Review: Samurai Jack “Episode C”

Get ready to go for a ride on one heck of a roller coaster.

MAJOR UNAVOIDABLE SPOILERS FOLLOW. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK

This episode picks up literally right where the last episode left us, with Jack and Ashi deeply kissing each other after defeating Lazarus. I can only wonder how their relationship will fare in the future? After they finish their embrace, Jack heads outside while Ashi finds some clothes. Honestly, I’m a little disappointed in the outfit that Ashi ends up with, as I was hoping that she would get something that looked a little cooler than a jacket and boots, perhaps with her wearing some type of kunoichi (female ninja) themed garb that complimented Jack and his gi.

Anyway, while Jack has some time to himself his conscious warns him to be careful. This is because he has never felt attraction for a woman before, or had a woman in his life aside from his mother when he was a boy. He must stay focused. If he gets too wrapped up in his happiness, he will grow soft and lack the skill he needs to defeat Aku. He knows that if he gets distracted or grows sloppy, it will be the end for him and he will meet his end at the hand of his sworn enemy.

When the two reunite, they share some food with each other and prepare for the night. Ashi attempts to get to know Jack better and asks him about his home. Jack reminisces about his childhood, revealing to Ashi that he was only eight years old when Aku destroyed everything. His childhood memories are the only way that he will remember his home. I hope this isn’t foreshadowing what lies ahead for Jack. The two seem to talk late into the night and eventually fall asleep. When Ashi awakens, Jack is gone. Smooth move Jack… smooth.

Meanwhile, Scaramouche is still on his unknowingly meaningless mission to inform Aku that Jack does not have his sword. Man, this dude is determined. When he finally delivers his important message to Aku, Aku is skeptical that Jack has actually lost the sword. Scaramouche assures Aku that this is true by betting his life on the fact. In response, Aku is convinced and the two do a victory dance! I never thought that Aku would be THAT bad of a dancer. Really, I found this “victory dance” to be slightly disturbing.

Jack wanders through the wasteland on his own, having left Ashi back at the Lazarus prison. Event, ally he comes to the ruins of what appear to be many robots of all sizes and shapes. He has been here before. I couldn’t recognize it at first, but the shattered red sunglasses gave it away for me. It’s the lair of The Guardian, the same guardian that bested Jack in combat and prevented him from using a time portal many, many years ago (Episode XXXII). Sure enough, the time portal that the Guardian was defending is destroyed as well.

Ashi shows up shortly thereafter, having followed Jack’s footprints. She is mad at him for leaving her just like that, especially after the bond the two had just formed. Jack explains that he doesn’t want to get close to anyone because Aku always finds a way to take away those that Jack loves and turns them into memories, and Jack doesn’t want Ashi to become just a memory. Just as Ashi explains that everything they have gone through has brought them to this point and that they were meant to be in this situation, Aku shows up, accompanied by Scaramouche. Jack draws his sword. Aku immediately destroys Scaramouche. Whoops! Bad call, baby.

Jack attacks Aku, who is still as tricky as ever and easily avoids Jack’s attack. Concurrently, Aku realizes Ashi has the essence of Aku deep inside her. A flashback occurs, showing how Aku gave his essence to the worshippers of Aku and subsequently created the Daughters of Aku. But what does this mean for Ashi? It means that Aku can control Ashi and make her attack Jack. Aku, the Master of Darkness, forces the two lovers fight each other against their will. Aku even goes so far as to transform Ashi into a being of pure darkness and she attacks Jack relentlessly. Jack pleads with the Ashi to gain control over the creature she has become and is trying his best not to harm her at the same time, but Ashi’s attacks are getting more dangerous with each strike. After an intense exchange, Jack manages to cut Ashi with his sword and the enchanted blade temporarily reverses Aku’s evil. Ashi is able to fight the darkness that engulfs her long enough to beg Jack to kill her and then kill Aku. Jack knows what he must do, but he hesitates. I felt like this was the precise moment Jack’s conscious tried to warn him about earlier in the epiesode. Jack can’t bring himself to kill Ashi, even as corrupted as she has become, and lays down his sword, his spirit broken. To make things worse, Aku picks up the blade, laughing evilly. He now holds the only weapon capable of defeating him in his own hands.

Good lord, this episode is one hell of a roller coaster. From the initial moments of the episode I thought that we were going to follow Jack on an adventure as he roamed the wasteland. Instead we are shown how desolate and dismal Aku’s world is, with even the Guardian of the Time Portal having met his end at the hand of Aku. I was taken for another trip when Ashi appeared and convinced Jack that everything was going to be alright and that they were going to defeat Aku together. Then, I literally cursed Aku once he started controlling Ashi and transformed her into a being of darkness. I would expect nothing less from the Master of Evil, but that doesn’t mean that I wanted that scenario to fold out in the manner it did. Things are looking extremely grim for Jack, and for once I don’t know how things will turn out for our hero. I mean, he has to win somehow, right? Right?!? But not only does Aku have the sword, Ashi is a being of pure darkness and under his control now, and it seems Jack has given up hope. Will Aku win? It sure is looking like it. How is Jack going to get out of this one? I hate to say it, but I really don’t know. Absolutely everything is in Aku’s favor, and I just can’t see how Jack is going to pull this off outside of a Deus Ex Machina. On top of that, next week’s episode is THE final episode of Samurai Jack, and things are looking bleak. Jack has faced impossible odds before, but never anything like this. I can’t even see how they are going to finish this story in one episode either. Even though I am looking forward to seeing what happens, much like the first time I watched Samurai Jack, I don’t want this series to end. At least, not like this. Jack can’t go out like this! He HAS to get back to the past! It all came and went too fast!

Curse you Aku… Curse you!!!!!!!!