COWBOY BEBOP Review: "Doesn't Quite Recapture The Anime's Effortless Cool, But Comes Pretty Damn Close"

COWBOY BEBOP Review: "Doesn't Quite Recapture The Anime's Effortless Cool, But Comes Pretty Damn Close"

Netflix's live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop is set to hit the streamer later this week, and while it has its share of problems, it's still an absolute blast. Check out our verdict right here...

Review Opinion
By MarkCassidy - Nov 15, 2021 02:11 PM EST
Filed Under: Netflix

Whenever anyone sets out to revisit, reimagine, or in any way adapt a beloved property, they're almost setting themselves up for failure. If the new take turns out to be a carbon copy of the original, people will wonder what the point was, while making too many changes is sure to piss off a whole different contingent of fans.

So, when Netflix announced that it was developing a live-action series based on one of the most popular, influential animes of all time, many wondered if the streamer was biting off more than it could chew. Fortunately, Cowboy Bebop manages to stay true to the spirit of Sunrise's '90s neo-noir classic while adding just enough ingredients to set it apart.

You'd certainly be forgiven for thinking we were entering facsimile territory initially. The intro is a near perfect recreation of The Seatbelts' terrific "Tank!" opening theme, while the first episode is an almost shot-for-shot remake of the anime's "Asteroid Blues." However, as the story progresses, plotlines and character arcs begin to veer off in new and (mostly) interesting directions.

Every Cowboy Bebop Character Revealed in the Netflix Series Opening Credits

The premise remains the same, with a crew of bounty hunters (or, cowboys) pursuing targets across the galaxy in an attempt to scrape together enough cash to stay afloat. Our makeshift family is made up of Spike Spiegel (John Cho), a former assassin who must hide his checkered past from his partners at all costs; Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir), a former cop who was framed and sent down for 5 years; Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda), an amnesiac con woman; and Ein, and adorable Welsh Corgi who may be a lot more dangerous than he looks.

These damaged individuals are all trying to lay their ghosts to rest and move on with their lives, but Spike's past eventually catches up with him, putting everyone at risk.

Casting was always going to be key to getting fans and the uninitiated alike invested, so we're pleased to report that the leads are superb. Some eyebrows were raised when the 40-something Cho landed the role of Spike, but the Star Trek actor does a terrific job of encapsulating the character's nonchalant charm and witty demeanor. Shakir is just as good, infusing his increasingly exasperated take on Jet with plenty of warmth. Pineda, however, might just be the standout.

Of the three, Faye is easily the most at odds with her anime counterpart, who was, let's face it, not the most compelling or well-developed of characters. Pineda retains some of her less likable qualities at first, but soon begins to thaw, and ultimately emerges as the heart of the show. Don't be surprised if you start to tear-up when Valentine is finally given the smallest of glimpses into her previous life.

Unfortunately, the story falters whenever the focus shifts away from our heroes to the supporting players. Both Vicious (Spike's former friend and fellow Syndicate killer) and Julia (the singer caught between them) are given greatly expanded roles, and while actors Alex Hassell and Elena Satine do a decent job, the show's attempt to flesh them out doesn't really work. They're given just enough to do to make them vital to Spike's arc, but not enough to make us care about them as individual characters.

The finale is also sure to be divisive, particularly for fans of the original. It's difficult to go into any detail without spoiling the ending, so let's just say the show tries to have its cake and eat it by giving us the big confrontation without the now iconic, ambiguous resolution. There was always going to be some second season setup, of course, but it's a shame André Nemec, Christopher Yost and co. didn't come up with another scenario so this could be saved as the conclusion of the entire series.

Like its ragtag protagonists, Cowboy Bebop is a little rough around the edges, but also eminently entertaining and an absolute blast to spend time with. Netflix's adaptation doesn't quite recapture the anime's effortless cool, but it comes pretty damn close.

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TheMapleSyrup
TheMapleSyrup - 11/15/2021, 2:35 PM
Cowboy Bebop is the anime that even non-anime fans respect. So I'm curious to see if this captures the same energy.
MrDandy
MrDandy - 11/15/2021, 2:36 PM
Think I’ll stick to the anime. It’s a classic. Unfortunately Hollywood has always had difficulty adapting anime with VERY few exceptions, and this didn’t look like one of them.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 11/15/2021, 2:45 PM
@MrDandy - I really wonder if those creators who are adapting anime watched it before it became mainstream today. When you had to rent the dvd from sunrise or overseas to find something like Trigun or Bubblegum Crisis (adult swim was the only other avenue for it way back when)
GhostDog
GhostDog - 11/15/2021, 3:07 PM
@Waddles - I first caught case closed on toonami way back. I watched all the way up to 135 via adult swim and renting it from sunrise. After 135 they stopped dubbing. I was pissed lol



Another that really stuck with me was Blue Gender


Like Alien and Independence Day on sterilizes
Spock0Clock
Spock0Clock - 11/15/2021, 3:37 PM
@BlackBeltJones - Man, I loved Case Closed so much. I tried to watch the Japanese version subtitled, it just doesn't have the same vibe.
dracula
dracula - 11/15/2021, 2:37 PM
The anime was good, still need to see the movie

Ill give this an episode or 2.

If its good ill keep watching

If its bad, time for Firefly rewatch
Reeds2Much
Reeds2Much - 11/15/2021, 2:39 PM
What about the rest of the show's soundtrack?
GhostDog
GhostDog - 11/15/2021, 2:39 PM
Most reviews seem mixed which is what I expected.

To completely recapture the originals creativity, vibe, depth cleverness and style would take Watanbe coming back to write, a huge budget and the right director who will SWING. This Netflix take seems like there is love put in it but it looks too cheap and stagey.

I would kill for another animated film. Come on Watanabe one more
TheFinestSmack
TheFinestSmack - 11/15/2021, 2:42 PM
And now to see what they do with One Piece...
marvel72
marvel72 - 11/15/2021, 2:47 PM
Let's be honest it was never going to be as good as the anime.
Reeds2Much
Reeds2Much - 11/15/2021, 3:15 PM
@marvel72 - To be fair comic book movies have never been as good as comic books but here we are when they're the dominate force in pop culture.
marvel72
marvel72 - 11/15/2021, 4:42 PM
@Reeds2Much - Of course,I don't think there has been one great anime adaption.

Bleach
Attack On Titan
Ghost In A Shell
Full Metal Alchemist

And that is to name just a few.

As for comic books The Dark Phoenix Saga springs to mind when talking about piss poor adaptions.

The Watchmen was pretty much a straight adaption of the comic book and as much as I loved it,the general audience didn't like it.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 11/15/2021, 3:03 PM
Bebop as something that spawns sequels or future setups goes against the original ending and I always took it’s ambiguous, open ended finale to be an emotional coda that characterizes Spike’s journey; which was central to the show.

Spike can shrug so many things off, but his vendetta against Vicious is the one thing he can’t shrug off, at the expense of his own life and his connection to his partners. That’s the tragedy and that’s the end.
MV081199
MV081199 - 11/15/2021, 3:10 PM
The Rurouni Kenshin Movies are easily the best Live-Action adaptation of an Anime/Manga in my opinion:

HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 11/15/2021, 6:33 PM
@MV081199 -

I still need to watch these
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 11/15/2021, 3:15 PM
Has a really bad metacritic score at the moment
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