Kowboj Bebop

The rumors about this being the inspiration for Joss Whedon's Firefly weren't kidding, because the crew of Cowboy Bebop, even limited to four and a half members, appears perfectly mismatched and absurd in many ways. However, this space cowboy takes it a step further in its incomprehensibility, covering almost all genres, and – most importantly – excelling in all of them. Whether through the horror-themed Toys in the Attic, the hilariously funny Mushroom Samba, or the action-packed and thought-provoking Pierrot Le Fou, they take the best elements from cliché narrative techniques and transform them into a very savory result. And yet, paradoxically, this still isn't enough to earn the highest rating, precisely because of its episodic nature. While there are plenty of memorable lines, bullets fired, and Spike's deep looks, the main plot only gets about six episodes, which is a shameful waste considering the Syndicate's atmosphere and the charisma of Vicious himself. (22.04.2014)

Just for starters – what I always had to see of the opening, which I otherwise skip after the first viewing, is at the 5:14 mark. But now a little more mature, because that's all this anime deserves. What can I say, it was a great ride through the universe. I wasn't bored at any point, didn't have the urge to move the plot along. I liked both Spike and Jet right away, then they were joined by the "sneaky" Faye, already a character I accepted but didn't adore. And then a little while later Ed joined in; oh, I just adore that girl – from head to toe! Just amazing! And I haven't mentioned the four-legged furry friend, who's not to be dismissed either... it's just a story riddled with interesting characters, the past catching up with everyone, gunfights, weakness, hunger, and a soft heart. Glad I saw you! And so ten is the final episode, I just watched it. Quiet and still. (08.08.2009)

I'll probably never fall in love with anime, but that’s the only thing that bothered me about Cowboy Bebop. The short episodes of this jazzy cyberpunk spaghetti western have different moods, the serious intermingling with the funny, the action with the melancholic, the world in which it takes place looks absolutely amazing (I can't deny the authors that), the characters grew on me quite quickly and the story unfolded so interestingly in hints that you had to piece together yourself... I really liked it, more than I had expected. (12.02.2022)

I have a great love for jazz, film noir is my cup of tea, and I can’t get enough of science fiction. So you might be wondering why I only gave Cowboy Bebop a three-star rating. It's a cult show that I recently rewatched, ten years after I first saw it, and it still didn't quite hit the right spot for me. I understand why it's a cult classic, especially in America, and how it became a gateway to anime for many viewers. I also see why Netflix didn't hesitate to produce a live-action remake after more than twenty years. However, in my opinion, Cowboy Bebop is a creative combination of good but not great ingredients. The episodic narratives are enjoyable, but they didn’t leave a deeper impression on me and quickly became forgettable. The show has a cool vibe, and the characters are interesting, but their character design can become overly generic at times. Additionally, the concept of a "modernized" Western had already been explored in Trigun at that time. While the show's accessibility to Western audiences is understandable, it comes at the cost of its Japanese identity, which is primarily manifested through the eclecticism of genres and themes. For me, the lack of a strong Japanese identity was somewhat detrimental. If you're looking for a show with a unique and bold Japanese identity, I highly recommend Samurai Champloo. It has even more advanced concepts, ideas, a fantastic soundtrack, and cleverly mixes Japanese identity with Western ideas compared to Cowboy Bebop. “Better” 3 stars. (22.04.2022)

It is evident in the series that it is a Japanese work. Besides the unique animation for the land of the rising sun, we find women with such ample bosoms that you can't understand how they fit into their clothes and how they endure in them. There are fantastic elements here that are sometimes bizarre, annoying children are not missing, and of course, there are artificial body enhancements. The Japanese may be peculiar, but what they can film and the effect it has in the end is simply hard to believe. They are talented, and their stories have power, they make sense. "Cowboy Bebop" is not pandering. It didn't win me over right away, but gradually. But it was worth it. Whenever I hear "3, 2, 1 Let's Dance," I'm sure it will evoke pleasant nostalgic feelings in me. (19.11.2013)