What's funny about watching COWBOY BEBOP for the first time, now, is that it always strikes me as being very 90s. The characters aren't wearing tied-off plaid or listening to grunge, but... let me put it his way - - this takes place in the far future and they have to explain what a computer virus is. Also, man... the CG models in this episode really haven’t aged well. I was never a fan of this stuff, even at the time. It always drew me out of the experience. And I really think the glaring discrepancies could’ve been avoided easily if they’d covered the 3D models with 2D line work and cel shaded colors, as the animators of AKIRA did.
As is, those portions make me feel like I'm looking at a PS1 game.I haven't been paying attention to the individual credits, of course, but I'm starting to wonder if this show's got a rotating roster of directors, because it feels like every fourth episode gets kind of cluttered and unfocused. This is another one where I lost track of what was happening rather quickly. I was following it up until the point where Spike ran out of gas, but I guess I blinked and missed something crucially important seconds-long frame, because I didn't totally grasp what was going on with the pirates and their computer virus.
I’m sure it makes total sense with a second viewing after I’ve seen the whole series, right?
I did like the Blue Sox lid, though. He reminded me a lot of the Red Sox fans (not necessarily the "Massholes") I knew when I was going to school. Seeing Spike's non-plussed reaction to the kid prattling on about game stats reminded me the amusing double-standard of obsessive fan-bases. The general public might snicker at cosplayers at conventions, but I see that as actually pretty mild in comparison to grown men who're going to paint their bodies and go shirtless in freezing weather for the big game.
But that's a rant for another time....I have to mention how great the delivery bus’ reaction was to gunfire was. "We’ll pay the parking ticket! We’re sorry!" Ha! They must’ve thought they were dealing with the LAPD parking authority.
Tom Pinchuk’s the writer of HYBRID BASTARDS! & UNIMAGINABLE . Order them on Amazon here & here .
