Netflix took a short break from Formula 1:Drive to survive to launch its live-action adaptation of the classic animated series Cowboy Bebop Friday, and the internet has been talking about it all weekend. Although the reception by fans and critics was mixed, it brought a big surprise to accompany all kung fu fights and sharp jokes: surprisingly good cars.

(This article contains extremely light spoilers for Netflix Cowboy Bebop.)

The staff of The reader is engaged in spotting cars by watching the series, and there are some good ones. It’s a strange mix of vintage cars, almost Cuban in their anachronistic feel, and futuristic space vehicles. It’s a fascinating setup for a spectacle that takes place 150 years into the future and across a number of planets and asteroid colonies.

Described as “the neo-black western space”, the Los Angeles Times
to summarize Cowboy Bebop for the uninitiated:

“Set in the not-so-distant future after humans had to colonize other planets and moons in the solar system, Cowboy Bebop follows an unsuitable team of bounty hunters who operate from the Bebop spacecraft. This includes the working Captain. tough ship, Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir), his laid-back partner with a mysterious past, Spike Spiegel (John Cho), and – ultimately – the rambling and determined Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda).

The original anime is considered one of the greatest of all time and remains a beloved fan favorite today. And like the original show, the Netflix remake takes protagonists to engage in hand-to-hand combat in weird places that resemble the American Wild West or distant orbital casinos. When you look past the action – just a second, so you don’t miss a knockout knockout at the right time – and you’ll see some cool cars in the background. Because what does a self-respecting action movie do if it doesn’t have cars, car chases, and car crashes?

Half comedy, half film noir, half science fiction epic, Cowboy Bebop was shot entirely in New Zealand over a period of approximately 140 sets and locations. The costumes are fantastic as are the fight scenes I’ve seen so far. There is something about this series that appeals to me. It may be the Star wars-as a mix of misfits, bounty hunters and outer space.

Or maybe it’s the fact that somehow in this tale of history the colonized solar system is populated by people who actively drive old American muscle cars and European commuter cars. . (Unless we missed it, no attempt was made to explain if these cars ran on gasoline or something else.) Cowboy Bebop has always been full of anachronistic technologies like 90s PCs and Betamax tapes to accompany his personal spaceships and space travel doors; producers have also extended this approach to what people drive. Here are a few examples we found.

In the first episode, the titular vessel, the Be-bop– dock in the asteroid city of New Tijuana in search of a bounty. While waiting for the hem, there’s a 1950s Pontiac, which sets the tone for what’s to come.

Later in that same episode, Spike and his target are seen next to a very select 1970s yellow Chevrolet Camaro. We see him speeding off when things go wrong for our crew.

In a later episode on Europa, we meet ex-cop Jet’s ex-partner, and he drives a late 1950s Buick Roadmaster. A prime choice for a detective in a dark history, especially one who doesn’t. is not what it seems.

If you’ve seen the original show, you probably never thought of union madman (and hero Spike’s former best friend) Vicious as a car guy. But in the remake, he’s seen in a flashback behind the wheel of an elegant 1970s Mercury Cougar convertible.

In another episode, “Galileo Hustle”, we see Faye and another woman trying to refurbish an old Fiat 500. There is also a burnt out Citroën DS behind it. Again, how did these classic cars end up in deep space? We don’t know, but we love it.

And in the season finale, Jet saw driving a ’60s Oldsmobile Toronado before a big shootout. He has a surprise that awaits his enemies in the spacious trunk of this car.

Either way, there are a lot more good cars out there where it came from. Check out the always reliable Internet Movie Car database if you need help spotting, and Cowboy Bebop is streaming on Netflix now.

See you later, space cowboy. Comment below or write to the author at [email protected]