Thursday 24 June 2021

Cowboy Bebop Marathon - Session 22: Cowboy Funk


This is my favourite episode, since I'm a big fan of westerns and because it's also one of the funniest episodes in the series.

Spike is going after a bounty known as "The Teddy Bomber", a serial bomber who targets high-rise buildings using explosives concealed in teddy bears. Unfortunately, his hunt puts him in competition with rival bounty hunter named Andy Von De Oniyate. At first, Jet and Faye are incredulous of Spike's story, but then encounter "Cowboy Andy" and find his destructive nature too similar to that of Spike's.

Being the egotistical prick that he is, Cowboy Andy steals the show in this episode. Hailing from a rich family, he takes up bounty hunting for the thrill of it and fashions himself as a Hollywood gunslinger: he uses a six shooter and a lasso, dresses like a cowboy, and even travels everywhere on a horse. He's accompanied by his leitmotif, "Go Go Cactus Man" which other characters can somehow hear (to the point where Spike thinks he's approaching when he hears someone whistling). Even when Faye spends the evening with him, he toasts his reflection in her eyes.

The other main "focus" character is the Teddy Bomber, although some audiences may be uncomfortable with his methods (this episode was pulled from broadcasts around the time 9/11 happened). There's a running joke in which he gives a monologue about his motive, but he's cut off or ignored every time he gives it. He actually gets angry when Spike and Andy are too busy bickering with each other to listen to him. He even sends a letter to Big Shot, dropping hints about his next target to lure the bounty hunters out, and includes his speech...which gets cut off because they ran out of time.

It all boils down to a final showdown between the two rivals, with a comedic payoff.

See you, space samurai.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Book Review: Hunter's Christmas and Other Stories

  Happy New Year. Christmas is over, but some places might still have their decorations up while the supermarkets already have Easter eggs o...