It's like true love at first sight, you either feel it or don't. This is a "must see" and I see why, is very well crafted, the animation is amazing considering it's from 1998 and the story is very cryptic and alluring. It's very unique and special, but, because of that, it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea. This story is very episodic, with a few glimpses here and there of the overarching story and the past of the main characters, some episodes have a very good story but others not so much. The last four episodes explains everything and ties everything, but the finale is open ended, and, in my personal opinion, kinda rushed. I see why people like and I can appreciate it as a work of art, but I personally didn't like it much, I just saw it because it was pushed to me as a "must see" (and I don't regret seen it) but I was expecting a twist or turning point like Steins;Gates did in episode 12, when it truly kicked in. I recommend it? As I said in the title, you either feel it or don't, and like love, it's not anyone's fault.
Review by palharesfBlockedParent2022-01-07T18:36:49Z
Watched it in 2022 after spending the last 24 years hearing about the show's hype. I enjoyed the standalone episodes, they tended to have good music, themes, scenery and interesting (albeit predictable) storylines; pace was usually hit and miss but forgivable, dialogue was mostly awful but since action was good you could forget it. If the series was all about these standalone episodes, it would be okay and fun.
But then the series try to be serious at times, and it simply stumbles. There's not enough dialogue depth, the script is shallow, things are rushed, convenient, unexplained and left unresolved. Little to no character development. Supposedly important characters appear out of nowhere, disappear for 14 episodes then are back out of blue and you're supposed to care for them. Baddies die easy, heroes are invincible. When I reached the end of the series, I was glad it was over. Probably went from a 7 or 8 to a 4 or 5 rating by trying to be too much while failing to be anything remarkable. This review is not against anime as a genre - there are great things in the medium, but I don't think Cowboy Bebop is one of them.