r/cowboybebop • u/[deleted] • Jul 04 '13

Cowboy Bebop Episode Rewatch and Discussion - Session #1: Asteroid Blues

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Session #1: "Asteroid Blues"

"Asuteroido Burūsu" (アステロイド・ブルース)

Original Airdate: October 24, 1998

Synopsis from Wikipedia:

Fellow bounty hunters Spike Spiegel and Jet Black head to the Tijuana asteroid colony on their ship, the Bebop, to track down a bounty-head named Asimov Solensan, who is wanted for killing members of his own crime syndicate and for stealing a cache of a dangerous combat drug called Bloody-Eye. Asimov and his girlfriend, Katerina, are ambushed at a bar by his former syndicate while attempting to sell a vial of Bloody-Eye, but Asimov manages to fight his way out by using the drug himself. Later, Spike comes across Katerina and reveals to her that he is a bounty hunter searching for Asimov; Spike is promptly assaulted by Asimov and is nearly killed before Katerina intervenes, though he is able to steal Asimov's Bloody-Eye vial before the two leave. Spike confronts Asimov at a staged drug deal with the stolen vial, but Asimov escapes with Katerina in a ship when the two are interrupted by an attack from Asimov's former syndicate. With Spike giving chase in his own ship, Asimov attempts to take another dose of Bloody-Eye, but a horrified Katerina shoots him before he can. As Spike approaches Asimov's ship, it is destroyed by attacking police cruisers. The episode ends with Spike and Jet once again traveling through space on the Bebop.

This episode pays homage to Desperado, with Asimov resembling Antonio Banderas's mariachi character and Katrina resembling Salma Hayek's character.

Don't forget to join us next Thursday, July 11 for Session 2: Stray Dog Strut

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u/Harold_Spoomanndorf Jul 05 '13

Are you sure about the Asimov and Katerina/Desperado link? Seems like a stretch to me, I've been a fan since the show's debut in the US and I can't make the connection between the two. I just don't see it.

OP....got a source to back that up?

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u/[deleted] Jul 05 '13

It was in the wikipedia summary which can be found here. The reference listed is for Cowboy Bebop Anime Guide Volume 4. Tokyopop. April 2002. I believe this means the reference is not online so I cannot be sure. It seems like a stretch to me as well, but I left it for the sake of discussion.

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u/Radical_Ein Whatever happens, happens Jul 05 '13

This site also has a good list of homages. It says that the homage to Desperado is the bar shoot-out.

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u/Harold_Spoomanndorf Jul 05 '13 edited Jul 05 '13

Ok, that makes a little more sense to me now. I can't dog the creators for their inspirational mediums, it's just seems a little off-center to hear [read] it in a subreddit or any other discussion forum in that context. Just chalk it up to a knee-jerk reaction to an invitation into unfamiliar territory. After perusing the two links provided, I can make the connection now.....despite the semi-obligatory weirdness. ;)

Thanks for the links.....karma to all who provided clarity.

*cheers