Hassell in particular looks like he relishes every scene he's in as Vicious, while Satine casts some ambiguity in Julia's presence, particularly during the later episodes.
The two characters have actual pathos and weight in the story. They have greater dimension in the Netflix series, and are given more to do within the plot - which is an interesting if serviceable dive into the murkier side of the criminal underworld in the far future. Generally, characters mirror their anime counterparts, but a notable deviation concerns Vicious (Alex Hassell) and Julia (Elena Satine), Spike's primary antagonist and long-lost love, respectively. Spike, Jet and Faye (plus Ein, the "Data Dog") make for a fun group of characters to hang with. She's an absolute blast to watch on screen and elevates an already great cast, giving the trio of bounty hunters a charming sense of camaraderie. Pineda's take is not only true to the seductive and ruthless nature of Faye, but adds a far more playful and endearing spin. He perfectly captures the deadpan nature of Jet while also showing his tenderness when bonding with his crew and loved ones.īut the clear standout is Pineda as femme fatale Faye Valentine. Shakir's take on the character is a dead ringer for his animated counterpart. Jet Black is the rock of the crew, serving as the unofficial captain of the Bebop - the ship they use to travel across the galaxy. When Spike's murky past comes to light, Cho effectively shows his character's darker side. Cho manages to nail Spike's natural cool and swagger, along with his iconic fluffy hair. Cho's portrayal of the aloof but always cunning Spike is a fantastic turn for the actor. When they're not arguing over food and minor inconveniences, they get caught up in missions across different planets stuck in a culturally stagnated society gripped by late-stage capitalism.
The backbone of the new series is the chemistry between the trio of bounty hunters. These gigs entangle them with oddball criminals and unnerving villains, and tug at various threads connected to the tragic pasts of each character.
Throughout the 10-episode season, the trio of bounty hunters - Spike Spiegel (John Cho), Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda), and Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir) - take on different jobs across the galaxy. Like the original, the live-action Cowboy Bebop sees a dysfunctional crew of bounty hunters riding a thin line between poverty and comfortable squalor in the distant future.