TiVo Community Forums Archives - Firefly & Cowboy Bebop

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Firefly & Cowboy Bebop - Compare and Contrast?
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Posted by: johnjohn

So on the last weekend of 2002, I watched an episode of Cowboy Bebop for the first time. I can tell you exactly why I've never done so before: I thought it was a show aimed at teenage girls, something like the powerpuff thingees (having not seen that show either, that might be a bad example). At any rate, I read a summary, and the opertive words seemed to be "bounty hunter," so I thought I'd check an episode out.

Nothing to jump up and down about, though it did remind me a bit of "Firefly." So I was hoping that someone who had seen both shows could tell me how far off base I am in that surface comparison. I know there's a serious cult following, but who is the show aimed at? I'd rather not get sucked into watching a kiddee show, as I'm a big boy now. Intelligent writing, smart dialog, snappy jokes .... these are the things I'm looking for.

That might sound overly macho or stuffy, and certainly doesn't fit into my "Gilmore Girls" or "Everwood" viewership, but give me a break ok?

Ummm... anyway, I think what I'm asking is, "Is Cowboy Bebop better than it's silly name?"

Posted by: tivospav

Cowboy Bebop is one of the best anime series I've watched. Like Firefly they tool around on a ship looking for work, they are broke most of the time, and are all really interesting characters. I highly recommend Cowboy Bebop to anyone.

The silly name thing: Cowboy is for the cowboy nature of the bounty hunters (Space Cowboy is used frequently to refer to the main character Spike), and Bebop is the name of the ship they're on. Hence the name, I too was put off by the name, but no longer am...TiVo it :)

Posted by: Fleegle

Actually, I got the impression that Cowboy was a nickname for any Bounty Hunter on this show.

Personally, I think the music is what makes Cowboy Bebop as good as it is. Although, I lthink it also has one of the best English dubs I've ever heard. From what I understand, there are alot of Anime geeks who prefer the English track to the original Japanese one.

Posted by: dcheesi

This show is definitely not kiddie fare. While some storylines are humorous, others are darkly poignent and sophisticated. It's like one of those old gumshoe detective novels, except it doesn't always take itself so seriously.

The Firefly comparison is remarkably accurate; I'm surprised I hadn't thought of it myself. The crew/heirarchy on Serenity is a bit more coherent, but otherwise they are very similar. They even suffer from the same technical flaw: if these people can't even afford food or spare parts, where do they get the money for all that spaceship fuel?!

Posted by: stormsweeper

quote:
Originally posted by dcheesi

The Firefly comparison is remarkably accurate; I'm surprised I hadn't thought of it myself. The crew/heirarchy on Serenity is a bit more coherent, but otherwise they are very similar. They even suffer from the same technical flaw: if these people can't even afford food or spare parts, where do they get the money for all that spaceship fuel?!

At one point the Bebop does run out of fuel, towards the end of the series.

Also, in the pilot for "Firefly" they do worry about fuel quite a bit.

There's a lot of similarities, sure. I'd be willing to bet Cowboy Bebop (which has been on video since at least 2000) was a big influence on Firefly.

Posted by: Fleegle

quote:
Originally posted by stormsweeper
At one point the Bebop does run out of fuel, towards the end of the series.

Also, in the pilot for "Firefly" they do worry about fuel quite a bit.

There's a lot of similarities, sure. I'd be willing to bet Cowboy Bebop (which has been on video since at least 2000) was a big influence on Firefly.

I've also seen influences come from Outlaw Star. Most notably, River being transported in suspended animation in a big crate, just like Melfina.

Speaking of Cowboy Bebop, though, I want to know just what a "Data Dog" is. They never explained Ein enough for me...

Posted by: Chris Roberts

I'm a big Cowby Bebop fan (and of anime in general). I do recall Joss Whedon saying at one point he liked anime and seeing this topic come up in an anime forum before. I believe the final consensus was that his show was influenced by a few anime's.

I highly recommend anyone who hasn't seen it to watch a couple episodes of Cowboy Bebop. Its really unlike every other anime show before it and set a new standard when it came out. Great characters, great writing, great animation, and fantastic soundtrack. :-)

Posted by: kiljoy

My girlfriend IS the anime geek you referred to earlier. She has the Cowboy Bebop boxed set, and it's one of the few that I enjoy. The soundtrack is phenominal, and the art is good. One of the better ones.

As a non-anime person, I'd also recommend Lain, which I thoroughly enjoyed (but don't tell her that), and movie-wise, Ghost in the Shell.

Posted by: stormsweeper

quote:
Originally posted by fleegle

Speaking of Cowboy Bebop, though, I want to know just what a "Data Dog" is. They never explained Ein enough for me...

Well, Ein has a special way with computers. As is shown in a later episode.

Posted by: dmdeane

quote:
Originally posted by johnjohn
I know there's a serious cult following, but who is the show aimed at? I'd rather not get sucked into watching a kiddee show, as I'm a big boy now. Intelligent writing, smart dialog, snappy jokes .... these are the things I'm looking for.

That might sound overly macho or stuffy, and certainly doesn't fit into my "Gilmore Girls" or "Everwood" viewership, but give me a break ok?

Too late; you already sound overly macho and stuffy. What do you care what other people think about what kind of TV you watch? You are the only arbiter of what is good for you to watch.

Just get over the hurdle of the "Cowboy Bebop" name already, if you want to watch the show. If you want intelligent writing, smart dialog, snappy jokes, then Cowboy Bebop has it all (well, the jokes are more character oriented than "snappy"...see for example, the episode concerning mushrooms).

Cowboy Bebop is definitely adult oriented, and hardly exclusively aimed at girls (I mean, come on, you should see some of the nearly R-rated pictures of Fay! Yowza!). It is well written, and the English voice actors are excellent.

I'm not a fan of anime, but Cowboy Bebop definitely got me hooked. My only complaint is that the series is so short; it left me wanting more.

Posted by: Otto

Yes, very good show. I bought the 6 DVD Box set.

I still have an extra box set, in fact, if anyone is interested. Unopened.