Television

‘Cowboy Bebop’: Spike — Not Faye — Meets ‘Dr


master mentalism tricks

[WARNING: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for Netflix‘s Cowboy Bebop Season 1 Episode 6, “Binary Two-Step.”]

“If you want to dream, dream alone.”

That’s (one of) the central messages of “Brain Scratch,” the anime episode on which “Binary Two-Step” is loosely based. In it, Faye ends up embroiled in the inner workings of a technology-devoted cult, in which people upload their consciousnesses to the internet—they end up dead in reality, but “alive” on the web.

COWBOY BEPOP (L to R) JOHN CHO as SPIKE SPIEGEL in COWBOY BEPOP

GEOFFREY SHORT/NETFLIX © 2021

Where do dreams come in? Well, the cult is “led” by a Dr. Londes, who isn’t a doctor at all—in reality, “Londes” is a comatose teenager who’s been able to amass and influence followers since he uploaded his mind to the internet. There’s commentary on God and television, on death (and fearing death), and on the nature of dreams. Ultimately, Londes’ “dreams” in his vegetative state were not dreams to be shared—thus, “dream alone.”

It’s pretty heavy stuff, and the live-action adaptation does away with almost all of it. While the cult storyline is kept, as well as the name Dr. Londes, that’s about it; utterly absent are the more striking, thought-provoking themes and the shocking realization that the mastermind is not only not completely real, but also very young and very fearful. In the Netflix version, Spike (John Cho) goes after Londes as a pastime while Jet (Mustafa Shakir) gets a mechanic to fix the Bebop, and Faye (Daniella Pineda) supervises her work.

COWBOY BEPOP (L to R) JOHN CHO as SPIKE SPIEGEL on the set of COWBOY BEPOP

NICOLA DOVE/NETFLIX © 2021

Spike’s plot, then, sees him fall under Londes’ influence, but not in the same way as the anime. His mind ends up being scrambled such that he repeats the same scenario over and over again—he meets Julia (Elena Satine) and asks her to run away with him. This plays out differently every time; one time she dies, the next they escape together, the last she insults and lashes out at him to the point where he almost “lets her go.” But that would be very bad for him, because, as the man who created Londes and the cult explains to Jet, who went after Spike, none of it was ever real. It was all a cover story for an AI they created that went psychotic and killed hundreds of test subjects, and now that AI is trying to capture Spike’s consciousness by forcing him to let go of his emotional tether: Julia.

While all of that is happening, back on the Bebop, Faye’s left alone with the mechanic. She sleeps with her, and they spend time in bed cuddling and talking about Faye’s amnesia (heavy subject for pillow talk, no?). Faye’s interest in women is a change from the original, and for some, it might be surprising. At its core, though, it’s a fine change and an example of something that sets the adaptation apart for the better. In many space-based shows the subject of sexuality is immaterial, and there’s no reason that shouldn’t be the case in Bebop. Woolongs are what really matters.

In the end, the scientist responsible for the AI can’t shut it down, so Jet and the team have to go to Earth, where it was based, to shut it down from there. They make it just in the nick of time, but Spike is saved, and all is well. But again, the live-action Bebop rather misses the point—while the excitement of a race against the clock for Spike’s safety makes for an okay episode, it pales in comparison to the larger questions and emotional gut punches of “Brain Scratch.” There is nothing about dreams here.

Cowboy Bebop, All episodes now streaming, Netflix

Read The Full Article Here


trick photography
Steve From Blue’s Clues Checks In Amid Trump’s Victory
Steve From Blue’s Clues Checks In Amid Trump’s Victory
Kristin Cavallari’s Confessions About Dating After Mark Estes Split
Kristin Cavallari’s Confessions About Dating After Mark Estes Split
Who Will Be the 47th President? Everything About 2024 Election Results – Hollywood Life
Who Will Be the 47th President? Everything About 2024 Election Results – Hollywood Life
21 Celebrities With Massively Inflated Egos
21 Celebrities With Massively Inflated Egos
‘I have my own method; I’m still learning and discovering’
‘I have my own method; I’m still learning and discovering’
Wheel of Fortune Bonus Puzzle Answer Today for November 6, 2024
Wheel of Fortune Bonus Puzzle Answer Today for November 6, 2024
Ryan Reynolds Reveals New Project With Jackman and Levy
Ryan Reynolds Reveals New Project With Jackman and Levy
Top 5 Gus Van Sant Films, Ranked
Top 5 Gus Van Sant Films, Ranked
Frasier Season 2 Episode 9 Review: Murder Most Finch
Frasier Season 2 Episode 9 Review: Murder Most Finch
Ken Jennings Drops Big Streaming News
Ken Jennings Drops Big Streaming News
Brilliant Minds Offers An Understanding of Neurodivergence Far Beyond What The Good Doctor Achieved
Brilliant Minds Offers An Understanding of Neurodivergence Far Beyond What The Good Doctor Achieved
‘Jeopardy!’ Fans Rage as Episode Gets Trumped for TV Election Coverage
‘Jeopardy!’ Fans Rage as Episode Gets Trumped for TV Election Coverage
The 5 Grossest Metal Album Covers of All Time
The 5 Grossest Metal Album Covers of All Time
Election Result Is a “Great Day for Democracy”
Election Result Is a “Great Day for Democracy”
Oasis Extend 2025 Reunion Tour Into South America
Oasis Extend 2025 Reunion Tour Into South America
Kelly Clarkson to Return as Host of ‘Christmas in Rockefeller Center’
Kelly Clarkson to Return as Host of ‘Christmas in Rockefeller Center’
Interview with Bianca Lee Ward, Author of Axle (WAR BROTHERS MC Book 1)
Interview with Bianca Lee Ward, Author of Axle (WAR BROTHERS MC Book 1)
15 Comforting, Stress-Free Reads
15 Comforting, Stress-Free Reads
Secrets, Sibling Bonds, and the Scars of Loss
Secrets, Sibling Bonds, and the Scars of Loss
New Mystery and Thriller Books to Read | November 5
New Mystery and Thriller Books to Read | November 5
Coach Times Square Tabby Shoulder Bag Review
Coach Times Square Tabby Shoulder Bag Review
Emma Stone Wore the Best Type of Jeans to Pair With Boots
Emma Stone Wore the Best Type of Jeans to Pair With Boots
Kylie Jenner’s Khy Smooth Stretch Capri Catsuit Review
Kylie Jenner’s Khy Smooth Stretch Capri Catsuit Review
8 Taupe Bags That Go With Every Outfit
8 Taupe Bags That Go With Every Outfit
SEÑALES (2002) – Pelicula de Terror y Sci-Fi
SEÑALES (2002) – Pelicula de Terror y Sci-Fi
Guillermo del Toro Calls This Horror Film “Superb,” Stream It Now
Guillermo del Toro Calls This Horror Film “Superb,” Stream It Now
‘Jeepers Creepers’ Insta Account Asks Fans a Bizarre Question
‘Jeepers Creepers’ Insta Account Asks Fans a Bizarre Question
What Underrated Zombie Movies Are Worth Watching?
What Underrated Zombie Movies Are Worth Watching?