Spike and Vicious’ epic final confrontation at the end of Cowboy Bebop was inevitable due to a plethora of reasons. Episode 26 of Cowboy Bebop, dubbed “The Real Folk Blues (Part 2)” resolves the overarching plotlines for Spike, Vicious, and Julia, wherein all three characters reach the end of their respective journeys. The three were tied together by their collective past, and in a way, it was fate that they would eventually be drawn back together to resolve unfinished business. While Cowboy Bebop ends with a memorable final quote and a bang, it evokes an unstated sense of nostalgia for everything that could have been, especially for Spike and Julia.
It is interesting to note that the gunfight sequences in the Red Dragon Syndicate headquarters mirror the church shootout from “Ballad of Fallen Angels”, which was when Vicious was first introduced on the anime series. This particular episode opens with two rival Syndicate bosses signing a peace treaty until Vicious arrives and kills everyone involved. By murdering Mao Yenrai and kidnapping Faye Valentine, Vicious intends to lure Spike into his trap, which culminates in the latter being thrown out of the church window, resulting in near-fatal injuries for Spike.
While lethal confrontations are fairly common in the world among Cowboy Bebop's cast of characters, as evidenced throughout the many bounty hunting quests in the series, Spike’s rivalry with Vicious is personal right from the start. It is also important to note that Spike is generally laidback and nonchalant in nature, and his visceral reaction to Vicious’ return points at his complicated relationship with the past. Here are some of the reasons why Spike’s confrontation with Vicious was unavoidable in the show's finale - and there was really no other way it could end for both men.
Cowboy Bebop Works Best As A Self-Contained Story
Interestingly, Cowboy Bebop' ending with Spike and Vicious going head to head was decided even before the project was in its initial stages. Series creator Shinichirō Watanabe had already envisioned the epic confrontation between the two characters during Cowboy Bebop's ending, as he deemed it the only way for them to achieve closure and for the series to come full circle. While not everyone involved in Watanabe’s creative team was on board with the theme - as such a definitive ending would prove sequels to be difficult - Watanabe did not wish to continue the anime beyond its natural means, just for the sake of it. Apart from this, Vicious and Spike dueling to the death makes sense from the point of character motivation - both parties lose the woman they love, for which they deem the other responsible and the only emotion that remains is bitterness and revenge.
A Fitting End To A Blood Feud - Spike and Vicious
While not much is really known about Spike’s past, as the intricate world of Cowboy Bebop only metes out fragments of his backstory for the audience to piece together, it is known that he became a member of the Red Dragon Syndicate under Mao Yenrai. It is important to acknowledge the shared history between Spike and Vicious, as the duo fought and worked together in various missions in the past, possibly even being best friends at some point. Over time, both Spike and Vicious emerge as potential candidates to lead the Syndicate, although the former has no genuine interest in the position and resents Vicious’ cold, ruthless, and abhorrent outlook about power. While this is enough reason for the two to share a mutual hatred, circumstances are exacerbated when Spike and Julia fall in love with each other and intend to leave the Syndicate behind in favor of a life together - before Julia left Spike and Red Dragon behind.
Hence, it is not just a philosophical divide that drives a wedge between Spike and Vicious in Cowboy Bebop, but their desire for the same woman, who chooses one over the other, is what drives their rivalry further. Although not specified, it is most likely Vicious’ men who shoot Spike in front of Julia’s apartment, a job he intends to complete by threatening Julia to kill Spike with her own hands, if she hoped to live. However, rather than betraying the man she had fallen for, Julia goes into hiding and destroys all evidence regarding their plans of elopement - an action that has far-reaching consequences for every character involved. Losing Julia shifts something within Spike, as the weight of her apparent betrayal crushes his very soul, putting an end to the hopes of a new life brimming with love.
Julia - A Lost Glimmer of Hope That Dies At The End
At the end of Cowboy Bebop's 26-episode run, Vicious intends to kill Spike out of sheer vengeance, while the latter struggles with the temptation to be pulled back to a past rife with fatal wounds and betrayal. Spike’s constructed facade of laidback charm starts crumbling, as he is driven into a mad frenzy solely after hearing Julia’s name. While the lovers are reunited in the same cemetery they were supposed to meet years ago, the reunion is short-lived as Julia is shot in the back during a showdown with Syndicate members. Having lost the love of his life right at the edge of hope, Spike sees only one way of his agony - killing Vicious, and putting an end to this mad dance once and for all.
Julia’s final words, “it’s all a dream”, resonates in an especially poignant manner when juxtaposed against Spike collapsing at the end of Cowboy Bebop before he utters the iconic “Bang!” - a phrase tinged with bittersweetness. As Julia is no more, it is possible that Spike surrenders himself to death, as life without her would prove to be filled with existential ennui and meaninglessness. Although Spike shoots Vicious in the chest, putting an end to the saga, he is left grievously injured as well, explaining why the final shot is that of him collapsing to the ground as white doves fly over him. The overwhelming pain of his memories of Julia, along with his need to avenge her, are quelled in the end, albeit at a cruel price.