#vex’s character arc resonated so much with me | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

burningdarkfire · 2 years

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thoughts on episodes 10-12 of tlovm. i’m not going to main tag this because i don’t want to get in an argument today lmao. this also got really long but tl;dr - the episodes have only been getting better and better, i loved percy and orthax, and the briarwoods were cool. i think both cass and keyleth deserved way better than they got tho

the animation absolutely popped off when it came to percy and orthax and i couldn’t be happier. those scenes were really fucking cool and i enjoyed them a lot. percy is absolutely my boy and everyone who thought i would love him is entirely correct. my jaw was dropped. that shit was great!!! i loved all the flashbacks reminding him/us that this was something he chose. mwah. i love a fucked up little guy

cassandra de rolo. okay. i acknowledge that the way tlovm (and i assume cr1) did this wasn’t bad it just wasn’t what i would’ve wanted. i cannot overstate the emotional whiplash i got watching her in these three episodes lmao the way i fucking gasped when her name appeared on that gun and she betrayed them. oh my god. jesus christ. look. i understand why her and percy were positioned the way the were. i even liked it: her standing for forgiveness and him standing for vengeance and then them high-fiving and changing places at the end after percy gets talked down and cass still kills delilah. that’s cool! that’s narratively solid. but. man i just want us to let girls go ape shit. like how come percy gets his cool vengeance demon and cassandra has to talk him back to his senses? like does she not deserve to go a little bit crazy? wouldn’t it have been really fucking cool if she actually did believe in the briarwoods and the two siblings were absolutely fucking ready to kill each other but then don’t and they come to the same realization at the same time? that seeking vengeance would kill their only remaining family? like the way i thought we were going to let her do something cool and then i just had to sit back down ... lol

honestly i found the whole climax to the percy/orthax deal kind of lackluster - it didn’t feel clear enough to me why percy was finally able to fight him back. vex’s scenes with percy were absolutely spectacular and i think they are like, peak romance, and i absolutely adore them so much, but tbh the emotional resonance of vox machina being there for percy is kind of non-existent? like half the party don’t have character arcs or motivations lmao so there’s no weight in them choosing to stand by percy

speaking of which. keyleth deserved. so much better??? than what she got? somehow her dying became about vex and about percy lmao like girl .. u don’t gotta tell us shit about percy when ur on the ground drawing your last breaths. it’s ok lmao. i’ve been saying this entire season that keyleth just desperately needed an extra three sentences of backstory so that her character arc would actually make sense but instead it’s just incredibly generic. like why not just explain what the aramenté is?? i’ve never watched cr1 but i feel like it’s actually pretty important to her character! i also didn’t particularly like the “you’re their light now” and how that manifested in the season because like being able to do cool magic in dire moments is, y’know, cool, but i would’ve liked to see her grow in other ways - i wanted to see her learn to lead and have the other members of the party respect her, not just watch her save their lives over and over. for example: why not have her explain to the party her connection with the sun tree and the party actually take her seriously, instead of making jokes about it? my roommate, who has watched cr1, was just as disappointed as me in how keyleth was portrayed (and at how awfully rushed her and vax felt)

i wish the show had gotten just a few more episodes to breathe, since i assume that’s where a lot of things are falling through the cracks. like the briarwoods absolutely do fuck and i loved watching them in these episodes but i wish we’d gotten more time with them! delilah is so valid lmao i would also behave like her if i had sylas. she deserves every single one of her banger lines. i would’ve loved more time to just set the vibes with them though, dwell a little more in what makes them so sinister

random extra misc thoughts:

i really don’t like how they animated the dragons in this show .. it looks so cheap somehow

my roommate’s favourite character is craven edge and she’s so valid lmao

there really are moments when i so utterly adore laura bailey’s voice acting. she’s so good!! vex is really my unexpected favourite of this show

#my posts #liveblogging cr #critical role #legend of vox machina

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evilmortys · 4 years

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Rick hate blogs for the win tbh. But I was just curious— do you still rp with rick blogs? And do ppl who know rick is toxic and don’t approve of his actions but still like him as a character get on your nerves? I’m just curious! Have a good day!!

hiya hiya! you have a lovely day too! i’m saying it before i address the other stuff just so i don’t forget to wish it to you! <3

yeah of course i still rp with rick blogs (on my roleplay blog)! my friend val writes several ricks and c-136 talks with a few of them ‘online’ sporadically and thinks they’re Neat. rick interactions nourish me and i am very open to them although people who rp him are few and far between to my knowledge.

people who know rick is toxic and disapprove of his actions but still enjoy him as a character are fine with me! i’m one of them, to an extent?

ALTHOUGH. uhhhh. i suppose it depends on how exactly you ‘enjoy’ him as to whether it’d “get on my nerves.” but even if it did, i wouldn’t ever comment on it or be mean about it?? sjdfkjsdfkl idk! i’d just... let you do your thing and continue doing mine! different strokes different folks!

i think i’m a bad person to look to for much sympathy if you relate to or connect with rick, because ... god. he’s such a bad person. he’s an awful, shitty, destructive, abusive person, and i loathe him for it! and i’m right i think!

yes, he’s capable of being good, and caring, and has been several times over the course of the show. i acknowledge it often and the collar scene with morty, him shooting mr. jellybean really resonated with me, for example.

but for the most part, his love is so conditional, and feels so impossibly out of reach for the people that adore him (his own daughter, summer, morty to an extent) because he deliberately makes it feel that way. keeps them at arm’s length with beth, for example, or verbally puts them down and degrades them instead of being emotionally vulnerable and conducting himself in a way that would imply he gave a shit if they died in the case of morty.

he has zero issue with grievously traumatizing his grandson and abandoning families he’s gotten to know for years, up and leaving when the going gets tough instead of sticking around to help them or keep trying because it’s easier for him not to bother and just move on.

tbh, just about any post that expresses fondness for rick or ‘uwu-ifys’ him with no criticism at all makes me grimace. i’m so repelled by how he withholds love, treats everyone around him poorly, and is such an inherently dickheaded character that i can’t bring myself to interact much with people who are apologetic for him at all, because he hasn’t redeemed himself enough for me to want to see that very often? if at all.

i just think some people hold too much forgiveness for rick in their hearts. like, you can demand redemption arcs for him all you want, but ... i think the sheer volume of unforgivable things he’s done makes it so that sort of thing will just never sit well with me regardless.

rick hasn’t done anything as of right now that makes him worth forgiving, and apologizing for, and justifying, and babying. quite the opposite, in fact. so i find it strange that people can pluck all this adoration for a character who’s so objectively bad out of, like, nowhere --- or homing in on the bare minimum of kindness he performs each season and building him up in their head to be largely those traits. he gets a mopey scene every season where he’s self pitying, and people twist it to be something that makes him redeemable instead.

people will see things like rick flinching away from beth raising her fist and trip over themselves to escalate the valid theory of ‘oh my god! he’s a physical abuse survivor!’ to the far more vexing ‘HE’S BABY! HE’S DONE NOTHING WRONG EVER IN HIS LIFE! HOW DARE BETH DO THAT TO HIM!’

like, what the fuck? how dare beth raise a hand to him and not even act upon it? lmao?

first of all, he’d deserve to have been actually smacked the fuck out in that moment. “how dare beth do that to him?” how dare RICK treat her poorly for her entire childhood, neglect her, do the bare minimum when it came to raising her, waltz back into her life, traumatize her son, destroy her marriage, have the gall to insult her parenting capability, manipulate her emotionally, clone her instead of asking her to stay and be a part of her life like she so desperately needed to hear: the list goes on! second of all, HE HIT MORTY IN THE FACE, ON PURPOSE, SOLELY TO BE CRUEL, AND GAVE HIM A BLACK EYE. it’s called getting his just desserts, as far as i’m concerned.

i kind of went off a bit there, sorry, but --- i’m just trying to exemplify / explain what sort of behavior tends to rub me the wrong way when it comes to people who enjoy rick’s character.

i myself think he’s very interesting, and complex, and it’s enjoyable to consume his arcs and watch his character development unfold. he can be fun, and it’s definitely intriguing to see his intelligence at work. he’s even capable of being sweet and wholesome, having fun with his grandkids. but for me, his negative traits are so glaring, so volatile, that the positives aren’t something i can bring myself to be invested in unless he starts trying to better himself as a person. like, he’s just a drunken bag of dicks.

idk this went a little off the rails and i’m sorry! again, this is just how i feel about things.

#alex answers!#i just think he's such a rancid character #that being apologetic for him on such a massive scale is.... :/#so many people don't love rick. they love this idealized image of him they have in their head #where he's uwu soft (n almost always sexy) grandpa who's going to get better and stop being a shitheel #and it's like... IS he though.#i'll believe it when i see it!#and when i see it i'll eat these words and let people be apologetic for him all they want #but until then it's just.... ugh.......#idk. i'm a morty stan so obviously i'm VERY biased #and highly sensitive/attuned to the feelings of others as a person in general #so me seeing what he puts the family through is always going to skew me to perceive him negatively #and fail to understand why people can pick out what little positive attributes he has and make out like they're his whole thing #JHSDFKJSF I DONT KNOW. SORRY.#Anonymous

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fiascodownunder · 4 years

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Critter Asks: 7, 19, 21, 22, 30, 31, 40, and/or 50

7. Do you have any official CR merch?

YES!!!

- Vox Machina grey-green-blue tee with the logo written in their weapons

- The OG black dice set

- Taldorei and Wildemounte Campaign Guides

- (Also have an Unofficial Vex throwing money in the air tee)

19. Who’s your favorite CR cast member (Matt, Laura, etc.)?

I love them all so fken much for completely different reasons. I can’t pick this. But I can tell you what I love the most about them all.

Matt’s compassion, and bravery, and love and ability of storytellingMarisha’s acting chops, and sheer talent, and force of willLaura’s humour, and her general presence bringing magic into the studio.Travis’ softness, and unabashed love of the things he loves.Sam’s ability to leave you crying from laughter and from tears - you never know which.Liam’s penchant for drama, and his very Shakespearean vibes, his henleys, and his dad-ness.Taliesin’s flair for the drama and the goth, and the ability to make characters that are all just a little bit creepy, but you wouldn’t mind cuddling with either.And Ashley’s radiance - her humour, her heart.And how they are all so loving to each other and the community they’ve all built up.

21. Who’s your favorite CR1 PC?Percival Fredrickstien von Mussel Klowolski De Rolo IIIBut also Kiki

22. Who’s your favorite CR2 PC?Jester? Beau? Cad? Idk man. Different days different ones. Potentially Cad tho. I love his goth teddy vibes.

30. What’s your favorite CR romantic/sexual relationship?Percahlia!!!!!Beau and Jester and Beau and Yasha are almost up there too.

31. What’s your favorite CR platonic/friendly relationship?Pike and Grog 2 deth

40. What’s your favorite CR quote?“I have passed through fire”“And everyday that raven comes to visit.”

50. What CR backstory/arc/moment resonates with you the most? Whitestone, and Percy’s entire arc, from gunsmith to clockmaker. I adored how it was all about overcoming the trauma and accepting the darkest parts of you, using them all as weapons to make sure the world is better in your wake. That you may not be able to erase your sins but you can atone for them.

Keyleth’s, for her journey of finding a leader within herself.

Vex’s, of overcoming your inner insecurities, and making your brother super uncomfortable.

And all of C1 E115, for being one of the best fucking endings I have ever seen. I haven’t yet watched the search for grog/bob/dalen’s closet, but I’ve heard they make it all even better. I can’t wait. Maybe in quarantine?Can you tell Vox Machina is one of my favourite stories ever? I love M9, but VM is up there next to ATLA, FMAB, and Ocean at the End of the Lane for me.

#critical role #a-dot-fell

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ohnoregard · 4 years

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CR asks, any or all of (and why for each, if you feel like it!) 1, 3, 7, 13, 14, 16, 27, 40, 46, 50 :)

SOME SPOILERS AHEAD!

1. How did you first discover Critical Role?

On Tumblr! I saw some GIFs and it looked kind of interesting but I’d never been interested in D&D so I just ignored it for a long time. Then I got super sick and was stuck in a bed for a couple of months, and finally had all the time in the world to waste. So I started to watch CR! And it kept me sane and entertained.

3. What was the first CR episode you watched/listened to?

The very first episode! CR 2 hadn’t started yet so I just started at the beginning.

7. Do you have any official CR merch?

I have quite a lot actually! I have the Gilmore shirt, the Keyfish shirt, a Vox Machina shirt, a Don’t Forget to Love Each Other shirt, the original hoodie, the Travellercon hoodie, some chibi pins (Jester, Beau, Yasha, Caleb and Caduceus), the watercolour art prints of Vex and Keyleth (framed together on my wall), the M9 dice set and the Vox Machina Pencils! There may be more that I’m forgetting but I think that’s it. OH! I also have the blanket.

13. Do you do anything else while watching/listening to CR?

The first time round, no. But I have re-watched Vox Machina and am up to 35 in my re-watch of the Mighty Nein, and I do sometimes do other things whilst watching. Like mini painting or boring bits of games (like collecting shards in DA Inquisition) or cooking etc. I’m actually watching one right now!

14. How do you cope with high tension in CR (stress-snacks, screaming into the chat void, skipping it, etc.)?

Oh gosh… Hmmm… I don’t know! Just by paying super close attention I guess? The only death I didn’t know about was Molly as I was caught up just after CR2 started. Or maybe just before? I can’t remember. I think maybe it started whilst Vox Machina were about to final battle Vecna in my first watch of CR1 so maybe I was about a week behind the start? I’d say that the most stressed I’ve ever been was in the Hag episode of CR2. That was… wow. And I was watching live which is a rarity for me as I live in the UK!

16. Have you picked up any mannerisms/sayings/speech from the CR cast or their characters (the Marisha perch, “toothy maw”, Jester’s accent, etc.)?

Only “okay okay okay” I think. There’s another one but I won’t say it on here because my IRL social media has that on! Some of you know what it is though!

27. What’s your favorite “How do you want to do this?” moment?

Toss up between finishing the Birarwoods (first time around) and Grog getting the kill on Kevdack. I love that whole episode. “Vox Machina, fuck shit up” is one of my favourite moments in the whole show. Also Yasha killing Oban obviously.

40. What’s your favorite CR quote?

Hmmm… I love “Your secret is safe with my indifference” and “We don’t do anything with dignity” and of course “VOX MACHINA! FUCK SHIT UP!” I don’t really have any for CR2 but not because I don’t love it just as much. I just think that Vox Machina were more quote-worthy than the M9.

46. What’s your favorite CR location (Vasselheim, the Lavish Chateau, etc.)?

I don’t know if I have one. Maybe Scanlan’s Magnificent Mansion?

50. What CR backstory/arc/moment resonates with you the most?

All of Beau and good smattering of Keyleth. So most everything that Marisha does to be honest.

#Critter Asks #Anonymous

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the-blue-fairie · 5 years

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Why these Frozen 2 spoilers alienate me as a viewer (a personal vent, forgive me)

Spoilers

Like all my rambles about the possible outcomes of Frozen 2, this is deeply personal. It’s rooted in venting I did with friends gathered together into some kind of shape, and it’s based on the spoilers for Frozen 2 that are circling around.

First of all, context - because I can’t talk about my thoughts without talking about myself: I’m trans and I’m closeted. I have been for ages, living under my family’s roof through college and grad school as they help me pay my way. I feel like a coward, like this is my fault. But, like a lot of closeted people, I found an attachment to Elsa upon watching Frozen. And the ending of Frozen moved me beyond words because it showed the people of Arendelle smiling at Elsa and Elsa smiling at them and it gave me hope that there’d be a time I’d feel something like that for myself.

I don't like the notion of Elsa's "true destiny" being among figures with powers. A friend mentioned that it feels kind of like it's implicitly being suggested that "Elsa belongs with her own kind" and I know it would be the character's choice, but characters are written and it feels isolating to me. I guess because I project so much of myself onto Elsa. I want the comfort and acceptance of others, whether they are like me or not, and if I were in Elsa's position, if I had the Frohana gang around me, I wouldn't leave that for the world - and the suggestion that she feels more out of place among them doesn't sit well with me.

The fact the first film was about reconnection meant a lot to me. The fact it ended with closeness and acceptance for Elsa from the people of Arendelle, that Elsa could be happy among people who were unlike her and they were happy for her, meant a lot to me. And yes, the idea of Elsa being like an elemental spirit and reaching her full potential feels neat, but it also feels... hollow, somehow. And also a it feels little like, "You can only be truly happy among your own kind."

"But Elsa chose this," you could say. But that's a Thermian argument that treats the character as real. It's the implicit suggestion that the mere fact that people have powers means more than relationships Elsa has built over years that leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

This isn't like if I went out on my own to find my true path. I run the risk of being cast out by parts of my family. Elsa as a character doesn't have that. Not now. She already has the acceptance that I can only dream of.

And I'm sure there are nuances to the ending that a page in a book cannot reflect. I'm sure that the cast is not separated forever. I'm sure they'll be able to visit at any time after the fog lifts. I'm sure that that, however off-puttingly distant the words "fifth spirit" are, Elsa remains the lovable and human figure we all know. But in spite of those nuances, the whole concept stings, and at worst, feels.... I don't know, strangely self-segregating?

I can't conceive of anyone who has what Elsa has at the start of the film making such a choice - and I know that's just because of my own pain, but my pain affects how I see the film.

I’m not criticizing Elsa’s choice. I am sure that, within the context of the film, it makes perfect sense and may even be beautiful and inspiring. But I am criticizing the possible inadvertent implications of the writers having Elsa make that choice. (I am NOT criticizing the writers; I am sure their work is a thing of beauty and I am happy for what they shall bring to the screen.)

But on a personal level, just hearing about a character arc like this... it feels othering to me. It feels like I’m implicitly being told, “If you’re different, you won’t be truly happy unless you’re among your own.” And I know that being among one’s own can be wonderful, but at the point I am now, I want hope that there can be happiness for me amongst everyone.

And I find a family found through shared experiences, connections, and love more resonant than a family found with shared abilities.

And I feel that first family has MORE IN COMMON WITH ELSA (through those shared experiences) than individuals who also happen to have powers.

I’m sorry. I just had to write this all out. I know we should all remain calm until we have more information. I know I’m overreacting. I’m sorry - but I’m also vexed that a part of me wants to apologize for my emotions.

So I just had to write.

In the end though, i’m sure that there will be much that is beautiful in the film and I have an overwhelming respect for Jen Lee and everyone involved in the film. And there is definitely more we don’t know and we have to wait to see everything play out onscreen.

#frozen 2 spoilers #spoilers

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banrions · 5 years

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yoooo i am really feeling your tags on that reblog about vax and vex and how so much of their relationship is spotlighted on vax and also about fandom response to characters. i have been thinking a bit since the last episode about how the narrative breakdowns and the ways they involve, or don't involve, each character has played out across both campaigns. something about what you said there is resonating with me, for other characters as well. thank you for your insights, dude.

no prob.

one of the things that i love the most abt critrole is that, across the board, i do actually like almost everyone and all of the dynamics are interesting. that said, i do think that there are some characters and relationships that ppl gravitate towards that are similar of other fandoms (sad white boys™) and…. the most boring to me, personally. vax was the fan favorite in a lot of ways in campaign one. and this is not to say that i hate vax, or think his arc wasn’t interesting or satisfying! i liked him, in the end. when he [SPOILERS] took that druid level i BAWLED but, like… i only came around to him bc he looked at keyleth and went: SHE’S THE GODDAMN BEST and i am the same. and he thinks his sister is maybe the best person in the world as well, and i ALSO THINK THAT. in many many other ways, he is an asshole and he does a LOT of things that piss me off and ppl do talk abt it, but there are a lot of things to his relationship with vex, specifically, that feels largely untouched and unexplored bc ppl love the idea of the twins and don’t want to tarnish that relationship.

(i have a lot of twins fic in me that i have not attempted to explore bc i both am slightly afraid of reactions and also i hven’t fully landed on my feelings abt a lot of it, still).

i have…. a lot of issues with the twins relationship (while also loving their relationship, i must stress) that are often glossed over or ignored in favor of ppl loving vax and thinking he can do no wrong and loving liam and thinking he can do no wrong and…. there are a lot of things that are happening in campaign two with his character as well that is similar in that regard. (again, the only reasons i care abt caleb are bc he looked at beau and went NEW BEST FRIEND and i am the same!!! i’ll give liam that, he attaches himself to marisha’s characters in a way that makes me go, YES WE AGREE BUT ALSO YOU ARE SOMETIMES TERRIBLE and it makes me love him and hate him all in one.) and it’s not surprising to me AT ALL but it’s disappointing. bc fandom will find a sad white boy and latch onto them like no other and also try to make him fuck every other boy they interact with for two goddamn seconds and run with it.

(iiiii might have a lot of issues with some of the larger critrole fandom, and their love of liam and his characters).

all of this said, ppl like what they like. and it’s fine. i would just love more ppl to complicate it more often when it comes to the twins relationship. bc ppl think vax is the greatest brother in the world, and he’s actually…. kind of a shitty one.

#i have so many twins feelings but they are not everyones feelings abt them #probably #maybe they are more ppls tho!!#i should get a more solid grasp on a lot of it and just write some fic bc thats what fandom is for #ppl can have differing opinions and it's FINE #but i wish ppl explored this more often #critical role #crc1 #stealth twins #Anon #asks #em talks about stuff and things

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yon-nyan · 7 years

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Cowboy Bebop (1998) - Anime Review

Nineteen years ago, during the year 1998, a Space Western anime was released by the name of Cowboy Bebop, an anime that would go on to become one of the finest pieces of animation ever made. Adapted and completely redesigned from its manga counterpart, with direction by Shinichirō Watanabe, this 26-episode long, seinen neo-noir anime series would continue to astound fans of the medium for decades to come.

While this is going to be a review on the anime series in its entirety, I want to point out that this may not be like my other reviews. I don’t just want to prattle about how good the animation is, or how fantastic the music composition is. I may briefly touch on the standard characteristics that usually go into my reviews for the medium, however, today I want to discuss with you guys a few of the facets that truly makes Cowboy Bebop an astounding artistic masterpiece; a true classic for even more decades to come.

Cowboy Bebop follows the exploits of a ragtag crew of bounty hunters that end up coming together through various circumstances on the ship known simply as Bebop. We get to watch them manoeuvre their way through a mine field of galactic criminals that are ripe (and occasionally not so ripe at all) with woolongs (currency), awkward interactions with each another as well as blasts from their pasts, and plenty of blazing space and bullet-infused battles.

The episodes for the show tend to be very episodic in nature, usually in two-parts, with stunning fluidity from one space romp to the next. Even though most of the episodes are unrelated, there’s never a disjointed feeling of randomness, or having any kinds of fillers simply to bulk out the serial. It all fits wonderfully. Everything just belongs, nothing more and nothing less. When we do have story-specific arcs, they are laced with emotional intensity and the complexities that go with having a past you’re not so fond of. There’s so much grey in between the black and white that each character is portrayed to be multidimensional and so much more than a pretty face, or an intellectual genius.

The chemistry between all of the members of Bebop is one of my absolute favourite elements. They are flawed as fuck human beings, with quirks that cause a lot of grating disagreements and vexing (for them, not the audience) interactions. Nonetheless, they all have a key component in common that holds them together like a dysfunctional family. No matter how many times they try to walk away, eventually they find themselves back home. This is realistic. It’s believable. It’s something to connect with. Some will have a much more intimate relation to it than others. It’s comforting.

As I mentioned earlier, the animation, regardless of being almost 20 years old, still holds up really damn well. The power is in the details, literally. There are so many details that went into establishing the environments within the series that the best way to describe it is breath-taking. Whether the setting is the interior (or even exterior) of a ship, space itself, planets with crumbling or bustling cities, the characters themselves and the expressions that they make—it’s all extremely astounding. These little soft lines and harsh curves with unique shades of red, blue, and orange all create the mood and tone for which makes Bebop a bonafide neo-noir experience.

Even with all of these awesome traits, none of it really means anything if you can’t look beyond the animation and the cast to see just how far ahead of its time Cowboy Bebop truly was.

It’s 1998 and gender roles are getting less defined. This show broke gender moulds back then, and it continues to do so in the modern age. You have women, beautiful women and average women and women from all walks of life in regards to race, ethnicity, etc., who are never judged for being just that. They are portrayed as very strong, independent ass-kickers. It didn’t matter if they were criminals, heroes, or in between somewhere. The women in the show are some of the most intelligent people, and it’s never questioned or treated like it’s some kind of phenomenon. Good examples of badass ladies include Faye Valentine, Julia, and a very special bartender who’s a good friend of Spike’s (name’s not given to avoid spoilers).

One of our main characters, Edward, is a teenage girl, but it’s rarely brought up. Hell, her name is Edward. People don’t really care if she’s a she. Ed is a genius and eccentric as all fuck, and quite androgynous. Her brilliance is what makes her a compelling character. Yes, some people do gander at her gender, but it’s more of a passing curiosity. Her ability to do what she does is never doubted or questioned because of her being a girl. Most of the doubt stems from her sensationally unique persona and young age. We have another character in one of the episodes that’s a hermaphrodite. While it’s a bit uncommon, it never becomes the focal point of who he is or what he does. He’s just another person in the galaxy who’s got his own burden to bear.

So, yeah, gender roles and our ridiculous pre-conceived notions of what gender means doesn’t mean shit in this anime. I fucking love it.

A more common motif in the series is the belief that you are always a master of your own choices and leader of your own fate. Life is something to do with what you will, which is clearly exhibited by the decisions taken by our motley crew of criminal hunters, especially as their pasts begin to surface and reveal itself. Allowing yourself to be held back by some predetermined ideals that you may not even believe in isn’t living. The idea of having “obligations” and that there’s always an inherent “right” and “wrong,” is utterly false in the grand scheme of things and don’t account for jack shit if you’re going to be miserable in the end. This motif is beautifully complimented and further ingrained by the music…

Something else that gives the series loads and loads of depth is… the music. I’m sure that anyone reading this review that’s already had a chance to watch this anime was probably wondering when I’d bring this up. Well, here it comes. Hold on to your butts, my friends.

Yoko Kanno is quite possibly one of the most brilliant composers of the modern age. Her work has made appearances in many anime serials across the board from Wolf’s Rain to Terror in Resonance and a few others; each one a magnificent and stellar feat of musical capacities. Yet, I don’t think she can ever really top what she’s accomplished with Cowboy Bebop.

The Seatbelts is the fictitious Japanese space jazz band led by Kanno. The name derives from how the performers wear seatbelts to be safe as they participate in some serious hard-core jam sessions. This band, put together by Kanno, is responsible for all of the music in Cowboy Bebop.

The styles of music utilised is enthrallingly diverse and ranges from straight big band jazz to blues, acoustic ballads, hard rock, and country to funk and electronic. Hip-hop and experimental compositional elements also make their appearances. Aside from sounding extraordinary, the music in and of itself speaks volumes of what the show is about. If you look at most, if not all, of these genres, they began during periods of history where a voice of rebellion needed to rise. It was a means for people to expel their frustrations at life and all of the bullshit that they had to endure. Blues is a very depressing genre, originally created to voice the hardships that came from slavery and oppression. Jazz became a significant boom during the 1920s when war was looming and young folks were forced to fight or choose a side; when a passionate desire for independence was boiling to its peak. This included the rise of women’s empowerment and freedom of choice.

Every genre used to create the tunes began as a fight against being oppressed and having severely limited rights, if you had any to begin with. The music was about growing up and facing your fears and your monsters, to make life what you wanted of it. These genres were all born out of necessity to have something powerful and positive to believe in; a way to share the pain so you could stop it from continuing onwards.

As I mentioned earlier, this theme is apparent in all four members of our cast—Faye Valentine, Jet Black, Spike Spiegel, and even Edward. They all had something they were fighting for and some strong personal beliefs that drove them to become the people that they became; changes that needed to be made so they could be the stronger, better versions of their old selves.

Cowboy Bebop has so much more to it than the few things I’ve mentioned in this insanely long ass review. To be blunt, I wish I could talk about all of them because that’s how much I loved this series. I’m so passionate about it and what it means and what it stands for. But if I chat about everything, then you guys may not want to pick it up (if you haven’t already). I know that hype can have a negative effect on me; look at how long it took me to pick up the series.

While I do regret not picking it up sooner, I’m supremely satisfied with the fact that I waited so long. The world is a terribly different place now than it was in 1998. Not only was I just a child, there honestly wasn’t much that I could’ve related to the show back then as there is now, at least for me as an individual watcher. Maturity aside, I feel like the messages that are shared so passionately and so brilliantly in this anime are far more superior and relevant in 2017 than they would’ve been in 1998. But the fact that is was made 20 years ago, just goes to show you how far ahead of its time it truly was, which further intensifies my love for the science-fiction genre, no matter the medium.

In conclusion, I want to make one thing very clear: Cowboy Bebop is what it is, is as powerful and as remarkable as it is, because everything fits together so nicely. If you remove even one small facet of the show, it would’ve fallen completely apart. The music, any one of the characters (including minor ones), the animation, the motifs—anything at all and it wouldn’t be a work of art. It’s complex and intricate because every single piece makes it so; they’ve all got their place. Lose a single one and you’ve got nothing but a mediocre space western. Details are what create a masterpiece, especially when they’re subtle and natural.

10 cigarettes outta 10!

#Cowboy Bebop #Anime Review #Anime #Classic Anime

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