Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu: Die Neue These Season 1 - Why did I not watch this earlier?!
Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu: Die Neue These is a series based on a novel of the same name that spawned a legendary, popular anime with 110 episodes that ran from 1988 to 1997. It is one of those shows I had wanted to watch for a long time but never had the courage to start; only recently did I notice there was a remake, so I thought it was about time for me to delve into this space opera. I have only watched the first season so far.
I was already familiar with the author, Yoshiki Tanaka, from Tytania, another series I loved in the past. My first impression was one of awe; I have always loved space operas featuring giant armadas of ships and all the politics and treachery that accompany them. Unfortunately, it is a genre that has faded over time.
After the initial honeymoon phase passed, I started to see flaws in the story. The characters, aside from the protagonists, seem lobotomized just to make the two main heroes stand out, which makes you wonder if everyone else in the galaxy is sharing a single brain cell that travels through space, only being used when it happens to pass through them.
I'll be honest: many of the strategies the two heroes employ could be summarized as "basic decency," which only highlights how corrupt and decadent both sides have become over centuries of warfare. I still laugh at the "let's just charge one of the two fleets very fast" strategy that Reinhard used initially...
As I said, incompetence and corruption are everywhere in both systems and are evident in every part of society, to the point where you might wonder if there is really anything worth saving on either side. It is made even worse by the fact that most people are either unaware or do not care. There is even a faction of merchants profiting from all this!
Reinhard is motivated by hatred toward the Emperor for "stealing" his sister and forcing her to marry him. This is reasonable, but honestly, the Emperor doesn't seem like a completely bad person, just completely unsuitable to hold the title. He doesn't seem attached to it, though, which makes him a more interesting character than most of the other Empire goons.
Oh and there's Kircheis Siegfried next to him, but he's sort of the boring old school type of hero that tries always to do the right thing. He honestly seem a lot more apt to become the real protagonist of the story to be honest judging from his actions in the first season.
Yang Wen-li, on the other hand, just wants peace, for himself, for his adopted son, and for everyone else. Things won't be that easy, however; considering how long the war is set to continue, it is very likely the boy will join him on the battlefield at some point. Hopefully, Yang at least manages to settle down with Frederica; the girl is clearly ready for it...
The first season ends with a massive battle looming. The Free Planets Alliance is on the defensive and needs to avoid a total loss, a job for Yang Wen-li. Reinhard cannot lose too badly, either, as that would put him in a bad light at home. How do they settle for a "victory for both sides"?
I'm going to start watching the second season soon and hope to write a post for each one until I am caught up with the series. Apparently, it is still in development, so there is more content coming in the future. What will be the fate of these two heroes?