of this same ground, the content here is only idiomatically similar. Yang meeting Jessica and introducing the audience to Jean still forms the backbone of his formative experiences, but the way the details are handled and paced arguably works better here. One unique touch is that we haven't properly seen Jean or Jessica before they first appear in this flashback. Of course, we still know that Jean's eventual death doesn't bode well for the relationship we watch develop between them, but seeing them for the first time in this context puts emphasis on the impact Jean had on Yang while he was alive, rather than seeming like a pathos-ridden flashback to be deployed later.

As with the previous Reinhard episode, this one also sprinkles in plenty of little details that the opening battle lacked. Things like the reason for Yang's ‘Empty-Handed’ nickname, as well as an effective explanation for why he's even at a military academy in the first place, help flesh out a character that we already like. Even tiny visual details, like Yang's unbuttoned collar during his simulation battle, contribute to the ‘feel’ of the character, and the contrast helps to illustrate other portions of his world. That simulation also gives us an opportunity to see Yang's developing strategic skill in action, rather than having to take the word of other characters for it in exposition. Similarly, spending more time with Yang and Jessica together from the start helps show the effect it had on her, laying the seeds for her political developments in the future.

That said, this episode's primary weakness is also borne out of that strength; there is perhaps a willingness to have Yang show off too much. After a strong first half, the second half plateaus more than necessary. Seeing Yang's so-called Miracle at El Facil should be a big moment. This has been mentioned a couple of times already, and it plays out faithfully to its historical import. They even blend in other details, like an early appearance of Frederica in a recreated scene that prior fans will immediately recognize. But even with a ground's-eye view of the planet's evacuation, it still comes off less eventfully than you might hope. That might be part of the point, since Yang is known for being almost impossibly cool-headed under pressure, and he makes snap decisions based on the types of intuitions that would only be obvious to others with the benefit of hindsight. But in an adaptation that's otherwise aiming to be more cinematic, simply showing Yang tell everyone to leave at an opportune moment doesn't make for exciting storytelling.

That feeling persists through the rest of the episode, which unfortunately highlights an issue with Yang that's more endemic to this version than the franchise as a whole. Basically, the show presents Yang as the underdog to Reinhard, coming out of nowhere and just barely foiling the vain noble's carefully-crafted plans with improvisational strategy. But with after seeing both of their backstories, Reinhard's upbringing was colored with decidedly more struggle, noble title or no. By contrast, Yang feels like he's simply coasted into his position by making a few good decisions at the right times.

Even if you think Yang's ascension isn't as interesting, the story is still setting him up as the ‘good guy’. There are some dark edges hinted at in the workings of the Alliance government (including the military adoption system which is several levels of messed-up), but it still stands as a simple democratic contrast to the class-ridden Empire we saw in the previous episode. The only caveat is that this episode ends abruptly, hinting at a second part that will move into the present day and show the full extent of the Alliance's governmental issues. This two-for-one pacing means that this episode might be judged better once its follow-up is out.

So the history lesson in the first half of this episode is a strong start, but I can't shake the feeling that the show is coasting more than necessary in its second half. It's largely dependent on how you feel about Yang's character after what we've been given so far. I still think he's likable, but those disparities have put him in an odd place right now. Still, with the knowledge of what's coming ahead, the trepidation over how this one played out could prove only tentative.

Rating: B-

Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.