Watched the first episode of the Samurai Jack revival miniseries, and I’m digging the new direction so far. Of course, between Logan, Skyfall, and The Dark Knight Rises, I’m biased when it comes to the “fallen hero seeking redemption” narrative. And Jack has fallen far: he’s witnessed the destruction of his last hope of returning home, lost his enchanted sword, and, worst of all, he no longer ages, even as the world continues to suffer under the reign of his archenemy. Unkempt, clad in heavy armor, and literally haunted by the ghosts of his family (a very Mad Max touch), the once unflappable warrior wanders the desolate future, wondering if he’ll have to live with his failure for eternity.
I’m not 100% in love with it yet, but that’s a symptom of this season’s more serialized approach to its storytelling: this chapter is just the first step in a much larger journey, so it doesn’t end so much as… stop for a short break. Still, as much as I adored the versatility that the original series’ episodic structure allowed, I’m willing to let the plot unfold at its own pace—especially if this is, indeed, Jack’s last hurrah. I’m sure I’ll enjoy it more when I’m binge-watching the entire thing in one five-hour sitting a few months from now.
[Originally written March 12, 2107.]
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