Cowboy Bebop (2021) Review

Doesn’t matter if the audience is into anime, they are going to find it great. Everything about this live action adaptation is awesome. There is something so unique about these characters and the plot. Making a live action adaptation of this popular anime was risky but definitely marks success for Netflix.

This 10 episode first season executed the plot and builds the characters so well. The series is an action-packed space Western following three bounty hunters who are each trying to make sense of their dissimilar pasts while hunting space’s most dangerous criminals. Together, Spike Speigel (John Cho), Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir), and Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda) form the crew whose episodic adventures lead them to very strange and humorous places. Ultimately testing their bond when faced with individuals from their past lives.

The stakes for Netflix were high. They had to execute the uniqueness and coolness from the anime to make it really work. And without a doubt they were successful. The opening credits are incredible. The dialogue, action, pacing, editing, everything is over the top. This is definitely one of, if not, the best adaptations of all time. The world feels real and lived in where every character has a part in building everything around them. Speaking of the characters, they really hold the emotional weight highlighting that these casting choices were brilliant.

For someone who has to be a huge fan of the anime, they found a way to make this all work really well.

Netflix perfectly captures the essence of the original anime while adding their own dash of uniqueness in there too. I’m not a huge anime fan, but this adaptation worked so well for me. Even the new fans who aren’t even anime fans will still love this. This is a very enjoyable experience where the audience will find humor, action, drama and heart and hopefully will want more.

The Cowboy Bebop Live Action series will debut on Netflix November 19th, 2021