Usually speaking, animated classics are best left alone, for the live action versions seldom reach the same level as it's animated original.
Rarely though, one actually manageds to reach that same level of brilliance, and one of these is the Netflix live action adaptation of that classic animated multi genre space western: Cowboy Bebop.
Cowboy Bebop only loosely follows the anime, many characters are similar, and some plotlines are repeated, but overal, it can and does stand alone. I have watched the anime (several times even) and I can assure you that you can go into this not having a single clue what this is about.
The series does not, as the name suggest, revolve around a cowboy named Bebop. It refers to the fact that interstellar bounty hunters are nicknamed cowboys and the ship of this particular crew is called the Bebop. This initial two man crew: Jet Black and Spike Spiegal, are cliché as it sounds, men on the run for their past and making a living apprehending bad guys for the fare. With limited succes. Add in Faye Valentine, a con-girl with a spotty past (literally) and a corgi, and you get a bunch of misfits that roam human inhabited planets fighting evil, trying to find love and often literally, themselves.
It sounds corny, but it WORKS! The music is fantastic, and very true to that of the original anime (sadly only available via the Amazon music subscription, which is a crime against music lovers everywhere) and mostly Film Noir style Jazz. Noir is an element that weaves throughout the entire series, which can best be described as as a neo-noir sci-fi western. It's genre mixing and bending, and it does so very well. It's at the same time gritty and bright, with slow burns and fast moving action sequences.
Of course it has its flaws, the fight scenes can look a little fake and stiff, and some of the acting isn't that great. The villain is a pretty bland predictable psychopath with a sword. Obviously, going off the OG anime Vicious is the obvious choice, espicially for how season one unfolds, but it still doesn't make him a good villain, try as the actor portraying him may. At his best moments he looks like the psychotic younger brother of Lucius Malfoy (literally) without any of that sleazy charm that Malfoy senior is so beloved for.
Another drawback is the fact that they waited till the actual epilogue to introduce fan-favourite Radical Edward. Of course, the fact that Ed did show up, even at the brink of the ending (potentially literally because the show has not been renewed for a second season as I write this) may be a sign for season 2. The show certainly ends on a point where it could be an ending, but personally I hope we haven't seen the last of the Bebop and it's motley crew.
And minor spoiler for those who missed it: yes, Ein is with Ed. So superdog is in good hands :).
And yes, I know a lot of people HATE the Netflix adaptation, but I LOVED it. So much its a little ridiculous. Its probably my favourite anime adaptation to date, so there you go.
See you Space Cowboy!
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