Samurai Jack - THE FOOLISH SAMURAI WARRIOR RETURNS!

[Morty]

Spoiler: S5E2

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I'm really impressed with how the show gives us the impression of a stalemate that has gone on long enough. Even Aku is tired of it. Jack has no answer towards his inner self's suicidal thoughts other than to keep running and hiding. It has to end, somehow.

[Lacuna Caster]

Scotsman senior is still alive.

Holy frack. He's gone all Mad Max as well. Okay, I'm sold.

[t209]

Scotsman senior is still alive.

Well, old and still kicking.
Apologies for pun.

[Doorhandle]

Don't think he's had a beating that bad since the warriors of Set and this time he didn't have an unbreakable sword or the help of a god.

I noticed that as well. And these warriors were just nuts and bolts flesh and blood, which makes it particularly impressive. It's basically the equivalent of Jack fighting 7 of himself.
They were pretty tactical as well: Aiming for his weapons, lurking in ambush, alley trying to fight him at least 2 on one, and the one hit they did get off was a kidney shot.

[lord_khaine]

I noticed that as well. And these warriors were just nuts and bolts flesh and blood, which makes it particularly impressive. It's basically the equivalent of Jack fighting 7 of himself.
They were petty tactical as well: Aiming for his weapons, lurking in ambush, alley trying to fight him at least 2 on one, and the one hit they did get off was a kidney shot.

Thats a rather significant R your missing in your sentence

[Doorhandle]

Thats a rather significant R your missing in your sentence

Eh, not my best typo. Remember the Sludge Deacon?

Although, it does make me wonder what petty tactics would look like...

[Scowling Dragon]

Tying his shoes? Taking his parking spot?

[Giggling Ghast]

Asking him out on a date and then skipping out on the cheque?

[Rater202]

So, the thought occurs to me that if Aku has all but given up on killing Jack but lets his minions try if they want to... He um, probably does not know about the Daughters of Aku or the cult that raised them.

A thing I've noticed in this and in previous seasons is that Aku, despite being literally made of evil, is not the most evil thing in the setting and that's frankly disturbing.

[Scowling Dragon]

A thing I've noticed in this and in previous seasons is that Aku, despite being literally made of evil, is not the most evil thing in the setting and that's frankly disturbing.

Well hes Evil Given Human perpose. He likes his evil in verieties. Free to roam and destroy.

Its like a Sandbox campaign for Evil PCs.

Hir original incarnation would have simply devoured the entire world. But hes not that. He does have earth shattering power, but he doesn't like to use it. So he lets lots of other exotic evil roam free.

Brings up the evil value for potential investors.

[Giggling Ghast]

I think failing so often and so completely has robbed Aku of all his confidence. If the shape shifting master of darkness can't defeat one lone warrior, then all his other achievements seem rather hollow.

It makes sense that his more evil-inclined servants would take matters into their own hands. They want their tyrannical master to get his groove back.

[t209]

So, the thought occurs to me that if Aku has all but given up on killing Jack but lets his minions try if they want to... He um, probably does not know about the Daughters of Aku or the cult that raised them.

A thing I've noticed in this and in previous seasons is that Aku, despite being literally made of evil, is not the most evil thing in the setting and that's frankly disturbing.

Maybe he found ruling to be more interesting and realize that "Torment them into paying tribute" to be more enjoyable than "blow up planets for joy".

[Doorhandle]

Maybe he found ruling to be more interesting and realize that "Torment them into paying tribute" to be more enjoyable than "blow up planets for joy".

To quote another incarnate of absolute darkness and evil:

"Charnel, death is not the answer to everything."

"True... Torture also has its merits"

Speaking of Aku, how come this sequence hasn't become a meme yet?

Spoiler

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It's both hilarious, and stunning creepy.

[Lvl45DM!]

Ahhhhh yes i have a feeling im just going to be gushing about every episode.

Aku's therapy session was frigging brilliant and hilarious. Its interesting that Aku's version of talking to himself is alot more positive than Jacks. Aku is all like "So lets talk, yes its hard I understand" and Jack is all like "Seriously kill yourself".
The Daughters attack was gloriously brutal. They massively outmatch him all at once, and its nice to see how amazingly effective they are in working together. Haven't been this terrified for Jack since the Warriors of Set. That scene where, one by one, they find a place to hide and Jack walks into one trap after another! The glowbug/sword sparks fight scene! That entire scene in the temple!!!!! The music, and poor Jack was so effing scared! MY EMOTIONS!

And Jack has killed his first human. I like that he didn't overreact, but escaped instead. But its clearly affected him. Its going to damage him severely I think.

And the Daughters! How will they react? FIND OUT NEXT TIME ON SAMURAI JACK!

[Lacuna Caster]

A thing I've noticed in this and in previous seasons is that Aku, despite being literally made of evil, is not the most evil thing in the setting and that's frankly disturbing.

Aku is hilarious and all, but I think his tone might actually be a little off for this season. He's a fine saturday morning villain, but at the going rate he's gonna hafta up his game.

(Remind me what was the most evil thing in the setting, previous to the daughters' whole indoctrination shtick?)

[Doorhandle]

A thing I've noticed in this and in previous seasons is that Aku, despite being literally made of evil, is not the most evil thing in the setting and that's frankly disturbing.

I think that's the problem with a lot of "literally made of depravity" villains; they don't match up to the full breadth and foulness of human depravity
On the other hand, if they were on that level of depravity, we would have characters like "Violae-tarr, the rape engine" and frankly, no-one should want to watch that.
The closest to a character like that would probably be the ebon dragon; and even then it doesn;t show up in the setting that much, and
The closest to a work like would be Garth Ennis' work on the authority, and even then his villains were "merely" posthumans.

I'd probably abandon this show if it went in that direction, and I doubt it ever will.

[Lacuna Caster]

I'd mention that maximising 'the greater evil' tends to muddy the ethical waters as much as pursuing 'the greater good' can for the white hats. I'm not sure Aku is that kind of villain, but he might recognise the practical upsides of not exterminating his entire workforce, or something. All depends on whether he's going for quality or quantity, evil-wise.

[Rater202]

(Remind me what was the most evil thing in the setting, previous to the daughters' whole indoctrination shtick?)

Well, Aku's robotic minions seem more willing to hurt children than Aku himself is.

Aku finds ou that children are mocking him and love Jack, so he brings the children to his lair and... reads them fairy tales in an attempt to endear himself to them and/or make Jack look bad. during this time, he changes stories to accomodate the children's tastes and allows them to question him, and when his plan fails he allows the children to go home unharmed.

Compared to robots that slaughter whole villages, presumably children and all.

Or to that apparently unrelated demon that ate a family's souls, save for the youngest daughter who it used as bait to lure in more souls to be devoured with the implication that it would eat her as soon as she stopped being useful.

[-D-]

Wait, how did Aku destroy all time portals?

I distinctly remember at least one portal guarded by a creature that defeated Jack in combat. Aku can't defeat Jack, and he shouldn't be able to destroy the Guardian or that Time Portal either.

EDIT: In fact, that Guardian is prophesied to be defeated by a bearded Jack in red robes. When Jack lost his sword when he still had the beard - so either the fight at that portal hasn't happened, or the prophesy is bogus (which seems wasteful).

[Rater202]

Wait, how did Aku destroy all time portals?

I distinctly remember at least one portal guarded by a creature that defeated Jack in combat. Aku can't defeat Jack, and he shouldn't be able to destroy the Guardian or that Time Portal either.

EDIT: In fact, that Guardian is prophesied to be defeated by a bearded Jack in red robes. When Jack lost his sword when he still had the beard - so either the fight at that portal hasn't happened, or the prophesy is bogus (which seems wasteful).

1: In any setting where a Prophecy and time travel exists, time travel can be used to invalidate a prophecy.

2: Aku can only be harmed by Divine Magic and the essence of pure human goodness(Jack's sword includes both), so in theory, he could have beaten the Guardian just from the Guardian being unable to harm Aku.

3: Jack might be excluding that portal due to believing that he's not the one destined to use it--Also the Jack in the mirror has gray streaks in his beard/hair, implying that that Jack aged and our Jack has not

[Lvl45DM!]

Well, Aku's robotic minions seem more willing to hurt children than Aku himself is.

Aku finds ou that children are mocking him and love Jack, so he brings the children to his lair and... reads them fairy tales in an attempt to endear himself to them and/or make Jack look bad. during this time, he changes stories to accomodate the children's tastes and allows them to question him, and when his plan fails he allows the children to go home unharmed.

Compared to robots that slaughter whole villages, presumably children and all.

Or to that apparently unrelated demon that ate a family's souls, save for the youngest daughter who it used as bait to lure in more souls to be devoured with the implication that it would eat her as soon as she stopped being useful.

Who is more evil, the one who murders a child, or the one who raises a child to murder children?

[Giggling Ghast]

2: Aku can only be harmed by Divine Magic and the essence of pure human goodness(Jack's sword includes both), so in theory, he could have beaten the Guardian just from the Guardian being unable to harm Aku.

Having re-watched Jack vs. the Undead, I'll note that Aku can be damn scary when he's free to use the full extent of his powers. There seem to be no limit to his shapeshifting — he extends his body over the entire graveyard at one point and finally catches Jack by running his tentacles through the ground — and he can use eye beams, fire breath, etc.

[Keltest]

Wait, how did Aku destroy all time portals?

I distinctly remember at least one portal guarded by a creature that defeated Jack in combat. Aku can't defeat Jack, and he shouldn't be able to destroy the Guardian or that Time Portal either.

EDIT: In fact, that Guardian is prophesied to be defeated by a bearded Jack in red robes. When Jack lost his sword when he still had the beard - so either the fight at that portal hasn't happened, or the prophesy is bogus (which seems wasteful).

Well, the reason Jack can beat Aku is because of his magic sword. Unless the Guardian has something similar, Aku could eventually wear him down by virtue of being functionally unstoppable.

Having said that, I think its more likely that Jack was not speaking literally, and that he used "destroyed" to mean "made inaccessible through various means".

[Rogar Demonblud]

Except during his self-reflection therapy session, Aku also says he hunted down and destroyed every time portal.

[Keltest]

Except during his self-reflection therapy session, Aku also says he hunted down and destroyed every time portal.

well obviously if he missed one, he wouldn't know about it.

[Lvl45DM!]

well obviously if he missed one, he wouldn't know about it.

Dammit beat to the punch.
I doubt we will see the guardian however. I think we will see Jack beat Aku in the future.

[-D-]

Well, the reason Jack can beat Aku is because of his magic sword. Unless the Guardian has something similar, Aku could eventually wear him down by virtue of being functionally unstoppable.

Guardian was unscathed by missiles. I'd say that points towards him having similar abilities. Also Jack's sword didn't fail against the Guardian. Whatever he is, I'd say the Guardian is stronger than Aku.

[Yuki Akuma]

Jack's sword working on the Guardian simply means the Guardian isn't a 100% pure soul. Jack's sword works on the Scotsman too, and he's not an evil robot or horrifying demon - just a somewhat less-than-pure human.

[Lacuna Caster]

Or to that apparently unrelated demon that ate a family's souls, save for the youngest daughter who it used as bait to lure in more souls to be devoured with the implication that it would eat her as soon as she stopped being useful.

I remembered Aku's fairy-tales, but I completely forgot about that nightmare-fuel house-possession episode. No sleep tonight.

Of course, the village-slaughtering robots were all, like, acting on Aku's orders, and at least one of his early henchmen steals the souls of his adversaries (even if Demongo is nowhere near as freaky as that horse demon.) I'd like to believe in cuddly loveable Aku softened by decades of exposure to his mortal underlings, but given his sheer recurring death toll I have to assume he was just polishing his propaganda methods.


On the subject of the guardian: Time Travel shenanigans aren't really the point here so much as checkov's gun, I guess? Then again, Aku legitimately might not know that portal exists?

Having re-watched Jack vs. the Undead, I'll note that Aku can be damn scary when he's free to use the full extent of his powers. There seem to be no limit to his shapeshifting — he extends his body over the entire graveyard at one point and finally catches Jack by running his tentacles through the ground — and he can use eye beams, fire breath, etc.

Oh, absolutely, and it's a fantastic scene. Except for the letdown ending.

[jollysunflora]

Saturday's episode got me shook...