List of Cowboy Bebop episodes

After the jazzy title credits, we are formally introduced to both Spike and Jet who are exercising and cooking, respectively. Beef with bell peppers is the entree for tonight's meal, but there's just one problem: there's no beef. This further motivates Spike to catch another bounty, one Asimov Solensan (worth 2.5 million woolongs) who is hiding out on the Tijuana asteroid with his girlfriend Katerina.

Spike runs into the duo soon after receiving guidance from Old Man Bull. Spike soon learns that Katerina has had aspirations of one day traveling to Mars with Asimov, who has been running the reflex-enhancing drug "Red Eye" with her assistance. However, Asimov has lost sight of that goal, becoming dependent on Red Eye for everyday use. With Spike and the police hot on their heels and Asimov physically disintegrating (due to the Red Eye's effects) before Katerina's eyes, she decides to end it all before they are captured.

Again, Jet starts cooking beef with bell peppers as Spike exercises in another secluded area of the Bebop.

As a side-note, the personalities of the two leading characters are established in this episode: Spike as the laid-back, adaptible, almost invincible martial artist, and Jet as the methodical, responsible back-up and reconnaissance man. </td></tr>

Onboard the Bebop, Spike turns on the television to catch a showing of "Big Shot". The first bounty up on the list today is Abdul Hakim (worth 8 million woolongs), a serial pet thief who has stolen a "data dog" from a research facility. Soon after, a doctor who wants revenge after Hakim beat him up calls with information on Hakim's post-plastic surgery appearance. Meanwhile, Hakim enters a local bar for a drink; but has his suitcase stolen after he indulges his sadistic behavior by torturing a drunk.

The Bebop lands on Mars and Spike sets out in pursuit of Hakim, but even after getting a friendly tip, Spike winds up only finding the man who stole Hakim's suitcase. This suitcase turns out to contain a state of the art, highly expensive, cutting edge...but otherwise worthless Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Through a complex series of events, Spike finds himself with the dog but without Hakim.

With the dog in his possession, Spike hits the streets with the dog on a leash, knowing that Hakim must now come to him. Wandering past a fortune teller who claims to be able to find what he is looking for, Hakim gives it a shot and listens to what the old man has to say. The scientists looking to reclaim the dog are also becoming desperate, resorting to the use of a dog whistle to attract it. The resulting chase ends with Spike in possession of the data dog, while Hakim and the scientists crash into, of all places, the police station.

The data dog, Ein, is now a part of the crew of the Bebop. </td></tr>

On the Bebop, Spike and Jet are having mixed feelings about going after the bounty on Mao Yenrai; however, Faye can't get large reward out of her head, and goes to collect the bounty. Ave Maria begins in the background as Faye is plunged into the world of the Red Dragon. Trembling as she takes her seat next to the obviously dead Mao, she meets the dark and cruel man from earlier, who introduces himself as Vicious.

Meanwhile, Spike visits an old friend, Annie, who is seemingly related to Mao and in touch with all of the goings-on of the organized crime world. After his visit, Spike heads back to the Bebop to load up on supplies (i.e. pistols and grenades), when Faye calls in to give a location for the meeting. Faye is surprised when Spike offers to come, but he assures her that he's not going just to save her. He heads into a large, dark cathedral. Inside the rundown church, Vicious and his gunmen wait for Spike, who has come ready for a fight. A gunfight erupts as Spike shoots his way to Vicious.

Faye manages to make her way outside and phones Jet, as Spike ascends a staircase, killing some more gunmen before taking two bullets to the gut. Breathing hard next to a large tracery, Spike is surprised by Vicious, who quickly knocks Spike's gun from his hand and has him down on the ground. The two eventually come to a stalemate, but Vicious manages to send Spike through the tracery. However, not before Spike leaves a grenade at Vicious' feet. As Spike falls to the ground, time seems to slow down as more images of the past float through his mind before the explosion, as well as the image of a beautiful blonde woman, softly humming.

When Spike comes to on the Bebop, he finds Faye watching over him, humming the same tune as in his dream. After she notices that he is awake, Spike gestures for Faye to come closer to him. When she bends over to listen, he gasps, "You sing off key." Enraged, Faye slams Spike with a pillow and a deck of cards. Reaching up for a card on his forehead, Spike finds the Ace of Spades. </td></tr>

The Japanese title of this session, ガニメデ慕情 (Ganimede Bojō), literally means "Ganymede Longing". </td></tr>

The Japanese title of this session, 闇夜のヘヴィ・ロック (Yamiyo no Hevi Rokku), literally means "Dark Night of Heavy Rock". </td></tr>

Along with Brain Scratch, this is the only episode where all five members of Bebop play an equal role in the episode. The rest either focus primarily on one or two characters, or do not have the entire cast of characters at the time. </td></tr>

This episode was temporarily removed from airplay in the United States after the 2003 Columbia disaster. It also has references to Star Trek. Doohan is the name of the actor that played "Scotty", Miles refers to Chief Miles O'Brien, and there's a character named Reggie, a reference to Lieutenant Barclay of Star Trek: The Next Generation. </td></tr>

The Japanese title for this episode, 道化師の鎮魂歌 (Dōkeshi no Chinkonka), literally means "Clown's Requiem". Additionally, "Pierrot Le Fou" is an actual French movie directed by Jean-Luc Godard. </td></tr>

This episode was temporarily removed from airplay on Cartoon Network after the September 11, 2001 attacks, but has since entered normal rotation. </td></tr>

Londes is a homage to Heaven's Gate cult leader Marshall Applewhite. The idea of digitizing the soul to the internet could be a homage to Serial Experiments Lain and also Ghost in the Shell. </td></tr>

Spike and Vicious duel and Vicious is killed. Spike stumbles out of Vicious's chamber, clutching his side and bleeding profusely, and begins to descend a long staircase as several gangsters stare in awe and a bright light fills the room. Spike then raises his right hand, positioning his fingers to resemble a gun, says "Bang!" and collapses. Then the credits begin to roll with the stars as a background. Nearing the end of the credits a bright star fades out symbolizing that a warrior has lost his life. </td></tr>