Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These

Episodes 1-3

The original Legend of the Galactic Heroes anime is a storied series, known as much for the amount of time you have to put into it as for how rewarding it is when you do. At a whopping 110 OVA episodes, the original adaptation of Yoshiki Tanaka's novels would seem comprehensive in its existence already. As such, the major question for Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These, is what it can bring to the table at all.

‘A new coat of paint’ is the obvious answer, but the impact of this show's shiny new production values shouldn't be understated. Production I.G are a natural fit for the style of the show to begin with, and they bring a sharp sensibility to its aesthetic. LOGH is dry by nature most of the time, so the modern sheen will be welcome for new viewers who might find the old look of the original intimidating. The massive spaceship armadas and their intricate battles are rendered in CGI now, which actually works in the design's favor, letting the battlefield be seen in all its full glory. The battles themselves are a treat in the portions we get to see of them, where smaller fighters zip between larger ships as the camera follows them dynamically in ways the original series could only dream of due to the limitations of its own short space-battle cuts.

However, LOGH fans know that the direct action of the space battles aren't the main draw of the series. Rather, it's the strategic work of the high command in their flagships that draws the most focus. LOGH is a very big-picture series, where the outcome of battles is calculated by their raw number of participants, and ace pilots in more typical space-action anime wouldn't make a bit of difference at this scale. It's in this regard that the first issues of LOGH:DNT's presentation crop up, mostly in the first episode.

The first two episodes of this new series cover the same ground as the first two of the original series, at The Battle of Astate. However, the events are re-ordered so that the new first episode focuses entirely on Reinhard and his command of the Imperials. The idea is seemingly to demonstrate Reinhard's overwhelming tactical strength, which lays the groundwork for Yang's appearance in the second episode to have more dramatic impact. In practice, this likely would have worked better with both episodes airing at once in a ‘one-hour premiere’ fashion, since the first episode on its own quickly becomes interminably dull. Even with the slicker production values and cuts to acrobatic spaceship battles, there's almost no excitement to be had in Reinhard blowing through Alliance fleets, taking advantage of their own incompetence and bloviating on his obvious strategies with his skeptical subordinates and devoted right-hand-man Sieg. Without any context for the other side, anyone new to the franchise would wonder why we have to focus on Reinhard at all, since he's only characterized by being doubted by crusty old guys, and that isn't really enough to be compelling.

The second episode throws that presentation into sharp contrast by introducing Reinhard's Alliance nemesis Yang Wen-Li and rolling back the clock on his own actions during this battle. It helps that Yang is much more engaging as a focal character, coming across more like an everyman with a knack for observation and strategy than a calculated prodigy like Reinhard. This new take on the material even slips in some pre-planning communication maneuvers by Yang that make him seem more strategically savvy than before. The time-jumping buildup between the two sides works so that when we get the big payoff of Yang's plan against Reinhard's charge, it lands in a dramatically solid way. The glossy production values finish the job, showing the absurd circular ship-battle formation in a manner that's equal parts breathtaking and hilarious in a way the original series could only hint at.

As the second episode's pacing rolls in to cover for what the first was setting up, there still are some noticeable cuts. This introduction dispenses with the full explanation of why the Imperials were invading the space around Astate, and it passes with barely a mention of the neutral Dominion of Fezzan (whose maneuvers are known to be quite important to the events of the story). On top of that, much of the lower-deck elements featuring crew members used for detailed world-building have been jettisoned as well, which is especially noticeable in the parts focusing on the Alliance. To some degree this would be expected given the condensed length of this new series compared to the original, and it does help to make the story feel more focused on the core characters. However, it also reinforces that detached procedural feeling, the biggest issue of the series so far.

After the first two episodes cover for each other, the third episode brings some background details to fore. This one skips to the flashback of Reinhard and Sieg meeting as children and becoming friends, and how the events in that early part of their lives set them on their current paths. At least for the Imperial side, this episode is peppered with that welcome world-building, from a chief of staff's cybernetic eyes and subsequent description of the Empire's history of eugenics, to the flashback giving a tour of how the layers of the Empire function. It's wrapped up in some solid personal drama for Sieg and Reinhard, as we get inside their heads and see their goals for the future.

There are some notable shake-ups in the presentation in episode three, and the new thesis of Neue These starts to become clear as a result. One divergence that most stood out to me occurs when young Reinhard fights off a pack of bullies. In the original we saw his action, a pragmatic kick to the offending kid's loins followed up by him grabbing a rock and bashing him in the head, before he was stopped by Sieg. In this new series, the focus is pointedly on Sieg, who runs into Reinhard having already chased his assailants off, dropping the rock on the ground with mere implications. The original version clearly showcases Reinhard's strategy-drive mind as well as his willingness to jump to brutality. The new version marks him with the mystique of confidence and victory to his enamored new friend. It's a significant directorial choice that's certainly different compared to the original.

That willingness to diverge in a distinctly more dramatic direction brings what we've seen of LOGH:DNT so far to new light. Its shiny new look indeed suits the tweaked tone this series is shooting for; it's less comprehensive and explanatory in its storytelling and more cinematic and intense. The adaptational changes, both obvious and subtle, gel more as the third episode concludes. Reinhard and Yang not knowing about each other until the Battle of Astate in the opening episodes makes for a more dramatic reveal in the moment. Similarly, Reinhard having his epiphany of disgust with the Empire's system of nobility while going through military academy allows that revelation to happen more effectively than seeing him suddenly become disillusioned after crashing a single garden party. Die Neue These is looking to be the big-budget Hollywood adaptation to the original show's History Channel documentary.

Granted, this shift in priorities isn't perfect. The biggest casualties of this approach thus far are any main characters who aren't Reinhard. The affable Yang has only properly appeared in one episode, and even Sieg's influence is dialed back noticeably. That's frustrating, since the script still plays up his status as a tempering influence on Reinhard's conscience, but because the show hasn't gotten the chance to actually show us those moments, it feels like exposition that hasn't been reinforced in action. It's the biggest weakness of moving around the flashback's events; in this version, Reinhard's sister Annerose has to describe him to Sieg as metaphorically falling off a cliff, while in the original we got to actually watch him fall off a cliff.

However, these shortcomings compared to the original are a natural result of its reshuffled priorities. Taken on its own, it's notable that Die Neue These's second and third episodes are far more engaging than its dry premiere. Its focus should make it approachable for newcomers, while prior fans may be able to appreciate its tonally distinct take on familiar material. If you've already watched through the original recently, you might just have the time on your hands to check this one out.

Rating: B

Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.