WARNING: The article contains SPOILERS for Netlfix's Cowboy Bebop (2021)
What becomes of Ein the dog at the end of Netflix's Cowboy Bebop? The live-action adaptation of the beloved anime has adapted several iconic characters in its first season, among them the lovable canine himself. Like the other members of the Bebop crew, Ein the Corgi's role in the story remains mostly the same with a few notable differences. One of them happens at the end of the season, which is likely to set up his story going forward.
In the anime and the Netflix adaptation of Cowboy Bebop, Ein is a Welsh Corgi who ends up dognapped by Abdul Hakim before being taken in by Spike and Jet. As a result of experiments in a laboratory, the dog has greater levels of intelligence that allow him to be able to achieve feats no ordinary dog would be capable of. Both shows do not go too deeply into his backstory but in a change to Cowboy Bebop's creepiest villain, the Netflix series connects him to Mad Pierrot by having the latter be afraid of dogs instead of cats.
While Ein is an integral member of the Bebop crew, the ending of the Netflix series' first season makes major changes. One of them is having Ein the Corgi be abandoned by the crew, and in the process be united with Radical Edward. Given their bond is essential to his character in the original Cowboy Bebop anime, this change will likely set up the rest of Ein's story for the remainder of the series.
Out of all the members of the Bebop crew, Ein is closest to Ed. After all, his story in the anime comes to an end when he decides to leave with her to go find her father in the episode "Hard Luck Woman." However, Ed does not make her full appearance in the Netflix series until the very end of Cowboy Bebop. This is also after the crew abandons Ein out of fear that Mad Pierrot could use him against them after the villain is able to temporarily take control of the dog. Given his high level of intelligence, he may take this rather cruel gesture to heart. And since Ed took him in following this, he will no doubt become closer to her. That combined with his abandonment could factor into his decision to leave later on.
Ultimately, Netflix's Cowboy Bebop leaves the crew in pretty bad shape as they all go their separate ways, with Spike, in particular, having to go through being betrayed by Julia and losing his friendship with Jet. Fortunately, Ein being taken in by Radical Ed leaves things on a more positive note for the lovable canine. If the series gets renewed for a second season, it's highly possible the two of them will be critical in bringing the crew back together.