History YMMV / CowboyBebop

** The plot of the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 video game features the crew of the ''Bebop'' on a hunt for the [[PirateBooty lost treasure]] of a legendary SpacePirate named "[[Anime/CaptainHarlock Captain H]]." It appears there's no need for a [[CaptainErsatz "pirated" version]] as they meet the real deal in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsT''.

* EvilIsSexy: Vicious and Vincent again for both being TallDarkAndHandsome and having very deep voices.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: While this series is still among the pantheon of anime classics, some aspects are not perceived as they once were:
** The English dub is something this series has been praised for. However, given that the quality of dubbing in anime has improved since 2000, this isn't as big of a selling point as it once was.
** While Spike is still an indisputably popular character for his badassery and cool attitude, he ends up coming across like a clone of countless other [[EscapistCharacter generic cool guys]] that are a dime a dozen in anime that followed.

** Ed rubbing her head against Faye's thigh in "Ganymede Elegy". Also, Faye's [[DistractedByTheSexy constant glancing at Julia]] in "The Real Folk Blues".

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: While he's still undoubtedly a [[ParentalNeglect neglectful parent]], [[spoiler:Ed's father being uncertain whether Ed is his "son" or his "daughter" could also be interpreted as him being supportive of her ([[TransAudienceInterpretation potentially]]) nonstandard gender identity. The fact that he's as much of a ditzy, non-malicious CloudCuckoolander as Ed only heightens the ambiguity.]]

** Despite his initial popularity, [[TheDreaded Vicious]] grew [[CharacterPerceptionEvolution divisive over time. While he's recognized by many fans as TheChessmaster who puts all the pieces in place brilliantly, has epic fight scenes, and has an intriguing code of warrior's respect, not to mention significantly darkening the tone every time he appears, Vicious has also received criticism from people who find him to be an edgy ClicheStorm whose sparing appearances and minimal dialogue leave something to be desired in terms of depth, especially for the show's overarching antagonist and [[spoiler: the man who ([[ShrugOfGod probably]]) kills Spike Spiegel]]. Whether his minimalist, precise usage and his enigmatic WarriorPoet personality make him feel like a genuine threat or a plot device who exists only to kill off characters and move the story along have made him one of the more controversial characters in the show, even among those who otherwise like the overarching storytelling.

* BaseBreakingCharacter: Despite his initial popularity, [[TheDreaded Vicious]] grew divisive over time. While he's recognized by many fans as TheChessmaster who puts all the pieces in place brilliantly, has epic fight scenes, and has an intriguing code of warrior's respect, not to mention significantly darkening the tone every time he appears, Vicious has also received criticism from people who find him to be an edgy ClicheStorm whose sparing appearances and minimal dialogue leave something to be desired in terms of depth, especially for the show's overarching antagonist and [[spoiler: the man who ([[ShrugOfGod probably]]) kills Spike Spiegel]]. Whether his minimalist, precise usage and his enigmatic WarriorPoet personality make him feel like a genuine threat or a plot device who exists only to kill off characters and move the story along have made him one of the more controversial characters in the show, even among those who otherwise like the overarching storytelling.

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids: If you first see the title of the series, was the first thing that came to mind "Hey, my son loves cowboys! Maybe I can let him watch this show!"? Despite the show having the word "Cowboy" in the title, don't make an assumption that it's actually about cowboys. It's not very kid-friendly, either. It has very strong violence and adult themes, but despite this, when it aired on TV Tokyo, it ran on Fridays at 18:00 (6 p.m.), a time previously occupied by G-rated or almost-G-rated shoujo series like ''Manga/HimeChanNoRibon'', ''Manga/AkazukinChacha'', ''Manga/NurseAngelRirikaSOS'' and ''[[Manga/{{Kodocha}} Kodomo no Omocha]]''. The series only made it through half of its initial run.

%%and? unclear what aesop this is an "alternate" of* AlternateAesopInterpretation: Faye states that people can't trust each other and should take advantage of each other whenever possible.

%%* DieForOurShip: Julia, according to Spike/Faye fans. [[spoiler:Even though she, y'know, already dies.]]

%%** Tongpu, the {{Acrofatic}} MonsterClown, is often mistakenly called "Pierrot", after his alias "Mad Pierrot" and the episode's title "Pierrot le Fou", which literally means "Pierrot the Madman".

* HarsherInHindsight:
** The episode "Wild Horses" has the space shuttle ''Columbia'', now a long-disused antique, being brought out for one last mission. Creator/CartoonNetwork actually pulled this one off the air for a while after the real ''Columbia'' was destroyed during re-entry. Even worse, the episode mentions the shuttle's heat-resistant tiles being damaged, which is what caused the real ''Columbia'' to be destroyed.
** Cartoon Network pulled "Cowboy Funk" from its first run in September 2001 for its depiction of a pair of identical skyscrapers being destroyed by a terrorist.
** "Waltz for Venus" was pulled due to the opening scene where terrorists taking over a commercial airliner.
** TheMovie didn't get an American release in theaters until two years later due to its terrorism theme and that the movie made its run in Japanese theaters just days before 9/11.

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids: If you first see the title of the series, was the first thing that came to mind "Hey, my son loves cowboys! Maybe I can let him watch this show!"? Despite the show having the word "Cowboy" in the title, don't make an assumption that it's actually about cowboys. It's not very kid-friendly, either. It has very strong violence and adult themes, but despite this, when it aired on TV Tokyo, it ran on Fridays at 18:00 (6 p.m.), a time previously occupied by G-rated or almost-G-rated shows like ''Kodomo no Omocha'' and ''Akazukin Chacha''. The series only made it through half of its initial run.