Cowboy Bebop/Session 1 Asteroid Blues/Recap

We begin the series with a strange montage of violent events of a past life. While we don't know this now, this will play heavily by the end of the series. After which we're introduced to the excellent theme song "Tank" before opening the episode.

Cut to an overview of the solar system of that time. Obviously things have change since the 20th century, space travel now being very common most importantly. After which we shift to a ship with the words "Bebop" scrawled on the side. Cut to a man in shadow boxing in the dark and some food being cooked. It's here we meet the main characters, Spike Speigal and Jet Black. After the food "bell peppers and beef" (minus the beef) has been prepared, the two make it known they are bounty hunters and get down to business on their next perpetrator (with some funny dialogue about their last job leading to why there no beef in the food).

We then shift to a domed city built on an asteroid, Tequila, and the perpetrator in question Asimov Solman, entering a bar with his seemingly pregnant girlfriend. Asimov and the bar's owner go to the back room to discuss a drug deal on "Bloody Eye" which Asimov uses on himself as a demonstration. Things explode into chaos when men, syndicate flunkies from whom Asimov stole the drug, storm into the bar with guns blazing. Asimov takes them out easily thanks to the drug's relex-boosting effects. Elsewhere Spike visits an Indian friend to get the location on Asimov's whereabouts while Jet checks in on what's left of the bar and gets information from two loud mouthed syndicate stragglers.

Back with Asimov, he and his girlfriend, Katrina, have taken a break at a rest stop where he is suffering from the after effects of the drug. Spike just happens to be in the restroom with him as well, but nonchalantly gives Asimov advice on washing his hands and leaves him be. Spike runs into Katrina soon after and tricks her into revealing Asimov is the bounty he's after. However Asimov gets the drop on Spike and almost chokes him to death but Katrina stops him. With that Asimov and Katrina make a hasty exit.

Jet finds Spike later, waking up after passing out from Asimov's death grip. The two trade information and Spike shows his partner he has the sample of the drug (revealing himself to be quite a sneaky pickpocket) as well as where Asimov will head next. Back with the criminal, he arrived at his next location, a café, and once again bargains with the "owner". When asked for a demonstration, Asimov finds his sample missing which the owner proudly holds out in front of him. The owner, who is of course Spike, reveals his knowledge of the bounty and then proceeds to kick the un-boosted Asimov's arse.

Syndicate goons soon arrive in the midst of their fighting. While Spike is holding them off, Asimov and Katrina make their escape. A stray bullet hits Katrina's stomach and we see that her "pregnancy" is nothing more then a holding bag for the drugs. Asimov angrily yells at her for this, showing the he cares more about the drugs than her. Jet arrives to take care of the mob while Spike goes after the pair in his spacecraft. As they head toward the dome exit, Asimov uses copious amounts of the drug on himself, despite the pleas of Katrina. The police barricade the exit and Katrina realizes that neither she nor Asimov is getting out of there alive. A gunshot rings out as Spike catches up to their ship and finds that she has shot Asimov and is cradling his head in her arms. Katrina sadly tells Spike 'adios' as the police riddle her aircraft with bullets.

After this, we cut back to the Bebop, where Spike finishes practice and gloomily looks out over the stars. Dinner, "bell peppers and beef" is then served.

"See you Space Cowboy."

This episode has the follow tropes:


 * Downer Ending: Spike actully does seem to start a budding relationship with Katrina during their talk at the rest stop and her dream of seeing Mars. Sadly however her dream never comes true.
 * Mercy Kill: Katerina to Asimov as he was most likely addicted to Red Eye and wouldn't have given it up even if they had escaped.
 * Red Eyes, Take Warning: The drug isn't called "Red Eye" for nothing.
 * Slasher Smile: Asimov after taking the drug.