Cowboy Bebop Highly recommended

Publisher
BEEZ
Director
Shinichiro Watanabe
Production
Bandai, Sunrise
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
26 episodes
Year
1998

Cowboy Bebop Volume 6

By Joseph (Joe) Wood
20th Aug 05

All good things must come to an end and unfortunately, the amazing, breathtaking and beautiful Cowboy Bebop must also fall to that rule. It’s been a rollercoaster ride of laughs, thrills and outstanding music and this is the last volume.

The first two episodes on this disc are your normal Cowboy Bebop affair. “Brain Scratch” sees the members of the Bebop try to track down a leader of a cult, who claim that people no longer need their bodies. Although their leader appears on TV almost daily it seems no one knows where to find the leader. “Hard Luck Woman” sees Faye and Ed return to earth where Faye confronts her mixed memories of her past, and Ed encounters her father. Will our two women continue to travel on the Bebop?

Now here comes the hard part. The last two episodes are two parts of one episode entitled “The Real Folk Blues”. This episode is the embodiment of the series, its slick, stylish, emotional and will keep you gripped from beginning to end. So amazing is it that it’s extremely difficult to write about. If you were to ask a simple, “Just watch it!” would be the reply I would give. Unfortunately, “Just watch it!” do not exactly make for a good overall review, especially when you have a 400 words minimum.

Spike has been searching for Julia, and his determination finally pays off, however the syndicate is in an uproar thanks to Vicious and Spike and Julia are targets. Can they escape together and find peace at last?

Since the first volume, Cowboy Bebop has offered us lots, and fans of the series certainly won’t be disappointed by its conclusion. This is guaranteed to move you and more sensitive viewers may want a box of tissues ready, as you may be crying either tears of joy or sadness but you WILL be crying.

Therefore, we have reached the end of this series, but don’t fret if you still want more Bebop you can always check out the movie, or the two manga series. All which offer a similarly great experience (although you don’t have the excellent soundtrack in the manga).

Six volumes of pure class, one of the best series I’ve seen in ages and frankly this should be in everyone’s collection. Even if you’re not an anime fan you must see this series! This is an essential purchase, and if you don’t have it you’re missing out. I’ve done all I can, I’ve said all I can the only thing left to do is say…

SEE YOU SPACE COWBOY!

R2 DVD Notes

Features: English Dub, Japanese with English Subtitles, BEEZ Trailers.

Release information: Publisher: BEEZ Release Date: July 18, 2005 Classification: 15

Notes: There are still no extras of any mention on the Cowboy Bebop DVDs, not even a clean opening and closing anmaiton option which most anime DVDs now carry as standard. There's no use in complaining about the lack of extras though when the episodes are such great and outstanding quality.

-- Joseph (Joe) Wood 20th Aug 05

Cowboy Bebop Images