I think Vash is Kenshin in another life. Although I'm not sure how realistic a peace-loving warrior is, I like the idea. Wolfwood strikes me as the most developed character, and he works especially well in juxtaposition to Vash. This anime always leaves me feeling like there's something more to digest.
I am convinced that Trigun draws at least partially from T. S. Eliot's The Wasteland. Despite hating both poem and poet, the similarity adds a whole other level of depth and meaning to the series. Both have themes of isolation, selfishness, drought, barrenness, lack of religion/morality, being in the wake of a crisis, and rain/finding water.
The soundtrack also intrigues me. Although Yoko Kanno was not involved, the guitarist from the Seatbelts composed, and several other members played. Although it has a more western/rugged sound throughout, the music really spans the emotional course from frightened and scared to stupidly happy.
