MetaLord Reviews: The Real Folk Blues, Part 2 · 10:01pm Apr 24th, 2019
Hey guys, this is MetaLord395, and today I will be reviewing part two of the “The Real Folk Blues”, which aired twenty years ago today. So without further ado, let’s review! And as always, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS!
And since this episode doesn't open up with the Cowboy Bebop theme song, I'll put a link in this review:
Picking up from the last episode, Spike greets Julia by saying that it was raining just like that evening three years ago. Julia reveals to Spike that she was supposed to kill him then, but out of love for him, instead chose to be hunted. She once more expresses her desire to run away with him again and then embraces him. (How do you think he’s gonna react?)
Meanwhile, at the Red Dragon Syndicate headquarters, Shin arrives just as Vicious and his men had completed their coup. Vicious asks Shin is “the target was terminated”, to which Shin says that “he got away”. Vicious then inquires on Julia’s whereabouts, and upon receiving no definite answer, warns Shin not to follow in his brother’s footsteps.
Spike and Julia drive to Annie’s to get supplies, only to find out that the syndicate had got to them first. Annie, who is bleeding from a bullet wound, informs them that she denied knowing Spike’s whereabouts, telling them that they were dead, and that the Elders were assassinated. As Julia enters, Annie expresses relief that the two are reunited. Spike goes to get weapons, and Julia realizes that he intends to defeat Vicious and promises to stay with him. Spike then realizes that the store is surrounded and prepares for a fight.
On the Bebop, Faye and Jet discuss Spike and how he may already be dead. Jet refuses to go assist, as he is no condition to do so.
Back at Annie’s shop, syndicate members break in and a massive firefight ensues. Spike and Julia manage to kill several men, but not before Julia herself is killed by a Red Dragon. Mortally wounded, Julia utters a final sentence and dies in Spike’s arms.
Jet seeks out Laughing Bull and asks him for Spike’s whereabouts. Laughing Bull tells Jet that a guardian star is formed when someone is born and will fade when that person dies, hinting that Spike’s star is about to fall. (Foreshadowing? Maybe?)
Back at Annie’s store, Vicious finds Julia’s coat, and now knows that Spike has nowhere to return. Meanwhile, to Jet’s surprise, Spike returns to the Bebop. While Spike eats, he tells Jet the story of a tiger-striped cat who died a million times and came back to life each time. One day the cat met a white female cat, who lived to old age and died, and the other cat cried a million times and died without coming back to life. The two friends laugh, and Jet jokingly asks if “it’s for the girl”. Spike replies that she’s dead and that nothing can be done about it. As Spike turns to leave, Faye asks where he is going and accuses him of being tied to his past. She tells Spike that even though her memory came back, she had no place to go and begs Spike not to throw his life away (she has a point, you know). When Spike still goes ahead with it, she tears up in frustration as he walks. (At least you tried?)
As soon as Spike reaches the syndicate headquarters, much to the surprise of the members, he begins a vicious one-man assault. After killing several men with guns, bombs, and explosives, he meets Shin, who reveals that Vicious is on the top floor and shows him the way. As he presses the elevator floor button, however, he is caught off-guard and killed. Before he dies, however, Shin tells Spike that Vicious must be killed and that he was waiting for Spike to return and take over.
Spike then storms into the chamber where Vicious is waiting. After an explosion that rocks the room, Vicious tells Spike that he is the only one who can kill him and set him free. Spike says that the same applies for Vicious, and the two begin to duel. Eventually, the battle results in a stalemate, and the two combatants end up disarming each other. Spike coldly tells Vicious that Julia is dead and that they should settle this once and for all, to which Vicious complies. After returning each other’s weapons, Spike shoots Vicious in the chest before Vicious could deal him a blow, and he falls to the ground, dead. As for Spike, well… just watch.
As Spike lies there on the ground (possibly dead? The creator said that it’s up to our interpretations as to whether he survived), smiling, a bright star fades away in the distance (could be either Spike’s or Vicious, again depending on our interpretation).
And then the show ends with these words:
How appropriate, seeing how FiM is in its final season this year and this will probably be what a lot of us will do once it ends.
Final Thoughts:
Much like Samurai Jack’s, this too was a perfect finale. It was tragic and ambiguous, and it really closed the character arcs for each of the main characters. It also shows that a good story can be told in 26 chapters. Now I see why this has been considered one of the best animes in existence. I just hope the live action adaptation that comes out next year will hold up to this standard. If, by any chance, you haven’t seen this anime, then I definitely recommend it.
I give this a 9.5 out of 10.
SEE YOU SPACE COWBOYS…
Is my little miraculous ladybug dead? Please say the answer is no. You left it at such a suspenseful part.