Cowboy Bebop is a rarity in the anime world. Admittedly, its animation is last generation but it is still worth watching. Cowboy is also relatively short, with only 26 sessions(episodes) unlike Bleach or Naruto. Its characters defy the run-of-the-mill anime stereotypes and proves to be the series strongest point.

The setting is the year 2071 where mankind has spread across the solar system and spaceships were a dime a dozen. The anime focuses on the adventures of a group of disparate "cowboys", a term for bounty hunters. It blends the past and present seamlessly allowing viewers to delve deep into the character's back stories while advancing the plot.

The most intriguing character is Faye Valentine, an amnesiac who awoke from a 50 year cyrogenic slumber to find herself in deep debt and without a past. Faye's search for who she was dominates a good portion of the show and is one of the main reasons to watch Cowboy. The series came tantalizingly close on several occasions but never fully revealed her past. Faye left the group of bounty hunters several times but always returned to the ship(the Bebop). Towards the end of the series, she regained her memory and left them to return to her previous home only to find it in ruins. She finally returned to her friends, her only family left.

There is a strong theme of being able to let go of your past and be "free". Faye was able to reconcile herself to the fact that she has no one except her friends left. Edward forgave her father and stayed with him. Jet left Arisa(his former lover) on good terms and discovered the truth of how he lost his arm. Spike chose to return confront Vicious even when he could have escaped with his friends. In a typical film noir style, Spike makes a big entrance at the Red Dragon HQ before meeting Vicious for a final showdown. It is interesting to note that while Spike is normally a cool and nonchalant character, he is ultimately unable to escape the demons of his past.

A scene that defines the series would be when Spike returned to the Bebop after Julia(his lover) was killed during their escape from the thugs under Vicious. During his last meal, there was little conversation between Jet and Spike. Both knew what was going to happen next and had long accepted it. Faye confronted Spike and was extremely upset that he wanted to go back and die. She had found a home abroad the Bebop and she hated him for destroying it. Despite her emotional pleadings, Spike left to meet his destiny.