Bebop

[ltgmars]

Ignoring Claire's age-old assertion that because it's spelled "bebop" it needs to be pronounced "buh-BOP", I'm rewatching the series with the apartmentmates. And there's no doubt that it's pretty overrated, but that doesn't make it any less incredible and fun to watch for me. I've always enjoyed the series on a variety of levels, and it's just as fun introducing it to new people.

Forgive me for choosing one of the most overused scenes in the entire series, but it's really a moving and breathtaking moment from one of my favorite episodes of any anime I've ever seen. Any criticisms of the series aside (most of which I've heard from other people and may not necessarily agree with) -- whether it's the lack of cohesion or the "filler episodes" or the ending or the execution of the series itself -- episode 5 is fantastically well done. There are some other episodes in the series that I find just as poetic and artistic and touching, but seeing as this is our first real glance at Spike, within the context of his character as he has developed over time and as he develops throughout the rest of the series, this episode is particularly special to me. Add in the poignant soundtrack and the fluid animation and the perfectly muted colors and the church and the rain and the threads spun between the individual characters, and you've got an episode that I've never, ever gotten over.

And yeah, I'm one of those kids who gets emotional about anime. It happens, you know, and when everything is orchestrated just the way it needs to be orchestrated in order to really put a hold on you, then there's nothing you can do to avoid it.

Looking forward to watching the rest of the series. Hopefully the newbies are enjoying it, at least a little bit.