This is a truly exceptional finale. Every underlying plot thread that was present throughout the whole anthology gets a clear resolution. We get clarity in the relationship between Spike, Viscious, and Julia. We explore themes of acceptance, drifting through life, and finding one's place. Faye is a witness to the culmination of Spike's story. She resents Spike for still having a past to return to and confront, while she's left stranded in a present so distant from the past she left behind. Spike's decision to leave is absolutely devastating to Faye, as the Bebop crew is the only semblance of a home she has (whereas it merely served as a resting point on Spike's journey back to face the music of his past). Pieces of dialogue sprinkled in throughout the series take on an entirely new meaning with added context. The illustration of the complexity of Spike and Viscious' relationship is deftly handled. And of course, this fantastic series is capped off with a dynamic and thrilling action scene. This conclusion is beautiful, tragic, and positively dripping with Bebop style. It'll leave you with a pit in your stomach, but you'll know in your heart it couldn't have ended any other way.
Review of The Real Folk Blues: Part 2
