Series Synopsis
In the
distant future, mankind has colonized the solar system. However, lawlessness
has taken hold and the authorities don't have the resources to rein it in. To
even the playing field, a bounty system has been put into effect. Bounty
hunters, better known as cowboys, now travel from planet to planet in search of
fortune.
Seeking
their piece of the action is the crew of the spaceship Bebop. Made up of five
unlikely partners, they make a surprisingly effective team. With each member
dealing with their own mysterious past, the group tries to live daily life;
going from bounty to bounty.
Spike
Spiegel (voiced bv Koichi Yamadera) is a former mob enforcer turned bounty
hunter. Born on Mars, he found his way on to the Bebop after breaking from the
powerful Red Dragon Syndicate. An incredibly proficient marksmen, outstanding
pilot, and martial arts expert, Spike is able to quickly outmatch most
opponents. Displaying a carefree and lax attitude, rarely does he ever show
signs of distress or worry. While cold, he will come to the rescue of his team
mates and has been known to show sympathy towards strangers, including wanted
bounties.
Jet Black
(voiced by Unsho Ishizuka) is Spike’s partner, as well as owner and pilot of the
Bebop. A former investigator for the ISSP, he uses
his connections to obtain valuable information on targets. Perhaps Jet's most
noticeable feature is his cybernetic arm; a permanent reminder of the incident
which lead to his registration. Jet
is serious, hardworking, and though not as adept as Spike, he is a no push over
when it comes to fighting; relying more on pure strength rather than technique.
Despite his large intimidating persona, Jet does have a compassionate side,
though seldom does he openly show it. |
| Spike Spiegle |
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| Jet Black |
Faye
Valentine (voiced by Megumi Hayashibara) came aboard the Bebop after several
run-ins with Spike and Jet. A habitual gambler and con artist, she is
egotistical, vain, and lazy. While always deliberately getting on her partner’s
nerves, she is an important asset to the team. Able to hold her as a pilot and
brawler, she is uses her deceivingly frail appearance to get the upper hand on
her advisories. Although she looks to be in her early twenties, Faye is
actually closer to her late seventies. Due to a space ship accident, she was
cryogenically frozen for fifty years. Because of this, she has little to no
memories of her past.
Edward
(voiced by Aoi Tada), better known as Ed, is a teenage super hacker from Earth.
Contrary to her computer proficiency, Ed is childish, energetic, and wild.
Incapable of taking anything seriously, she is able to lighten up the often dreary
atmosphere of the Bebop.
Ein is a
genetically altered Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Describe as a “data dog”, Ein is
extremely intelligent and is highly sensitive to what is going on around him.
Despite his capabilities, most of the Bebop crew see Ein as a pet; the sole
exception being Ed, who is often more animal like then him.
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| Faye Valentine |
While always
on the search for their next bounty, the team must deal with a variety of
problems; such as hunger, boredom, and each other.
Series Positives
 |
| Ed |
What is
there to say that hasn't already been said? Believe it or not, with all the
anime I have seen it took me forever to finally sit down and watch Cowboy Bebop. I usually just kept
pushing it off for another day. But that whole time I would read how it is the
best anime ever made, its perfection, and that it doesn’t get any better than
this.
So, does the
show meet the hype? Yes...yes it does.
The Story
 |
| Ein |
I don’t see Cowboy Bebop as one solid story. Yes
there are a few reoccurring elements that come up once in a while and yes
certain important characters are introduced rather late, for the most part the
show can be watched in whatever order you like.
Therefore
you don’t get one super outstanding, amazingly awesome, incredibly well written
story. You get twenty of them.
I have never
had this much fun with a series before. Every episode is masterfully executed
and distinctly unique. Each session only deals with a single problem at a time
and will normally be resolved quickly. Although the only real connection
between the events in the show are the characters involved, I always found
myself wondering what was going to happen next. Cowboy Bebop is addicting, but it’s not due cliffhanger endings.
It’s addicting because of consistent quality.
While you
could easily watch all twenty six episodes in one sitting, because of how the
show is set up you are able take a break every once in a while; like to eat and
sleep. It’s really saying something if a show can easily be picked up again and
again and again.
The Setting
Amongst all
the futuristic environments, space travel, and the fact that it's a Japanese
anime, Cowboy Bebop at its heart is a
Western. I think that is part of the reason why this show has done so well in
the States; that and the fact that it's a great series in general.
Other space
travel anime, no matter how fantastic they may be, still always try to make it
a point to remind you that the story does not take place in the world we live
in. Bebop doesn’t do that. There may
be space battles and interstellar flight, but that is not the point of the
show. The show is about a group of bounty hunters wandering around looking for
their next job, and it just happens to take place in space.
It never
comes off as a gimmick. It feels believable, it feels natural, it feels like
what happens in the show is how things would happen in reality.
The Characters
Much of the Bebop’s charm comes from its characters.
They are likable, they are memorable, and they make the show.
The
interactions between crew members and seeing their growth as a team is what
keeps bringing you back. I wouldn't say they are necessarily friends by the
end, but they do at least like each other; although none of them will ever
admit it. Despite how different they are, in both personality and background,
they work incredibly well as a unit.
This series
nails its characters. There is so much potential, so much so that the show
doesn't even scratched the surface of what can be done; more on that later.
Series Negatives
Saying
series negatives doesn’t sound quite right. Instead I should probably call this
section:
Why I simply can't help but point out some
distractingly minor flaws despite the fact that this is clearly one of the best
thing ever made and I am a total moron forever thinking that there could
possibly be even one thing wrong with this glorious piece of animation
greatness.
That being
said let’s get started.
Character Underdevelopment and
Underutilization
I have
already said that all the characters are simply fantastic. As a team you see
them grow and develop strong relationships with one another. But you don’t see
this on the individual level.
The show
does deal with the crew’s past, but their personalities are not all that
different from who they were and who they currently are. Spike is just as he
was during his time with the Red Dragons. Jet’s serious and gruff manner is a leftover
from his time with the ISSP. Ed doesn’t really have a back story (and I don't
like that what so ever), and Ein is a dog.
One could
say Faye is the most developed character. When you see her past self and
compare it to the present, it's like looking at two different people. But you
still never see the change. All you see is who she was and who she is now;
there is no middle ground.
Along with
the characters being underdeveloped, there are times when they are also greatly
underutilized. One example would be Ed.
When introduced,
it was clear that Ed’s a computer prodigy. She has the ability to hack into
satellites and government sites as well as effortlessly gain control of
different types of vehicles; including the Bebop. Then once a member, the team
seldom uses her skills. So now she is just around for comic relief, which is
fine but she could have also been incredibly useful at the same time.
The Ending *Possible Spoilers*
The ending
we get has no reason to be the way it is.
The show did
not end on a happy note. SAD ENDINGS ARE NOT BAD, do not misunderstand what I
am saying. However Bebop seemed to
only have a sad ending just for the sake of having a sad ending. There was no
build up to that moment. Any emotion that was meant to go along with it just
isn't there.
I can hear
it all ready. The ending is meant to be ambiguous. Therefore, just because I
saw it to be one way, that doesn’t make it the correct way. This argument makes
the ending even worse.
In the final
fight, Spike confronts his arch nemesis. We saw the two faceoff before this
scene. This was clearly a serious moment in the series, but there was no reason
to connect with it. You know that Spike doesn’t like this guy because Spike was
betrayed by him. Still you don’t know what the two were like before. All we
have is one flashback where the two are back to back in a gun fight, and then
they turn and smile at each other. That’s not enough.
This goes
back to character underdevelopment and underutilization. The series doesn’t go
far enough to show why things are the way they are, so it makes no sense why we
should feel anything during the show’s final moments. Had the series just done
that, the ending would have been perfect.
Final Thoughts
I don’t know
why I waited so long to watch this show. If I can be a little cliché, it’s
hands down one of my favorite anime. The story is unbelievable, the characters
are unforgettable, there is really nothing like it.
I do want to
say the show is perfect, which might be expected of me. However I stand by what
I think is wrong with the series.
If you watch
anime, odds are you have seen the show. On the off chance you’re like me and
just haven’t gotten around to it; make it the next thing you see.
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