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.

Comments

[blackwine.livejournal.com]

I just finished watching Bebop after binging it for three days, all during the time from when I woke up, to almost about when I was going to sleep... Finished it quickly, and silently, but i still loved actually being able to watch it beginning to end.
I have to say that the ending has to be my favorite ending ever. That song is just so beautifully sung by Mai (♥) and it fits so beautifully with the story line.

I dunno what you mean by "lack of cohesion" or any of the other stuff...; then again, I don't watch a lot of anime anymore (mainly because all the anime I love to death no one else understands or knows.;), so I probably didn't pick it up... if it's there. <.<

[sexyturtle.livejournal.com]

I don't understand Claire's logic, but I'm sure that it's in there somewhere. Bebop is an amazing series, and the ending is probably one of the best moments in anime that I've seen.

[iyori.livejournal.com]

Auuuuugh. I am ashamed to admit that i have yet to watch this series which i hear is full of awesome and kick-ass and everything A++, it was on TV for a while but i could not watch it! *shakes fist* One of these i'll indulge myself in the box set OTL

[ltgmars.livejournal.com]

Bebop is wonderful! It's a great series to binge. XD

And I should have specified that the criticisms I listed are ones that I commonly hear from other people. The "lack of cohesion" thing is mostly that many of the episodes don't fit into any kind of overlying storyline, and they're seemingly random in the context of the overall story. Thought that may be true, I actually think they're kind of necessary -- they develop the characters in a different way, and they give us a peek at the daily lives of the crew, which helps us to get some feel for who they are.

[ltgmars.livejournal.com]

The ending is amazing, I agree. The criticisms about the ending are ones I've heard from other people. (And of course, they don't know what they're talking about.)

[ltgmars.livejournal.com]

XD Indulge, indulge! I'll temper that imperative with a statement that the show maybe is a little overrated, but that doesn't mean it's ridiculously beautiful and interesting and fun to watch. (Just because I understand that something is overrated doesn't mean that I can't love it to bits and pieces.)

[blackwine.livejournal.com]

I figured it wasn't you saying it, but... where do they get it? o_o; It is a necessary thing... and they all do fit if you watch it in a lump sum.; I think they just haven't watched it right. . . xD Or maybe it's just with the sole intention to find something wrong with it.;;

Faye Faye had my favorite character development, I think... It was interesting to see that she had lost her memory and, as we learned eventually, become some one entirely different. o_O Then there's Ed... Who can forget that awesome bean. XD Can't believe her dad forgot...;;

[silvermask.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, such a great series. And yeah, Ballad of Fallen Angels is a totally kick-ass episode. I loved Bebop from the beginning, but I was very impressed with #5.

And anyone who knocks the "filler episodes" in Bebop is a nut. Those are half the point! :D Besides, Bebop is unusual in that instead of it being story with a handful of filler episodes, it's a bunch of filler episodes with several "main story" spaced throughout.

I might have to rewatch that again now. It's been at least a year or maybe two... XD

[moja-zabcia.livejournal.com]

Duuude, one "e" is not pronounced as a long e! It should be either "Beebop" or pronounced "Beh-bop," "Buh-bop," or something else that makes sense with the spelling. (That is, hi! I'm Claire. I don't watch much anime, and I do obsess too much about grammar and spelling.)

[sexyturtle.livejournal.com]

Reading that I actually now have to completely agree. Beep and Bee have the long e, because there are two e's. You are totally a genius, let's be best friends.

[ltgmars.livejournal.com]

Haha, there are a few series that I love to watch every so often. Bebop, Eva, and Full Metal Panic are a few of them. And I love reading Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne and Ruroken.