The Bebop Beat: A Cowboy Bebop Rewatch Podcast

We've reached the end of the dream, space cowfolks. This podcast was envisioned as a companion to Cowboy Bebop, and with no more live action episodes on the way, it's time to say Howdy (in a Goodbye Way). Jamie, Lauren, and Angela look back on the journey by interviewing each other. We've had a wonderful time hunting bounties, meeting brilliant creators, and bringing new conversations to the community. Thank you, thank you. You're gonna carry that weight.

Cowboy Bebop, our favorite anime of all time, is a masterpiece. No matter what you think of the live action version, the original will always be there. This IP affects other media, pop culture, merchandise, and art. How have fan communities been permanently changed? What can we learn from the past year? What happens now? Join us on a journey through the multiverse with special guest Billy Tringali, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Anime and Manga Studies (JAMS).

WHY is the live action Cowboy Bebop LIKE THIS?! We've reached the end of the Netflix series, and we aren't holding back! Lauren and Jamie catch their white whale by interviewing showrunner André Nemec. These are (likely) his last words on Cowboy Bebop EVER, so tune in as he explains major creative choices like Julia, Ed, and what we're missing out on in seasons never to come.

Cowboy Bebop brings us a flashback episode this week, where we get all of our questions answered, from "How did Spike meet Julia" to "Vicious shaves WHERE??" Plus, we welcome our youngest-ever guest to the studio: Molly Moriarty, who played original Netflix character Kimmie Black.

If you're hungry for more Cowboy Bebop stories, check out the latest from Titan Comics! With the help of writer Dan Watters, we chase down a brand new bounty with suspiciously good luck. Expect a full review of issue 1 from Lauren and Jamie, plus our hopes and predictions for the rest of the 4-part comic book miniseries.

LET'S PARTY! Pierrot Le Fou just might be the most memorable episode of Cowboy Bebop, and we were shocked to see it adapted for live action on Netflix. We go to our happy place this week with Javier Grillo-Marxuach, who not only wrote this episode, but also brings stories from his incredible career on LOST, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, and season 3 of The Witcher.

Our guest this week is known for kicking a lot of ass! Stunt Coordinator Allan Poppleton is in the studio with a behind-the-scenes look at Cowboy Bebop's biggest fights, including his work with John Cho post-injury. Galileo Hustle is Lauren and Jamie's favorite live action episode, so saddle up for a great time. ...After you call your mom and tell her you love her, of course.

Free your mind! Spike Spiegel may be trapped in a repetitive time loop, but Binary Two-Step introduces one of Netflix's biggest changes to Cowboy Bebop: Mel. This sexy, intelligent mechanic is played by our guest this week, Jade Harlow. She spills all the details about what's between Mel and Faye, but doesn't stop there. Our conversation touches on inclusivity, artists' compensation, and the value (or not!) of labels.

Are you trying to #SaveBebop? Hoping for #MoreBebop?? There's a canonical (Netflix) Cowboy Bebop prequel novel available RIGHT NOW! We're pausing our live-action watch through to visit Red Planet Requiem: A Syndicate Story. Though he couldn't be in the studio with us, author Sean Cummings forwarded answers to some of our burning questions. We share them, this week, along with our review. Praise! Gripes! Thirst! It's all here, book lovers.

Darkside Tango takes us through the moody, jazz-filled alleyways of Jet Black's past, but just how well does it uphold the stories of Udai and Fad? One of the brilliant cowfolks behind this noir-inspired world is Set Decorator Anneke Botha. The Bebop is the love of her life; we can't wait for you to hear how the team built our favorite ship from the guts of a real-life fishing trawler!