What's the appeal of "Cowboy Bebop"?

[Kesh]

"Lovable scoundrels" is the perfect explanation of the characters. And it's the major appeal of the show. These aren't really honorable, white-hat good guys. They're bounty hunters dealing with scum and corrupt officials. But, they still manage to come across as decent people at the core.

Combine that with some good action bits, wonderful music, a mysterious set of interlocking stories about Spike's past, and some rather interesting moments of questionable morality... and you have a show that catches people's attention.

I agree with micromaximum, the show loses its impact if you don't watch it in order. Things do build up as they go along, and certain pieces of the puzzle will be missing if you jump episodes here and there.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Characters - they are like family, they do their own thing, live in their own world, loners one and all but together they are family. Then you have the underlining story line, the hint of past. The parts make the whole.

Fan of Trigun too.

 

[Viking Bastard]

So share with me. What's the appeal? What am I missing?

It's cool.

It's the attitude.

 

[Arnwyn]

For me, it's fantastic music, great animation, likeable characters, very interesting setting, and an enjoyable storyline that has both episodic and serial elements.

 

[Mallus]

Quality?

 

[JoeGKushner]

I saw Cowboy Bebop before I saw Firefly. Highly enjoyed the former, thought the later a pale, soul less version of the former.

Taste vary and all that jazz.

 

[ragboy]

I agree with a lot of the people here. Mostly the characters seem very realistic (and this isn't always a good thing). Spike thinks he's a lot cooler than he really is. And it comes out in the narrative. In fact, I think the whole cast thinks they're cooler than they are. And for me, the setting was extremely well done and very inspiring. Haven't seen the dubbed version, but now I'm interested...

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

I love the noir feel the show has, and "Real Folk Blues" (the end credit theme) just absolutely blows me away. I need to find an English translation of that.

 

[Henry]

I agree with a lot of the people here. Mostly the characters seem very realistic (and this isn't always a good thing). Spike thinks he's a lot cooler than he really is. And it comes out in the narrative. In fact, I think the whole cast thinks they're cooler than they are. And for me, the setting was extremely well done and very inspiring. Haven't seen the dubbed version, but now I'm interested...

I could have watched it without the dubbed version - the dead-on hit that the voice actors for the english version did made this series watchable for me. I tried subtitles, and the lackluster translations really turned me off - but the dub-work they did fit those characters to a "T."

In fact, I can't stand most anime, and I consider Cowboy Bebop one of the best genre series I've ever watched. It grabbed me emotionally in a way that only Joss Whedon's stuff ever had before.

 

[Alzrius]

Three words: best ending ever.