Cowboy Bebop

whatever happens, happens Cowboy Bebop is my absolute favourite show and to me, a clear masterpiece. At the show’s heart, it has a loveable cast that feels like a found family with Spike being my personal favourite protagonist just because of how damn effortlessly cool he is - and I bet I could quote at least 50 of his lines, but “Before I knew it, the dream was over.” the entirety of the cast: Spike, Faye, Jet, Ed and Ein all harmonise so well - their comedic timings are notable but each have their individual, gut-wrenching pasts that bind the crew together. once you have to say goodbye to them it brings a heartbreak that I haven’t seen another show replicate. Cowboy Bebop really allows us to grow and care for everyone, including the side characters you meet during their journeys. For instance Lin’s tragic arc in Jupiter Jazz or the regretful storyline of Roco in Waltz for Venus: the show really refuses to play it safe and will push you down a quick rollercoaster of affection and loss where it spares no one - with the sole exception of Vicious of course. Beyond just the loveable cast, the world-building is an artistic marvel. Each episode or as the show puts it: “sessions” expands the world through turning each of these sessions into distinct space odysseys. Then, there’s the style of Cowboy Bebop, which is simply like no other. Why? Because of the soundtrack that amplifies the show, which in my opinion, is one of the greatest in cinema history. the music gives each episode a specific identity - which forces you to stop, listen and engage in the mood of the scene. for instance, “Tank!” is an iconic opening and one that you should never skip in respect for the show. This beautiful soundtrack is intertwined within every session - with even some being named after their songs such as “The Real Folk Blues” (which just to mention is my absolute favourite ending to a series and yes, it’s greater than Breaking Bad’s). I truly from the bottom of my heart can’t explain how the show does it, and if you haven’t watched the show, listen to its music - i promise you it will change your mind. The narrative is also brilliant. The story balances the standalone adventures within each distinct episode with the slow, overarching story of Spike’s past which Spike realises he can’t run from, leading to the amazing two-part finale; for which I won’t talk spoilers about so you get to enjoy the twists and turns of the story on your own. the breaths of fresh air between the high-stakes, stressful and gripping confrontations between the Bebop and Vicious allow the climactic moments to have a devastating impact, where once we finally reach the final lines, “You’re gonna carry that weight”, the emotional payoff feels earned. this show was simply like no other when it arrived, being the show that fundamentally shifted the idea of Japanese animation towards the West. Cowboy Bebop was simply the sole exception that showed anime isn’t just cool teenage boys with little personality achieving an ultimate power to destroy the universe - instead it declares itself as a unique space western filled with the not-so-ordinary space-noir elements throughout a quick 26 episodes which includes the show’s timeless, fast-flowing animation, quick dialogue exchanges with genuinely good humour and a gripping story all allowing it to become an all-time classic and pure cinematic gold; which set the standard ahead of its time for the future of animation. and yes, the film was amazing. hopefully there’s no netflix live action remake “Bang.”