Cowboy Bebop

The series explicitly prioritizes LGBTQ+ identity themes by rewriting Faye Valentine as a queer character and changing her past romantic betrayal to involve a woman. Gren's gender identity is also brought to the forefront, turning their story from a tragedy of circumstance into a proud, modern representation choice.

The narrative deconstructs traditional gender roles, male heroism, and power dynamics. The main villain, Vicious, is rewritten from a cold, silent gangster into a whiny, insecure caricature of toxic masculinity. Julia's arc completely rejects her role as a tragic love interest to be saved, making her a ruthless player who shoots Spike to gain power.

Major, identity-driven alterations were made to the original characters. Faye's sexuality was changed, and her love interest was gender-swapped. Gren was changed to an explicitly non-binary host. Julia was rewritten from a sympathetic romantic partner to a power-grabbing figure who betrays the hero. These changes were widely criticized for altering classic characters to fit modern tropes.

The show faced heavy online backlash and low ratings from fans of the original anime. Critics and viewers targeted the casting, Faye's modernized costume, the race-swapping, the gender-swapping, and the injection of progressive gender politics. This backlash was a key factor in the show's early cancellation.

The majority of the key creative and production team holds traditional, commercial resumes with low individual woke scores. However, a few key progressive figures, such as writer Alexandra E. Hartman and director Alex Garcia Lopez, helped steer the series toward a modernized, identity-focused adaptation.