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Cowboy Bebop. Cowboy Bebop. Cowboy Bebop. If there was any anime that I heard such raving reviews about more than Cowboy Bebop, I don't know what it is. People were telling me right and left that Bebop was the best anime ever. So, I finally had to check it out. I did. And my final opinion: it was really good. It is pretty easy, though, for me to write my likes and dislikes about the show. First, dislikes, I'll just get it over with. The episodic nature of the show. I have never really been a fan of episodic shows, sure they add great character ... development to the show, but I have a sense of longing, waiting for something, like the story, that never comes, or doesn't satisfy me. Though now that I understand the show much more, especially the themes of longing and alienation, it is fitting that a show sort of holds the viewer to the same expectations as the characters. Something that has made me love the show even more.

Now, here comes what I liked about the show. The characters and the music. If I loved anything about Cowboy Bebop, it was the music. The intro song, Tank!, does exactly what I think an intro should do: get the viewer excited to watch each episode, which it did and more. The outro, on the other hand, The Real Folk Blues, does exactly the opposite. It is filled with a sense of melancholy and longing, which was also perfect. After a couple episodes I felt the loneliness of many of the characters and the outro perfectly captured my emotions. I was so impressed by the music that I looked up who was in charge of it, Yoko Kanno, and I just wanted to give her all the praise in the world. The last time I heard a soundtrack so amazing was after Silent Hill 2. It was that great.

The characters also make Cowboy Bebop what it is. Spike, Jet, Faye and Edward (you too, Ein!) were a joy to adventure with. They each had drastically different personalities, something I love, and had their own interesting stories to tell. Learning their back stories was like a punch in the gut and made me fall for each character even more.

All and all, Cowboy Bebop is a show that deserves all the praise it gets. I don't hold onto this show maybe the same way that others do, but I admire and respect its craft. I'm sure after more time has passed and I rewatch it a couple more times, I will love it as much as some others do but until then ... See You Space Cowboy.

As of writing this review, I have seen Death Note, from beginning to end, about four times (though I have watched specific moments, like the potato chip scene, countless times): this is more times than I have watched any other anime. If I were to have written this review immediately after the first time I saw it, I probably would have scored it ten, but after seeing it over and over, and being welcomed to other anime (like Monster and Cowboy Bebop), my feelings have sobered up. This (minus like Dragon Ball, Pokemon, YuGiOh, Naruto: anime that I watched as a kid) is the ... first anime that I completed, and boy did I love it.

I felt enchanted by the cool story, awesome characters and memorable moments. I loved the conflict between Light and L, and found Misa and Matsuda able to lighten up the tension perfectly. I felt like this show had zero flaws ... until much, much later. This is a fantastic anime to welcome any newcomer, but be aware that Death Note has flaws, something many fans will refuse to see at first. The most notable, without spoiling, is a big moment that occurs a little over halfway through the show that changes its entire dynamic and Death Note slows down. Still interesting, but not as much so. Most of my complaints, though, are with the latter half of Death Note, because the beginning, almost like a chess game, makes Death Note one of the most binge-watchable shows ever. The latter, on the other hand, feels like cheap and wasted potential.

All and all, Death Note is a beautifully crafted show that most will enjoy for its interesting story and unforgettable characters. While the show has its flaws, it makes up for them by taking you on a splendid adventure that will stick with you for the rest of your life.