[.ca] Cowboy Bebop, 1st Session

Additional Features:
This DVD contains three more episodes from the imaginative and satisfying series that combines several genres, à la Blade Runner. Faye Valentine, the spunky, soon-to-be partner of Spike and Jet, is introduced in "Honky Tonk Women." Spike meets her in a giant casino where the most valuable item is a special poker chip. Faye and Spike cross paths again in "Gateway Shuffle," which starts with an eco-terrorist group going berserk and ends with an exciting race through space. Though plucky and resourceful in a Princess Leia type of way, Faye is nevertheless a bit too giggly (figuratively and literally), preventing a wider audience; the series is squarely in the shonen (for boys) anime scheme. The series' strong stories, mixture of bounty hunter and private eye themes, and outer space setting are dazzling, especially when fueled by the jazzy riffs of the soundtrack, creating a look and sound unlike any other anime series. Yoko Kanno's music is a key element in "Ballad of Fallen Angels," which lets us gain insight into Spike's mysterious past. Two set pieces are done entirely to counterbalanced music--an onstage aria sung to an action sequence and a dazzling flashback finale. An episode guide, character introductions, and a music clip of the catchy title number is also on this DVD. --Doug Thomas

Amazon.com Essential Video:
Each of these two snazzy 20-minute installments is a self-contained and satisfying adventure tale about a futuristic hipster bounty hunter, from the most popular Japanese animated TV series of 1998. This is elegant action-comedy anime, with smoothly integrated CGI space-flight elements, gorgeous graphics, blues harmonica and sax riffs on the soundtrack, and a no-sweat post-Tarantino attitude. Despite occasional eruptions of gun-fu Asian-action violence, and some intimations of heavy-duty drug use (one especially noxious narcotic is administered as an aerosol spray, straight onto the user's eyeballs), the tone is surprisingly convivial. None of the generic tough elements are grim or mean-spirited. Lanky antihero Spike Spiegel is a planet-hopping freelance cop with a cyborg sidekick and a genetically enhanced Welsh Corgi assistant, and as many wisecracks as punches get thrown. The emphasis is on clever twists of plot in an episodic short-story format. --David Chute

There are no words...:
To describe it's brilliance. I've tried many times, but every time my description comes up short. I've already done a review for the whole set (a great Amazon exclusive I highly recommend instead of purchasing one at a time). I'm just gonna go episode by episode. If you want Char bios, take a look at one of the other 100+ reviews here, I don't waste space. 1: Asteroid Blues: Series opening, quick glimpse into Spike's past, then normal episode. One of the finer moments is when Spike beats up a bad guy while he is on a performance enhancing drug (great first hand-to-hand combat scene). I'm trying not to ruin the episode, so just watch it. 2: Stray Dog Strut: Ein-isode, where the little data-dog is introed. Good Enter-the-Dragonish pretences and whatnot, as well as the funny comment "Seems that way", and showing that scientists may be geniuses, but are also stupid sometimes. 3: Honky Tonk Women: Faye-isode, introing the Queen of Hearts, a con artist and general scoundrel. Wonderful space-combat and pretty funny plot, letting Faye come out on top for once. 4: Gateway Shuffle: Mainly a normal episode, with little meaning and interest. I personally think it's the worst in the series (though still better than any episode of Trigun). The only thing this sets up is that Jet has connections in the ISSP (Stellar Police) 5: Ballad of Fallen Angels: Spike-isode, the first of many, showing a bit more of the coolness seen in the beginning of Asteroid Blues. It seems Spike used to be a mob hitman along side Vicious, a wicked alter ego and obvious antagonist. When you see Spike don a trenchcoat, you will be hitting one of the coolest scenes in all of cinema, especially because of tone, lighting, and music. I am currently looking into getting the soundtrack of the series just because of the end of this episode. All together, this is probably the best of the DVDs, although I think it's solely because of Episode 5. The extras aren't wonderful, but you're getting an extra episode for your cash. While I say it's the best DVD, if the series isn't complete, it's not worth buying. I still suggest you buy the full set (you can get there via a review I did by clicking on my name above). If you want to find out more about the 6 DVDs in this series, or how it measures up to the horrible-yet-staunchly-defended Trigun, click on my name and read my other reviews.

The beginning.:
Cowboy Bebop is without a doubt one of the best, if not the best Anime series out there, and this is where it all begins. It follows two bounty hunters, Spike and Jet, who search for bounties in order to keep themselves fed. This first disc contains the first five episodes and mark the first appearances of Spike, Jet, Faye, Ein and Vicious (Ed's first appearance was in episode 9 "Jamming with Edward", which is on Session 2). If you haven't checked out Cowboy Bebop yet, now would be a better time than never to do so.

Prepare to be blown away:
Cowboy Bebop..where to start? Do I start with the gripping action scenes? The melancholy love scenes/flashbacks? The varitey of music, from soft jazz tunes to fast-paced bluegrass? I could start and tell you that this is a beautiful anime. It is definatley a masterpiece in it's time, and should be considered more than just a "mainstream anime" such as Yugioh and Pokemon. Oh, much more my friend. This anime is beyond words. I can't even describe the wonderfulness we all know as Cowboy Bebop. Here is a breif storyline. Spike Spiegel was a member of a famous crime syndicate called the Red Dragon. Him and his friend, Vicious, were both in love with a woman named Julia. Spike decided to leave the syndicate, sick of the death and the life he led. He asked Julia to go with him, but she refused, because she cared for herself more than him. Vicious told her that if she left with Spike, he would kill her. So now, Vicious sends Julia on a mission to Kill Spike. This story only occurs in flashbacks, but is VERY importaint to the stoyline, for SPike has encounters with his past more than once, and almost dosent make it through these encounters. Later on, Spike sees himself as "dead." Dead to the Syndicate, killed by the woman he loved.The year is 2075, three years after he left the syndicate. He joins up with Jet Black, a former cop with the ISSP. Later on comes the Gambling Femme Fatale, Faye Valentine who has lost her memory due to cyrogenic freezing after the hyperspace gate exploded, destroying much life on earth, and forcing people to colonize on planets and moons. Also, Ein the Data dog, and everyone's favorite, Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky the 4th(She named herself). Ed is the 13-year-old girl hacker genius who is off the wall, and completley strange! Everybody loves Ed!(if not they are completley annoyed by her.)This wacky,insane bounty hunting crew is to make history, a new genre in itself which shall be called : COWBOY BEBOP

By far the best animation to come out in a while:
There are only a few animated shows that I would call a favorite of mine; The Simpsons, Southpark, Invader Zim these all pushed the boundries of what you can do with animation as a whole. I can add to this small list in fact I can put at the top of the List Cowboy Bebop. now you may not be able to tell by my chosen shows listed earlyer but I am a devoted anime fan. But never did I find one that could speak to me like this. It is quite possibly my favorite show of all time. It has every thing that is needed to be a great show. It has comedy, violence, a genious plot, thought provoking theories, genuinly likable charachters (my favorite is the incredibly hot Faye Valentine), and some of the most in depth backstories I've ever heard. I will admit I didn't have high hopes for this series at first due to a slow first two episodes at which nothing of any relevance happens but by the third episode I felt like doubting this series was like commiting blasphemy. It tells the tale of Bounty hunter Spike, expolice officer Jet, the casino cheating feme fatal Faye, the greatest haker ever Ed, and a spunky data dog named Ein. They travel in a fishing ship converted to a space ship looking for just at least enough bounty money to eat if nothing else. This is by far one of the best series to show on American television in 5 years it should not be missed. Don't care how you watch it just make sure you do.

...:
Since I'm so nice,I'll review these DVDs individually. If you haven't heard of Cowboy Bebop,and you like anime,you must be living under a rock or something.It's just great.Awesome animation,memorable characters,awesome music,great action..Look at any of the other reviews. Now,for the episodes. The first episode on the disk is about spike tracking down a drug dealer.Well paced,and There's a great fight scene. 8/10 The second episode.The introduction of the greatest character ever!Ein the dog!Funny episode.The entire thing is basically just a chase.8/10. Third episode-introduction of Faye.I hate Faye.But it's a great episode.A little confusing if you don't pay attention though.Great space-fight-thing near the end.8/10. Fourth.I really like this episode for some reason.I can't be bothered to remember the plot.The last scene is cool.Faye's reaction to the cluster missile was hilarious. And the final episode...Just... 10/10. yeah.Buy.