Why do people say Cowboy Bebop is awesome?

[LokiSuaveHP]

If I were you, I wouldn't hold the first couple of episodes against a show. Generally a show is trying to feel out what it is doing, and it gets into the swing of things hopefully by the end of the season. Battlestar Gallactica was intense, but still clunky. Six Feet Under wasn't sure whether it was a comedy or a drama. Take a look at the first season of those shows and the last season of them. Even as far as anime is concerned, the first few episodes of Gundam Wing are just sort of annoying, and the ending is incredible. Cowboy Bebop is no different. I'd keep going with it.

The only shows that have ever had me hooked from day one was Pushing Daisies, which had a certain cuteness about it, but that only carried it for awhile. Probably was a great movie idea, but not a very good T.V. show idea, and Lost, which was just awesome 90-95% of the time, all the time.

 

[LogicNProportion]

Trigun

Hellsing

Cowboy Bebop

Ghost in the Shell

FLCL

These are the five legendary anime. At least to me. Each one is a unique experience you will find nowhere else on the market.

 

[poiuppx]

For me, it's the little things. Like the amazing soundtrack. The incredible fight sequences. The subtle character development. The creative universe with unique elements on multiple levels, like the differing architecture of each world. The fluid animation. The incredibly geeky music references on all sides. The beef with bell peppers. The slow burn on the main story that hovers in the background, quietly threatening the haphazard crew even as they tend to some farked up bounties (and other things). The data dog. The careful attention to the technological elements of the universe that, by the end of the series, is rich enough to where the one thing I regret most is the lack of other stories set in said universe to expand on it all. The falling stars.

...I will confess, the fact my girlfriend has been steadily working through cosplays of every major cast member helps.

 

[Lyri]

Because Yoko Konno is GOD!

Gotta dance bro, just gotta.

 

[Legendsmith]

Because Yoko Konno is GOD!

I assume you mean Yoko Kanno.
And yes, her compositions are always amazing.

 

[Engarde]

I have a few reasons as to why I like it.

-Each episode is it's own story
This is a matter of taste, of course. I feel with the larger over arcing story, things slowly just get more ridiculous and far fetched, constantly trying to out-do itself. Plus, if I miss an episode, it gets really annoying in that kind of show.

-It presents a believable reality.
I am personally (another mattter of taste) into certain non realistic things, and Cowboy Bebop has no spirits / chakra / demons or what have you. And thusly, I find it rather amusing.

-It is not too long
As it is not hundreds of episodes long, I find it managable, short, and sweet. Not to mention, since it does not have a huge overarcing story, no filler. Sort of another taste thing.

So, for the most part, it just fits my taste.

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

Its the only anime I think is watchable. According to wikipedia it has almost universal acclaim. Starwars wasn't that great but look how it is recieved. How do you get on probation. Ive been trying but so far no luck.

I always get on probation for stupid reasons, like the mod saying that i didn't read the op when posting, when I did, and even though my post was completely related to the subject at hand.

Well to be fair, you did say 'I'm not reading that', and they're not psychic, so...

 

[[Parsley]]

I hate to sound like a fanboy but Spike is just coolness personified in my eyes. From his personality to the way he fights.

The fact that Spike was genuinely scared and really utterly unable to match up to Pierrot le Fou makes that my favourite episode of the series.

 

[Kiju]

Cowboy Bebop alone: It's fairly good; enjoyable, but no masterpiece, as you said

Cowboy Bebop compared to other anime: It's a Gods-send

I think...that's the point. Compared to other anime, it's wonderful. But as a stand-alone, it's got it's good points, and it's got it's bad points. I enjoy it whole heartedly, and would probably buy the box set provided I could find one under $100. :\

 

[WhiteTigerShiro]

Because Yoko Konno is GOD!

*Tube Snipped*

True, but you posted the wrong song, imo:


Diff anime, sure, but easily my fave from that genius. Makes you wonder... did Konno compose for any anime that wasn't made of win? I think maybe Fargo might be onto something, actually. o.o

 

[NotSoNimble]

10 years ago, or whenever it came out, it was the fashizzle my nizzle.

AKA, it was great when it came out. Hype and fanboys can kill anything that's great, given the proper amount of time.

Congratulations on being the only one (I kid) to not like it. You should have named the thread: Am I the Only one....

 

[Lyri]

Because Yoko Konno is GOD!

I assume you mean Yoko Kanno.
And yes, her compositions are always amazing.

I assume you didn't notice I quoted it from someone else.

 

[ElTigreSantiago]

Erm... how can you judge it 5 episodes in?

Anyway, like others have said, it's the best because it is entirely unlike the rest. All the other animes stretch on endlessly (and needlessly) for hundreds and hundreds of episodes. They beat a very dead horse for the sake of keeping the train rolling and getting more money. But Cowboy Bebop has less than 30 episodes. For this reason, every episode is a brand new experience, and nothing is needlessly dragged along. And it doesn't have to have filler arcs due to manga struggling to keep up.

It is an anime with balls. It takes balls to stray away from the usual anime set up of having nine thousand freaking episodes about the invincible protagonist tackling every powerful enemy that rises against him. It takes balls to go with a jazz-themed musical score. It takes balls to have the deep and unexpected content the episodes sometimes have. And it certainly takes balls to end the show the way they did, with no spin off or extra series.

And the movie is absolutely incredible. Absolutely incredible.

Oh man, the movie.

Possibly one of the best I've seen.

The thing about Bebop is that in all anime, you go through episode after to reach a climax.

And that climax is fucking awesome.

With Bebop, there is a climax every episode. Each telling a different story is not a weakness, it's a strength.

Indeed. And because of this, there aren't any of those boring episodes where nothing happens or they spend the whole time talking like in other anime.

 

[Kermi]

Yeah, the first five episodes of Cowboy Bebop are really only a sampler. Come back when you've seen it all and tell us you still aren't impressed.

 

[Outright Villainy]

Because Yoko Konno is GOD!

Bu-dee-bu-deh bu-deh da bu-deh!

Man, that song is awesome...

 

[The Deadpool]

Honestly, I'd really be curious to see your thoughts on the show AFTER it's over.

I'm not saying you MUST like it, but the entire 26 episode run (and the movie is pretty much episode 22.5) is an entirely different beast from the first four episodes. It's hard to have a serious discussion about the show without spoiling the crap out of it so I won't.

Yoko Konno IS a big part of it though. Not just because the music is good, but the use of it is generally REALLY well done. It's done very well quite often, but Elm at the end of Ganymede Elegy is probably the most commonly commented one...

Seriously, come back to this topic and quote this message when you're done with the series and we'll have a talk about what you liked and disliked about the show. Critical discussions are always fun.

 

[hurfdurp]

Mleh, I watched it a long time ago, and didn't feel that universal awe at the end either. It's alright, it isn't mandatory to like it.

 

[keve4433]

The music is awesome, the show is awesome and the movie is awesome, therefor ...
Cowboy Bebop is Awesome

Sound logic my friend!

 

[sketch_zeppelin]

You won't start praising it as genuis till the very end. oh and if you want to figure out the backstory between Spike his Julia and visous you'll need to put it together using the various images being flashed across the screen while spikes falling out of a church window in the Sympathy for the Devil episode.

Its one of the few Animes that shows you rather than tells you whats going on and while not all the episodes are related to what becomes the main plot in the end, there all well done parodies of popular movie and tv generes.

If you come out of the end of it not likeing it then i'll be rather surprised.