Okay, this isn’t the worst episode by far, but … you know when you can’t stand something but have difficulty explaining exactly why that is? So “Gateway Shuffle” is that for me. Is it the goofy premise – eco-terrorists turning people into monkeys for reasons – or the over-the-top voice acting, which is usually top notch or the character designs? Or … just what?

But then on my rewatch for this challenge, I think I figured it out: it just doesn’t fit with the rest of the episodes, almost like it’s a filler episode or somebody’s pet project they just had to get aired. It also wraps up too neatly, with the main villain getting her comeuppance, which isn’t usually Bebop‘s style. Like I said, it’s not a completely reprehensible episode; it simply doesn’t match the quality of all the other sessions. I feel more apathetic toward it than anything else and honestly? I usually skip it.

Art Credit: PennLive, Nerdist