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Posted: 9:23 AM - Dec 07, 2001
Jim
I just finished the entire Cowboy Bebop series, and definitely enjoyed it FAR more than Lain, and possibly more than Evangelion (although they're quite different, so its kinda hard to compare). Anyway, after getting through disc 6 (props to Bandai for a pretty good dvd aside from a few minor faults, but well ahead of ADV's Evangelion discs), and I'm left with a question. Spoilers ahead, if you didn't already see that part.



Simply, did Spike die?
Now for the not-so-simple part of my question. Spike claimed that he was already dead from the start of the series, from when he had lost Julia. He's been wandering around on the Bebop, and when he loses Julia again, that's when we have a final battle with Vicious (although, when I finished episode 5...I kinda thought BLOWING HIM UP was kinda final ). He leaves the Bebop after telling Faye that he's going to find out if he's alive. Still not sure if he was talking figuratively there or not.
Anyway, Spike survived quite a few encounters in the past, and I'm left wondering if Spike actually died, even though that's the "obvious" answer.
He survived:
That wound from some fight, when he fell down in front of Julia (don't remember a specific explanation on it)
He survived at least one gunshot wound, a sword stab to the shoulder, and getting THROWN OUT OF THE WINDOW of that Church, onto the (concrete?) steps, many stories below.
He survived Pierrot Le Fou, who almost killed him twice.
He escapes death in most episodes, whether its trying to get out of the mine's using Decker's super explosives, or almost plunging into the Earth with his dead ship, and even a horrible sort of organism (that grew off a lobster? ) that's crawling around the ship, which turns out to be nothing more than a probiotic organism.
He (apparently) even survives the psycho terrorist Vincent Volaju in the movie, probably getting banged up there as well.
So if he's shot by a Red Dragon member, and gets sliced once or twice by Vicious, could that really kill Spike? Was his life's goals now complete with the death of Julia, and then the death of Vicious, that he had nothing else to live for? Or did he simply pass out (again) due to the lost blood? I mean, if they had the medical technology to keep Faye alive for 50 years after that shuttle accident or to replace Jet's arm after his own accident, isn't it natural to assume that Spike made it out of there alive?
Its such a straight-forward ending in some ways, and in others, its confusing the hell out of me. I just wanted to know the opinions of some of you guys here, as well as any info or parts I may have missed (including any official comments on Spike's fate).

The other thing about the ending, which is not really a BAD thing in this case, just a bit different, is how ABRUPT it is for the rest of the cast. Ed and Ein already ran off, never to be seen from again, but Faye had already returned. In one episode, Julia, Vicious, Annie, Shin, and possibly even Spike all die, and we have no clue as to the fate of Faye and Jet. I'm not really complaining or anything, but it did throw me off a bit.

Posted: 8:32 PM - Dec 07, 2001
Gestahr
Spike did die, don't let anyone tell you different. At the end, while playing Blue, we see his star sorta fade out and die(remember what the prophet said?). If you need more proof, Kawamoto confirmed his death(I was there at Otakon2k1 when he did). Spike was the only one who could kill Vicious and vice versa, and even if he could be brought back he wouldn't want to be. The entire reason he went there was to kill Vicious and be killed himself as Vicious indirectly killed Julia(Her death really bothered me, not the fact that she died, but how).
Ed and Ein ran off so Ed could figure out who she really was, and I think we're supposed to assume that Faye is taking Spike's place aboard the Bebop as she has no other place to go(we see in ep 23 or 24 that her home has been completely demolished). The whole going to find out if he was alive thing spawned from his talk about living in a dream, and the only way to find out if you really ARE alive is to die. And yeah, Vincent rocks Spike. =P
I was all over the board there, sorry, but deal with it. =P

Posted: 6:32 PM - Dec 09, 2001
joethai
Ed is a girl right???????
Never Give up! Never Surrender!

My Web Site
Love Always.... Joseph

Posted: 10:00 PM - Dec 09, 2001
Drakkael
I think so.

Posted: 10:48 PM - Dec 09, 2001
Spokker Jones
I don't like to look into stories too much. I usually take a plot as literal as I can.
Spike can take a lot of licking and keep on ticking (in more ways than one!) but all those other times he survived insurmountable odds is because he WANTED to. At the end of the series however, he collapses and dies willingly. If he wanted to survive, he would have found an escape and jet back to the bebop.
-Spok-

Posted: 11:49 PM - Dec 09, 2001
Gestahr
You and me both, Spok. You must hate english class. =P The only reason I know so much about the series is because I was confused about some parts and I had to research.

Posted: 1:59 AM - Dec 10, 2001
joethai
one ep that i like is
SESSION #20

PIERROT LE FOU

After a night on the town, Spike stumbles into the middle of a firefight. The assassin known only as Mad Pierrot has just claimed his seventh high-ranking victim in the Inter-Solar System Police, but when Spike intervenes, he barely escapes with his life. A psychopath with superhuman abilities and a childs mind, Pierrot hunts down anyone who sees his face, and that means Spike must fight for his life in a fairground dodging bullets, ducking ice-skating penguins, and running from giant collapsing pigs. (Not shown on the original broadcast run).

but thats all ive seen 1-20
Never Give up! Never Surrender!

My Web Site
Love Always.... Joseph

Posted: 4:57 AM - Dec 10, 2001
Spokker Jones
Actually English is the only class I enjoy. It's just that my answers are very...well... literal. They're short and to the point, which makes it especially hard to BS my way through essays.-Spok-

Posted: 6:16 AM - Dec 10, 2001
Drakkael
I loved Pierrot le Fou. I can't explain why, though.

Posted: 6:34 AM - Dec 10, 2001
Gestahr
Be happy you're in none of my english classes then. My teacher picked apart every single possible thing, if Mark Twain pissed into a lake and wrote about it, we'd spend a week discussing the angle of entry when the urine hit the water and how it reflects back on his other works. =P