[.ca] Cowboy Bebop, 4th Session

From Amazon.com:
Director Shinichiro Watanabe and writer Keiko Nobumoto continue to explore the pasts of the main characters in this gritty, outer-space Western. In "My Funny Valentine," Faye confronts a two-bit confidence man and discovers that her background is as much of a mystery to her as it is to everyone else. "Black Dog Serenade" reunites Jet Black with his former partner at the ISSP (Inter Solar System Police) against Udai Taxim, the criminal whose attack cost Jet his left arm. This dark, violent tale of betrayal, discovery, and revenge offers both surprises and insights. In the silly "Mushroom Samba," the Bebop is out of fuel, and everyone's broke and hungry. Ed goes off to search for something to eat, and gets involved in the pursuit of a seedy mushroom dealer. "Speak Like a Child" showcases the sardonic humor that has won Cowboy Bebop fans on both sides of the Pacific. A mysterious package arrives C.O.D. for Faye that contains an ancient artifact--a Beta videocassette! Spike and Jet ransack a ruined museum on Earth to find a player; when they finally view the tape, they see a young girl cheering her future self, a girl who looks curiously like Faye... Unrated: Suitable for ages 13 and older for nudity, violence, and adult situations. --Charles Solomon

Mushroom Hunting!:
I am really begining to repeat myself. This is another wonderful addition to the Bebop DVDs. Episode 15:My Funny Valentine: An episode that many fans of Bebop have been waiting for. We finally get to know a bit about Faye's past I am not going to go into this episode because. The viewer needs to experience it for themselves. Episode 16: This is one of the most brurtal episodes in the Cowboy Bebop series. The viewer finally finds out what happened to Jet's arm. We are also introduced to a character Named Udai Takim. A cold-hearted assassin from Jet's past. Takim is probably one of my favorite minor characters in the series. His character design is awesome, and the pure skill he shows in battle is brilliant. We also meet Jet's old partnet, Fad. Episode 17: Very funny episode. The Bebop gang has run out of food, and after a hit and run accident they land on a desert planet. Ed is sent out to find some food and runs into a man named Domino. When a man shows up, threatening Domino, because the man's brother died eatting a mushroom he purchased form Domino. Domino runs away, dropping a few mushrooms. Ed takes these back to the Bebop, and the crew eats them, and very strange things take place. Bonsai telling the secrets of the universe, Fish in the bathroom, and a frog warning Spike that he is on the Stairway to Heaven. Must be seen to appreciate. Episode 18: The problems start when a package arrives at the Bebop. When confronted by the package, Faye runs away, think that it might be something from the collection agency. Of course Spike opens the package, and inside is a beta tape. An interesting episode. We get to see a 20th century media otaku, and we also learn more about Faye's past, or do we really we actually only see a bit of her past, but there are no answers for Faye of the Viewer. Great DVD check it out.

Life is but a dream...:
You have to respect a director Shinichiro Watanabe for refusing to turn out a vanilla 'rogues in space' series. A bit like Joss Whedon, he lulls the viewer into a comfort zone and then gives the rug a firm yank. Suddenly wide-eyed we are replaying the episode trying to see how it was done. Sometimes the stories are poignant, sometimes they are tough, and sometimes they are hysterically funny, but they are never dull and repetitious. As you will see, all the characters have pasts that keep replaying. Both Faye and Jet get their opportunities on this DVD. Our lady of dubious ethics shares hers (her story, not her ethics) with Ein the data dog. Life, for Faye, is both longer, and shorter, than you might think. Then Jet finds himself back in the middle of a case he thought was closed. We discover that one reason he lost his arm is that he never lets go. Then, leaving the starving Bebop to find food, Ed suddenly turns into a master bounty hunter in a quest for a lunch where one side unexpectedly makes you small. The last episode is the one that completely sideswipes the viewer. Bits of Faye's history keep showing up COD. When an old Beta video tape shows up Jet and Spike go on a snipe hunt that produces an instant replay. Am I being evasive? Yes. You will appreciate why. There is simply nothing here to dislike. If the series never got any better it is already one of the best I have seen. Of course, I have a suspicion that Watanabe has a few more tricks up his sleeve before the series comes to an end.

A set of episodes that shows why we like "Cowboy Bebop"!:
At this point in the outstanding series known as "Cowboy Bebop", I'm sure the creators had decided that it was time to take the spotlight off Spike for a moment and let the viewers get to know the other three main characters Jet, Faye, and Ed (four if you count Ein). After the wonderful two-part "Jupiter Jazz", which dug a little deeper into Spike's past, it's now time for us to see exactly who the other crewmembers of the Bebop are and what secrets they possess. Of all the other crewmembers, Session 4 concentrates more on the beautiful yet independent Faye Valentine, using two episodes to show us that while she has good looks and a way of getting what she wants, she doesn't have any memories of her past. While "My Funny Valentine" reveals a little bit about Faye's past, "Speak Like A Child" truly conveys how emotional it can be to be severed from something you once owned and lost due to forces out of your control. The other two episodes focus on Jet Black and Edward. "Blackdog Serenade" shows a dark moment in Jet's past and a shocking revelation along the way. "Mushroom Samba", while not a flashback episode, shows us why many people have fallen in love with Edward with the episode's unique and often ridiculous yet undeniably hilarious story. Like before, "Cowboy Bebop" shows off its unique charm that only it can pull off. Character development is in abundance in Session 4, and yet it never gets boring or overdone; we care for the characters, we want them to succeed. And mixed in with blood-boiling action and over-the-top humor, the series has yet to fall from the grace it has built for itself. Everything technical about the series still remains as perfect as before. The animation is as slick as ever, and Yoko Kanno's excellent music refuses to offer any signs of getting old. To top it off, the dub remains one of the best in the industry, making the anime accessible to all who refuse to watch the Japanse track. All in all, Session 4 leaves its own mark on the stylish anime series and maintains the level of quality we've come to expect. There's not a single dull episode in the series thus far, and thanks to the wonderful story direction we cannot help but move on and see what new adventures await the crew of the Bebop. To anime fans and action fans in general, "Cowboy Bebop" is and remains a must-see.

A must see!:
This is one of the best(possibly even the best) animes ever made! Every anime fanatic really should see this! I highly reccomend DVD 4! The funniest episode is Mushroom Samba!

4th is da Bomb!!:
In the 4th session -- THEY'RE OUTTA FOOD!! In "My Funny Valentine", a little bit more is revealed about Faye's shrouded past. Things get weird when she's reunited with an old friend. Jets gotta kick some outlaw hind in "Black Dog Serenade", when he and an old partner hammer down on some renegade criminals. This episode is tight!! Everyone is high in "Mushroom Samba". Jet's talkin' to his plants,Spike is on the stairway to heaven, and Faye is swimmin' in the toilet. It's up to Ed to stop the bad guys and get some food. Faye's past keeps coming together in "Speak Like a Child",when Spike and Jet come across a 20th Century(VERY rare)VHS. Overall, this session is a good one to just kick back and relax to. It's really funny too.