Samurai Jack Season 05 Episode 04 Review

Sadly, Samurai Jack Season 05 Episode 04 was not on last week because of the VERY UNEXPECTED arrival of Rick and Morty. Trust me, I was not happy. But thankfully, it’s back, and I’m seriously wondering how many times I’m going to give this season a perfect score because it’s getting another one this time.

Picking up right where we left off (two weeks ago…), Jack finds himself in a snow bank because of his fight with the Daughter of Aku. Immediately, we see one of the fallen sisters and Jack’s conscious strikes again via very annoying birds. This was very interesting to me, as Jack was very resolute in being willing to kill last episode, yet, the honorable samurai is still in him, and it’s clear he hated doing him harm. Unlike Ashi, who was not only alive, but still very, VERY, willing to kill him.

I loved how Jack immediately went back into battle mode upon seeing her, but then once she was tied up and she began throwing a tantrum, the other side of Jack returned. One who wondered if Ashi could ever be saved from the brainwashing she was in, “Hmm…perhaps not.”

Before I continue, I have to note one very important thing. There was a LOT of talking in this episode. Think about last episode or even the two before that. Jack’s dialogue has never carried the episode, but here, it did, and it was great! Not just that, it was humorous! Jack cracked so many jokes, whether intentional or not. And when he got serious, you believed the conviction in his words. Such as when his younger self returned, and he revealed that in his mind, he’s responsible for Ashi and her sisters being like they are. That’s very powerful writing, and very believable given who Jack is.

Moving on, just when you were wondering where the story would continue, Jack and Ashi got swallowed by a giant monster. Yep, they pulled a Jonah! But with a twist! For Jack was bent on not only getting out but keeping Ashi alive in the process. Which…is not easy where there are a plethora of creatures living IN the monster whale…and when SOMEBODY…doesn’t  want to be saved. 

The depth (no pun intended) that they went to in order to show not only the ecosystem within the monster whale, but show how far Jack was willing to go to protect Ashi was very cool. And it led to some very fun moments. Like when Jack put on the new “armor”, “I like the back fur,” and when he saw the rainbow-colored creatures, “even in the darkest places, there is light.”

And of course, that ending, with Ashi remembering her past, seeing Jack in the present being what her mother said she couldn’t be, and then realizing her future shouldn’t be that hate-filled, was very powerful. I don’t know how far she’ll go in her redemption, but this is a really good start.

Samurai Jack Season 05 Episode 04 was an episode I was honestly worried about via the preview (which didn’t show Ashi with Jack), but the episode itself washed away all doubt, and I can’t wait for next episode. Why? Well, if the preview is to be believed…THE SCOTSMAN IS COMING BACK! Don’t believe me? Check out the review for the episode!