Posted 18 July 2018
I’m pretty much always watching a show. This is a segment I would like to start with which I chronicle a show I plan to watch from start to finish. Usually I will watch 2 episodes every weekday. I won’t exactly review every episode of the show but I will give my thoughts about the show. Do note that the factors of me completing a show include availability and the quality of the series.
Vic watches Samurai Jack
Beginning July 9th, I have begun watching Samurai Jack episodes. Samurai Jack (Cartoon Network/Adult Swim; 2001-2004, 2017) is about a samurai who gets sent through a portal to a dystopian future by a shape-shifting demon (Aku). It is up to the samurai to finish the quest to return to the past to defeat Aku before he overtakes the world.
Why Samurai Jack?
Upon completing every available Steven Spielberg cartoon (Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs and spin-offs; possible future posts) the first show to come to mind to watch next was Samurai Jack. For a number of years I joked to myself about starting and finishing this show. I now think I’m ready to take myself seriously. I wasn’t too interested when it first came out in 2001 (I was a Nick kid and it wasn’t my taste). Upon sampling Genndy Tartakovsky’s other works, I started to consider this one. Finding out about the 2017 reboot also sparked some interest.
What do I think so far?
As of posting this, I have completed watching the entire first season and have begun the second season. Let’s focus on season one. The first 3 episodes (considered a “movie”) was a fine introduction about the samurai’s early life, how his ordeal began, and his early adventures in the Aku-infested future. The manner in which “Jack” received his name, I felt, was quite humorous. It was in this go-around that it donned on me that Jack received his name in the future. His birth-given name remains unknown. In the early eps, we see young Jack visiting the different countries and learning new skills. Seeing those scenes make me think Jack is more well-rounded than I am. He shows those skills as the show goes on.
What I like:
I really like looking at the Japanese-inspired artwork especially in the early episodes. I’ve had a liking to Japanese themes for quite some time. The artwork is beautiful! I also like the voice actors on this show; Jack was played by Phil LaMarr (also on other show I like such as Foster’s Home and Evil con Carne (first shows to come to mind)) and Aku was played by the late, great Mako (Iwamatsu). Mako did a great Aku; brought to life a voice of a villain who wished not to be disturbed.
What I don’t like:
I wasn’t quite a fan of the long, monotonous fight scenes. Either they really dragged on or they were making me more tired after coming inside from the heat after driving away from a day of work. Will they fix this in season 2? Another thought is: why did Mako have to die in 2006? He had a great voice.
So, off to a good start?
This show started well. The episodes after episode 3 are mostly self-contained so you can jump in to watch at any time during the season. Overall, season 1 was good.
I am currently watching season 2. Season 2 and other seasons and/or episodes will be discussed as soon as viewing is complete.