We’ve been anticipating Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop series since it was announced earlier this year. Fans of the 1998 original anime series have been waiting patiently until they could see their favorite protagonist, Spike Spiegel, in this live-action remake.
Does the series meet expectations? Are the characters even more amazing and dynamic than in the mother series? And does this series do a great job of paying homage to the original? Let’s review the show episode by episode, right here.
First up, the premiere!
Episode 1: “Cowboy Gospel”
The first episode is always the most important as it sets audiences up for what’s to come. And this Netflix series does an okay job of that.
Less than a minute in, “Cowboy Gospel” serves up an action sequences that sent shivers down my spine as Spike Spiegel (John Cho) and Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir) absolutely dominate a group of thieves…for the most part.
In the midst of a heated battle, one of the thieves shoots a wall, which leads to the oxygen being sucked out of the room. It’s a nice touch that acquaints us with the sci-fi reality of Cowboy Bebop in a way that was seldom seen in the anime series.
The series is set many years in the future, and there have been a ton of technological advances that making outer space habitable. But these characters are still human beings who need oxygen to survive. Seeing this acknowledged was super refreshing.
In addition to this environmental awareness, the premiere gets brownie points for slowly unveiling the private life of Jet Black, as we learn he has a daughter and wife. This was something that fans of the anime had to wait a little while longer to see.
Still, the reveal of Jet Black’s life, as well as the unexpected introductions of Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda), Julia (Elena Satine), and Vicious (Alex Hassell) felt a tad premature, as these characters and their secrets are pivotal to the story and shouldn’t be brought up in vain. The original show built up these characters and I can’t help but wonder if having them appear in the first episode will pay off in the end. We’ll have to wait and see to know for sure.
All in all, the first episode of Cowboy Bebop packs a strong punch; not as strong as the anime’s first episode, but dang near close.
Will the next episode also exceed expectations?