English Dub Review: Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These “The Capture of Iserlohn (Part 1)”

Game time!

Overview (Spoilers Below)

Yang puts forth a plan to take down the Iserlohn fortress, should bring peace to the two warring sides which would allow Yang to retire and live a modest life. First, he recruits an Imperial Forces rebel group called The Rosen Ritter who are tasked with masquerading as Galactic Empire forces showing up to Iserlohn for repairs. Next, Yang builds out his staff which includes Murai, Patrichev, Fischer, and Frederica Greenhill, daughter of admiral Dwight Greenhill who, evidently, has an outstanding memory and whom we’ve met before in Yang’s flashback episode. Before the episode let’s out, we see Paul von Oberstein, chief of staff of the Iserlohn, worry about signal jams to his fortress acting as a trap set by Yang but when he tries to bring these concerns to his commander he’s effectively ignored.

Our Take

This week’s episode introduces a lot of new characters, but I think the most important takeaway from the show so far as we are officially just under a third of the way through the season and I find myself rooting for Yang. Granted, the producers do a good job of putting out compelling reasons to pick either side, but I think the weight is added to the weight of the FPA a little more so. Free Planets Alliance, in its essence, sounds like a team that wants peace whereas a side called the Galactic Empire gives off a real Palpatine-inspired impression despite the fact that Reinhard has his own personal reasons for making it to the top.

In terms of the episode as a whole, Part 1 sets up the ruse that follows next week and does so well. Like the chess matches that Yang talks about, he’s setting up his pieces and planning his moves with the Iserlohn staff really just acting as a reaction video. I like Yang’s growing confidence in his role even if he wants out, it’s a fun dynamic that will be fun to see play out in future episodes to come.