Review: Samurai Jack “Episode CI”

All things must come to an end. This is it… the final episode of Samurai Jack. We find out if Samurai Jack will ever get back to the past and defeat Aku.

THIS IS THE FINAL EPISODE! SPOILERS FOLLOW! DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER UNLESS YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW THIS SERIES ENDS! A lot happens in this action packed finale… are you ready? Let’s begin.

Every citizen of the earth, every being that Jack has encountered on his journey is tuned into their televisions to see an important announcement from Aku. Hilariously enough, the original intro to Samurai Jack starts to play. The entire intro plays yet when it finishes Aku reveals that Jack has been captured. I can feel the world gasp in fear and despair. Aku shows that Jack is shackled to the wall of his lair, and Aku the sword displayed as a trophy. Aku wants to make an example of Jack to warn all the others what will happen if you oppose Aku.  We see that Jack is shackled to the wall of Aku’s lair. It’s all over. Jack begs the evil being that was once known as Ashi to fight back against the darkness that is controlling her. After trying to decide what weapon will be used to bring the samurai’s demise, Aku ultimately decides that it will be the evil being that Ashi has become who will deliver the death blow to the samurai. Jack continues to beg Ashi to fight against Aku’s evil to no avail. The evil creature inches slowly towards Jack, readying the strike that will end his life

Just before the final blow can be felt, Aku’s lair explodes! The citizens of the world have shown up in a valiant and desperate attempt to save Jack. Every being that Jack has helped on his journey has banded together to help the samurai who once helped them, knowing they must lay everything on the line in this final battle. Jack is freed by the initial explosion and goes for the sword, yet Ashi stands in his way.  Aku fights against the warriors who stand against him. All of Jack’s comrades attack Aku with every ounce of strength and every fiber of their being. Compared to Aku they are like ants, and their attacks do nothing. With a slap of his hand, we see Aku is able to turn them into his dark puppets as well. Aku’s power seems to know no limit.

This is war. The citizens of the world fall left and right as Aku’s newly transformed minions attack without mercy. Jack has his hands full in his battle against the evil Ashi. Things are looking bleak for the ghost of The Scotsman, as well as his daughters, show up. It seems as if his bagpipes have some effect against Aku’s evil as they manage to stun the dark lord! The daughters of the Scotsman all attack the evil Ashi. Jack is taken by surprise at the ghostly appearance of the Scotsman, and the two comrades briefly catch up. Suddenly, a giant samurai robot, piloted by robots, crashes into Aku’s lair and starts pummeling The Supreme Master of Darkness! At the same time, Jack is engulfed by the darkness that is Ashi. Shortly thereafter, Aku to absorbs all of his minions, all of his darkness, and shoots into the sky. He turns into a cloud of darkness that rains down spears of evil that destroy all that it touches. Many lives are lost. The only counter to this evil rain are the Scotsman’s Phantom bagpipes of Lagavulin. With a mighty burst from his bagpipes, the ghost of The Scotsman flies into the air repelling Aku’s rain of evil spears.

Simultaneously, we bear witness to what is happening with Jack while he is inside the mass of darkness that swallowed him. Jack is able to find Ashi and pleads for her to fight against the evil. Yet Ashi grows weaker with each passing second, and the darkness is about engulf her entirely. Soon she will disappear forever. In one final attempt to reclaim his love, Jack screams “Ashi you have to fight back! I LOVE YOU!” Jack is thrown out of the darkness and the evil being that was Ashi wraps its hands around Jacks neck and begins to choke the life out of Jack. Just as it looks as if Jack will die, Ashi regains control over the darkness. Now confronted by Aku, Ashi takes a stand against her father. Ashi has gained incredible power by gaining control of the evil that once lurked inside of her and she is now powerful enough to go blow for blow with the supreme being of evil. She even has all the same powers that Aku has! Upon realizing this, she opens a portal in time that teleports herself and Jack back to the past… together.

We arrive at the exact moment that started the series, where Jack was readying Aku’s death blow and when he was sent into the future. Just ask Jack disappears into the future, Jack and Ashi appear from the future catching Aku off guard. Jack immediately attacks Aku. Jack slices and dices the shape-shifting master of evil with his trusted blade and with a mighty blow, Jack impales the last piece of Aku’s essence with his magical sword. Aku is absorbed into the sword and then, with one more strike, Aku’s evil essence is dispersed throughout his palace as it self-destructs, destroying Aku forever. Jack and Ashi escape the crumbling lair and embrace each other after they escape, watching Aku’s tower crumble into dust. It’s finally over.

We are taken around the entire world as we see all is good once more, seeing the rejoice of the heroes and masters that trained Jack when he was just a young boy.  Finally reunited with his mother and father, Jack dons new robes and Ashi is given a makeover by the queen’s attendants. The couple is to be wed and live happily ever after! Yet, as Ashi walks down the aisle she falls to the ground. Without Aku’s existence, Ashi cannot exist either as she was spawned from Aku’s essence. Tears of sorrow run down our hero’s face as Jack clutches the robes of his fallen love as Ashi fades into nothingness. Damn. Poor Jack.

We see a solitary Jack riding through a forest, obviously sullen and depressed. As he comes to rest under a tree, a ladybug lands on his finger. Jack smiles and the ladybug flies away. The sun breaks through the overcast clouds, shining on our hero as we say goodbye to our favorite time traveling samurai one final time. Congratulations Jack, you made it back to the past and the world is at peace once more.

When this episode first started I thought that Aku had won and it was all over for our hero and that this entire series was actually Aku’s way of taunting the people of Earth and telling the story of how he was almost defeated once.  True to its core, we were given an intense, classic, Samurai Jack battle that was full of action. Nearly every character that Jack encountered on his time traveling journey re-appeared and made an appearance this episode, pitching in and banding together to save the man who risked his own life multiple times to save them from Aku. We see how many people Jack touched on his journey by releasing them from Aku’s grasp, and in the end, even Ashi was able to combat Aku’s evil through the love that she and Jack shared. For me, this episode answered many years of questions and speculations I had about the fate of Samurai Jack. I was disappointed, however, that Ashi ended up being taken away from our hero, but it made sense. Even though Jack finally got back his home, his family, and has his entire life ahead of him, the burden of saving the day came with a heavy price as he lost the one he loved. I like to think though, that the ladybug that landed on Jack’s finger at the end of the episode was Ashi’s reincarnated spirit, telling him to hold his head high and be proud, that he still has a lot to live for, not to give up and to live his life. If you remember from one of the first episodes of this season, Ashi was scolded by her evil mother for being fascinated with a ladybug that had made it into their lair. And even though Jack did not get to spend the rest of his days with the love of his life it was a perfect ending to this series. Samurai Jack was able to defeat evil, and has earned to the right to spend the rest of his days in peace. He will forever be a hero. I only hope that we see Samurai Jack one more time, just to know that he did end up finding love again.

A single tear runs down my face as I type these words. See ya later, time-travelling Samurai. I’m glad you made it home. Goodbye, my friend.