The Mature Suffering of Spike Spiegel

Topic requested by: fickletraitor!
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#CowboyBebop #Spike #Anime

[@BB-qs7rl]

Spike tells Jet that Julia is his other half the same day he goes on that suicide mission. He never intended to move on from her.

[@zemox2534]

Bebop is one of the most depressing anime ever made, especially in the last 3 episodes. I will never forget the final scene of ep 26. Sends chills down my spine everytime

[@Jack-kn1mr]

"Bang..."

[@a.d.ovinniex9828]

24 made me really sad “call me , call me” 😭😭😭

[@archer3606]

*Evangelion has entered the chat*

[@TVCorpRPG]

@@archer3606 Cowboy Bebop's ending >>> Evangelion ending When it comes to how depressing it is.

[@Revengetoa2]

@@archer3606 bro literally I was about to😂 Kaji is the same VO actor as Spike in Japanese!

[@pogzival]

Let the fantasies of your future and dreams collide with your traumatic past and erase each other. Think only of the present and act instead of dwelling.

[@gooberdoober8416]

Damn...that's profound as hell

[@rasenganknight898]

"I am always tired" BRUH same here.

[@sashaweber3663]

True. I'm almost 29 and I feel the same things you've described. Just perpetual tiredness of life and apathy with some glimpses of happy events here and there.

[@somebunny2619]

In Session 1, Laughing Bull foretells of Spike's death being brought on by a woman. Laughing Bull: Swimming bird will meet a woman. The bird will be hunted by this woman. And then death. Spike: One more time. Laughing Bull: What's that? Spike: I was killed once before by a woman. Spike is speaking of Julia. Losing her love was so painful as to be considered a form of death. He was left in a detached dream-like purgatory from that day on. In Session 26, Julia is shot in front of Spike. White doves fly by in slow motion. Horror, shock, and agony are expressed in Spike's left eye. He screams her name, drops his weapon, and runs to her. He takes her in his arms. Hears her last words, which are inaudible to the audience. Spike looks down at his lost love and then up to the sky. The camera is now focused on Spike's right eye, which is shaking in a disturbing manner. The camera zooms into Spike's pupil and everything fades to black. The next scene is of Laughing Bull predicting Spike's imminent death. Holding Julia's coat, Vicious speaks of Spike. Vicious: A beast that has lost his place. He has nowhere to return to now. He will come. Vicious is both right and wrong. Spike will come, but he does have somewhere to return to one last time. Two rose petals are shown blowing away in the wind. Spike returns to the Bebop and tells Jet a story. An allegory about his life which he uses to explain why he will never return. Spike: There once was a tiger striped cat. This cat died a million deaths, revived and lived a million lives, and he was owned by various people who he didn't really care for. The cat wasn't afraid to die. Then one day the cat became a stray cat, which meant he was free. He met a white female cat, and the two of them spent their days together happily. Well, years passed, and the white cat grew weak and died of old age. The tiger striped cat cried a million times, and then he died too. Except this time, he didn't come back to life. Jet is keenly aware that Spike's death looms in the horizon. He is wary of the tale's implications. When Spike gets up to leave, Jet asks him one last question. Jet: Is it for the girl? Spike: [beat] She's dead. There's nothing I can do for her now. This is true. Julia is dead. There is nothing Spike can do for her. This does not lessen the impact she has on the events that are about to unfold. Jet understands this. Upon hearing of Julia's death, he has a resigned if devastated reaction. He knows exactly what this means for Spike. Faye confronts Spike while holding him at gunpoint. She knows that he is marching towards his death. Faye: Where are you going? Why, are you going? You told me once, to forget the past, ‘cause it doesn’t matter, but you’re the one still tied to the past, Spike! Spike does not deny this. Instead, he explains the truth about his eyes. The camera spans from his left eye to his right eye. Spike: Look at my eyes, Faye. One of them is a fake because I lost it in an accident. Since then, I've been seeing the past in one eye and the present in the other. So, I thought I could only see patches of reality, never the whole picture. Faye: Don’t tell me things like that; you’ve never told me anything about yourself, so don’t tell me now! Spike: I felt like I was watching a dream I could never wake up from. Before I knew it, the dream was all over. This is not the first time Spike has expressed this sentiment. One of his most revelatory quotes was said in the teaser for Ballad of Fallen Angels. Spike: The music box is broken, or is it? It starts to play, and a haunting tune fills the air. I wake suddenly from my dream. There is no music box! And yet there it is. A tiny one nestled in my hand. And I awaken from my dream again. As if I were peeling an onion. It’s a dream no matter how far I go. I can never reach reality. Trapped in an endless nightmare. Spike is so affected by the loss of the woman he loves that even an item she once possessed haunts him. It is her death that has finally woken him from his detached dream-like state. Faye shares with Spike that her memory has returned. She explains that there was nowhere for her to go back to. She pleads with him to stay. Spike ignores her please and instead leaves her with these parting words. Spike: I’m not going there to die; I’m going to find out if I’m really alive. I have to do it, Faye. Faye is not comforted by this statement. The audience should not be comforted either. Spike's words eerily echo what Jet said to him in session 25. Jet: Men only think about the past right before their death, as if they were searching frantically for proof that they were alive. Faye cries and shoots off her gun. An act reminiscent of the 21-gun salute that is used in the military to honor the fallen. Spike walks away from Faye without looking back. He is never shown thinking about anyone from the Bebop again. The song "See You Space Cowboy" plays as Spike leaves the Bebop. "Everything is already over", You say with closed ears The words only flow Towards a tomorrow without peace "There's nothing that won't change" *Even if my life ends* *This love will not disappear* *It's something that will live forever* Even if dreams are hidden in darkness I got a rainbow Rainbow in your hands... The camera zooms in on Spike's left eye. The eye that sees Spike's past. The lyrics begin as Spike is recalling romantic memories of Julia. He thinks of the first time he saw Julia and was captivated by her beauty. He thinks of a time when he made love to Julia and she cradled him in her arms. Given that Spike confided to Jet just the previous session that Julia was a part of him, the image shows a moment in Spike's life when he felt whole. Spike: She was a piece of me I had lost. She is my other half that I had longed for. The song continues to play as Spike attacks the syndicate. It is a ballad of undying love alluding to lovers being reunited in the afterlife. When Spike faces off against his hated rival, Vicious makes a proclamation. Vicious: So, you're finally awake. I told you before, Spike. I'm the only one who can kill you and set you free. Spike does not deny this. But makes a proclamation of his own. Spike: Those words apply to you as well, Vicious. During their fight, there comes a moment where the two disarm each other by swapping weapons. Vicious getting Spike's gun and Spike getting Vicious's katana. It is at this moment that Spike makes a statement of great significance to both men. Spike: Julia passed away. Let's end it all. The rivals return their weapons. Spike shoots Vicious but gets sliced across the abdomen. Vicious's death comes quickly, while Spike lingers as was foreshadowed. Vicious: Don't forget, a snake's venom poisons slowly after the bite. Spike watches Vicious's body fall to the ground, spends but a few of seconds looking at him, then looks up to the night's sky. The camera is focused on Spike's right eye. Now calm. Spike sees Julia. This is the first time in the entire series that Spike is shown seeing Julia with his right eye. In session 13, during an auditory flashback, Spike and Julia discuss his eyes. Spike: My left eye sees the past. Julia: What about your right eye? We do not hear his response. In the penultimate scene of the series, we are specifically shown what Spike sees with his eye that sees his present. He sees her. In Spike's vision, Julia is cast in a white light. She tells Spike that "It's all a dream." Spike is shown reflected back in Julia's eye. He glumly concurs with her. "Yeah. Just a bad dream." Spike is then completely engulfed by a blinding white light. The scene fades to white. This light is reminiscent of the divine light that is cast upon a soul that is ready to ascend to heaven. From white we transition to the final scene of the series. It is now day. A white light is now cast over the entire syndicate. Spike smiles, points a finger gun at the remaining syndicate goons and says "bang". This is a callback to Wen from session 6. As Wen was dying he asked Spike if he understood the relief that came with one's own death. In response, Spike threw Wen's harmonica up in the air, pretended to shoot it while saying "bang", but then said "as if". When Spike says "bang" this time he is acknowledging that he now understands that relief. Spike falls to the ground. He is never shown moving again. White doves are shown flying over Spike's body. White doves also flew by Julia when she died. The camera follows an ascension into the heavens, while the song "Blue" plays. The song's lyrics allude to a soul ascending to heaven. Free Wanna be free Gonna be free And move among the stars You know, they really aren't so far Feels so free Gotta know free Please *Don't wake me from the dream* *It's really everything it seems* I'm so free No black and white in the blue Everything is clearer now *Life is just a dream, you know* *That's never-ending* *I'm ascending* At the end of the credits a star goes out but never falls. In session 13, Laughing Bull informs the audience to what a falling star truly is. Laughing Bull: The tear of a warrior. A lost soul who has finished his battle. A pitiful soul who could not find his way to the lofty realm. Where the great spirit awaits us all. Given that the star we are shown does not fall, it is reasonable to infer that the soul the star belonged to did make its way to the great spirit that awaits us all. That soul has broken away from the cycle of death and rebirth and is never coming back. As was foreshadowed to happen to Spike in the fable of the tiger striped cat, who followed his love into death and never returned. In Buddhism, breaking away from the cycle of death and rebirth is the ultimate release from suffering. In defeating his enemy and choosing to love his beloved eternally Spike is finally set free.

[@thedragonfly8315]

Good analysis!

[@Princeoftides999]

Beautifully said 🙌🏽

[@Lanman106]

Very well written!

[@QuantumMecha]

DAMN, I apologize for the necro, but this comment was so fucking well thought out. I just had to say, all this time later, I appreciate your analysis and the effort you put forth into this comment

[@intrepidoutlaw706]

One of the rare moments where I dont write "I aint readin allat 💀💀💀" under a comment that yas a whole ass essay.

[@itCamefromit]

It takes Time to heal, so don't get too discouraged when it takes a few years or more to understand how the weight effects you. Learning why you do the things you do is an important skill to learn. Thanks for this great video.

[@Duopierce]

I'm 33. Bebop has been my favorite anime for a long time. The things you described in this video hit me a lot harder than a KZbin comment can get across, but yeah. Maturity truly is quiet suffering.

[@Duopierce]

I'm so tired...

[@johnny_my_penls_is_small_but]

Personally I didn't see it so tragically, even through all the suffering Cowboy Bebop teaches us that with enough blood, peppers and beef we can find out who we really are and find our peace.

[@faith4099]

I watched this anime 7 times, it still gives me the good old vibes...

[@sawkchalk6966]

If nothing else, I think this series is the a great encapsulation of the saying "an unexamined life is a life not worth living" We're all carrying some form of weight with us, it gets heavier as we get older, that's natural. The issue is then when we don't take the time to unpack and examine the baggage we're carrying. As Oceaniz says in the video, the Bebop Crew is complacent, happy to chase bounties till they die because they don't understand how to process the trauma they've all lived with. By episode 24, the cast has made great strides in dealing with their problems but Spike went so long without dealing with his problems that it eventually does him in. Yeah, carry your weight folks but don't do it mindlessly. Great vid

[@Gemini053]

This makes every philosophical breakdown the other videos made points of so much more digestible…Thank you XD

[@rupertgordonii6623]

So true man 🎈

[@max4furious]

You don't have to carry all that weight. that's what I had to learn recently

[@elcabezon2222]

wow bro thank you for sharing this... Best comment!!!! regards

[@because7768]

TLDR

[@jedlund8493]

I never thought I'd get this far! I'm 40 and I've died twice. You'll carry that weight. Don't fear.

[@simonhoracek8490]

I finally finished watching this anime yesterday. Coincidence? I think not

[@aaronitodo2678]

Just finished watching it 10 minutes ago.

[@selvesterx1006]

On what?

[@small_pisello23]

Yes, it is a coincidence

[@mariocruno3772]

Ok, I wanna watch this series now

[@itzbebop]

In other words....you're gonna carry that weight

[@Magaxstar]

Love your content man, keep it up ❤️ You and the Channel The Meaning of NERD are my go to for philosophical Pop culture stuff 🙏🏼

[@Eterrath]

Cowboy Bebop is the show that gets better the older I get. I'm glad it was my first anime (and I'm only in my late teens) but as I grow older, I can understand and realize the depth of the show and the video essays describing the show more and more. By the next 10 or 20 years, Bebop will probably be my all time favorite show.

[@7ylerD]

This video is uncomfortably accurate...

[@papabungle]

"copyrigh(sic) law sucks death to capitalism" finally, a good opinion from an anituber.

[@toplobster740]

Without capitalism we'd all still be some noble's serf. that said, Pure capitalism is not a good thing either.

[@pimposki6232]

@@toplobster740 and without feudalism we would be in an absolute monarchy. but then feudalism came along, and was an improvement, and then capitalism did the same. there is no reason that we can't move on from capitalism too; the common trend, from religious theocracy to absolute monarchy to feudalism to capitalism, the common trend is the masses kicking up dirt until they improve their material conditions. with how great wealth inequality is today, i see no reason for capitalism to hang around, and suspect it will go the way feudalism did

[@austinazize2848]

In an attempt to further ingrain myself and obtain further insight on a series that I already hold dear to my heart anyway, this video only ended up reminding, teaching, and confirming things for me about myself. In a way thats a good thing, yet it's merely a peaceful reminder in how much it all still hurts. Still though, thank you. Probably the best analysis i've seen in a very long time

[@bridgett2414]

That’s the best analysis on KZbin!

[@AlexA-lx1sj]

Girl that last quote of your video made me scream omg

[@taylortundra]

Dude this video is so fucking good!!! This deserves way more than 10k views!!!!!!!!

[@StepBaum]

The opening looked super crisp. Also great Video :)

[@frosnen]

The only series to me that has no minuses, like at all. Just perfect anime

[@Midorikonokami]

*laughs at your comment about the series come up in literature class* that's my same reaction! Then I went to a whole, entire conference about FMA and have academic books about fandom, and I got used to it.

[@Alex-xy9ho]

Brilliant video

[@Tfunkshizzle]

Homie as an old soldier as soon as you said you were tired I was like oh this guy gets it this is gonna be good

[@Tfunkshizzle]

Helping people makes you feel a little less tired

[@nadirabdulle2073]

I just finished the anime last week what a ride

[@a.d.ovinniex9828]

Thanks to describe one of my favourite characters of the all time. I see myself o lot on him.

[@josephmchugh4040]

Oh shit. This observation hit closer to home than I'd like to admit.

[@pyrosianheir]

If this tiredness and spiritual/emotional exhaustion is "Maturity," then I'd like to turn in about 14 or 15 years, and ditch it. Because - if you'll pardon this bit of swearing - it fucking sucks....

[@nurlindafsihotang49]

Well...you must have a good childhood. Because those childhood, many of fellow humans terrified to come back to. It's the most vunerable phase in life.

[@user-ib7dn5wf1h]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPIKE JUNE 26 2044 🎂🍰🎉

[@laurenrogers]

This is something I also see a lot in both Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye from Fullmetal Alchemist

[@saevus2686]

Dang imagine having Cowboy Bebop brought up in lit class

[@itzbebop]

See you space cowboy

[@r.babylon2885]

Hello, Darkness, my old friend.

[@OnizukaAllMighty]

I have watched it around 11 years ago, it's a fine show especially for new anime watchers

[@desfigon8552]

Nice analysis! And don't worry about the never ending streal of cowboy bebop videos, it's always cool to see more bebop on my feed. Can I ask you how old are you exactly? I'm starting to feel what you described in the video, and I wondrt if you're younger or older than me.

[@blondeocean2462]

Very well said…

[@FlashBO7]

god damn Minecraft opening, love it!

[@Jack-kn1mr]

That intro music sounds like it's from the game kingdom.

[@jewel-kun9730]

If thing feel rough for my young age, I wonder if it'll be worse as I get older...

[@viridianacortes9642]

Watch Vinland Saga. It’s kinda of a good answer to this series.

[@sneedmando186]

The bittersweet taste of life Remember *. . . Y o u ‘ r e g o n n a c a r r y t h a t w e i g h t*

[@leclubbachraf]

GIVE IT UP FOR SPIKE SPIEGEL BIRTHDAY *JUNE 26 2044*

[@Y.O.B3795]

Literally me

[@jimmyw7537]

I'm just always tired

[@anatue2252]

The fact that this was the first anime I've ever watched, and that Jojo is the second, explains why I can't really watch other animes anymore...

[@tvrtkoharapin8809]

Jojo ruined it for you?

[@anatue2252]

@@tvrtkoharapin8809 no, they're just both such good animes both in art style and story that I just don't feel like the mainstream options are interesting anymore. Tbh I wanna give Berserk a go because it seems to be on the same level.

[@anatue2252]

@@user-sn7qc8qf3h alright!!

[@anatue2252]

@Hunterkage Joestar I agree with those I know (and part 7 is also my favorite part!), but that last one. You can't trick me, I know what Boku no Pico is...

[@HOLDENPOPE]

@@anatue2252 Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood and 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist

[@zbh9268]

I completely get where you are coming from. I have that heaviness too. I just can't let it stop me from doing what I want to do.

[@danchase7454]

I am stuck in quarantine. I am getting more sleep than ever and eating well. WHY THE FUCK AM I STILL TIRED?!

[@Loriddian]

Is that Scarlatti or Bach in the background.

[@marvinguzman924]

Mid 20’s here too.

[@davidmckayii752]

Love tho

[@bradydavis5791]

Well done video. Also, to any anime enthusiasts out there looking for an identity and chooses to adopt an anime persona. Don't. Acting like anyone from anime, especially Spike Spiegel, WILL NOT GET YOU LAID, MUCH LESS NOTICED BY A WOMAN OF VALUE AND QUALITY. PERIOD. Other than that. See ya, space cowboys.

[@robpetrone2459]

Jesus is the answer. At 52 years of age, I am able to carry all of life's baggage with facility thanks to Him.

[@Loriddian]

He carried his cross. We all have to carry ours. I like that

[@Kaiyanwang82]

"those whom the gods love die young" - I disagree BTW but that's the sentiment

[@themayhemera3046]

Nah man, in life people gotta live free, fight, and die. but when we live these kinda lives we know we're just perpetually perpetrating the mundane 'safe' life. Or just get outta ur comfort zone and grow everyday don't be stagnant. if u be stagnant in life ur gonna be like that bum (spike)

[@Narrowexe]

monke =)

[@martinbaumbach5212]

Oh a Video about dekus dad

[@xaviermarshburn3162]

Bro not over Julia yet?

[@panchito0906]

I barely finished Cowboy Bebop a few days ago, the timing on this video couldn't have been better.

[@darthnius809]

This hit me harder than id like to admit Other than that, great interpretation

[@manjeetsingh-rf5fs]

Something that isn't mha or jjk wtf lol

[@TerexJ]

I love C418, but when you use it in a KZbin video unrelated to Minecraft I KNOW you're poor.

[@MaxP_88]

Amazing video as always. By the way, you can always come to Argentina, where we effectively killed capitalism. It's a wonderful place. You would love it.

[@MonkeyDLuis-jh1sg]

Spike's gotta be one of the anime characters who suffered most. He was betrayed by his best friend, lost the woman he loved, had to fight and kill his former best friend which led to his death

[@erenandlelouch9173]

He is up there with guts ,subaru and lelouch in terms of suffering

[@gio_el_santo0099]

Fuck, I called it! ( I haven't finished the show yet)

[@tiger-stripedcat7199]

The final act opens with a song about how Spike will love Julia even when he's dead and be with her in the afterlife. Spike gets sliced across the abdomen and for the first time sees Julia with his eye that sees his present. Then he is engulfed in a white heavenly light. He dies. White doves fly over his body. White doves flew over Julia's body. His soul ascends. A song about his soul ascending to heaven plays. His star goes out but doesn't fall, which means that he made it to the great spirit that awaits. He's with Julia now.

[@sesereddead465]

He looks like deku if he chose to be a bounty hunter instead of a hero... Jokes aside, I really like spike and Steve Blum is amazing in his performance of this badass.

[@roma5869]

Wow such a great video. This show also resonates with me as a mid 20’s man more than it did when I first saw it more than a decade ago.

[@erenandlelouch9173]

Babe wake up . New oceaniz video

[@idontknow3108]

Bruv don't blame capitalism blam the human nature im this case policy makers...

[@G-LukeJA]

Its humans who create and dictate how capitalism works

[@pedroportela6476]

... Capitalism was created by humans.

[@MaxP_88]

Those who laugh at the "it's not capitalism, it's human nature" are the first ones to say "it's not socialism, it's human nature, let's try again" when everything goes to shit. I live in a wonderful place called Argentina where we effectively killed capitalism. The dream is real. I think European kids would absolutely love to be here.

[@MaxP_88]

@@pedroportela6476 "capitalism" is just the natural state of freedom of commerce. It originated organically by necessity of the people. To erradicate that concept you would need a tyrannical government. If you reduced the world to an anarchic state, it would appear again. And you would need to make it dissapear again. But that wouldn't really be anarchy anymore. Fighting the capital only results in poverty for all. We have been doing it in my country for 70 years and we have 50% poverty. It's funny seeing people from better countries than mine and with a better lifestyle wanting the same ideas that destroyed my country and turned it into a crime ridden feudalistic state. People escape from my country to USA and Europe to have a better life, never the other way around. Capitalism is not perfect but it's what created the most well-being for the most people. The only thing better than it is an imaginary utopia, but utopias are always better than anything. If people there truly knew what it means to kill capitalism, if they lived through it, they would never say that insanity again. But what can you do really, you just have to let people forge their own destiny and make mistakes. We certainly made our own and are paying for it with tears and blood.

[@pedroportela6476]

@@MaxP_88 ok, I'm not reading that. Good for you, or sorry that happened. Bye bye

[@charleslathrop9743]

"Death to capitalism" okay... well, goodbye forever.

[@Oceaniz]

Bye!

[@G-LukeJA]

Beat it chump

[@MaxP_88]

Seeing european kids with a better lifestyle than anything I can achieve in this shithole of a country talking about how capitalism must be destroyed is honestly laughable. I agree 100% with them that privilege is real. They are the embodiment of it.

[@erinv1232]

Your gonna carry that weight....

[@Midorikonokami]

Yes, but also no.

[@thabokgwele5268]

Lol can y'all honestly say that Cowboy Bebop wasn't boring?

[@thelastgreninja]

It has really boring episodes but also has some of the bests episodes in anime imo

[@panchito0906]

It was boring then and there imo

[@gio_el_santo0099]

Did have some miss ep, but most of show slaps

[@murderman8578]

The Slow paced makes it slightly boring

[@tehcookievanilla1323]

After accepting the episodic nature, rewatching it was much better and I enjoyed it much more in my opinion

[@niapurdue230]

Yess!! Bell peppers and beef all the way.