The relationship between Vash and Rem in Trigun?

[MillyFan]

I decided to copy this from my post at otakuboards on the same subject. I wanted to see what people here thought and since there are so many Trigun fans, here goes:

NOTE: if this becomes lemon/hentai/spam/whatever either because of my posts or because of someone else's posts, I want it closed at once. I don't want any of that to happen. Please.

What do you think the relationship between Vash and Rem in Trigun (the anime, the manga is another issue) really was? I mentioned this in a thread before but my post was a little too lemony and I ended up ruining the thread so. . .

I personally think the characters had something more than just mutual admiration there. My reasoning is as follows:

Rem seemed to show more interest personally in Vash than in Knives, even going so far as to tell him that he reminded her of her then-dead former lover and to style his hair so he would look even more similar.

When Vash told Rem that he loved her, the reaction on her behalf seemed like she wasn't just humoring him. IIRC, she even blushed in that scene.

It was implied they spent time together without Knives being with them (which he was usually when she was teaching them).

In episode 17, when Rem left the escape pod, then died, Vash cried as a grieving lover would. . .

Anyway, I say there's a lot of evidence. It's kind of creepy to think about in one way (because chronologically in the series it could be seen as statutory) but looking at it another way, since he's like depicted as outside of time, that doesn't apply.

So what do you all think?

[andyroo]

I don't really remember the episode in detail enough to remember blushing, but from my impression I thought it was more of a family type relationship (mother/sister) instead of deeper love. You can still cry over your family members when they die. It happended to me when my grandfather died (from dad's side) when I was really young.

I think Vash thought more of her than just as a sister, but I think Rem thought as Vash more of a younger brother.
a penny for thought.

[MillyFan]

Well, that's interesting. I still think they were involved, though *maybe* not as deeply as Wolfwood and Milly were and in their case it was probably a more emotional thing than well, you know. . .

[Enrico Maxwell]

I think the relationship as portrayed is more of an "older sister" type than a romantic. It's possible Rem saw Vash as reminding her of her boyfriend, but didn't feel the need to act on that romantically. I don't think the relationship between them was shown as romantic at all.

Vash as a child was very withdrawn and depressed, while Knives was more outgoing and seemed better adjusted. It would only be natural for her to spend more time with the child who seemed to need more loving attention.

[Ashley]

I agree with Enrico; I saw it as a very strong sibling bond, apparhently more strong than the one between Vash and Knives. Being an older sister myself, that bond is very, very deep and the emotional response to her death was appropriate without suggesting "more" in my opinion. I think Vash also saw Rem as a mother figure too...you know, like in orphan cases where there is an older sibling, the younger one will see that one as sort of a parent. In many ways (won't go into detail for spoilage), Rem IS sort of his parent.
I think as he grew older Vash longed for someone to listen to him, guide him and talk with him in the same manner Rem did, thus when he's older it's more natural to assume he saw Rem as a romantic interest. I don't think he saw Rem personally as a love interest, but more or less fell in love with what she believed and how she treated him.
Just my two cents.

[AngelSakura]

Duh? I though Rem was Vash's (and Knives) mom.

[uc pseudonym]

She isn't. They were both created from *spoiler* and hence had no parents. The humans on the ship merely picked them up. This also is thread digging, but at least it hasn't been done any time in recent history.

[AngelSakura]

Eh, excuse me for posting again, but what's thread digging? Is that something bad?

[uc pseudonym]

You're fine. It is a legitimate response to what I said, asking a legitimate question. Now, to answer that question.

Thread digging (gravedigging, bumping, etc) is when you take a very old thread and post in it. This does not mean a discussion within the previous month or so, but something extremely old (such as this thread). Occasionally this is necessary, or acceptable if the person has something new to say on the topic that makes it a viable discussion once more.

This practice becomes bad when a person posts to say something such as "Yeah! I agree!" that contributes nothing. Alternatively, it is bad when there are already more recent threads in which a similar topic is being discussed.

Bringing this thread back to the surface is acceptable, because it is still relatively unique.

[CobaltAngel]

I think I'm digging this, hope its okay. ^^;;; Got something to say:

I think that for Rem, Vash is like a lovable little brother. She's a motherly type, and she talks about how she has to teach Vash and Knives right from wrong. She's kind and loving to everyone, but gets along with Vash best because he's so much like her.

Vash on the other hand, I believe, had kind of a crush on Rem. Nothing super serious, just like a elementary student might have a crush on their babysitter or something. I think the reason he's so deperate to talk to her later on in the series is because she taught him to be everything he is. When he's in a tight spot he tries to think of what Rem would do. If he can't think of it, he freaks out like a student might if they were taking a math test and realized the teacher hadn't covered everything on the test. ;3

They would make a cute couple, though.