Cowboy Bebop is widely recognized as one of the best anime series ever made, praised for its unique blend of sci-fi, western, and noir elements. The show’s consistency in delivering outstanding stories across 26 episodes and one movie is a testament to its exceptional writing, directing, and animation. However, even the greatest series can have its flaws, and Cowboy Bebop is no exception. One of its most significant missteps is the twenty-first episode, Boogie Woogie Feng Shui, which focuses on Jet’s character.
Jet Black is an essential member of the Bebop crew, serving as the former cop, ship’s mechanic, and the crew’s reluctant mentor. While he doesn’t get as much screen time as Spike and Faye, Jet’s role in the series is crucial, providing the show with a sense of maturity and grounding the series in reality. The show’s sixteenth episode, Black Dog Serenade, provides some background on Jet’s past and adds depth to his character, making him a fan favorite.
Unfortunately, the twenty-first episode, Boogie Woogie Feng Shui, undermines all the work done to establish Jet as a memorable and respectable character. The episode revolves around Jet receiving a message from an old friend, Pao, who recently passed away. The message leads Jet to Pao’s daughter, Meifa, who is being pursued by a group of gangsters. While the Chinese concept of Feng Shui plays a role in the episode, the problem lies in Jet’s relationship with Meifa.
Throughout the episode, there are recurring references to a potential romantic relationship between Jet and Meifa, which is uncomfortable due to the significant age difference between the two characters. Jet is 38 during the events of Cowboy Bebop, and while Meifa’s age is never explicitly stated, an old photograph of Jet, Meifa, and Pao from ten or eleven years prior to the series has Meifa looking around five or six, meaning she’s seventeen at most. The episode is uncomfortable and unnecessary, with Jet’s awkward attempt to tell Meifa that she should think of him more as her boyfriend than a father figure being particularly cringe-worthy.
Aside from this subplot, the episode is easy to skip and lacks the excitement and meaningful storytelling present throughout the rest of the series. The reliance on narration and superficial exploration of Feng Shui make the episode shallow and forgettable. While it is unfortunate for any show to have a subpar episode, it stands out as a significant mistake in the context of Cowboy Bebop’s overall excellence.
In conclusion, Cowboy Bebop is a remarkable anime series that manages to tell compelling stories with unforgettable characters. However, the series is not immune to missteps, and the twenty-first episode, Boogie Woogie Feng Shui, is one such mistake. The episode undermines Jet’s character, adds an uncomfortable subplot, and fails to deliver the excitement and meaningful storytelling present throughout the rest of the series. Despite this misstep, Cowboy Bebop remains an exceptional series that deserves its place among the best anime of all time.
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