English Dub Review: Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These; “The Fall of Goldenbaum”

 

 

 

Overview (Spoilers Below)

The Imperial civil war witnesses its final days. 

Our Take

Annerose appears for the first time in a long time in the form of a message to Reinhard. At the heart of her message, she implores him to cherish what he holds dear. What this means for Reinhard is unclear, but certainly foremost on his mind would be his ambitions to conquer the galaxy. Such ambitions may have been adhered to too closely in an egregious manner with how Reinhard dealt with the recent nuclear strike.

The other important words Annerose has for her brother are to advise him to value Kircheis’ counsel as he is someone he can trust. Given how Kircheis has chosen to respond to Reinhard’s negligent actions, this advice is assuredly sound and is heeded immediately.

Kircheis has the awaited confrontation with Reinhard over the Marquis’ actions to willfully ignore the nuclear strike. When asked to defend himself, Reinhard’s silence does all the speaking for him. Kircheis accordingly chides Reinhard, claiming that this method to combat the nobles comes at the cost of the people who support him, making him no better than the nobles themselves. Reinhard vehemently pushes back, perhaps unaccustomed to being questioned, least of all from Kircheis. Kircheis stands his ground but eventually relents. Perhaps this is a premature hill for him to die on.

Despite the conflict with Kircheis, Reinhard seems to be holding to Annerose’s plea. Oberstein tells Reinhard that giving preferential treatment to Kircheis is untoward and upsets the balance of power he needs in order to maintain control. Regardless, Reinhard continues to favor Kircheis and does not comply with Oberstein. The tension between these three men quickly becomes palpable, so much that even Reinhard’s admirals easily notice. 

Within the Nobles Coalition, nobles are committing suicide in droves, preferring death over surrendering to the consequences. The few nobles that remain drown themselves in vice and empty words. 

Amongst this despair emerges the nobles’ final gambit: a complete all-out attack against Reinhard’s forces. Some nobles have retained or perhaps regained their senses and immediately suggest a defensive position instead for a higher chance of victory. Predictably, this is summarily shot down. 

The telltale final battle between Reinhard and the Coalition is a miserable affair. The nobles blindly fly into battle, seeking to reap what remaining glory they can gather. Reinhard’s admirals easily punch through their numbers and overpower them. But the nobles’ selfish desperation knows no bounds as they continue to give battle orders in the face of inevitable defeat. This farce is finally put to rest, as the subordinates on the nobles’ ship revolt and put down their lords to hasten a peaceful end. 

Among those taking the route of suicide is Merkatz, the unfortunate soul put into the position of commander-in-chief of the incapable noble army. However, Merkatz’s secretary is able to bluff him out of handing over his gun before he is able to pull the trigger. The adjutant convinces Merkatz that his only remaining hope is to defect to the Alliance via the potential mercy of Yang Wen-li. Cautiously hopeful, Merkatz decides to go through with it. 

While it is comforting to see Merkatz might make it out of this alive, his defection would put an incredible about of Imperial secrets in the hand of the one man capable of utilizing them to their fullest, destructive potential. Hopefully, this potential is realized in an Allied plot in the near future. 

Finally, Braunschweig is made to look down the barrel. He is forced into a corner with his final glass of wine, but his impotency and fear of retribution overwhelm his senses. He will not go down unless he assures Reinhard is brought down with him. He cannot come to terms with the situation he put himself in and how it must resolve itself in order to retain propriety. Ultimately, he cannot give up his arrogance, and the honorable must be shoved down his throat by his subordinates. 

Thus, the civil war ends with the decisive whimper it was fated to. The Empire is likely headed for some tumultuous change as Reinhard’s hand is now able to shape it. With only two episodes left, how much change will we see, and how will the Alliance come to face it?