In part 2 of The Real Folk Blues what was all that gibberish talk about between Vicious and Spike how I'm the only one that can wake you up from this dream? What was that about? Does Spike really die or does he just fall unconsciously?

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2003

Answers

death... pretty sad...

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2003

Spike and Vicious both had things to accomplish before dying: Vicious to become head of the Red Dragon and Spike to see Julia again. This is why neither was killed in ep. 5, 12, or 13. Once both of those events happened, however, neither had any reason for living. Seeing as how they were former friends and equally matched (and the fact it is fiction) it was up to them to kill one another. As far as Spike dying in ep. 26...it is up to you. You can choose to cling to the idea that Spike is alive and well, still Bebopin' with Faye and Jet. Or, you can realize that Spike was slashed deeply across the gut (remember that gallon of blood that spilled when Vicious fell? That was Spikes') with a katana wielded by someone who obviously knew how to handle it, and is not coming home.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2003

how many times does he die though.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2003

i think he died twice

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2003

Phyically? Twice....'He'd died a million times'(spiritualy).....and if you still don't beleive Spike is dead after Wolfwoods'speech.....remember at the end theme song ....what do you thionk that was....it was Spikes' 'assencion'.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2003

Look folks I never said I didn't believe Spike was dead. I was just asking is it a possibility he isn't dead? I for one do believe he's dead so stop with the " if you don't believe that he is dead" yada yada yada ok. I was just asking. And further more between Vicious and Spike what was all that talk about "Im the only one that can wake you up from this dream"?

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2003

...............what the fuck

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2003

...............what the fuck are.......never mind

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2003

hmmm well my take on that "i'm the only that can wake you up from this dream" is that vicious and spike had such conflicts with each other and julia that they only way they could've been solved if they both killed each other. that may sound stupid and rather childish coming from my mouth, but just think, what good would it have done if someone else killed spike or vice versa? i mean, they would've been dead, so what! they both just wanted to personally end each of other's lives cuz they both caused each other so much pain. i guess it means more if they personally did it. yeah that's my explanation, i bet ur more confused than ever, eevey dimaond...*sigh*...i try.

-- Anonymous, August 25, 2003

did vicious love julia too?

-- Anonymous, August 26, 2003

I advise each of you to read a book entitled simply "Anime" by Susan J. Napier. You kids are obviously missing the poetic message in the impact of the last episode. Read it. I doubt you can comprehend much beyond the asseding aspect of Spike's death.

-- Anonymous, September 22, 2003

Spike and Viscous have this whole huge connection that defines the red dragon story, and in a normal anime it'd be a simple matter of them killing each other because that's the way fate is supposed to play out. But in Cowboy Bebop the main focus of the anime isn't just Spike and Viscous. Spike and Jet manage to grow themselves a little family, at least for a short while. Spike doesn't exactly act like a man consumed by a single desire to say I love you to Julia one last time before meeting his tragic end whilst destroying his nemesis. He doesn't see himself as the tragic hero. Viscous sees himself as the villain, and Spike is very aware of where that places him. But he doesn't take it too seriously. He knows he's the cowboy and as he falls down the steps he points his fingers like a gun. It's a little private joke with himself. It's not "hey, I've destroyed my enemy, I've come here to die and now I shall die". He didn't go there to die. I can't imagine that Spike would just let himself get killed like that. Why would he bother? He's got more imagination. I don't think his will to live would simply be defined by other people. In fact, the question "is Spike alive?" or not is the same question that Spike wants to answer by going to fight Viscious. He says "I'm not going to die, I'm going to find out if I'm truly alive". Spike wants to know if he has anything else to him. He wanted to find out if, now that Julia is dead, is there any other reason for him to live besides simply to finish off the red dragon story? So I for one think that the question "is spike alive?" is still open for debate. It's the same question as asking "did spike have any reason to live besides to finish off a cliche story about a girl he was in love with and a guy who used to be his friend and is now his enemy?". If you simply watch the show and say "yes, Spike is dead" simply because that's what happens in anime and if you think anything else then it's wishful thinking then I think that you are not giving the character Spike and the show's creators enough credit for having any imagination. Personally, I don't rule out the possibility that Spike would have fought his way back to life once more, if only to continue complaining about Jet's cooking. Although, of course, if he did live, he wouldn't carry on as he was. He'd have to find a new direction in life, re-invent himself. I guess that's what he meant by being 'truly alive', having the will to start again from nothing, simply because you can.

-- Anonymous, September 29, 2003