maybe I can help.
There are a total of 5 episodes which fit in with the major plot which is the love affair between Spike and Julia, and the tension between Vicious and spike.
These episodes are
Episode 5 - Ballad of Fallen Angels (Considered one of the best in the series)
Episode 12 - Jupiter Jazz Part 1
Episode 13 - Jupiter Jazz Part 2
Episode 25 - The Real Folk Blues Part 1
Episode 26 - The Real folk Blues Part 2
All of the other episodes each have there own mini plot which begin and finish within the 30 minute time slot.
It is safe to say you can jump in on any of these episodes and understand what's going on and no be totally lost.
Also these episodes provide a basis for the relations the crew develops with each other.
Spoiler: There is a hint that Faye falls for spike even though they constantly bicker with each other. In the last episode she begs him to stay instead of going after Vicious and Julia.
Also something else happens with the crew over the course of the 26 episode series. Every one of the main characters on the bebop have had a family of sorts previously to becoming a member of bebop.
Jet and the police force.
Spike and the clan.
Ed and her father. (Can't remember the episode where he appears but man does he ever own spike in a fight.)
Faye previous to her accident.
Read Spoiler for more detail
Spoiler:
Over fifty years before her first appearance in the series Faye is invovled in a shuttle accident where her injuries are unrepairable. Therefore they put her into cryogenic freezing to wait out a time where she can be treated. Inccidentally she ends up with a multimillion dollar debt for the proceedure. Something obviously not entirely thought out. She is claimed to be the hotest granny in the universe. And at the age of 70+, she sure as hell is.
I believe the concept of the series itself was take these band of loners, all with previous lifes they wish to forget and throw them together where they have completely different personalities and have them form their own dysfunctional family.
Obviously Spike's life seems to take the lead but other episodes talk about the other main characters problems before bebop.
More Spoilers.
Spike: He involvement with Julia and disagreements with Vicious.
Faye: Her life before bebop where she was in a orphanage and her life was sort of charmed. (Very Touching episode)
Jet: His involvement with a woman and his problems with control.
Ed: Her dad and his reckless abandonment of her. He seems to had ADHD as well.
So all in all, they tie together in a small sense.
5 major episodes are all about spike.
3 are about the other crews previous lifes.
A few have it where each member has to catch the bounty. (I reccomend the one where ed catches the shroom dealer. Hilarious episode.)
The rest are just no hold bar fun with crazy antics, cool fight scenes, and rather od characters.
The funniest thing about the whole series is that with all of these bounties they can never seem to nail the big fish that will let them retire for life.
There is a movie as well (Yet something else I highly recommend.)
I hoped that helped at all.
The truth is Cowboy Bebop is one of the those ground breaking, award winning, everyone loves it anime's that is a must watch even if you hate anime.