Samurai Jack: A Series Reboot Done Right

By Ellie Drabnis on May 25, 2017

The phrase, ‘Got to get back, back to the past — Samurai Jack –’ is one that ’90s babies/2000s kids know all too well. The cartoon Samurai Jack first aired August 10, 2001, on Cartoon Network. And, right away we were introduced to the hero of the series, Samurai Jack, who was fighting the evil being, Aku.

(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASamurai_Jack_logo.pngBy Adult Swim [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)

Unfortunately, the show originally came to an end on September 25, 2004. And, it ended without Jack even getting close to defeating Aku. But, some 12 years later, on March 11, 2017, the fifth and final season of the series premiered on Cartoon Network’s Toonami.

Plenty of ’90s/2000s series are making their way back onto the airwaves what with Nickelodeon’s Nick Splat and Cartoon Network showing older and older cartoons on their Boomerang channel, but I very much believe that this reboot and eventual finishing chapter to Samurai Jack was done right and indeed, did the original series justice.

**WARNING: REBOOT/ENDING SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT**

Certain series are quick to throw away those who help our heroes and/or good guys as ‘one time helpers/allies’ and then we’ll never see such characters again. But, what will forever set Samurai Jack apart for me is the fact that all those who he helped along his journey banded together to save him from Aku’s clutches; these other good guys joined forces to help the main hero complete his quest.

The robot dogs who Jack once aided coming to his rescue
(photo of my television set, taken on my iPhone, slightly edited in FireAlpaca)

Not to mention, Jack was willing to give up his quest for the love he’d developed for Ashi. Really, he would’ve let Ashi finish him off because of his love for her. With that said, what really made me happy was that Jack didn’t pull Ashi out of the tight spot by rescuing her and finishing off the baddie. Oh, no; no ‘damsel is rescued by the hero cliche,’ especially since Ashi can more than hold her own as seen in several episodes.

Ashi ended up rescuing herself with help from Jack’s confession of love. While not said outright, it was understood that she feels the same about him so Ashi fought back against the evil that was overtaking her. As Aku’s daughter, Ashi has his powers and thus played a key role in helping Jack defeat Aku.

But, Jack was the one to offer the final blow to the evil that had ejected him from the past. Jack ultimately defeated Aku and it was done beautifully. He not only ended Aku but he prevented Aku from ever rearing his demonic head again in one swift blow.

Due to Jack banishing Aku from existence, that meant Ashi would have never existed since Aku was her real father. The way Ashi was ripped away from Jack was very disturbing and frightening but ultimately satisfying. Not every hero can beat his bad guy and also get the girl.

While Jack defeated Aku, he could not also keep his newfound love but I am A-okay with that.
(photo of my television set, taken on my iPhone, edited in FireAlpaca)

Jack indeed returned to the past and while he had to give up Ashi, I’d argue that Jack’s future looks darn bright. And, if this is the end of the Samurai Jack saga, the little girl in me who marveled at such a cartoon in her youth is very happy with the ending she saw in her adult years. Some have to tried to call this finale underwhelming but I strongly disagree.

On Saturday, May 27, 2017, Toonami offered an entire marathon of this final season of Samurai Jack from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Whether you missed any of the action or just want to relive it all, all of the episodes of Samurai Jack‘s final season are available for streaming via Adult Swim’s Samurai Jack section of their website. Enjoy!

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