History Anime / CowboyBebopKnockinOnHeavensDoor

** Vincent is constantly playing peg solitaire, not only emphasizes his intelligence, [[TragicVillain but his loneliness as well.]]

The ''Bebop'' crew -- Spike (Creator/KoichiYamadera), Jet (Creator/UnshoIshizuka), Faye (Creator/MegumiHayashibara), Ed (Aoi Tada), and Ein -- are going about their usual bounty hunter business when a bomb goes off in a city on Mars. The culprit, Vincent Volaju (Tsutomu Isobe), soon has a sizeable bounty placed on his head. The gang jumps at the chance to catch Vincent Volaju and claim the reward, but soon discover a deeper well of conspiracy and revenge that puts the fate of the city -- and the lives of the ''Bebop'' crew--at stake.

[[quoteright:337:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/index_movie2.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:337:Are you living in the real world?]]

* BackForTheFinale: In terms of production order rather than chronological order, Punch and Judy, Laughing Bull, Bob, and the Three Old Men all return for final appearances. Punch and Judy's return is also a downplayed, minor plot point, as it establishes ''when'' the film takes place in the series narrative (given ''Big Shot'''s cancellation in Episode 23). The same goes for the Old Men given [[spoiler: Jobim will be one of the victims of the Brain Scratch cult in Episode 23).]]
* BatmanGambit: [[spoiler: Vincent fakes an attack on Alba City's Water Treatment Planet to divert the ISSP's manpower and resources, which leaves the Halloween parade wide open for his ''real'' plan. Given his military background, Vincent also likely anticipated, and counted on, the Army trying to intervene (in the hopes of getting Vincent first and covering up their weapons research). The Army thus gets caught up in a jurisdictional squabble with the Mars Cops (which ensures they too are diverted from the actual target).]]

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: The ''Bebop'' crew stops Vincent, saving Alba City and millions of innocent lives. But they receive no recognition for their actions, nor are they able to collect Vincent's substantial bounty from the Martian government. The crew also has no way of knowing this will be one of their final gigs together given the coming events of the show's closing episodes. Vincent also finally regains his memory, only to commit SuicideByCop at Elektra's hands (who likewise will now be on the run due to the Army's betrayal and her own knowledge of the conspiracy).]]

* DarkerAndEdgier: Downplayed example, since the series got fairly dark at times. There's noticeably more on-screen violence than the typical Cowboy Bebop episode, especially involving civilian casualties as bystanders get killed during Spike and Vincent's fight on the train [[spoiler: even before Vincent unleashes another nanoweapon bomb]]. Also, Vincent's treatment of Faye [[spoiler: once he captures her: he cuts her shirt open with a knife during a scene with creepy sexual undertones]].
* DefectorFromDecadence: [[spoiler: Elektra goes AWOL and allies with the ''Bebop'' crew after realizing her superiors prioritize covering up their illegal weapons research rather than trying to stop Vincent and saving millions of Martian citizens' lives. Doesn't hurt that they've already written her off and were going to either wipe her memory or kill her.]]

* ForegoneConclusion: Since it's set late in the series and prior to the closing stretch of episodes, the crew of the ''Bebop'' (not to mention their spacecrafts) will all survive the events of the film. The crew will likewise be unable to claim the bounty on Vincent, as they're still all but broke going into the closing episodes. [[spoiler: However, given the ambiguity of the ending and whether or not the film was actually all just a dream of Spike's, it can alternately be argued if the trope was ever really in play or not.]]
** The Three Old Men will also survive the events of the film given [[spoiler: Jobim will fall victim to the Brain Scratch cult in Episode 23.]]

* HeKnowsTooMuch: [[spoiler: The aerial dogfight between Spike and the Army's pilots in a nutshell, as they're trying to eliminate a witness/person of interest to the conspiracy]].
* HiddenInPlainSight: In the climax, Vincent disguises himself as a warlock to get into position for the Halloween parade. [[spoiler: The bombs are also hidden inside the Halloween parade floats and balloons]].

* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: The Army escapes any culpability for their role in Vincent's rampage and the conspiracy remains unexposed by the end of the film.]]

* TheMovie: [[WordOfGod Shinichiro Watanabe]] says the movie takes place between episodes 22 and 23 of the series. This can also be inferred from the film, as Andy appears as Musashi during the Halloween party -- which means episode 22 has already happened -- but "Big Shot" has not yet been cancelled, which happens in episode 23. The supporting role of the Three Old Men also establishes this takes place before Episode 23 given [[spoiler: Jobim hasn't yet become a victim of the Brain Scratch cult]].

* WhateverHappenedToTheMouse: [[spoiler: Elektra's ultimate fate following Vincent's death. Presumably, she has to go on the run due to the Army's betrayal and her own knowledge of the conspiracy.]]

* AttemptedRape: [[spoiler:Vincent cuts open Faye's shirt and threatens her, but before he could do anymore, one of his lackeys shows up for his money and Vincent kills him.]]

* DarkerAndEdgier: Downplayed example, since the series got fairly dark at times. There's noticeably more on-screen violence than the typical Cowboy Bebop episode, especially involving civilian casualties as bystanders get killed during Spike and Vincent's fight on the train [[spoiler: even before Vincent unleashes another nanoweapon bomb]]. Also, Vincent's treatment of Faye [[spoiler: once he captures her: he cuts her shirt open with a knife and gives every indication that he's about to rape her until another character interrupts them]].

* TitledAfterTheSong:
** Averted with the movie's subtitle. This trope happens with most of the episode titles in the show, but the film does not pull this off in the English version thanks to rights issues.
** Subverted with the Japanese subtitle, too, which is called "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" in English text, but the kanji says "Tengoku no tobira", or "Door to heaven".

* HeKnowsTooMuch: [[spoiler: The aerial dogfight between Spike and the Army's pilots in a nutshell, as they're trying to eliminate a witness/person of interest to the conspiracy).

The ''Bebop'' crew -- Spike (Creator/KoichiYamadera), Jet (Creator/UnshoIshizuka), Faye (Creator/MegumiHayashibara), Ed (Aoi Tada), and Ein -- are going about their usual bounty hunter business when a bomb goes off in a city on Mars. The culprit, Vincent Volaju, soon has a sizeable bounty placed on his head. The gang jumps at the chance to catch Vincent Volaju (Tsutomu Isobe) and claim the reward, but soon discover a deeper well of conspiracy and revenge that puts the fate of the city -- and the lives of the ''Bebop'' crew--at stake.

* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: The Army escapes any culpability for their role in Vincent's rampage.]]

* BatmanGambit: [[spoiler: Vincent fakes an attack on Alba City's Water Treatment Planet to divert the ISSP's manpower and resources, which leaves the Halloween parade wide open for his ''real'' plan. Given his military background, Vincent also likely anticipated, and counted on, the Army trying to intervene (in the hopes of getting Vincent first and covering up their weapons research). The Army thus gets caught up in a jurisdictional squabble with the Mars Cops (which ensures they too are diverted from the actual target.]]

* BatmanGambit: [[spoiler: Vincent fakes an attack on Alva City's Water Treatment Planet to divert the ISSP's manpower and resources, which leaves the Halloween parade wide open for his ''real'' plan. Given his military background, Vincent also likely anticipated, and counted on, the Army trying to intervene (in the hopes of getting Vincent first and covering up their weapons research). The Army thus gets caught up in a jurisdictional squabble with the Mars Cops (which ensures they too are diverted from the actual target.]]

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: The ''Bebop'' crew defeats Vincent, saving Alva City and millions of innocent lives. But they receive no recognition for their actions, nor are they able to collect Vincent's substantial bounty from the Martian government. The crew also has no way of knowing this will be one of their final gigs together given the coming events of the show's closing episodes. Vincent also finally regains his memory, only to commit SuicideByCop at Elektra's hands (who likewise will now be on the run due to the Army's betrayal and her own knowledge of the conspiracy).]]

* BatmanGambit: [[spoiler: Vincent fakes an attack on Alva City's Water Treatment Planet to divert the ISSP's manpower and resources, which leaves the Halloween parade wide open for his ''real'' plan. Given his military background, Vincent also likely anticipated, and counted on, the Army trying to intervene (in the hopes of getting Vincent first and covering up their weapons research). The Army thus gets caught up in a jurisdictional squabble with the ISSp (which ensures they too are diverted from the actual target.]]

* ForegoneConclusion: Since it's set late in the series and prior to the closing stretch of episodes, the crew of the ''Bebop'' (not to mention their spacecrafts) will all survive the events of the film. The crew will likewise be unable to claim the bounty on Vincent as they're still all but broke going into the closing episodes. [[spoiler: However, given the ambiguity of the ending and whether or not the film was actually all just a dream of Spike's, it can alternately be argued if the trope was ever really in play or not.]]

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: The crew successfully stops Vincent and saves Alva City and millions of lives. But they receive no recognition or reward beyond simply surviving for another day. The crew also has no way of knowing this will be one of their final gigs together given the coming events of the show's closing episodes. Vincent finally regains his memory, only to commit SuicideByCop at Elektra's hands (who likewise will now be on the run due to the Army's betrayal and her own knowledge of the conspiracy).]]

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: The crew successfully stops Vincent and saves Alva City, but with no recognition or reward. The crew also has no way of knowing this will be one of their final gigs together given the coming events of the show's closing episodes. Vincent finally regains his memory, only to commit SuicideByCop at Elektra's hands (who likewise will now be on the run due to the Army's betrayal).]]

* DefectorFromDecadence: [[spoiler: Elektra goes AWOL and allies with the ''Bebop'' crew after realizing her superiors prioritize covering up their illegal weapons research rather than trying to stop Vincent and saving millions of Martian citizens' lives. Doesn't hurt that they've already written her off and were going to wipe her memory.]]

* BatmanGambit: [[spoiler: Vincent fakes an attack on the city's water supply to divert the ISSP's manpower and resources, which leaves the Halloween parade wide open for his ''real'' plan. Given his military background, Vincent also likely anticipated, and counted on, the Army getting caught up in jurisdictional squabble (which ensures they too are diverted from the actual target.]]

%%* BigBad: Vincent Volaju

* FriendOnTheForce: As in the series, Bob is still Jet's ISSP contact (and relays relevant intel on Cherious Medical to the ''Bebop'' crew).

* WhamLine: "The Government of Mars has posted a reward for the capture of the culprits of 300 million Wulong". That simple statement from the evening broadcast news locks in the ''Bebop'' crew's role in the film.

* ASimplePlan. The ''Bebop'' crew's initial motive/drive: Find Vincent, collect the lucrative bounty, etc. It turns out to be ''far'' more complicated, complex, and dangerous than they ever anticipated.

* TheMovie: [[WordOfGod Shinichiro Watanabe]] says the movie takes place between episodes 22 and 23 of the series. This can also be inferred from the film, as Andy appears as Musashi during the Halloween party -- which means episode 22 has already happened -- but "Big Shot" has not yet been cancelled, which happens in episode 23.*
* NeverMyFault: In the ColdOpen, Spike gets irritated at Jet for screwing up with the surveillance of their target -- and then gets even angrier when Jet tries hiding behind quotes from ''The Art of War''.

* UnderestimatingBadassery: Even with the discovery that Vincent is ex-Special Forces, Spike just thinks he's another terrorist. He doesn't truly understand who he's facing until Vincent nearly kills him during the train fight.

* BackForTheFinale: In terms of production order rather than chronological order, Punch and Judy, Laughing Bull, and the Three Old Men all return for final appearances. Punch and Judy's return is also a downplayed, minor plot point, as it establishes ''when'' the film takes place in the series narrative (given ''Big Shot'''s cancellation in Episode 23).

* DefectorFromDecadence: [[spoiler: Elektra goes AWOL and allies with the ''Bebop'' crew after realizing her superiors prioritize covering up their illegal weapons research rather than trying to stop Vincent and saving millions of Martian citizens' lives.]]

* ForegoneConclusion: Since it's set late in the series and prior to the closing stretch of episodes, the crew of the ''Bebop'' (not to mention their spacecrafts) will all survive the events of the film. [[spoiler: However, given the ambiguity of the ending and whether or not the film was actually all just a dream of Spike's, it can alternately be argued if the trope was ever really in play or not.]]

* FailedASpotCheck: In the ColdOpen, Jet's surveillance of their target misses there are actually four gunmen, not three as he'd told Spike (the last guy was in the bathroom).

* TheMovie: [[WordOfGod Shinichiro Watanabe]] says the movie takes place between episodes 22 and 23 of the series. This can also be inferred from the film, as Andy appears as Musashi during the Halloween party -- which means episode 22 has already happened -- but "Big Shot" has not yet been cancelled, which happens in episode 23.