“Samurai Jack,” Genndy Tartakovsky’s time bending epic about a noble samurai cast into the future by an evil shape shifting demon, is finally back.
Following the success of “Dexter’s Laboratory,” Tartakovsky created “Samurai Jack,” a series full of high octane action, humor and artistic visuals in a futuristic dystopia with a feudal Japan that meets futuristic hip-hop aesthetic. During the legendary fight scenes, Jack might sustain some damage in battle. But a razor-sharp look of determination will come across his face before he rallies himself and leaps forward to slice open the skull of whatever evil robot stands in his way.
After the last episode of season four, “Jack and the Baby,” production of the series halted and was unofficially canceled in relation to a proposed movie surrounding the show. Pre-production of the movie was confirmed sometime in 2012. However, the deal to have the series return on Adult Swim took the place of plans for the film.
In December of 2015, a wave of excitement radiated through the fandom in anticipation for the return of their favorite samurai. As time passed with no new information, fans questioned whether Jack’s return would happen at all.
Now, all the stressful speculation and skepticism have been pushed aside to make room for pure adrenaline. Season Five takes place roughly fifty years after the events of season four. In that time, Aku has taken control of the past, present and future.
Jack has not aged a day in the fifty years since the last season. Everywhere he goes he is haunted by the memories of those who perished at the hands of Aku in his absence.
Additionally, he is being hunted by a group of Aku worshipping assassins’ known as the Daughters of Aku. The Daughters of Aku are a cult of female warriors’ hell-bent on killing Jack to appease their dark master. A portion of the premiere featured one of the cult leaders giving birth to seven daughters who are indoctrinated and trained with the sole purpose of eradicating Jack from existence.
The iconic samurai has had some hardcore upgrades to reflect the weathered and battle-scarred aesthetic of the new season. When Jack arrives, he rides into battle on a roaring motorcycle wearing a large suit of black armor that strongly resembles that of a Shogun warrior. His new armor houses several of his new weapons, some of which include a large multi-blade staff with a cattle prod on the end, a Gatling gun, pistol and assorted knives taken from fallen foes.
Jack had previously been given lighter content ratings like TV-Y7-FV, or TV-14-V for season four. Season five, however, has garnered the precious TV-MA rating which should prove violently arousing for adult viewers who watched as children. Conversely, it might prove overly saucy and explosively sensual for those who were young enough to see Samurai Jack in the past few years but are still too young to watch the revival.
In any case, the only thing that matters now is that Jack is back.
Catch the new season Sundays at midnight on Adult Swim.
