WARNING: This article contains major SPOILERS for Netflix's Cowboy Bebop (2021)
Netflix's after a battle with Vicious. Spike, in particular, has to deal with being betrayed by Julia and losing his friendship with Jet. However, things may start looking up following the appearance of Ein the Corgi and a classic character from the original anime, one whose appearance on the show is long overdue.
In Cowboy Bebop season 1, episode 8, "Sad Clown A-Go-Go," Mad Pierrot is able to temporarily take control of Ein, using his cybernetic enhancements to send an audio message to the crew. The crew abandons the dog out of paranoia that he can be used in other ways against them. Fortunately, he is seen again at the end of Cowboy Bebop, accompanied by a familiar character who has taken him in—the hacker Radical Edward.
Cowboy Bebop season 1 ends with Ed finding Spike in an alleyway, thus setting up their season 2 story together—and a new mission. Beloved in the anime, Cowboy Bebop's Ed is a young hacker who s the crew in the episode "Jammin' With Edward" and holds a strong bond with Ein. However, despite a name drop in season 1 episode 6, "Binary Two-Step," she does not make a full appearance in the Netflix series until the season finale. Ed is brought to life in the Netflix adaption by non-binary actor Eden Perkins.
Ed serves as the comic relief for the anime and brings levity to some of the more serious moments. That's not to say the character isn't without moments of drama. In her final episode in the anime, "Hard Luck Woman," Ed is reunited with her father after he absent-mindedly left her at an orphanage to go chase meteorites. In one of Cowboy Bebop's most emotional moments, Ed and Ein leave the Bebop ship to go search for the former's father, then travel the world to parts unknown. Now that Ed and Ein are finally united in the Netflix series, her story will likely play out in a similar fashion.
Overall, the decision to not include the character Radical Edward until Cowboy Bebop season 1's final scene is an odd choice that hasn't sat well with many fans. Now that she's here, though, she will no doubt play a major role in the series if it gets picked up for a second season. With Netflix making many Cowboy Bebop anime changes, it remains to be seen how different Ed will be, but given the accuracy of her look, fans will likely rest assured that no drastic alterations will be made.