Review: SAMURAI JACK Grows With Its Audience in a Phenomenal Way
I was 13 when Samurai Jack went off the air. In the time that's passed, children have been born and are now the same age I was now that Jack is back from the past. I knew going into the revival that the series would be a different tone than the show I was used to and wondered whether or not that would affect my enjoyment of the show.
It did affect my enjoyment and transformed a favorite show from my past into a phenomenal work of art.
Adult Swim gave me a look at the first two episodes of Samurai Jack ahead of its premiere this Saturday, and I'm here to tell you it's not something you want to miss. Even if you just casually followed the series and are generally aware of the plot, you need to watch this show as I'm certain it will be among the best animation has to offer in 2017.
Right off the bat, you become aware that this is not the series you remember from your past. The colors pop, the scenes are more dynamic, and every bit of animation development since 2004 is present in this series. For a show that has always been noted for its well-drawn art-style, Samurai Jack somehow finds a way to raise the bar. Check out some of the epic screens and continue on below.
You've heard several times the story will be darker this time around, and that's no joke. 50 years have passed since Jack was thrown into the past, but something is wrong. Perhaps an ill-intended side effect, being trapped in time by Aku's spell has prevented Jack from aging. Jack has tried his best to battle Aku, but the dark lord's grip on the world is too powerful and Jack is well aware he's losing this battle against his nemesis. His mind is slipping as ancestors from his past and those he could not save haunt his memories and bring him visions of the destruction he could not prevent. The evil is great, and he's only one man.
You think that sounds dark? Just wait until you see Jack contemplating suicide to end what has been a hellish 50 years and a constant battle for survival as minions and foes come at him day after day. Jack's depression mounts as he realizes that without his sword (which he lost in a battle with Aku in season four) he will never defeat his foe or escape this hell. It comes to Jack questioning his morals and wondering if perhaps lines must be crossed for him to finally find peace.
This is such a far departure from the original series, but it's nothing short of incredible. As I've mentioned, the people who will be watching this series have grown up, and so has the show. While thematically the show is darker, there's still a lot of classic Jack to suck you back into the quirkiness that made the original series great. Aku's assassins are still goofy, and there are some spurts of comedy when it's appropriate. Aku, for example, has sunk into a deep depression. Despite his iron grip on the world, he's distraught that he cannot defeat Jack to the point where he pretends that it doesn't bug him anymore. It's moments like these that help break up the sadness in watching your childhood hero go through a psychotic breakdown.
The most important difference between this reboot and the last is Jack is no longer a shining beacon in a world who lost hope. An early battle in the series shows Jack rushing to the aid of a burning village only to discover on arrival that Aku's minion has slaughtered the entire village before he could get there. It isn't implied either, you see a child's corpse. I told you it was dark!
Whether you're a fan of Samurai Jack, action, animation, or anime there's something for you in this series. The series grabs you by the throat from the first scene and you'll find yourself wondering what happened to the time by the end of the episode. Jack is back, and better than ever. It's a damn shame we only get a handful of episodes to see him.
Catch the premiere March 11th at 11:00 PM EST.