supashurume

Space Dandy is absurdist comedy, pure and simple.  It sometimes pokes at anime tropes, and relishes in them at least that often.  It has no lofty ambitions, and no desire to be anything important.  It's just a good time.

Story: NA/10

There's really no story to talk about.  It is indeed completely episodic, which is a perfectly fine, time-tested way to do an anime.  If that's not your thing, fine, but that's not a fault of the show.

Animation: 9/10

I'm not a connossieur here.  It was pretty.  The aliens/monsters that show up are creative and sometimes unsettling.  I enjoyed it.

Sound: 8/10

I watched the English Dub, I can't speak to the original VAs. I enjoyed the OP, though it isn't something I'll listen to on my own.  Dandy's voice is spot on, and I enjoy QT's auto-tune/GLaDOS thing.  The Narrator's understated voice may have been the best part of the show for me.  Meow's voice was maybe a little grating at times.  I don't even remember the ED.

Characters: 7/10

The characters are who they are in episode 1, and that's all they'll ever be.  But if you came to Space Dandy for character development, you're in the wrong room.  Dandy's a wannabe womanizer, QT is his long-suffering robot sidekick, Meow is an otaku and not quite a cat.  The Narrator wants to be doing literally anything else.  Dr. Gel is an ineffectual gorilla in a top hat and he answers to a flaming skull for some reason.  Think the Cobra Commander, but with a much less annoying voice.

Sensibility of Cowboy Bebop comparisons: 3/10

Why is this everywhere?  Yes, it's Watanabe, and yes it's a hungry, bounty hunting space crew.  But if you can't tell that Space Dandy has absolutely zero aspirations of being Cowboy Bebop by the time the pre-OP intro is over, I'm a little worried about how you manage to get your pants on in the morning.

Overall: 9/10

He's a Dandy guy.  In Space.  If you haven't laughed at the end of Episode 1, just move on.  It's not for you and that's fine.  The show never takes itself seriously, at least not in this season.  It won't ever make you think about your life, and it never planned to be up for any awards.  Shut your brain off, watch the idiot fail for 22 minutes, and find out whether the entire crew will pointlessly die in this episode.  Enjoy the ride, baby.