[7.4/10] Well, the art here was cool, so that's something. The imagery of Spike falling through the cathedral window, with the artistic cuts of him gazing up as he destroys his enemy while remembering the time when he “died” three years ago is very well done. The music is striking, and gives the whole sequence an ethereal, emotional quality. The color and lighting is beautiful, and the sequence works on vibes alone.
But I gotta tell you, I’m just tired of cryptic teases about mysterious pasts. That's not Cowboy Bebop’s fault. I don’t think it was as much of a trope back in 1998. But after every show has done it in the ensuing twenty-five years, I’m just tired of it.
So sure, Spike having some connection to this mod boss that he wants to avenge, and a bodega owner who seems to be out of the game is mildly intriguing. So is the appearance of someone who nursed him back to health. (That said, the bird-packing antagonist named Vicious both looks and sounds ridiculous.) But I’ve grown impatient about this sort of thing, and would rather the show just came out with it rather than beating around the bush.
The other characters don’t get much either. Jet at least has a somewhat interesting angle, in being upset at Spike not letting him fully in on what this is all about. But Ivy is, yet again, a scantily-clad damsel in distress, which I’m already tired of.
On the whole, the sheer artistry of the closing sequence here really elevates this one. But I continue to struggle to connect with the story and characters at play.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2023-02-07T06:10:43Z
[7.4/10] Well, the art here was cool, so that's something. The imagery of Spike falling through the cathedral window, with the artistic cuts of him gazing up as he destroys his enemy while remembering the time when he “died” three years ago is very well done. The music is striking, and gives the whole sequence an ethereal, emotional quality. The color and lighting is beautiful, and the sequence works on vibes alone.
But I gotta tell you, I’m just tired of cryptic teases about mysterious pasts. That's not Cowboy Bebop’s fault. I don’t think it was as much of a trope back in 1998. But after every show has done it in the ensuing twenty-five years, I’m just tired of it.
So sure, Spike having some connection to this mod boss that he wants to avenge, and a bodega owner who seems to be out of the game is mildly intriguing. So is the appearance of someone who nursed him back to health. (That said, the bird-packing antagonist named Vicious both looks and sounds ridiculous.) But I’ve grown impatient about this sort of thing, and would rather the show just came out with it rather than beating around the bush.
The other characters don’t get much either. Jet at least has a somewhat interesting angle, in being upset at Spike not letting him fully in on what this is all about. But Ivy is, yet again, a scantily-clad damsel in distress, which I’m already tired of.
On the whole, the sheer artistry of the closing sequence here really elevates this one. But I continue to struggle to connect with the story and characters at play.