I'll start! (Home sick, stomach bug) I'm a big fan of the Bebop universe, always have been. I would pay good money for any kind of extended universe content. Without ever really talking about events in detail, the series establishes really early on that it takes place in a rich, vibrant solar system that is all the more believable because of the dirt and grit that underlies the shimmering holos and smooth gleaming metal of the biggest, richest cities and orbital hab-stations. I have tons of fan-love for Spike, Jet et al, but my real passion for this series comes from how well it sets the scene. I constantly find myself wanting more information, and when I re-watch the series, I often find it. I have refused to do much online digging about the history/politics of the series, preferring to let it keep some of it's mystery and that's maintained my excitement when I hear or see some new detail about this really fun setting. Obvious problems with physics aside, the Bebop universe seems to me like one very plausible future-path for the species. Human nature doesn't fundamentally change, even as we find ourselves on grander stages in space and time. I'm going to go re-watch the first two, might edit this with thoughts after. Questions for the animu-vets 1. Do you like Spike as a protagonist? Sometimes I find his adherence to standard anime hero tropes (TV Tropes warning)rather distracting, but on the whole, I think he's a lot of fun. I think we get a good mix of humor and tortured former mafioso and that leads to a character that, while sometimes a little predictable, is well fleshed out and engaging. 2. Do you ever get sick of that introduction? Correct answer, no, of course not OB.
My first exposure to Cowboy Bebop was an ad agency that wanted me to watch the movie (in theaters at the time) to get a sense of what they were trying to do with a campaign I was scoring. It was not good, but I called up a girl I knew to see if her husband was busy (he was unemployed and probably into anime) and discovered she'd kicked him out of the house. We got to talking about that, and other things, and long story short, she's been my wife for going on eight years. I'd heard over the years that the movie is not at all representative of the series and I think I've watched the first three or so. It was shocking to me how much Firefly cribbed from Cowboy Bebop. Seeing as the girl is a big Firefly fan, maybe I oughtta drag her along.
I entirely forgot there was a movie. I've never seen it. I need to finish the series first, though. It's actually quite impressive how seminal CB has been in sci-fi and anime. On a side note, Space Dandy (from the same director, I think) is another series that has obvious homages, and a trip.
I've never heard anything good about the movie and I've never watched it. I'm definitely curating the content I absorb a lot more judiciously than ever before. When I was 12 and deep in my Harry Potter fandom, I read EVERY scrap of fanfiction I could, every possible extra book and supplement to the canon. I find that this type of behavior actually deceases my enjoyment of a lot of fiction, because it puts me in close contact with REAL snobs, what are being termed 'gatekeepers' in modern internet parlance, and those people, by and large, suck and ruin the fun for everyone. Definitely show her the first episode. It's changed the minds of several friends who thought anime was all kids movies and hentai, so anyone who is at least tolerant of japanimation in general should enjoy it a lot.
Watched the movie, didn't leave any impression. It got cataloged in my mind under a filler OVA of sorts. Watched more out of necessity as a fan and lack of forewarning. My high school physics teacher was kind enough to lend me his personal DVD set of Bebop when I had asked him for recommendations. IIRC, I marathoned it in bed during a sickness at the end of winter break and into the school week. It has replay value for sure, and I hope you enjoy it. Also, get well soon.