Cowboy Bebopis a series that never quite seems to go away, despite it having been 27 years since it first premiered in Japan. With no inkling of a continuation of the franchise, excepting Netflix’s short-lived live-action adaptation,Cowboy Bebopremains as relevant for fans today as when it aired its final episode years ago.
Cowboy Bebop is loaded with meaningful quotes, and each character has plenty of memorable moments. However, the final words to appear on screen are some of the heaviest in the series, and not just literally: “You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.” It’s a famous phrase, but in the context ofBebop’s finale, it takes on new meaning.
Cowboy Bebop’s Final Line May Reveal the Creator’s Feelings
The Line is More Than a Musical Reference
“You’re Gonna Carry That Weight” is, of course, a reference to the Beatles song of the same name, and perhaps not coincidentally, one of the final songs they wrote and performed as a band. There’s a feeling to the song that the artists know that the end is coming.
According to music critic Ian McDonald, the lyrics recognize that their individual accomplishments might never measure up to what they’d achieved together.In the context ofCowboy Bebop’s final episode, it refers to the weight that Spike (if he lives) will have to carry the weight of the decisions that he made that day.
That includes not only his terrible injuries, and the killing of a man who was once his friend, but the loss of Julia as well.Even if Spike lives, there’s a lot resting on his shoulders that he’ll never truly get out from underneath.
The line could very well have another meaning, however. As the closing words ofBebop’s final episode, the quote could also be interpreted as a message from the production staff as well, perhaps a realization of how influential and importantCowboy Bebopwould be, and their own way of acknowledging that they might never create something so amazing again.
Cowboy Bebop is a Legacy All Its Own
Many Talented Artists Were Involved in Bebop, But Have They Ever Topped It?
Cowboy Bebopwas the result of work by hundreds of talented artists, from series creator Shinichiro Watanabe all the way down to the artists drawing backgrounds or adding sound effects. Watanabe is certainly no slouch, with many well-received works that he’s created sinceCowboy Bebop, includingSpace Dandy,Samurai Champloo, and more.
Yet, as incredible as these other projects are, they never quite managed to live up to the incredibly high bar set byCowboy Bebop.In interviews, there’s definitely a sense that something aboutBebopis just different, and they knew that even as it was being made. PerhapsBebop’s final line really was an acceptance that it could be their magnum opus.
For a series that touted itself as “the work which becomes a new genre itself,“Cowboy Bebopcertainly managed to deliver, and it’s impressive that the crew behind the series had this kind of self-awareness even when in the midst of its creation.Cowboy Bebopis truly a high bar not just for Watanabe, but for anime as a whole, and that’s a weight he’ll always carry.
