Wolfwood continues to grapple with his dilemma of either saving the Hopeland orphanage or Livio, but never saving both. Vash runs below deck to take care of the Bad Lads Gang, leading him to run into Meryl and Roberto. Just as Wolfwood decides to end Livio's life Vash interferes, and insists Livio is still inside, he just needs something to trigger his memory.
Stopping Livio's guns after lighting his cigarette, Livio regains some consciousness, recognizing the scent of Wolfwood's cigarette. However, Livio starts having a breakdown, clutching his head and wailing. He holds up his gun to stop the group from coming closer as he stumbles towards the rails and shoots himself. Wolfwood runs over and screams at losing his brother, and the Sand Steamer continues towards Hopeland with no signs of stopping.
Tropes that appear in this episode:
- Big Damn Heroes: Vash arrives just in time to prevent Wolfwood killing Livio, metaphorically allowing him to escape the trap Legato had set.
- Crazy Enough to Work: Wolfwood and Vash cobble together a plan to stop the cannon and the Sand Steamer ship by using the cranes to slow it down and wrap around the cannon. Meryl will stay at the controls so when the two manage to move the cannon up, she can shoot the laser since they can't shut it off. Roberto calls out the madness of the entire plan, but they all go through with it and manage to stop the steamer and save everyone.
- Driven to Suicide: Remembering what he's done under the Eye of Michael, as well as meeting a looming figure staring back at him in his mirror's reflection, Livio screams in agony and places one of his guns to his head. As he stumbles towards the steamer's railings, he shoots himself and topples over the side of the steamer.
- Facial Markings: Once Vash turns back to the group after stopping the sand steamer, his face has glowing markings similar to the Plant behind him.
- Failed Attempt at Drama: Wolfwood faces the cannon's base stoically, obviously trying to look badass, only to be forced to duck to avoid the ship's swinging cranes. He angrily shouts at "Needle-Noggin" for ruining his moment.
- Freeze-Frame Bonus:
- The shot of the orphanage's inhabitants sleeping as the steamer barrels towards them includes Miss Melanie, peacefully tucked in beside her wards.
- As Livio is breaking down, he imagines staring into a mirror, where he briefly sees an ominous figure staring back at him. The scene is dark, but the figure is recognisable as Razlo, Livio's violent Split Personality from the manga.
- Futile Hand Reach: As Livio falls, Wolfwood sprints over to try and catch him, but fails. He howls in rage and grief.
- "I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight: A variant. Vash insists Wolfwood not kill Livio, as his brother is still likely inside and trapped in his mind. Wolfwood's cigarette smoke manages to snap Livio out of his daze, as he asks for his brother to come back. Unfortunately, things go downhill from there.
- Improbable Aiming Skills: Vash fires at the Punisher, knocking Wolfwood's own shot off-target just as he pulls the trigger on Livio. The Punisher's bullet spares his foster brother and instead takes out Zazie's insect as it observes the battle, several meters away at an impossible angle when Vash had only a split second to aim.
- I Need a Freaking Drink: Roberto resigns himself to their supposed end as he sits down on the steamer and takes out his flask.
- Mythology Gag:
- Livio had been shot in the head before and lived, but it was done by Wolfwood during their confrontation near the Hopeland Orphanage.
- Touching on possible Foreshadowing, the figure looming in Livio's reflection is instantly recognisable as Razlo, the Trip of Death, just as he appeared in the manga.
- The way Vash communicates with the Plant is like his previous incarnations: placing his forehead against the glass and spreading his hands across it. The shot of him turning away from the glass also has the Plant's hands positioned over his shoulders to vaguely resemble angelic wings.
- Not Quite Dead: If Legato's words are true, this isn't the last we've seen of Livio. Despite shooting himself in the head, he "still has his uses".
- Orange/Blue Contrast: Wolfwood handles the orange-hot rudder while Vash works his magic in the blue Plant's room. Interestingly, Vash's glasses provide a spot of orange in the blue, while Wolfwood's drug ampoule is a splash of blue in the burning orange.
- Power-Strain Blackout: The episode ends just as Vash finished communicating with the Plant, and passes out due to the strain.
- Punch-Clock Villain: Zazie really has an air of this, asking Legato if they could go home since they've failed the mission.
- The Reveal: Vash's status as Ambiguously Human finally gets confirmed with the reveal that he's actually an Independent Plant. After communicating with the ship's Plant, his face is covered in glowing marks. The true forms of the Plants are also finally revealed: a mixture of alien, angelic, human, and even botanical features beneath their enclosed bulb forms, with eerily human faces.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Roberto desperately tries to get himself and Meryl to abandon ship, even telling her he's ordering her to run. Meryl, of course, refuses and chooses to stay and make sure the cannon can be fired once it reaches 100%, and after a moment of indecision, Roberto moves to stand beside her.
- Stomach of Holding: Zazie procures another bug eye spy by dragging one out of their mouth.
- Take a Third Option: With Livio dead and the cannon disabled but the steamer still hurtling towards the orphanage, Wolfwood says he'll make it self-destruct to spare Hopeland. But Vash protests that he doesn't have to choose and there's a way to save everyone. Wolfwood allows that he owes Vash for trying to save Livio and says he can have a shot just this once. And just this once, Vash turns out to be right, and they save everyone.
- There Is No Kill Like Overkill: Legato's sadistic streak is on full display in his approach to destroying Hopeland. If the ion cannon doesn't vaporize it, the runaway steamer can just plow into it.
- This Is Gonna Suck: Wolfwood already has one of his vials prepared as he reaches for the burning metal of the emergency brake. He's clearly bracing himself for how much this situation's going to hurt.
- Throw the Dog a Bone: After all the tragedies they couldn't prevent, Vash and company finally pull off a daring-do that cost no one's life by saving the orphanage.
