The Bittersweet Tragedy Of Cowboy Bebop 

The moral of the story, DON'T LEAVE FOOD IN THE FRIDGE.

Me when Ed joined the crew: "Youve got to be kidding 😒" Me when Ed left the crew: "Youve GOT to be kidding 😢"

I just realized the fridge monster was an allegory for the entire show. You can forget/ignore your past for as long as you like but in the end it will come back to haunt you if you dont take care of it.

one thing that makes me sad is that Jet is going to be lonely again now that Spike is gone. He will be wondering around in that infinite void of space alone for the rest of his life.

The saddest moment to me was when the cowboy dude from bigshot lost his job and then you see him talking to his mom at the airport telling her not to worry (ep 25 towards the middle)

Cowboy Bebop, the only anime that doesn't make you feel like a weeb.

I like to imagine that Faye and Jet stayed together as a small bounty hunter group.

Ed leaving and Faye confronting Spike before he leaves are the two parts that genuinely shattered my soul

Idc what anyone says watching ed and ein leave broke my heart more then anything else because it was the start of the whole crew breaking up and watching that scene i knew the show wouldn't leave on a happy ending.

K, real talk tho, Spike's English voice actor is actually the greatest thing that has ever blessed my delicate ears

To me the saddest thing is the fact that they all realized they loved each other in the end. When Faye realized she had no home left and decided to let go of the past, ed and ein were gone and spike was going to die. When Jet finally realized he actually loved the crew (which is how i interpret the scene where he walks out after cooking and sees no one), they were all gone. And I think when Spike died he also realized that now that he had achieved closure and closed his right eye, all he wanted was to get back to the bebop and stay with his friends (shown by how he regretfully looks at Ed's goodbye and shows empathy towards Faye) This ending is not bittersweet at all, it's outright fucking depressing, as the remaining Faye and Jet will have to "carry that weight".

Faye's story makes me so sad, she is so close to moving on but the group breaking apart ruined it for her, she'll never trust anyone again.

"I'm not going there to die. I'm going to see if I'm alive." Bebop, fucking magnificent.

So what did you learn kids? Me: *Sobbing* don’t leave food in the fridge.

When Ed left I didn’t think it was gonna hit so hard

dude what makes me sososo sad is that ed and ein doesn't even know what happened to the rest of the crew. that them leaving is like pretty much spike losing another part of him regardless of how short it might have just been. you saw how empty and how loud the silence was of spike and jet realizing that they just lost a member. im pretty sure they thought they also lost faye right then too

The conclusion to each character arc is so sad and depressing, I almost never want to watch this show again. I loved every second of it.

Faye's tape was Beta, not VHS. Just had to point that out.

Spike: someone who is stuck in the past Jet: someone who accepts his past but cant seem to think about the future Faye: someone longing for the past and doesnt care about the future Ed: someone who doesnt care about the past nor the future and just lives day by day

I just finished watching this show on Netflix and it is honestly one of the greatest pieces of animation I've ever seen. Absolutely adored it

Very few anime shows have hit me the way bebop did. Even rewatching it tugs at my soul. Bang...

Faye's storyline tore me open and left me raw right up til the end.

The saddest part for me was when Faye is on that beach front and the old classmate of hers recognizes her. Something about seeing her old classmate come up to her and talk about the past is just really sad to me. I guess that old lady had some sort of innocence to her that when it’s compared to fayes present life, makes me just ponder deeply. Everything she knew is basically gone. That is so trippy to me.

I love that this show made you deal with the sad empty ending. No closure really pulls on the old unresolved past for a lot of us

I always felt that when he said, "I'm going there to see if I'm really alive." What he meant was that he loved the Bebop crew and now he needs to prove to himself that he is no longer dead inside and lonely. He is proving to himself by protecting his friends and finishing his story that he is now alive and desiring to truly love. An almost Messianic sacrifice.

_You're Gonna Carry That Weight_

Fun fact: Steve Blum married Mary McGlynn (voice actress for Julia) :) that puts a smile in my heart

Man i just finished rewatching this show today, the "bang" line at the very end makes me tear up every time, ill miss you space cowboy

Honestly if they made a show with just Ed and ein I would watch it

The ending of Cowboy Bebop is one of the best endings in anime history, the last 3 episodes in general are also some of the best episodes ever in anime, not that the others were not good but the last 3 are masterpieces.

My mother convinced me to watch the Netflix adaptation of Bebop with her a couple months ago. After that disaster, I told her that I intended to make her watch the anime with me as payback. I'd never seen it before and neither had she, We loved it. Yesterday my parents told me they're splitting apart. We had two more episodes to watch so I eventually sat down and watched them with my mom. When spike collapsed after making finger guns at the remaining syndicate and the camera pans up to the stars as the ending song played I cried. I realized why this anime is so important to me. "You're gonna carry that weight"

For those of you arguing if Spike lived at the end or not, Spike’s death was foreshadowed since episode one. Laughing Bull tells Spike that his death will be brought on by a woman. The scene of Julia's death is directly followed by a scene of Laughing Bull predicting Spike's imminent death. When Spike returns to the Bebop, he tells Jet the tiger striped cat story. There once was a tiger striped cat. This cat died a million deaths, revived and lived a million lives, and he was owned by various people who he didn't really care for. The cat wasn't afraid to die. Then one day the cat became a stray cat, which meant he was free. He met a white female cat, and the two of them spent their days together happily. Well, years passed, and the white cat grew weak and died of old age. The tiger striped cat cried a million times, and then he died too. Except this time, he didn't come back to life. This is Spike using allegory to explain why he is never coming back. He is the tiger striped cat and Julia is his white cat. Both Jet and Faye understand that Spike is never coming back once he leaves. "See You Space Cowboy" plays as Spike leaves the Bebop. The lyrics begin as Spike is recalling romantic memories of Julia. He thinks of the first time he saw Julia and was captivated by her beauty. He thinks of a time when he made love to Julia and she cradled him in her arms and stroked his hair. The song continues to play as Spike attacks the syndicate. It is a ballad of undying love. "Everything is already over", You say with closed ears The words only flow Towards a tomorrow without peace "There's nothing that won't change" Even if my life ends This love will not disappear It's something that will live forever Even if dreams are hidden in darkness I got a rainbow Rainbow in your hands… When Spike is facing off against his hated rival, Vicious proclaims that he is the only one that can kill him. In turn, Spike asserts that the statement applies to him as well. During their fight, Vicious gets Spike's gun and Spike gets Vicious's katana. Spike then makes this statement: Dub: Julia is dead. Let's finish it now. Sub: Julia passed away. Let's end it all. The rivals return their weapons. Spike shoots Vicious but gets his stomach sliced open. Blood gushes out of Spike. Vicious's death comes quickly, while Spike lingers as was foreshadowed. "A snake's venom poisons slowly after the bite." Spike immediately looks up to the night's sky. He is calm. He finally sees Julia in his eye that sees the present. In session 13, during an auditory flashback, Spike tells Julia that he sees the past in his left eye. Julia asks him what he sees in his right eye. We do not hear his response. We are specifically shown what Spike sees with his right eye in the penultimate scene of the series. Julia is shown to be covered in a white light. This light is reminiscent of the divine light that is cast upon a soul that is ready to ascend to heaven. She tells Spike that "It's all a dream." Spike is shown reflected back in Julia's eye. He glumly concurs with her. Spike is then completely engulfed by a blinding white light. It is now day and Spike is smiling. It appears as if the white light continues to shine over the syndicate. Spike points a finger gun at the remaining syndicate goons and says "bang". This is a callback to Wen from session 6. As Wen was dying he asked Spike if he understood the relief that came with one's own death. In response, Spike threw Wen's harmonica up in the air, pretended to shoot it while saying "bang", but then said "as if". When Spike says "bang" this time he is acknowledging that he now understands that relief. Spike falls to the ground. He is never shown moving again. White doves were shown flying by Julia when she died, and white doves are shown flying over Spike's motionless body. The camera follows what appears to be the ascension of a soul into the heavens, while "Blue" plays. The song's lyrics allude to a soul ascending into heaven. Free Wanna be free Gonna be free And move among the stars You know, they really aren't so far Feels so free Gotta know free Please Don't wake me from the dream It's really everything it seems I'm so free No black and white in the blue Everything is clearer now Life is just a dream, you know That's never-ending I'm ascending A star goes out but never falls. In session 13, Laughing Bull said that a falling star is “a pitiful soul” who could not find his way to the lofty realm where the great spirit awaits us all. Indicating that the soul it belonged to has made its way to the great spirit that awaits us all. That soul has broken away from the cycle of death and rebirth and is never coming back. As was foreshadowed would happen to Spike in the fable of the tiger striped cat. Spike went to a better place and he is never coming back.

Saddest part of the anime is when it’s over knowing we’ll never have another anime like this

The message I’ve always gotten from Bebop is to not chase the past and focus on the present because chasing the past only brings pain. Rather than enjoying what they have now and living with their new family, every character continually pursues past grievances, conflicts, etc. at the cost of their present and they all suffer for it. They all lose their happiness because they keep trying to return to a time that no longer exists and they pay for it dearly. It costs them basically everything: their actions completely fracture the family and camaraderie they’ve built up, and they all end up worse off in comparison to where they started. It’s not about moving forward necessarily but enjoying what you have now. It’s basically a kids show for adults.

when Ein and Ed left... I knew the next episodes were gonna be a million times more hurtful

Character analysis: 7:02 Jet Black 9:21 Faye Valentine 11:23 Ed & Ein 12:33 Spike Spiegel

I feel for Faye in that moment when Spike leaves for the last time. When I was a teen, I was thinking that she had feelings for him and that's why she was so upset. But tbh watching it as an adult I realized something. Even though it was never said, they were BEST FRIENDS. Spike was the first man in her short memory that didn't want, expect, or try to take anything from her. And yet still lowkey cared about her. Romantic feelings or no, imagine being in her place and watching him walk away knowing he might die. Also, you did leave out the fact that Julia never showed because Vicious found out about them leaving together. She was Vicious' girl! She was cheating on him with Spike. He gave her an ultimatum. Stay and I'll spare you both, leave and I'll kill Spike. She had to betray Spike to save him and he never knew.

The bitter tragedy of Cowboy Bebop: there will be a live action remake

After watching it and finding out that no other anime comes close to how good it is, it has truly left a void in my heart. It is an epic masterpiece that stands tall amongst the greatest anime of all time. With its richly imaginative world, complex characters, and thrilling storylines, it has captured the hearts and minds of viewers across the globe.

From what I remember, the series creator said himself that he never explicitly confirmed whether Spike really died or not, purposefully leaving it somewhat ambiguous.

I just watched Cowboy Bebop for the first time and wow just wow. I can see why it's a classic and after finishing it (and shedding a few tears) I instantly wanted to go back and rewatch it. Hell of a show... see you space cowboy

This man says "VHS tape" as if one of conflicts of that episode was that it in fact was not a VHS tape

Having dealt with deep depression & suicidal thoughts, & trying to pull myself out of that hole, I've been doubling down on my view of the ending as the tragic tale of a man who died for a memory because he couldn't see that the life he had built for himself was real, that it had value & meaning. Thinking of it as Spike going to protect Jet & Faye in addition to avenging Julia... I don't know. But it's better than the view that Spike's life had no value without Julia & him dying to be with her is the real happy ending that I keep being hounded with. I simply refuse to believe that a show so clearly about dealing with & moving on from your past ends with that kinda message.

It's been 20ys and i still cry when i watch it..The older i get, the more i relate..

I literally just finished watching this series with my wife. It was my 100th time watching the series, and her first, and when Hard Luck Woman ended, I had a face full of tears and ended up saying exactly what you say to describe the beauty of that scene. Ed leaving the ship is one of the most beautiful and tear-jerking scenes that has ever been written. When you notice every detail, and take the characters' actions seriously, it is an absolute gem for the veteran viewer. -Knowing this is the eve of the final 2-part episode, knowing she's really gone and that pinwheel is her farewell gift, -Seeing Ein's truly heartbreaking decision play out after coming to understand just how intelligent he really is in the very previous episode (when he hacks the brain-dream better than Ed), -Knowing that Ed is meaningfully following the advice of Fey, whom she has looked up to all season long in a way Fey's character wouldn't even understand (Fey literally just spews a knee-jerk piece of advice, "gotta find a place you belong", trying to be shallowly grandstanding despite the fact that she is stating the very core of her character arch in a way that sounds like she doesn't really believe it yet, and Ed takes it seriously because Fey is the role model she chooses to look to understand how the world works.) The single best female-to-female character interaction I've ever seen. -And seeing just how deeply it cuts the two stoic men she leaves in her wake, -All topped off with the followup of Fey not even understanding that Ed left and she's only contributing to the abandonment even more by trying to play it cool. It is all so beautiful, and it is more than anything a complete surprise because Ed comes across as such a meaningless character on the surface. She's the kid character who tags along to be annoying, right? No, the more you watch her the more you understand her depth, and the more the sight of her goodbye message crushes your heart. Not to mention the power of that song carrying the viewer through the emotional plummet. Absolute perfection.

Didn't the creator make a point to say that there is no confirmation that Spike is dead or alive? I personally believe he is alive because only one shooting star was seen after Spike and Vicious's fight and it's certain that Vicious died.

AOT Fandom claiming they have the most tragic series in anime Meanwhile Cowboy Bebop: * laughs in "See You, Space Cowboy..." *

I appreciate videos like this. I just finished the show and for some reason I am not that great at picking up on these nuances and unspoken themes (Spike and Jet demolishing eggs to not cry was another layer to Ed's leaving that would have tipped me over the edge into tears had I realized it), so learning these story threads after the fact is a good replacement for the emotional impact I desperately want but miss out on since I don't notice them right away. Great show.

I just finished Cowboy Bebop and now I’m suffering from the depression of a good anime coming to an end. To cope with this emotion I usually watch one of your videos (if you have one on that specific anime). But man it’s so fucking emotional when an anime like Bebop ends. I guess that shows that it succeeded in affecting emotions. Man I’m just rambling I just need someone to vent my anime depression on lmao

When you’re 30 years old and rewatched it again cause you felt lonely and depressed only to come out more lonely and depressing

God dayum. I just realised the aimlessness of the series is meant to make you feel how the characters feel. Aimless.

People sleep on this because the art style while this is my favorite era of anime art style

The series that we see is actually the epilogue to the main story. And that is why it's so sad.

The aggressive eating scene you mentioned at the beginning is probably one of my favorite scenes in ANYTHING, it's so simple and yet conveys sooo much, without any dialogue, just the simple fact of them acknowledging that Ed and possibly Faye arent coming back by starting to eat from their plates too, its just so good

I remember watching this video almost 3 years ago when it came out after rewatching cowboy bebop again. I never understood the themes inside the show so much until I stopped to pay attention. I thought my life was horrible 3 years ago but it got worse. You really don't know what you have until it's gone and cowboy bebop is like a grownup life lesson in learning to live with the pain of regret and loss. Rest in peace Mom. 9/16/1957-7/9/2020. I miss you.

Spike mentioned to Faye that after he lost his eye in an accident he sees the past in it and the present in the other. Spike lost his left eye. When Spike says his final word "bang" you can see that his left eye is bloody and permanently closed.. Signifying he is finally free from his past. And finally dies (awakens from his dream)

The feeling this show gives me is the same as evangelion. That depression bro. That loathing. Bit by bit the shows entire vibe changes to a darker tone until the end hits. The shows are similar in a way. No wonder these 2 are among the greatest 90s anime

When I was 10 years old, I use to sleep to this show, and I bought the blue ray of the complete episodes four weeks ago, and I have to say, they don't make animes like this anymore

I just keep convincing myself that Cowboy Bebop the movie comes after the series, where the crew find Spike at the end of the series and decided to stick together. It’s the only way I can keep myself from a meltdown when it concerns this awsome anime.

The only show I never skip the intro. This show is such a masterpiece.

Yo! Spike is alive. He said he wasn't there to die so we ought to trust him

A masterpiece: heart breaking song, characters silently staring at a graffiti, stuffing their faces with eggs so they don't cry.. Contemporary shows: INNER MONOLOG: "IT WAS IN THAT MOMENT, THAT I, SPIKE, REALIZED THAT A CREW MEMBER, FEMALE SMALL CHILD

i actually almost cried when ed left. if you think about it, ed will probably never know that spike is dead too.

I grew up in just the right time to love Cowboy Bebop. It is still without a doubt my favorite anime ever.

Man, I can see why Keanu was going to be cast as spike in the live action movie

Just started this anime yesterday & I finished it today & I have to say it has definitely moved up to my top 5 fav animes ever. It was just so good from beginning to end , I did tear when Ein and Ed left. So damn amazing

After each episode the ending theme reminded me of how tragic the life can be in this show and the ending didn't disappoint, it ended the dream and we must carry that weight, the weight of our past and live in the present. Masterpiece 10/10

Just finished it for the first time and I wasn't ready to watch this video. I still haven't healed

Man, I constantly forget that Cowboy Bebop's original recorded language is Japanese. English just works too well for such a multi-cultural world and cast.

I think Edward got the most closure, she lives with her dad and she still has ein

Just the intro had me in tears remembering. I have yet to start my anime addiction but Cowboy Bebop hit me harder than anything I’ve ever seen, including Interstellar

"Also: DoN'T LeaVe THiNGS iN THe FuCKiNG FRiDGe!" I didn't have nightmares, but i wouldn't be surprised if someone else did because the episode was absolutely terrifying.

Whenever i hear anything from bebop i feel sad, depressed. And as time passes i think i better understand it. “Like it or not time goes on”. Im almost thirty now and struggling to carry my past. Anyway thank you man. It was such a great video!

Wait, I thought it was never confirmed that Spike was actually dead but rather in some Schrödinger's cat state where the ending is left up to interpretation. Nonetheless great analysis.

I know what’s coming each time I rewatch it, but knowing doesn’t make it any less heart wrenching.

rewatched this again. still good years later. great video.

Cowboy Bebop is one of the very few animes where the Dub is superior to the sub, it just fits the characters so well, and the casting was spectacular.

Don't know what was more sad Ed & Ein leaving the crew or Faye outlining rooms in the ruins & trying to fit in it or Julia dying on Spike's arms & asking it's all a dream....

Brilliant analysis! Awesome!

I miss videos like this. I remember watching this several years ago and i used to see these video essays all over the place, nowadays i'm left to look to older videos that actually make you think.

"It can be easy to enter a sort of trance, and go through the repetitive motions of living... even though you don't really feel alive." Yep, that about sums it up for me.

Jet's nickname in the ISSP was "the black dog." (Because he never let go, he says.)

Still the best and most anti-typical anime show out there. I completely love it for that reason alone. I seriously miss this era of anime.

It is obvious that you have a love for the series. And depth of thought. You mention several things I never thought of, in the series. Many thanks

The way they set up the Ed and Ein part was beautiful. The hope that Ein was going to get Ed back and then realizing that he was leaving too, that sad part didn't hit like a truck. It was more like venom getting injected to my veins and then stopping my heart.

No anime can compare to the feeling Cowboy Bebop gives you, idk if it’s just me and my bipolar but I was depressed for multiple days afterwards

That was a really good breakdown, I've seen a couple of other people post videos on this anime but I think you and I were affected the same way by it. GAH, I wish I knew what to do with my life now that I finished the show. Guess I'll have to carry that weight

Watching this in 2021 and i’d like to thank you for breaking the show down. I now see some things i missed and now i’m more attached to the show

I watched this show when I was 7/8. I cried in my room for 3 days

"..as you grow older, you'll have entirely new perspective.." true that.

I think one of the sadest parts of the show for me, was when faye drew a bed (or something) on the ground in her old home and layed there, knowing that her old life is gone, and she was having flashbacks (from what i remember) its kinda like playing an old minecraft world that you had with your friends, then coming back to it years later eith that empty feeling. Idk why i used that as an example lol. This show is great.

Great explication. 20 years I have remembered the title with the unforgettable music, now I finally get a closure on the meaning of the characters' story arcs.

The scenes of Ed leaving the Bebop puts tears in my eyes every damn time.

Beautiful video and I loved revisiting Bebop with you. BUT I think you overlooked Ed. I think Ed WAS also trapped by her past. She stayed with the Bebop crew to accommodate her abandonment issues, and left because of them. Faye had told people prior (I think in Jupiter Jazz) that she left first so others couldn't leave her. After Ed's father left, she abandoned the Bebop to keep them from abandoning her. Ed was the one character who I felt never truly faced her past, but still seems to be bound by it, not ready to move past her abandonment issues.

Bravo! This is probably the best interpretation of this complex show I've seen on RU-vid, thx

this is the type of media that changes how you look at life and you wish you could watch it for the first time again.

Faye chased her past, spike couldn’t escape it.

Amazing video Soul, Cowboy Bebop will always be one of my all time favorites and it's awesome to see you talking about it. Keep it up, these new videos are fire!

Needed that first few minutes, thank you.

love this analysis