Ok, so as many of you may know, I’ve recently joined the “Cowboy Bebop Fan Club,” group on Spill. Why? Because Cowboy Bebop is FUCKING BAD ASS!!! I don’t know much about anime. Reasons being, it’s not because I don’t like it, I just haven’t seen enough anime to form a valid opinion on it.  But, with LEOG’s constant approval and praise of the show known as Cowboy Bebop, I decided to check it out. I bought the first five episodes on DVD at my local Vintage Stock back in September of this year, and was immediately hooked. Now I’m waiting for the arrival of the rest of the volumes to complete my collection on Christmas. Cowboy Bebop is simply just, the greatest anime ever. Even people who generally dislike Anime, tend to agree that Cowboy Bebop, along with Hayao Miyazaki, and “Akira,” are the exceptions.

So, it comes as no surprise, that when I found out that my friends disliked the show, I was shocked.

We had a back and forth argument for a little while and I think I actually ended up winning. They never saw the show and agreed to watch some of it but said, and I quote, “I doubt I’ll end up liking it.” I just can’t understand why someone couldn’t like this show. I understand if they don’t love it. But at least like it and or recognize its impact.

Here’s a list of their arguments and my counter acts.

1A. I described the main plot of the show as this; “It all takes place in the future, space has literally became the final frontier, and bounty hunting has became a natural way of life for some people, we follow four bounty hunters who live onboard this space ship known as the Bebop, as they travel from planet to planet, collecting new bounty heads and their rewards. They all have jaded pasts and as the show progresses, we find out more and more of their back-story; although we are left clueless to know what their actual back stories are until the very end.” And they replied with, ‘Why would I watch the show if I don’t immediately know their back-story?’

1B. ok, then, why do you watch movies? Not every single movie begins with the back-story of a character. Not every single movie even ends up showing the back story of a character. Before the release of Hannibal Rising, (can’t stand that film by the way,) did we know the reason why Hannibal Lecture enjoyed Cannibalism? No, we did not. Did that make the movie any less enjoyable? Hell no!  Silence of the Lambs is a fucking classic.  What about “The Man with no name trilogy.” Literally, we are left clueless as to why Clint Eastwood acts the way he does throughout all three movies. But, Clint Eastwood is just plain badass and enjoyable to watch. We don’t know why Raol Duke in “Fear and Loathing,” loves excess of drugs, but it makes his trip and ours one hell of a good time. WE DON’T NEED A BACKSTORY DAMMIT!! It’s all about love of the characters. If we love a character enough, if they are fleshed out to a point which makes the audience connect with him or her, then we would be curious to know, and would investigate further. Or, if we never find out, end up loving the character for who he or she is.

2A. “It’s all episodic. I mean, what’s the point of watching all of it if I can just watch one episode and be done with it?”

2B. this tends to be just a minor disagreement in taste. I forgot to mention that my fiend Ryan’s favorite anime is “Dragon Ball Z.” *I shudder in horror at the over hyperbolic nature of the show.* if he doesn’t like that type of media, find with me. We can’t all have the same taste. But the reason why Cowboy Bebop ends up having a following is, it compels you to do so. By hanging little wet snatches of Spike’s past, we get our appetite wet, and want to know more. Yes, you certainly can just watch one episode, or the movie for that matter, and never follow it again, but why do so?  If you’re interested in something, why not quench your thirst for knowledge?  

3A. “The theme song sucks.”

3B. ok, what kind of crack have you been smoking? I can’t agree with my friend on that matter. If he started with this argument, we would’ve officially been no longer friends. Now, he’s a metal head. Judas Priest, Metallica, Iron Maiden; maybe again, it was a difference of taste. Also, he stated that the song, “Get’s stuck in your head and is annoying.” Maybe he tends to dislike the song because it’s so damn catchy. But that’s no reason to hate it. I quote Corey Taylor, “There’s bad music and music that’s hard to get into.” Justin Bieber=Bad music. The theme song for Cowboy Bebop is just hard to sink your teeth into if fusion Jazz is not your thing. But hell, I’m really not that into Jazz and I dug the hell out of that theme song and its remaining on my IPod forever. And please, if you don’t have the taste for it, don’t say that it sucks without having any actual evidence for your argument other than, “It’s repetitive and gets stuck in your head.” Just say that you don’t necessarily have the taste for the theme song, and then move on. By the way, the entire soundtrack for Cowboy Bebop is spectacular and makes up the very foundation of the show. Being the music geek that I am, I was drawn to it naturally because of the killer soundtrack. Without the music, Cowboy Bebop, in my opinion, would just be another anime lost in the seed of abyss known as, ‘generic.’

So what are your thoughts and or opinions on my friend and buddy who really needs his eyes opened? Does he have some factual arguments? Is he just being an annoying doucebag? Should we no longer be friend? Should I get him some Red eye so he “Can keep his eyes opened?” comment below, let me know.

With many regards,

LennonClaypoll72.