Cowboy Bebop Ending Explained (In Detail)

Warning! Spoilers Ahead for Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop

The ending of Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop adaption leaves a plethora of questions unanswered, introducing twists absent in the classic anime that swerves the story towards a new direction. Set in the year 2171, Cowboy Bebop is a fresh look into the saga of the Bebop crew, who embark upon intergalactic adventures whilst navigating their individual, troubled pasts. Starring John Cho, Mustafa Shakir, and Daniella Pineda as the primary trio of Spike Spiegel, Jet Black and Faye Valentine, respectively, Cowboy Bebop premiered on Netflix on November 19, 2021.

Breaking away from the narrative focus and structure of the anime, the live adaptation sets up a tighter, drama-centered episodic rhythm, with Spike and Vicious’ rivalry positioned front and center. While the original anime captured the hearts of its fans through its languid, carefree pace and melancholic core, the live-action brims with self-aware caricatures, along with expanded backstories and character insights. The ending of Season 1 of Cowboy Bebop largely differs from the anime due to various reasons, the chief being that this is not the end of the journey for the characters in question.

While it is too early to gauge whether Cowboy Bebop Season 2 will be in the works, the ending of season 1 raises seminal questions about certain characters and their actions. Although the core cast of characters including Spike, Jet, and Faye go their separate ways by the end of Cowboy Bebop, it is not entirely impossible for them to cross paths in the future, given their primary nature of work. Here is a look into the ending of the new Netflix adaption, and the potential narrative threads it delves into and attempts to resolve.

Who’s The Character At The End Of Cowboy Bebop?

After Spike and Jet part ways—due largely to the fact that the latter is unable to forgive his partner—Spike is seen heading out of a bar, calm as ever despite sustaining fatal wounds. As Spike walks down a deserted, seedy alleyway with his hands inside his pockets, mirroring the dead man’s walk towards the end of the anime, he collapses to the ground. This is when a goggled, eccentric, red-haired child along with the hyper intelligent corgi, Ein, approaches Spike. This is, of course, none other than Edward, or Radical Ed, who had been mentioned in passing by Jet during one of their bounty missions.

While it is a baffling decision to not feature Ed at all until the end of Cowboy Bebop, as she was an important part of the crew in the anime, this sets up the stage for the events of Season 2. As it is apparent that both Jet and Spike received intelligence from Ed in the past, and it is Ed who finds a wounded Spike in order to relay him with a new mission, it is likely that Edward is going to be key in Cowboy Bebop Season 2 in terms of bringing the rest of the crew of the Bebop together.

Why Julia Shot Spike

In a surprising turn of events, Julia arrives at the church at which Vicious and his men target Spike, Jet, and Kimmie, right at the moment when Vicious is about to finish off Spike. Shooting Vicious non-fatally, Julia asks Spike why he never sought her out over the years, despite being aware of her suffering as a result of Vicious’ cruelty. After Spike explains his stance and finally asks her to come away with him, Julia first asks him to shoot Vicious and claim the throne of the Syndicate. Spike refuses, explaining that he had left that life behind. Despite telling Julia that he loves her, she chooses to shoot him, and Spike falls off the church window, into the water below.

While it is understandable why Julia might feel betrayed by Spike’s actions, the active decision to completely shift the blame of her circumstances onto Spike, is a rather unfair and self-centered way of assessing the scenario. After all, Spike was ready to leave his old life behind and start something new with Julia but was unfortunately unable to do so due to Vicious’ intervention, and the knowledge that Julia had chosen Vicious over him. As her life-action counterpart does not have as much agency as the original anime depiction—who chose to go into hiding rather than betray the man she loved—Julia in the Netflix adaption instead chooses to “wake up” from the dream that kept her alive all those years. In the end, Julia’s actions seem to stem from a mad hunger for power and control, a state of mind with no room for lost love and forgiveness.

What’s Next For Spike, Jet & Faye?

By the end of Cowboy Bebop, Jet, Faye, and Spike depart on their own individual paths. A broken Jet seemingly resumes his life as a bounty hunter aboard the Bebop, Spike is found by Radical Ed and Ein, while Faye Valentine sets out to find her real family at Greenvale Avenue. At least for Spike, more bounty-hunting adventures await, as Ed mentions that they need to stop the Butterfly Man—a reference to terrorist Vincent Volaju in the anime. This could potentially mean a deep-dive into Spike’s dynamic with Ed, who the audiences see only a glimpse of towards the end. As Jet is also a bounty hunter, it is likely for them to cross paths again, while Faye’s foray into her past might lead her to newer characters and arcs, including Dr. Bacchus and her actual parents, who might still be alive.

What Julia Leading The Syndicate Means For Cowboy Bebop Season 2

In an ironic reversal of fortune, Vicious finds himself at the mercy of Julia, the woman he had taken possession of and tortured over the years in the name of “love”. With the Elders of the Red Dragon Syndicate and the Capos dead, Julia has a direct claim to the throne as Vicious’ wife, now that he is deemed an Elder. Chaining him up in the basement, she plays a game of Russian Roulette with a loaded gun, instilling the same fear and helpless resentment in him that she herself experienced at his hands. Currently, Julia not only has all the cards in her favor, but she also controls the supply of the drug known as Red Eye, a prime source of power and affluence among the criminal elite.

Now that Julia is at the head of the Syndicate, most of her efforts in a potential Cowboy Bebop season 2 will likely center around her quest to hold on to and consolidate that power, as it is inevitable that rival parties will make their move. Having spent most of her life in a state of powerlessness, she is expected to be more ruthless than ever—however, will she transform into someone even worse than Vicious, while manipulating others to secure her position at the top? Her having shot Spike certainly indicates this is possible. While it is unclear as to how Spike will factor in to her future arcs, if at all, the Julia he knew and loved is metaphorically dead, especially after shooting him in cold blood after he refuses to cater to her desire for power.

How Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop Ending Compares To The Anime

The ending of the original anime was a primarily bittersweet one, as it marked the end of the road for everyone’s beloved space cowboy Spike, instilling the end with a raw, melancholic tint. As the anime was a self-contained 26-episode run as opposed to the still-unraveling events of the 10-episode Netflix live-action, it is safe to say that their endings are markedly different in content, tone, and the emotions they evoke. The ending of Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop promises a new beginning for its primary characters, with the unstated promise that they are going to reunite in one way or another someday in the near future. This, understandably, robs the live-action of the anime’s emotional weight, while allowing audiences the opportunity to experience the continued adventures of the Bebop crew, and the dangerous, lively, saturated world of Cowboy Bebop.

About The Author

Debopriyaa Dutta
(328 Articles Published)

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Apart from being a features writer and critic at ScreenRant, Debopriyaa is a news writer at /Film. She is also a contributor to High on Films & Fansided, and an editor at Digital Mafia Talkies. Her poetry has been published in a wide array of journals, such as Gideon Poetry, White Noise Magazine, and Literaria. Find her on Twitter @angelusatani.

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