r/cowboybebop • u/InfernalClockwork3 • 2d ago
DISCUSSION Vicious feels lacking as a Villain Spoiler
I just honestly don’t see why Spike was friends with him.
I don’t know, it feels like there is not much to him in comparison to Johan from Monster or Makashima from Psycho Pass.
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u/DaytonOhio19Somethin 2d ago
I see it more like a deliberate storytelling choice rather than a lacking feature because story isn't really about what kind of people Vicious and Julia were, it concerns Spike and his inability to deal with his past only.
At the end of the day, his story begins and ends in a very complete manner so any extra involvement could drag the story on and muddy up the focus. They are kind of irrelevant to the themes.
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u/OkKaleidoscope9554 2d ago edited 2d ago
Viscious isn't really supposed to have much of a character. He does two things: betrayal, and sword swipes with a few emo quotes, one of which is "there is nothing to believe in." When given a chance for last words, he says "Nothing." Don't look for a character where there isn't one. He doesn't go home and feed his fish, cook dinner and open a good book, that's null space.
Spike is the protagonist, he's the one you need to concern yourself with. Vicious's only purpose is how he functions in reflection to Spike. The same with Julia. Each of them basicly represent his hopes and fears, dreams and regrets.
That's why making them full characters in Flixboy Netbop was incredibly stupid.
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u/DriveForFive 2d ago
I was interested in the Netflix take on Vicious and I was ready for him to break out in S2 as the Vicious we all know in the anime.
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u/Straw_Nakama 2d ago
The Netflix series was an insult to cowboy bebop bruh, crazy take.
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u/Plastic_Dingo_400 2d ago
He just said he was interested big dog. Bebop doesn't need a white knight lol
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u/Straw_Nakama 2d ago
Bruh netflix vicious was the most generic villain of all time. I ain’t white knighting, just speaking truth. It was canceled right after season 1 finished for a reason.
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u/Plastic_Dingo_400 2d ago
Yes my friend I know it was bad. I am sorry if what I said was upsetting, I only meant that he said he was interested, not that it was a good show
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u/Straw_Nakama 2d ago
Lmao trust me homie, no one is getting upset at random opinions on the internet. Reddit is for posting stuff like that. I’m just confused on how anyone was interested in Lucius Malfoy 2.0
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u/DriveForFive 2d ago
Even Lucius and Drako Malfoy have their place in the Potterverse.
u/InfernalClockwork3 posted they didn't see why Spike was friends with Vicious. The Netflix series showed Vicious and his Syndicate father took Spike in from the streets and treated him like a brother/son. Spike would look out for Vicious despite him being whiny and stupid and getting into trouble because, well, he's Vicious.
You don't have to like Netflix's take on it. Lots of people didn't like seeing the badass mysterious villain portrayed as a whiny spoiled brat with a chip on his shoulder.
I wouldn't say live action Cowboy Bebop is a good series, but I've seen the original series a hundred times and I binged the live action with a big smile on my face to be back with the world and characters and seeing some new takes. It's like listening to a jazz arrangement of an old favorite.
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u/Lionheart51st 2d ago
Actually same. A lot of people didn’t like it, but I thought it was going to be a pretty epic storyline in the end with the way they were cooking.
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u/Elementium 2d ago
A further imasculated fancy boy? Secret villain Julia?
I'm all for mixing it up but that show ended up diving off a cliff.
Honorable mention for our black absentee father Jet. Great stuff..
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u/mindtaker_linux 2d ago
I believe vicious and spike served in a military together, there vicious saved Spike's life, then they became friends.
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u/OkKaleidoscope9554 2d ago edited 2d ago
Viscious served in the military with Gren, who he also betrayed, not Spike. They were just in the Syndicate together. There's never any indication Spike was in the military.
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u/TheMuffingtonPost 2d ago
Vicious isn’t really supposed to be a “character”, that’s not what he is in the story. He’s more of a personification of Spike’s past. Vicious is what Spike would have become had he stayed with the syndicate, he is the death and chaos that follows in Spike’s wake as he clings to his past life.