The 10 most gripping storylines of Cowboy Bebop

Cowboy Bebop is still considered the pinnacle of anime. Decades after the 26 episodes ended, the stories of Spike Spiegel, Faye Valentine, Jet Black, Radical Edward and Ein have become immortalized by multiple generations. Part of that is because of accessibility; the series is still regularly rerun on TV, featured in the media and there are, for better or worse, attempts at live-action adaptations. But another part is just as important and a little simpler. Ultimately, the show as a whole really is as good as people like to say.

Cowboy Bebop is still considered the gold standard of the genre, and it's easy to see why. No matter how much anime changes in terms of trends or style, the series' individuality and strong storytelling have withstood the test of time. The atmospheric noir style and well-defined characters contribute to this reputation, but so do the thrilling plots. Cowboy Bebop was almost intentionally under-explanatory as it delved into its world's past, but what exists in the present is undeniably compelling. Today we'll highlight the best storylines in the series as we look at the 10 most compelling storylines in Cowboy Bebop.

10 Faye Valentine's past is equal parts vague and tragic

Faye Valentine is one of the most iconic women in anime. She still graces posters, merchandise, and lists of genre favorites. Yet despite Faye's popularity, not much is known about her life. In the present, she is a gamer and bounty hunter, but everything from the past is intentionally vague.

Following Faye as she tries to define herself was one of the most exciting passive plots of the series. Fans learned about important people and events from her life before the Bebop, but even Faye doesn't fully find herself by the end of the show and is unable to regain her memories of the past.

9 Cowboy Bebop's Brain Scratch still feels like a contemporary concept

SCRATCH was a digital cult that appeared as an antagonistic group in one of the last episodes of Cowboy Bebop. The head of the foundation, Dr. Londes, was a man who seemed to live beyond the physical world. Of course, the problem begins when he encourages others to try the same.

Technology in anime has come a long way, but the analog spiritualism shown in the episode “Brain Scratch” is still surrounded by an undeniable mysticism. Eventually, it turns out that Londes is a teenager in a coma who wants to force others to live in the same trap he will never escape from.

8th What happened to the Earth in Cowboy Bebop?

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The Earth does not serve as a central hub of activity within Cowboy Bebopbut their status is interesting to observe throughout the series. Deviating from the implied glitz and glamour of Mars, Earth is constantly portrayed as a lower-class, chaotic world that is long past its societal peak.

Even the planet itself seems beyond repair. Meteorite impacts are constantly changing the planet's topography, making it impossible to map. The landscapes are depicted as scalding deserts and cramped tent cities. It's a highly individual depiction of the planet we call home.

7 Jet Black's dark love life had a surprising depth

Jet Black was a skilled bounty hunter and a great friend, but also someone who never had any luck. This applies to his career with the Bebop, his career before that, and his reputation with women. Jet has a surprising romantic development throughout the series, all of which is captivating and none of it ends well.

Jet's ex-girlfriend is introduced in Ganymede Elegy as the one who got away from him. Ultimately, it was Jet's overprotective nature and the restriction of her independence that drove her away. “Boogie Woogie Feng Shui” pairs him with the daughter of an old acquaintance, a much younger woman who embarrasses Jet when his crewmates think they are dating.

6 The crazy Pierrot was unforgettably monstrous

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Cowboy Bebop played with the idea of ​​horror in several episodes, but none was better than “Pierrot le Fou,” the episode featuring the wild Mad Pierrot. Mad Pierrot, a seemingly superhuman killing machine, was employed as a contract killer, which Spike had the misfortune to witness, leading to one of the Cowboy BebopThe most exciting individual episodes of.

Similar to Homelander of The young fame, Mad Pierrot was experimented on to gain his powers, resulting in a backlog of trauma and psychological triggers. The clownish beast of a man was quirky and creepy, and his showdown with Spike at the amusement park is still considered one of the series' best confrontations.

5 Gren's revenge against Vicious was as exciting as it was surprising

The feud between Vicious and Spike was a masterpiece of anime rivalry. Just the mention of one's name could enrage the other. Given this uniqueness, it was a shock to meet Gren, someone who wanted Vicious dead just as much as Spike did.

Gren and Vicious served together in a little-explored Titan War, serving as comrades in the same unit. Vicious eventually betrayed Gren, leading to his wrongful imprisonment as a spy. The exploration of his vengeance and search for clarity in the two-part “Jupiter Jazz” is one of the series' strongest stories.

4 Questions remain about Cowboy Bebop's Titan War

During “Jupiter Jazz,” it is revealed that Vicious served with Gren as a soldier in the Titan War. However, the purpose of the war, as well as Vicious' motives and actions in it, were never stated outright. Nevertheless, it remains an undeniable point of intrigue in the past of one of anime's coldest villains.

Vicious's ties to the Syndicate and the Red Eye trade inspire his actions throughout most of the series, including his grudge against Spike Spiegel. However, his real motive and ties to the Titan War stand out. The series never delved into his time as a trooper, although that didn't make Vicious's past any less intriguing.

3 The Red Eye Trade was quietly insidious throughout Cowboy Bebop

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The Red Eye drug was introduced in Cowboy Bebop's first episode, “Asteroid Blues.” However, his importance would be catapulted as the series progressed. Eventually, it is revealed that Red Eye is the main moneymaker for the syndicate, who are willing to shed blood to establish their market dominance.

Most interestingly, while Red Eye remains the focus of Vicious and the Syndicate, it is used by none other than Asimov, the villain of the first installment. The drug was unique in fiction in that its importance as a plot element was due to trafficking rather than use.

2 Wen the Immortal was Cowboy Bebop's first science fiction monster

Explorations of the supernatural were not everyday occurrences in the Cowboy Bebop world, and his first was an unforgettable battle against an immortal harmonica player. Wen took the form of a young boy and took hostages who acted as surrogate parents so as not to arouse suspicion.

In “Sympathy for the Devil”, Spike encounters Wen while he is putting a bounty on a man codenamed Giraffe, a former liberation fighter. Giraffe's old ally Zebra is Wen's latest victim, and Spike accidentally gets caught up in their fight, something he doesn't shy away from as he wants to put Wen to rest for good.

1 The relationship between Spike and Vicious is still timelessly captivating

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The relationship between Spike and Vicious is the heart of Cowboy BebopThe ongoing plot. Enough is explicitly stated to justify their mutual bloodlust, but everything else is left up for interpretation, allowing viewers to see what they want in the pair's ongoing battle. It certainly allows for a variety of interpretations.

While Spike became more and more focused on finding the mysterious Julia and killing Vicious, Vicious seemed more and more fixated on the Syndicate and Spike, with Julia playing a supporting role. Although what the two have been through together and the extent of their feelings are intentionally understated, they still represent the most compelling element of Cowboy Bebop's canon.

Cowboy Bebop (1998)

The futuristic misadventures and tragedies of a laid-back bounty hunter and his partners.

Release date

2 September 2001

Pour

Koichi Yamadera, Unshô Ishizuka, Megumi Hayashibara, Steve Blum, Beau Billingslea

Seasons

1

Studio

sunrise