Samurai Jack "XLVIII (Jack vrs Aku)" Talkback (Spoilers)

[DianaGohan]

It's the last new Samurai Jack of the month, but it's a killer. Check out the synopsis:

"Tired of his bounty hunters and underlings continiosuly failing him, Aku decides to face Jack in what could be a final match up. Who will win?"

Yeah, Jack vrs Aku. We've seen it before. Believe me. I've counted.

I- The fight at the end (which was "Samurai" Jack's first real battle) where Aku first throws Jack into the future.

VI- Not really a fight. Aku ran away before Jack could do anything. Although this was Aku's first kind of real "victory" against Jack (destroying his way of traveling back in time and betraying his trusts).

IX- Not exactly a fight, although Jack did stop Aku's sea monster form with the old being shot out of a shooter with his mighty sword.

XII- Jack and Aku square off again. Jack almost finishes off Aku, but the mobsters knock him out before he can.

XIII- Aku tells the story of how he destroyed the Samurai (which is just a story). The kids tell the story of how Jack destroys Aku (another story, but this one was more realistic, which is sad for Aku really).

XIV- Aku taunts Jack with not being able to reach the Time Travel portal, but when Jack learns to Jump good... the episode ends. I imagine that after some battling, Aku got away with the portal, but Jack knows he now has more of a chance of beating Aku then before).

XXX- Jack fights Aku in they're most impressive battle yet. For once Aku has an edge, nabbing Jack's sword, but then when it is revealed the righteous blade can't hurt a soul such as Jack, Jack uses it to beat Aku, but he escapes.

XXXIV- Aku tries to disguise himself, but it's no use. Jack manages to figure out Aku's disguise and easily beat him. Once more, Aku flees in cowardly fashion.

XXXVII, XXXVIII- Well it's more "Jack's Dad vrs Aku" but this is how the legend starts, the sword is formed and the stage is set for the series. It fits.

XLIII- A battle within for the most part as Aku mentally and spirtually fights off Aku's evil thanks to a little help from his friends and family's memories... and of course those frog warriors at the temple.

And that brings us to here. Will Jack finally win? Will the series be over? Okay, not that last thing, but maybe this could be Aku's final stand and just maybe the series will get a new head villian. But then again, maybe not. We'll just have to see.

[PaQ]

I saw the previews for this one and it looks good. I might actually go out of my way to make sure I watch SJ tonight..

[Bubblegum Girl]

I saw the preview too. I really don't like Aku's "human" form.

[Duke]

Hehe, making the Overlord of Evil wait on hold.

Aku ordering pizza is one of the greatest Samurai Jack moments I've ever seen.

I love the fact the monster-of-the-day is driving a 1960's Beetle.

Is it just me, or is Jack beating these bounty hunters too easily?

Now this is just sad...

Hehe, Aku's awesome today.

LOL. Two-parter condition.

Is it just me, or are Aku & Jack drawn cutely today?

LOL! The interplay between Jack & Aku is awesome this episode! Funniest Jack since Scottsman's 3rd appearence.

Human Aku looks weird...

I like Aku's reactions to Jack's warm-ups.

It's been a while since there's been a good fist-fight in SJ.

This fight reminds me of the Mortal Kombat movie.

Jack's whipping Aku, what else is new?

Love the "Love Aku" with the little heart.

"I'm smart and you're pure evil."

LOVE Jack's smarmy smile. It's a good shot.

That was a fun episode.

[Animation Otaku]

Hmm. In the past I'd said some bad things about this show, but I decided to give it one last chance. And I wasn't dissapointed. The first half was horrible, these people shouldn't write comedy ever. But the second half was magnificent, I loved the ending. Great action sequences too. It's far from the best current american action cartoon, but if it keeps up at this pace it could end up near the top. I'm sorry I gave up on this series so quickly before.

[nerium_oleander]

This is the weirdest ep...

"I think I'm in the computer." hmmm Aku eating pizza

This whole exchange is all bizarro.....

"I can give you a ride." OMG LOL!

OKay what're the odds Aku's going to go back on the conditions?

Okay does Aku have alzheimers or something? Even with the super human strength Jack was wiping the floor with him. And technically couldn't he be as strong as Jack at least, b/c Jack is human.

Hmmm that pole thing looked a lot like Spike's little dance in "Knocking on Heaven's Door"


Well duh!

"Love Aku" WTF?!

"I am smart and you are Pure evil." Heeey evil isn't dumb!

Jack looks really too smug.

OKay overall that was weird. Not good weird, or bad weird persay, but just weird. Okay maybe more bad weird. I dunno. I usually like Aku and I like Jack, but they seemed out of character, plus Aku was being dumb. He should have just transformed and wasted Jack right when all the swords popped up; at which point the writers would have been forced to make Jack actually pretty clever in order to get out of that bind. But alas Aku was just stupid and therefore Jack didn't really have to make an effort to survive.

Okay so lazy writing, but the weirdness of pizza and that bizarre conversation was fun. But it did nothing for the series, like Diana said, same old, same old.

[wrenchien]

my goodness, this is the funniest i've ever seen.

aku wants his pizza! no respect for the omnipotent. i want pizza, too. bleh the roast beef and potatoes and carrots! grrr.

funny way that dude got to fight jack.

they sure debated a lot about where, and when. hilarious.

aku wanted to give jack a ride. I'LL BET!

'if you want something done, you've got to do it yourself'.

Aku did plan in advance, of course.

eww, ugly aku!! HEH.

this might be one of the final battles. i still wonder what the final one will be (maybe XXXXXLL or whatever?)

what?

jack doing exercises.

aku had fun defying gravity for a while.

wow, punches can hurt aku.

i see aku does need those powers after all.

look behind u! hHEHEHEHE love, aku.

love this episode, too.

[DianaGohan]

"XLVIII Jack Vrs Aku" Samurai Jack Episode Review Plays It For Laughs More Then You Would Think From The Title.

You know, originally based on the titles of this episode, I was wondering how they would handle what could be the last battle between Jack and Aku. However, when I first saw the bumper for this episode a couple of days ago, I wondered would this really be the last Aku episode. I had just thought that to be cute, they would try and pick out a comedy moment to fit the promo better, but it turns out this episode (espically the first half) just plays it for laughs. Animation Otaku probably dosen't get the episode because it's meant for more of the True fans of the show (the ones who aren't thinking about whether or not to stay with it). It's the ones who get the "You know what will happen. You wave your sword around, I fly away and say something like "I will see you again Samurai" and then we do it all over again in a week". This episode was playing the usual intense conflict for laughs for the most part. Personally, while a little OOC, I think it works. There were a lot of hilarious moments from this episode (Aku ordering for pizza and having to be put on hold, how easy the bounty hunters are to defeat, the little minion that keeps popping up with fake Jack swords) but most of it the humor is in Jack and Aku's exchanges. From arguing over the specifics of the duel (No sword for jack, Human powers for Aku), Aku asking Jack if he knows where they're fighting is, Jack reminding Aku about they're arrangments, the "I knew that you knew that I knew that you knew that I knew you would cheat" (albiet spoiled by the commericals) and it ending just like Aku had preditcted it would if the sword got involved. But the battle... that was just intense. It seemed very realistic (okay, semi realistic, but incredibley realistic for SJ) and it turned out wonderfully. Easily an episode I can watch over and over again, and one of the best Samurai Jack episodes yet. And they say SJ can't play it for humor. A++

[B.W.H.]

The first half of this episode is possibly the funniest stuff I ever seen from SJ. Aku ordering pizza,thevarious bounty hunter's entrances and their designs anyone else notice that the sword and shield carrying robots were wearing sneakers?Aku basically telling the audience the Samurai Jack formula.Also aku's reaction to Jack's warmup exercise was hillarious.The fight scene wasnt bad either.A+.

[PaQ]

I'm glad I watched.

• I liked the pizza scene with Aku.
• I liked the whole interaction with Aku and Jack when deciding for their final duel, some great lines and expressions.
• Another great set of scenes prior and after the fighting, with Aku reacting to Jack's warmups and Aku and Jack countering each other for the true sword.
• The fighting was OK, a little too much hand to hand for my taste but I thought it was good enough.
• The ending left a bit to be desired but Aku's gotta be Aku.

Overall an A. I rarely watch SJ because I forget when it's on but I enjoyed today's and hope the rest are good like this one. :anime:

[SilverKnight]

"I'm smart, and you're pure evil."

BEST. EXPLANATION. EVER. 'Nuff said.

[HumanoidTyphoon]

Was Aku actually ordering a pizza? I wasn't paying close attention it loked like he was ordering that robot that drove the beetle.:anime:

I liked the first half alot seeing Jack and Aku interact is very amusing.

The skeletons wearing red tennis shoes are the greatest thing ever.

[Sarah of Borg]

Hi all I got a lot to say here. I am frustrated. Is this or is this NOT the last episode of them all? I know that CN is perfectly capable of ordering more but we all know the likelyhood that'll happen. The situation is the two hour-long episodes. Were they OFFICIALLY considered 4 episodes all-together or (lets hope) just two? For if they were considered 2 episodes, then we are currently up to episode number 48, but if they are 4 episodes then tonight's probably was number 52. I'm confused and disapointed. [rant]WHY CAN'T CN TELL US THESE THINGS??? [/rant]
Before I continue I should point out the obvious to those who do and don't know me. I'm a HUGE SJ fan, card-carrying member of the CDFs. 'Nuff said.
Anyhow, I have two differant reviews on this episode. First is what I think of it as an episode, and secound as the very last episode.

Funniest episode ever. Ingenious although fundementally (and typically) simple. The plot was a great idea and a great break from the serious. I don't mind the humor nearly as much because I absolutely loved the episode before it. I would have been happy for that to be something like the plot of the very last episode. I've always thought Aku was hilarious even when he's not trying to be funny.
Still, it's true they both seemed rather out of character, or (gasp) relatively unintelligent for their show. SJ is an intelligent show but the characters of this episode weren't. The fights were great but predictable, but certainly still great. I have a problem with spotting about 10,000 chances Jack could take that would render Aku helpless. Remember that part of the fight where Aku manages to grab Jack by both his wrists? Even I could have gotten outta that one too fast for Aku to know what hit em (I hate to sound like I'm bragging. I'm just aware of a few indefeatable moves Jack was in a perfect position to deliver but didn't. When a person grabs you by both wrists, a real Samruai would have total control of that opponent) ... so um Jack was a bit disapointing. But at least he was his usual hot self I'd still give this a good wholesom A (not A+)

As a finale it's exceptionally bad. I havn't seen a worse ending since Star Trek TOS. It's like Genndey was sick of the show and just had to stop it somehow before it got bad. I can tell he clearly watched and reviewed the premiere movie just before he created the episode before this one.
It seems Genndey totally forgot that Jack is supposed to return to the past. Destroying Aku in the future is pointless and makes less sense then the usual cartoon plothole. I want to see Jack return, or at least come close. I don't want to see Aku gone because he's the whole reason Jack is even there!! The only circumstance plausible for the detruction of Aku would involve Jack going back into the past first. I'd be totally satisfied with an episode just like The Birth Of Evil as a last episode. For a series ending episode i give it an unfortunate D+

-Sarah of Borg

[wrenchien]

thank you diana gohan, for a proper and sane talkback. about time you realized sarcasm don't pay.

and while i didn't get pizza, someone did give me a pumpkin pie for thanksgiving.

indeed, one of the better episodes. i wonder if they're saving the best for last?

here's looking forward to #52.

[wrenchien]

Hi all I got a lot to say here. I am frustrated. Is this or is this NOT the last episode of them all? I know that CN is perfectly capable of ordering more but we all know the likelyhood that'll happen. The situation is the two hour-long episodes. Were they OFFICIALLY considered 4 episodes all-together or (lets hope) just two? For if they were considered 2 episodes, then we are currently up to episode number 48, but if they are 4 episodes then tonight's probably was number 52. I'm confused and disapointed. [rant]WHY CAN'T CN TELL US THESE THINGS??? [/rant]
Before I continue I should point out the obvious to those who do and don't know me. I'm a HUGE SJ fan, card-carrying member of the CDFs. 'Nuff said.
Anyhow, I have two differant reviews on this episode. First is what I think of it as an episode, and secound as the very last episode.

Funniest episode ever. Ingenious although fundementally (and typically) simple. The plot was a great idea and a great break from the serious. I don't mind the humor nearly as much because I absolutely loved the episode before it. I would have been happy for that to be something like the plot of the very last episode. I've always thought Aku was hilarious even when he's not trying to be funny.
Still, it's true they both seemed rather out of character, or (gasp) relatively unintelligent for their show. SJ is an intelligent show but the characters of this episode weren't. The fights were great but predictable, but certainly still great. I have a problem with spotting about 10,000 chances Jack could take that would render Aku helpless. Remember that part of the fight where Aku manages to grab Jack by both his wrists? Even I could have gotten outta that one too fast for Aku to know what hit em (I hate to sound like I'm bragging. I'm just aware of a few indefeatable moves Jack was in a perfect position to deliver but didn't. When a person grabs you by both wrists, a real Samruai would have total control of that opponent) ... so um Jack was a bit disapointing. But at least he was his usual hot self I'd still give this a good wholesom A (not A+)

As a finale it's exceptionally bad. I havn't seen a worse ending since Star Trek TOS. It's like Genndey was sick of the show and just had to stop it somehow before it got bad. I can tell he clearly watched and reviewed the premiere movie just before he created the episode before this one.
It seems Genndey totally forgot that Jack is supposed to return to the past. Destroying Aku in the future is pointless and makes less sense then the usual cartoon plothole. I want to see Jack return, or at least come close. I don't want to see Aku gone because he's the whole reason Jack is even there!! The only circumstance plausible for the detruction of Aku would involve Jack going back into the past first. I'd be totally satisfied with an episode just like The Birth Of Evil as a last episode. For a series ending episode i give it an unfortunate D+

-Sarah of Borg

it's not the end as far as i'm concerned. i don't think i've yet to see #52 yet.

[Supremus]

For a series ending episode i give it an unfortunate D+

It is definitely not the end of the series. There are 52 episodes, so 4 more left to go. There seems to be conflicting rumors about whether it's going to end with a 2 or 3-parter, though.

But back to Jack vs Aku. I wasn't crazy about this episode. I thought the battle was boring, and I thought it was pointless to have a Jack vs Aku episode if it wasn't going to be THE fight. As funny as it was, doing half a comedy episode on the subject can really only take away from the real final battle that will surely take place at the end of the series.

[Sarah of Borg]

It is definitely not the end of the series. There are 52 episodes, so 4 more left to go. There seems to be conflicting rumors about whether it's going to end with a 2 or 3-parter, though.

But back to Jack vs Aku. I wasn't crazy about this episode. I thought the battle was boring, and I thought it was pointless to have a Jack vs Aku episode if it wasn't going to be THE fight. As funny as it was, doing half a comedy episode on the subject can really only take away from the real final battle that will surely take place at the end of the series.

Well, maybe he just wanted to get the plot out of the way so we wouldn't have a clue what's commin whenever it does. BTW, where did you get that gorgeous, stunning avatar? I must know!! I can stare at it for hours
<--suffering a little bit of Jack-deprivation.

-Sarha of Borg

[PeppeRaskell1]

Hmm. In the past I'd said some bad things about this show, but I decided to give it one last chance. And I wasn't dissapointed. The first half was horrible, these people shouldn't write comedy ever. But the second half was magnificent, I loved the ending. Great action sequences too. It's far from the best current american action cartoon, but if it keeps up at this pace it could end up near the top. I'm sorry I gave up on this series so quickly before.

One episode is all it takes...

[Sharklady]

Jack and Aku were, indeed, acting notably out of character. But I'm willing to forgive it when the results are so hilarious.

This is, in fact, the the very first week when I laughed more watching 'Samurai Jack' than 'The Simpsons.'

[Supremus]

Well, maybe he just wanted to get the plot out of the way so we wouldn't have a clue what's commin whenever it does.

I can't imagine there is a single Samurai Jack fan out there who is expecting anything less than an epic for the final battle between Jack and Aku, so they better have something magnificent in store for the finale.

BTW, where did you get that gorgeous, stunning avatar? I must know!! I can stare at it for hours
<--suffering a little bit of Jack-deprivation.

Thanks. I made it myself. It's a combination of 2 different shots from The Aku Infection. It took bloody ages to squeeze it all inside the 10k limit