The word masterpiece should never be used lightly. When it is the sediment must be to showcase the subject of the compliments is not only in a cut above the test but finds a way to be memorable, insightful, and have the ability to withstand the test of time. Under this idea, know by proclaiming Samurai Jack season five is a masterpiece, it comes from the upmost respect and commitment to what the very ideal of what a masterpiece truly is. The season isn’t perfect but is so overwhelmingly well presented, you forget about the bad and can only focus on the good.
Story
50 years have past for Samurai Jack. A side effect of travelling through time has caused him not to age. The experience has left him feeling strained, tried, and going crazy with guilt. He has lost his way and is unsure of what to fight for anymore. Elsewhere, a cult known as the Daughters of Aku have been plotting to take down Samurai Jack by training a group of young girls to be assassins from they day they were born. They have but one mission: To kill the samurai.
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Season five begins by exploring some very interesting elements it hadn’t previously. At the beginning of the new season Jack is experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from losing his sword and feels like a failure. This causes him to fall into a level of madness where he is taunted by demons who become very real to him. It’s a fascinating bit of storytelling which showcases a redemption arc for a character who previously did nothing to deserve such a test.
The season also introduced Ashi, one of the aforementioned Daughters of Aku. The character starts as an antagonist and becomes something much more later on. Her backstory is intense and morphs into something much deeper as she must find a way to break through the lies which were fed to her since her birth. Her own journey from darkness parallels Jack’s and helps to truly leave the audience captivated.
Sadly since the previous seasons, legendary actor Mako passed away and was unable to finish his performance as the main villain of Aku. Luckily Greg Baldwin, who previously filled in for the late actor in the Avatar franchise resumed the role and gave a performance which reminded everyone just how evil a character Aku was. Thanks to everyone in the cast and through the story Samurai Jack season five went above and beyond in its plot and delivery.
Art
To say the animation in the season is gorgeous is a disservice. It was as if the entire production cast spent their time between seasons honing their craft for the sole purpose to deliver this glorious visual spectacle. The presentation is beyond explanation. The art team found new ways to showcase the glory which can come in the animated form. Utilizing simplistic effects such as weather, lighting, and color the team is able to deliver moments which are detailed, emotional, and stick with the viewer even after the show has long ended.
Music
The music almost feels alive through the season. It finds a way to act as a stimulant for the entire production, intensifying the mood, and swaying emotions when needed. There are a few moments where it feels like a heartbeat, coursing through the veins of the show and providing adrenaline for the action scenes. The music also tugs at the heartstrings with feelings of affection as when a particularly adorable scene occurs, Everybody Loves Somebody by Dean Martin was inserted in a way which was absolutely perfect and heartfelt in its delivery. Many fans may have been annoyed when they realized the show would not have its traditional opening anymore but thanks to the incredible new music in this season, there is little to complain about with the soundtrack.
Conclusion
Samurai Jack is a love letter to any who stayed fans of animation in the time between season four and season five. A way of thanking them for the long wait for the finale to come around. It’s almost too good. We will never get this again. We will never get a show of this caliber which could take such a monumental break, yet find a way to reclaim its glory. A show on hiatus for over a decade finds a way to come back with such fervor and dedication from the creative team to supercede what came before it and reach new heights of quality, intensity, and overall entertainment than ever before is unheard of.
There is nothing like Samurai Jack season five and unfortunately there’s a good chance there will never be anything like it again. Few shows will be able to truly level up like this one did. Samurai Jack season five was exactly what it needed to be and more. To this end there is only one thing to say: Thank you. Thank you to the original creator Genndy Tartakovsky, his creative team, and the Adult Swim programming staff. This season was beyond expectations and found a way to truly make us all remember why we are fans of animation in the first place.
