Cowboy Bebop Spike’s Original Name Explained

Cowboy Bebop: Spike’s Original Name Explained

The live-action remake of Cowboy Bebop reveals more of Spike Spiegel’s criminal past, including his original name before he was Spike Spiegel.

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Cowboy Bebop Spike’s Original Name Explained

Warning: Contains spoilers for Cowboy Bebop.

2021’s live-action remake of Cowboy Bebop expands on the classic anime it’s based on, including the series’ protagonist, Spike Spiegel, whose original name is revealed. Cowboy Bebop features a ragtag group of bounty hunters struggling with their pasts, which, in Spike’s case, involves a career as a mob enforcer and a doomed romance. Before becoming the character that viewers are familiar with, Spike went by a different name during his time as an enforcer.

In both the original anime and the live-action remake of Cowboy Bebop, Spike Siegel was once part of the Red Dragon Syndicate. Spike was close friends with another enforcer, known as Vicious, and the two were poised to ascend in the syndicate’s hierarchy, despite the latter’s often impetuous behavior. Spike and Vicious’ friendship broke down when Spike fell in love with Vicious’ girlfriend, Julia. When Vicious discovered their affair, Spike faked his death and fled the syndicate, becoming the bounty hunter seen throughout the series.

When Spike speaks to Ana in the live-action Cowboy Bebop, his wording strongly implies that Spike Spiegel is an alias, which wasn’t the case in the original anime but makes sense, given that he’d faked his death. Whatever Spike’s real name was is still unknown, but he went by a nickname during his time as a Red Dragon enforcer. Before he was Spike, he was known as “Fearless,” a fitting name for obvious reasons that also further connects him to his former friend, Vicious.

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By having Spike’s original name be Fearless, the Cowboy Bebop remake explains the name of its main antagonist and further emphasizes his kinship with Spike. Vicious is far more emotionally unhinged the remake (with the anime having implied that he frequently used the aggression-inducing red eye drug), making his name more than a coincidence. Just as Vicious was named for his bloodthirsty tendencies, Spike Spiegel earned the name Fearless from his courage and ability to keep calm in life-threatening situations.

Aside from its in-universe symbolism, Spike using an alias as an enforcer is a logical move to protect the Red Dragon Syndicate’s unscrupulous activities. This further benefited Spike when he left the syndicate, as it allowed him to take on a new alias. Whether or not Spike Spiegel was his real name before he became a mobster, Spike’s abandonment of the Fearless moniker further assisted him in starting his life anew.

Spike also went by another alias in the original Cowboy Bebop anime: “Swimming Bird.” Spike was referred to as such by his friend and ally, Laughing Bull, and the name had several potential meanings. As the name implies, Spike was going against his nature by running from both Julia and his mob enforcer past. Swimming Bird might have also been a reference to Spike Spiegel’s use of Jeet Kun Do, whose flowing moves are likened to water. In a more literal sense, the name might have referred to a Penguin, a swimming bird that is typically monogamous, referencing Spike’s undying love for Julia. By revealing his original syndicate name as Fearless, Cowboy Bebop further explored the history of Spike and his bygone friendship with his greatest enemy.

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Link Source : https://screenrant.com/cowboy-bebop-spike-fearless-changed-explained/

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