The WORST episodes of Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These
Every episode of Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These!
In humanity's distant future, two interstellar states—the monarchic Galactic Empire and the democratic Free Planets Alliance—are embroiled in a never-ending war. The story focuses on the exploits of rivals Reinhard von Müsel and Yang Wen Li as they rise to power and fame in the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance.
#1 - The Geier Takes Flight
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/14/2022
The head of the Galactic Empire's Science and Technology Department, Anton Hilmer von Schaft, is a man known for his sheer ambition. He is now presenting to Reinhard a large-scale plan to retake the long-lost Iserlohn Fortress.
#2 - Demise of the Emperor
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/27/2019
Emperor Friedrich IV of the Galactic Empire has suddenly passed away without naming a successor. Edwin Josef, the son of the late prince and the emperor's only surviving direct descendant, is only five years old. The Braunschweig and Littenheim families, into which the emperor's daughters had married, begin scheming to install their respective daughters as the new empress. Thus begins the battle for the throne between the families who serve as guardians to the emperor's three grandchildren. Reinhard has not sided with any of them yet, so a certain influential power seeks to take advantage of his military strength.
#3 - Thunderclaps
Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/13/2022
Military Police Commander Ulrich Kesler informs Reinhard that Count Alfred von Landsberg and Leopold Schumacher, two former members of the now-dissolved Lippstadt Nobles Coalition that fought against Reinhard during the Civil War, have reportedly infiltrated the Imperial capital of Odin. Unsure of their true intentions, Reinhard first asks Hilde to assure Annerose's safety, then summons Fezzani High Commissioner Boltik. It's June of the 489th year of the Imperial Calendar...
#4 - Reformer
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/7/2022
After becoming the highest military and political figure in the Empire, Reinhard starts to implement a series of major reforms, introducing a taxation system for the aristocracy and restoring freedom of speech. His policy creates both new hopes and great discontent. But Yang quietly wonders what the birth of a reformed Galactic Empire with strong popular support is going to mean for the future of the Free Planets Alliance.
#5 - Emperor Overthrown
Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/24/2022
As the new wind of war seems to reinvigorate the will to fight among the Empire's youth, the military machine moves on to mobilize an attack force of unprecedented proportions. At the Supreme Operations Council, Reinhard reveals his audacious plan, not without sparking bewilderment and skepticism among the assembled admirals. Meanwhile, Heydrich Lang, former chief of the much-feared Department of Social Discipline, tries to find himself a role in the new regime, and a replacement for the Imperial throne is about to be announced.
#6 - What Was Lost
Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/28/2022
Hilde has convinced Ernest Mecklinger, who is known in the Empire as the "artist admiral," to pay a visit to her cousin, Baron Kümmel. Prone to illness and forced to stay in bed, Kümmel is a man with a penchant for great historical figures, and he strongly admires Mecklinger's brilliant mind and great skills. While Hilde is delighted to see a spark of happiness finally shining in her cousin's tired eyes, her assignment as chief secretary is about to cause her much greater concerns.
#7 - The Twin Pillars
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/24/2022
Among the admirals under Reinhard's command, Wolfgang Mittermeyer and Oskar von Reuenthal have earned outstanding fame for their many achievements, and are commonly known as the Twin Pillars. The two are bound by a deep friendship, and their oath of allegiance to Reinhard dates back to the days of the infamous Klopstock Incident.
#8 - Ignition Point
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/27/2019
Animosity continues to grow between Reinhard and Lichtenlade, the guardians of the young emperor Erwin, and the pure-blooded noble families with Braunschweig and Littenheim at their center. In the midst of all this, Hilda, the only daughter of Count Mariendorf, visits the Fleet Admiral's Mansion on Odin to meet with Reinhard. When he asks what brought on the sudden visit, she tells him that the Mariendorf household would like to side with Reinhard in the civil war that could break out at any moment.
#9 - Before the Storm
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/27/2019
When the Free Planets Alliance Navy conquered Iserlohn Fortress, they took two million Imperial soldiers as war prisoners. And during the Battle of Amritsar, the Galactic Imperial Navy took two million Alliance soldiers as war prisoners. A deal has been reached to exchange all of these prisoners at Iserlohn Fortress. Representing the Alliance at the exchange is Yang, the commander of Iserlohn Fortress. Representing the Empire in place of Reinhard, the one who proposed the exchange, is Kircheis. The two men, who have fought one another with equal resourcefulness in battle, meet face-to-face for the first time at the prisoner exchange ceremony.
#10 - Amritsar
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/27/2019
The Free Planets Alliance attempted a large-scale offensive within the Galactic Empire, but with a reversal strategy by Reinhard and the Galactic Imperial Navy, they lost three space fleets. Although the 13th Fleet, led by Yang, maintained 90% strength, the other fleets suffered heavy damage. But Lobos, the commander-in-chief, ordered all remaining forces to gather at the Amritsar Starzone, so Reinhard also ordered all of his forces to head there. Yet another battle between the two armies was about to unfold.
#11 - Departure
Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/17/2022
Julian is deeply hesitant about his new assignment in Fezzan. Wouldn't he be more helpful to the Alliance's cause by staying at Iserlohn, where the Imperial fleet is more likely to strike, making any available pilot sorely needed in the near future? However, Yang believes that this otherwise unwelcome top-down decision may actually turn out to be crucial to obtaining invaluable insight on where the struggle for power in the galaxy is heading.
#12 - My Dear Friend
Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 11/29/2019
With their respective conflicts handily wrapped up, both Yang and Reinhard spend their time in the afterglow counting their regrets.
#13 - A Stormy Night
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/31/2022
Mittermeyer’s sense of justice has unleashed the wrath of Duke von Braunschweig, one of the most powerful men in the Empire. He may now be executed without going through military court. Fearing the worst, Reuenthal turns to Reinhard to save his best friend.
#14 - A Single Fine Thread
Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/21/2022
The planet Fezzan is an autonomous dominion located in one of the only two safely navigable zones that connect the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance. Every Fezzani head of state, or Landesherr, has protected the independence of the dominion by maintaining strong ties with both its much more powerful neighbors. However, the current fifth Landesherr, Adrian Rubinsky, also known as the Black Fox of Fezzan, seems intentioned to change this long-standing policy.
#15 - Invitation to a Requiem
Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/8/2022
A massive fleet led by Oskar von Reuenthal appears in the Iserlohn Corridor. Boasting overwhelming numerical superiority over the defending Alliance forces, the Imperial commander is confident he can crush his opponent in a quick and easy victory. Back on Heinessen, Bewcock warns admirals and MPs that the Empire may be following a less-obvious strategy this time, thus immediate action must be taken to avert the worst. And Yang realizes that his greatest problem of all may not be the approaching enemy ahead, but the supposed friends behind him.
#16 - Inquiry
Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 5/5/2022
A sudden recall order from the central government of the Free Planets Alliance forces Yang to head for the capital planet Heinessen. Yang assigns the command of the Iserlohn Fortress to Caselnes and von Schönkopf, and departs aboard the cruiser Leda II with minimal personnel, including his second-in-command Frederica and his guard, Machungo.
#17 - Maze
Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/20/2022
Count Landsberg's family had loyally served the Goldenbaum dynasty for five generations. His ancestors were even involved in the construction of a labyrinthic system of tunnels beneath the Neue Sanssouci Palace, devised to provide a safe escape for the Emperor in case of an emergency. Now this underground maze will prove instrumental in rescuing the Emperor from the usurper.
#18 - The Die Is Cast
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/27/2022
Kesler reports to Reinhard that the palace has been breached during the night. The sun has yet to rise when Reinhard urgently summons his senior admirals and orders them to keep all fleets ready to go into action at any time. Hilde is now beginning to see the byzantine game of power that is being played in cold-blooded cynicism, but in the midst of this, she overhears communication concerning Neue Sanssouci Chief of Security Molt.
#19 - The Unbeatable Magician
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/24/2018
Until the age of 16, Yang Wen-li spent most of his life on an interplanatary merchant spaceship with his father, who was a trader. After his father's death, Yang entered the Free Planets Fleet Academy to study war history. There, he met Jean, who would become his best friend, and his childhood friend Jessica, a music school student.
#20 - The Verge of Death (Part 1)
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 6/19/2018
The Free Planets Alliance Navy Expeditionary Fleet encounters a grave shortage of food during its advance into Imperial territory. The 5th Fleet commander, Admiral Bewcock, conveys Yang's proposed escape plan to Supreme Commander Lobos, but Lobos fails to comprehend the situation and won't allow them to flee. Meanwhile, Reinhard has already given orders to Kircheis to strike the Alliance Navy's supply convoy. The Imperial Navy's counterattack has begun!
#21 - Tragedy
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/25/2019
#22 - The Legitimate Galactic Empire Government
Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/3/2022
In a sudden public speech from Heinessen directed to all citizens, Chairman Trunicht announces that epoch-changing events are occurring as a most unexpected defector has arrived seeking protection under the ideals of freedom and democracy in the Alliance. Everyone on Iserlohn is puzzled, but Yang has a hunch that makes him feel aggravated. Then, news from Odin casts an ominous shadow across the entire galaxy.
#23 - Bloodshed in Space
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/25/2019
The Lippstadt Nobles Coalition devises a plan to lure Reinhard's forces away from the Imperial capital, Odin, and capture the emperor while Imperial defenses are spread thin. While the nobles fight among themselves over who gets to lead this strike, the Mittermeyer Fleet lays a minefield that forces the rebels off-course, and then strikes them from behind. The defeated rebels flee to Rentenberg Fortress. Reinhard sends Reuenthal and Mittermeyer to occupy the fortress, but upon arriving, they are forced into close-quarters combat with the notoriously barbaric High Admiral Ovlesser.
#24 - Victory for Whose Sake?
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/29/2019
After defeating Legrange at the Doria Starzone, Yang's fleet heads to the capital planet Heinessen, which has been taken over by the National Salvation Military Council. Though the council's chairman, Greenhill, understands the severity of the situation, he still believes there's no way Yang's fleet can even penetrate Heinessen's gravitational field because of its specialized defense system, Artemis's Necklace. But Yang had a plan to disable Artemis's Necklace...
#25 - Operation: Ragnarök
Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/1/2022
On his way to Fezzan, Julian spends several days at Heinessen. Here, he pays a visit to Bewcock to hand over a strictly confidential letter from Yang, which exposes his conjectures about the possible move the Imperial forces are likely to make. As Julian finally reaches Fezzan, he is immediately mesmerized by the freedom and affluence that surrounds him, and starts seriously wondering whether he will ever be apt to his new mission.