Netflix dropped the first teaser trailer for the live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop, giving fans a glimpse of what to expect from the upcoming series. Those familiar with the Cowboy Bebop anime know the series is famous for mixing genres (space opera, neo-noir and Western) and for its homage to 1970s action films. It's also laced with humor, which is mostly provided through the interactions of the series' main characters, Spike Spiegel, Faye Valentine and Jet Black. The "Lost Session" teaser not only recaptures the tone and style of the anime but also recaptures the humorous dynamic of its main characters.
In the original Cowboy Bebop anime, Spike, Faye and Jet are three individuals with tragic pasts and wildly different personalities. Spike is a former gangster and skilled martial artist who turned to a life of bounty hunting after a major fallout with his former crime family. He has a special fondness for food and tends to think of himself as a laidback "old-fashioned cowboy."
Faye is a woman from the 20th century who survived a space shuttle accident but was put in cryogenic sleep for 54 years. Upon revival, she was scammed by the very people who were supposed to look out for her and turned to a life of gambling and swindling as a way of surviving. She joined the Bebop crew after she helped Spike and Jet on two cases and is quite opportunistic.
Jet is a former police officer who worked for the ISSP and also turned to a life of bounty hunting after he lost his arm while working on a case. He became Spike's business partner before the start of the anime and is the owner of the Bebop ship they reside in. In addition to being a bounty hunter, he tends to be something of a father figure to both Spike and Faye.
The teaser not only captures the personalities of the characters from the Cowboy Bebop anime but also hints at their pasts. In "Lost Session," Mustafa Shakir's version of Jet is seen functioning in the same father figure role as his anime counterpart. This is mainly depicted in the form of him leading Spike and Faye as well as keeping their impulsive behavior in check.
"Lost Session" also depicts Spike's love of food as well as his martial arts skills as portrayed by actor John Cho. The teaser also gives a glimpse of Vicious's character and his past with Spike. One thing that is noticeably different from the anime, however, is that Spike appears to be suffering from PTSD in the live-action series, which was not originally explored in the anime. Cho's Spike seems to be triggered by the presence of knives since they remind him of Vicious' primary weapon: a katana.
Daniella Pineda's version of Faye also succinctly captures the character's personality and impulsivity from the original Cowboy Bebop. However, in terms of how the character expresses herself, Pineda's Faye noticeably follows the lead of Faye's original Japanese voice actor, Megumi Hayashibara. In contrast with Faye's English dub actor, Wendee Lee, who depicts Faye as more of a femme fatale, Hayashibara's Faye is more cynical and playful, which is the vibe Pineda brings to the table.
In addition to introducing the characters, "Lost Session" also samples some of Yoko Kanno's score for the new Cowboy Bebop series. Fans will immediately recognize "Tank!" and "Green Bird," which were featured in the original anime. There's also a sample of new music for the series that plays during an outdoor action sequence. The never-before-heard track still captures the 1970s jazz vibe of the anime, but feels new and different as well, effectively conveying that the live-action show is not a remake or a reboot.
Cowboy Bebop will stream on Netflix on Nov. 19, with the anime making its Netflix debut on Oct. 21.