Mar 15, 2021
This is the first review I have ever written, so please bear with it.
[TLDR] Cowboy Bebop is a masterpiece that gets better every time you watch it; however, it is not without its flaws.
Context:
You can skip this context if you want, as I am trying to keep it separate from the review as much as possible. That said I think context is extremely important when it comes to reviews of older anime shows.
I first watched Cowboy Bebop on adult swim as a kid. It was by no means the first anime series I watched, but it was one
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of the first shows that really made me want to actively look for more anime. It opened my mind to shows like Beck which was also airing on TV at the time. I feel the context that Cowboy Bebop was a profoundly effective gateway anime is, and should always be, recognized. The industry would not be the same without it, but I do not believe this context should have a say on the rating of a show. A show isn't good just because a lot of people like it. This is the same for every other show too. A lot of people try and convince people to watch Cowboy Bebop while talking about it with rose colored glasses filled with nostalgia. For me, however, it was not always my favorite show. It earned that title by having by far the most re-watch value of any show I have watched - ever. I wasn't going to write a review, but I feel like the lack of ability to critique it properly is harming the the community's view of the show.
I don't care if everyone likes the shows, games, or media I enjoy. I do not expect everyone to like everything I do, but I want people to understand why the show is an enduring masterpiece even if they don't like it. I have very specific tastes, but I am capable of understanding that some shows are great shows even if, for instance, I did not enjoy them due to finding the main characters extremely disagreeable.
Cons:
Please stop trying to convince people to watch the show because of the dub quality. The dub was great when it came out, but it is only of passable quality now. The writing for the dialog of the show does not stand up to the test of time as well as people would like to imagine it does. There are often moments in the show where the dialog can feel "canned". This is, in-part, due to mediocre writing, but also due to the lower standard of dubs of the time. Too often are characters speaking what should be internal monologs or should not be said at all as it is effectively shown without dialog. There are also issues with pacing and emotiveness. Sometimes there are stark contrasts in the voice acting quality of the side characters compared to the main cast, leaving what would have been perfectly good writing also feeling canned. The show is also far more dialog heavy than people seem to remember, perpetuating this further. I believe all of this ends up being a major problem when people new to the show view it for the first time, as their expectations are not met.
The older art style, not quality, can also be viewed as a con. It doesn’t hold up to modern aesthetical preferences but that does not mean it is bad. I did not detract any points for this as I do not believe the quality is bad.
Characters & Story [10]:
In my experience, a lot of people struggle with the episodic nature of Cowboy Bebop, and this is understandable as it has become less and less common in modern anime. There is an overarching plot to the show, but the driving force behind the show is the character development. There is a catch to this, however, as much of the character development for the main cast (particularly the male members) has already taken place before the events of the show. On top of conventional character development, you get to know the characters and what made them who they are in a way that is akin to getting to know people in real life. The viewer pieces together information about their pasts with new insight from each new adventure. Cowboy Bebop has some of the most endearing and enduring characters of any anime out there, largely because of how you get to know the characters in this way. Just as in real life, some of them are a little annoying at first but grow on you as you get to know who they really are.
Soundtrack [10]:
For those that are openminded musically the soundtrack to the show is one of the best out there. Enough people have talked about it so I won’t dive deeply into it, but I would like to say that it is also used extremely effectively. Sometimes it feels like you are watching a passionate fan's AMV just because of how much weight the music has on the moment.
Art [10]:
While there are elements of the art that don't hold up well to modern aesthetical preferences, overall, the art is very well done. It really shines when it comes to the animated action scenes which remain some of the best to this day.
Re-watch Value [10]:
I have re-watched the show at least 6 times in the last decade, and every time I do I find something more to appreciate. I have pretty good memory, so I often struggle to re-watch shows because I already know what is going to happen, and much of the details, and I find myself uninterested in so much of what is going on because I already know so much about it. I never had this issue with Cowboy Bebop, and its ability to keep me entertained time and time again is what makes it my favorite.
Conclusion:
It is one of the best anime of all time, but it isn't something that everyone will enjoy. Don't overhype yourself when getting into it, and don't overhype your friends when trying to get them to watch it, as it will only serve to detract from their opinions of the show.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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