[6.7/10] This is the first episode of Samurai Jack that I didn’t really like. It’s perfectly passable, but the shtick with the gangsters isn’t as amusing as the show seems to think it is, and the plotting is pretty weak.
The best part of the episode is Jack fighting the elemental guardians. There’s some really neat design work on the personifications of earth, wind, and fire, and seeing Jack defeat them is visually interesting. There’s also something cool about him sneaking in while wearing his gangster suit, and finding creative ways to use the environment.
That said, little of this one makes sense or really clicks. There’s a worthwhile, funny premise of Jack having to make good with some “small time” crooks to get near Aku, and the bit where he pretends to be hired muscle, only to shoo the old pet shop owner away is worth a chuckle. But the gangsters’ antics and Edward G. Robinson-style patois gets pretty tiring pretty quickly, and Jack’s dynamic with them runs out of steam quickly.
What’s more, even if it’s part of a plot to get Aku, Jack working with the gangsters to get the neptune jewel feels out of character and, dare I say, dishonorable. Even if he intended to return it, something about defeating elemental guardians who were called by a great water spirit to protect the jewel from Aku seems off for Jack.
Also, the episode really suffers from the take-backsies tease it does with Jack vs. Aku. It’s cool to see Jack’s plan working, getting him an audience with Aku and even gaining the upper hand. But our hero getting so close to defeating the Big Bad, only to be thwarted by a club to the head, comes off more dumb than funny.
Speaking of which, it seems particularly idiotic that JAck entrusts the jewel to the gangsters and thinks they’ll return it. Sure, you can maybe say that Jack’s naive and provincial enough to buy that line, but again, it feels like a stretch for him to be that foolish.
Overall, this is a step down from the show’s usual quality, but the first less-than-good episode in the whole season, which is not bad!
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2020-01-30T03:39:50Z
[6.7/10] This is the first episode of Samurai Jack that I didn’t really like. It’s perfectly passable, but the shtick with the gangsters isn’t as amusing as the show seems to think it is, and the plotting is pretty weak.
The best part of the episode is Jack fighting the elemental guardians. There’s some really neat design work on the personifications of earth, wind, and fire, and seeing Jack defeat them is visually interesting. There’s also something cool about him sneaking in while wearing his gangster suit, and finding creative ways to use the environment.
That said, little of this one makes sense or really clicks. There’s a worthwhile, funny premise of Jack having to make good with some “small time” crooks to get near Aku, and the bit where he pretends to be hired muscle, only to shoo the old pet shop owner away is worth a chuckle. But the gangsters’ antics and Edward G. Robinson-style patois gets pretty tiring pretty quickly, and Jack’s dynamic with them runs out of steam quickly.
What’s more, even if it’s part of a plot to get Aku, Jack working with the gangsters to get the neptune jewel feels out of character and, dare I say, dishonorable. Even if he intended to return it, something about defeating elemental guardians who were called by a great water spirit to protect the jewel from Aku seems off for Jack.
Also, the episode really suffers from the take-backsies tease it does with Jack vs. Aku. It’s cool to see Jack’s plan working, getting him an audience with Aku and even gaining the upper hand. But our hero getting so close to defeating the Big Bad, only to be thwarted by a club to the head, comes off more dumb than funny.
Speaking of which, it seems particularly idiotic that JAck entrusts the jewel to the gangsters and thinks they’ll return it. Sure, you can maybe say that Jack’s naive and provincial enough to buy that line, but again, it feels like a stretch for him to be that foolish.
Overall, this is a step down from the show’s usual quality, but the first less-than-good episode in the whole season, which is not bad!