Top 10 Cowboy Bebop Moments
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VOICE OVER: Ashley Bowman
WRITTEN BY: Alex Crilly-Mckean
See you, Space Cowboy. Join Ashley as we count down our picks for the most iconic moments from what many consider the greatest anime ever, including the likes of "Ed & Ein Leave", "The Ballad of Fallen Angels", "Julia's Death", and more!
Script written by Alex Crilly-Mckean
Top 10 Cowboy Bebop Moments
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we are counting down our picks for the Top 10 Cowboy Bebop Moments.
For this list, we’re counting down the most iconic scenes from the Bebop crew’s many exploits across the stars. Think we left out any of Spike’s slickest showdowns? Make like Ed and comment wildly in the comments.
#10: Spike vs. Mad Pierrot
There are very few people that the famed bounty hunter can’t take down, whether it be with a bullet or a few roundhouse kicks to the face. This bouncing ball of insanity just happens to be the exception to the rule. Despite his round figure and clownish persona, the Mad Pierrot completely decimated Spike on their first encounter. It took a combination of luck, a cat and a giant carnival of robots for Spike to finally deflate the crazed killer. At least it made for a great spectacle.
#9: The Cassette Tape
One of the most fascinating sub plots that was weaved into Bebop’s early days was that of resident femme fatale Faye Valentine and her serious case of amnesia. While she often downplayed it, the truth stood that she was deeply haunted by a past that she can’t remember. Something that’s put on full display when she discovers a cassette that contains a recording of her child-self, making a video message for herself ten years down the line. It’s a quiet revelation, but a hugely profound one at that.
#8: Julia’s Death
There’s only been one woman that has ever earned Spike’s heart, and it was her murder that prompted him to go to war. After spending the whole series looking for the elusive blonde, the two of them are finally reunited in the sweetest of moments. And then, it’s snuffed out with a single bullet. Despite their best efforts to escape, the Red Dragon Syndicate catches up with them, and finds their mark. Dying in the arms of the man she loved, Julia’s death robs Spike of his last light, and instead instils a king-sized death wish.
#7: Ed & Ein Leave
The Bebop crew has and always will be five of the most outlandish, unluckiest, and most lovable characters to ever take up the bounty hunting profession. So, to watch two of its central members call it quits and go their own way was just heart-breaking. While Ed was always the crazy source of comedy, and Ein the fluffy bundle of cuteness, the two still managed to deliver a goodbye scene that devastated us. Deciding to venture out by herself, Ed takes off…in the most typical Ed fashion imaginable. At the very least, she has the galaxy’s greatest doggo by her side.
#6: Spike Invades the Syndicate
With Julia gone, Spike sets down a road of revenge from which there’s no coming back. Straight up walking into the base of the Red Dragon Syndicate, Spike proceeds to lay to waste everything in sight, cutting through underlings like a one-man army. Even with nothing more than a few grenades and a hefty helping of bullets, Spike’s superior skill earns him one hell of a kill count, blasting his way through to the heart of the complex for that all important rematch with Vicious.
#5: The Bebop Crew Gets High
Sometimes you want a little levity between all the assassination, trauma and soul searching, sometimes you just want to see Spike and the gang high off their asses after eating some rather…potent mushrooms. We’re not sure what’s funnier: Jet talking to plants, Faye swimming through an ocean of toilet water, or Spike telling a talking frog to shut up. It’s certainly a bad trip for all involved, but we’re thankful Ed took the initiative and used her crewmates as Guinea pigs.
#4: Spike vs. Vincent
Driven to the fringes of madness due to experimentation, along with extraordinary combat experience, Vincent was very much a dark reflection of what Spike could have become if he went off the rails. While their first slugfest on the train resulted in Spike nearly falling into an early grave, their second encounter was quite possibly one of anime’s best hand to hand fights. With a hellish backdrop, beautifully choreographed moves, and a jazzy soundtrack thumping all throughout, this brawl is the complete package. Vincent may have one hell of a punch, but even he can’t shake off Spike’s feet of fury.
#3: Gren’s Final Journey
Speaking of soundtracks, this one is utterly transcendent. Chronicling Gren’s final moments, Spike pleads for the dying soldier to help him find Julia. While he doesn’t get the answers he seeks, he affords Gren his final wish by taking him up in his ship, all before letting it loose over the moon of Titan. It’s an unexpectedly provoking death scene, one that gave us yet another example of Vicious' cruelty, but also a bittersweet ending to a character desperate to return to a broken past. And again, the music!
#2: Ballad of Fallen Angels
There are church fights, and then there’s THE church fight. With Faye’s life on the line, Spike willingly walks into an ambush, leading to the now legendary shootout between himself, Vicious, and a whole lot of thugs. The build up is monumental, the score hits that operatic sweet spot, and the action is unrelenting. We get a killer example of just how ruthless Spike can be, especially as a marksman. The whole affair may have concluded with him being tossed out a window, but it remains one of the purest examples of Spike’s badassery, as well as his inner darkness.
Before we reveal our number one pic, these honourable mentions are knocking on heaven’s door.
Spike vs. Elektra
Just a Bounty Hunter
Spike vs. Asimov
#1: See You Space Cowboy
Ambiguous, brutal, and perfect, the conclusion to Spike’s rampage, and Cowboy Bebop as a whole, hit all the right notes. The final battle against Vicious proved itself to be a true dance of death, with both former comrades shooting and slicing each other to ribbons. While we may never ultimately know if Spike perished from his wounds, he did send us off with one of the coolest lines in the medium, encapsulating all that he is and ever was in a single word. Cool to the very end.
Top 10 Cowboy Bebop Moments
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we are counting down our picks for the Top 10 Cowboy Bebop Moments.
For this list, we’re counting down the most iconic scenes from the Bebop crew’s many exploits across the stars. Think we left out any of Spike’s slickest showdowns? Make like Ed and comment wildly in the comments.
#10: Spike vs. Mad Pierrot
There are very few people that the famed bounty hunter can’t take down, whether it be with a bullet or a few roundhouse kicks to the face. This bouncing ball of insanity just happens to be the exception to the rule. Despite his round figure and clownish persona, the Mad Pierrot completely decimated Spike on their first encounter. It took a combination of luck, a cat and a giant carnival of robots for Spike to finally deflate the crazed killer. At least it made for a great spectacle.
#9: The Cassette Tape
One of the most fascinating sub plots that was weaved into Bebop’s early days was that of resident femme fatale Faye Valentine and her serious case of amnesia. While she often downplayed it, the truth stood that she was deeply haunted by a past that she can’t remember. Something that’s put on full display when she discovers a cassette that contains a recording of her child-self, making a video message for herself ten years down the line. It’s a quiet revelation, but a hugely profound one at that.
#8: Julia’s Death
There’s only been one woman that has ever earned Spike’s heart, and it was her murder that prompted him to go to war. After spending the whole series looking for the elusive blonde, the two of them are finally reunited in the sweetest of moments. And then, it’s snuffed out with a single bullet. Despite their best efforts to escape, the Red Dragon Syndicate catches up with them, and finds their mark. Dying in the arms of the man she loved, Julia’s death robs Spike of his last light, and instead instils a king-sized death wish.
#7: Ed & Ein Leave
The Bebop crew has and always will be five of the most outlandish, unluckiest, and most lovable characters to ever take up the bounty hunting profession. So, to watch two of its central members call it quits and go their own way was just heart-breaking. While Ed was always the crazy source of comedy, and Ein the fluffy bundle of cuteness, the two still managed to deliver a goodbye scene that devastated us. Deciding to venture out by herself, Ed takes off…in the most typical Ed fashion imaginable. At the very least, she has the galaxy’s greatest doggo by her side.
#6: Spike Invades the Syndicate
With Julia gone, Spike sets down a road of revenge from which there’s no coming back. Straight up walking into the base of the Red Dragon Syndicate, Spike proceeds to lay to waste everything in sight, cutting through underlings like a one-man army. Even with nothing more than a few grenades and a hefty helping of bullets, Spike’s superior skill earns him one hell of a kill count, blasting his way through to the heart of the complex for that all important rematch with Vicious.
#5: The Bebop Crew Gets High
Sometimes you want a little levity between all the assassination, trauma and soul searching, sometimes you just want to see Spike and the gang high off their asses after eating some rather…potent mushrooms. We’re not sure what’s funnier: Jet talking to plants, Faye swimming through an ocean of toilet water, or Spike telling a talking frog to shut up. It’s certainly a bad trip for all involved, but we’re thankful Ed took the initiative and used her crewmates as Guinea pigs.
#4: Spike vs. Vincent
Driven to the fringes of madness due to experimentation, along with extraordinary combat experience, Vincent was very much a dark reflection of what Spike could have become if he went off the rails. While their first slugfest on the train resulted in Spike nearly falling into an early grave, their second encounter was quite possibly one of anime’s best hand to hand fights. With a hellish backdrop, beautifully choreographed moves, and a jazzy soundtrack thumping all throughout, this brawl is the complete package. Vincent may have one hell of a punch, but even he can’t shake off Spike’s feet of fury.
#3: Gren’s Final Journey
Speaking of soundtracks, this one is utterly transcendent. Chronicling Gren’s final moments, Spike pleads for the dying soldier to help him find Julia. While he doesn’t get the answers he seeks, he affords Gren his final wish by taking him up in his ship, all before letting it loose over the moon of Titan. It’s an unexpectedly provoking death scene, one that gave us yet another example of Vicious' cruelty, but also a bittersweet ending to a character desperate to return to a broken past. And again, the music!
#2: Ballad of Fallen Angels
There are church fights, and then there’s THE church fight. With Faye’s life on the line, Spike willingly walks into an ambush, leading to the now legendary shootout between himself, Vicious, and a whole lot of thugs. The build up is monumental, the score hits that operatic sweet spot, and the action is unrelenting. We get a killer example of just how ruthless Spike can be, especially as a marksman. The whole affair may have concluded with him being tossed out a window, but it remains one of the purest examples of Spike’s badassery, as well as his inner darkness.
Before we reveal our number one pic, these honourable mentions are knocking on heaven’s door.
Spike vs. Elektra
Just a Bounty Hunter
Spike vs. Asimov
#1: See You Space Cowboy
Ambiguous, brutal, and perfect, the conclusion to Spike’s rampage, and Cowboy Bebop as a whole, hit all the right notes. The final battle against Vicious proved itself to be a true dance of death, with both former comrades shooting and slicing each other to ribbons. While we may never ultimately know if Spike perished from his wounds, he did send us off with one of the coolest lines in the medium, encapsulating all that he is and ever was in a single word. Cool to the very end.
