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1!YMMV tropes for the ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'' series
2----
3[[foldercontrol]]
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5[[folder:Sub-pages]]
6[[index]]
7* [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation/SamuraiJack Alternative Character Interpretation]]
8* [[BrokenBase/SamuraiJack Broken Base]]
9* [[HilariousInHindsight/SamuraiJack Hilarious in Hindsight]]
10* [[Memes/SamuraiJack Memetic Mutation]]
11* [[MoralEventHorizon/SamuraiJack Moral Event Horizon]]
12* [[Woobie/SamuraiJack The Woobie]]
13[[/index]]
14[[/folder]]
15
16[[folder:General YMMV]]
17* AccidentalInnuendo:
18** Just before Jack fights the Shinobi robot, we get ''this'' exchange.
19---> '''Jack''': Shinobi, warrior of the night. Trained to use the darkness of the shadow. I know your arts as well. ''[[HoYay (proceeds to strip off his robe)]]''
20** '''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEgwxGWgiIg EXTRA THICK!]]''' became one twelve years after its airdate, thanks to 2016's "THICC" meme.
21* {{Adorkable}}: [[https://youtu.be/yo2J1_S28x4?t=17s Jack's pride when he dons that improvised armor inside that giant monster]] has been compared to a stepfather trying to impress his new daughter.
22* SugarWiki/AwesomeArt: The show has a cinematic visual style meant to evoke classic ScienceFiction, Creator/AkiraKurosawa films and anime. The geometric character designs and impressionistic/abstract backgrounds really pushed the artists to rely on color to make everything look distinct, and it ''really'' shows. One could argue that other, similarly ambitiously-designed TV shows from [[UsefulNotes/TheMillenniumAgeOfAnimation this era and beyond]] owe a lot to how big a risk the artists took with this show.
23* AwesomeEgo: Aku. He's a shape-shifting AncientEvil CardCarryingVillain, but you can't deny that he's [[LargeHam pretty entertaining]] whenever he appears.
24* BaseBreakingCharacter: The Scotsman's Wife is this to the fanbase. Many fans found her hilarious and awesome for defeating the Celtic demons by herself, while others found her annoying due to her nagging towards her husband and her complaining while Jack and the Scotsman were rescuing her.
25* BigLippedAlligatorMoment:
26** In “Jack is Naked”, while the whole episode is a great big trip, a particular scene stands out where a strange elephant-headed fairy randomly flies by making a ghostly, wailing noise. It’s never explained or brought up again after it disappears. What's more, after the episode ends, the fairy returns flying past TheStinger making the same creepy noise, again with no explanation.
27** The last we see of the metal eating family is the family literally eating each other. No mention of them is ever made again (it's unknown if they were sent by Aku).
28* BizarroEpisode:
29** "[[NightmareFuel Jack and the Haunted House]]" in general. In this episode, the ArtShift is unusually strange and minimalistic, adhering to the immersive effect of the horror sequences. Besides, there's something '''[[UnintentionalUncannyValley extremely disturbing]]''' about [[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3NbEuEB-o9Y/Sfdyt886sjI/AAAAAAAACUc/8Z2g9ebV1dY/s200/Samurai+Jack+35-02.png the Demonic Spirit's frighteningly detailed design]]. This is without doubt the most unsettling episode of the series.
30** "Jack and the Farting Dragon". There are no words.
31** Also, "Chicken Jack". As the title suggests, Jack is a chicken for this episode.
32** "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Jack is Naked]]". Literally an episode where Jack has lost his clothes, and ends up [[DownTheRabbitHole wandering into a homage to]] ''WesternAnimation/AliceInWonderland''. Jack even dresses up like Alice at one point, minus the shoes.
33** "Aku's Fairy Tales", wherein Aku reads his self-insert fan fiction to children. Even Genndy himself singled that episode out as one of their weirder ones.
34* CommonKnowledge:
35** Jack has ''never'' said that an innocent person can't be hurt by his sword because it was made with the essence of a [[IncorruptiblePurePureness purely good person]], just that an ''[[CardCarryingVillain evil person (or in this case, an evil demon like Aku)]]'' can't use it to hurt others because of its pure properties.
36** Even on this very wiki, everyone operates on the assumption that The Black Mass (the primordial entity that later became Aku) was an OmnicidalManiac trying to devour the whole universe, but this is not established at any point. In the one episode it appears, it is simply born in an explosion of some sort, flies off, then the gods show up to destroy it while it's still seconds old, and it unsucessfully tries to fight back in self defense. The fragment that landed on Earth did indeed devour any and all creatures that came near it, but for all we know it might've simply been trying to regrow to its original size.
37* CrazyIsCool: While many characters are strong [[BunnyEarsLawyer in spite]] of their eccentricities, others are strong because of them.
38** The Scotsman, a ridiculously muscled LargeHam of a man with a machine gun peg-leg, penchant for bad music, and a claymore bigger than Jack. He's got a wild and erratic fighting style wherein he opts to tank hits that would kill normal men simply because he thinks he's beefy enough to do so. [[spoiler:Then he becomes a ghost, which gives him the ability to fly and use celtic magic ghost bagpipes to form a road for his daughters to ride into battle on giant reindeer. Said celtic magic ghost bagpipes pack enough punch to ''repel Aku''.]]
39** The Scotsman's Wife to a degree even more so than her husband. When you piss her off she becomes a savage force of nature capable of tearing multiple armed opponents apart with her bare hands in a blind [[TheBerserker berserker]] rage.
40** [[MeaningfulName Mad Jack]] representing Jack's evil side is an unhinged, AxCrazy and savage fighter.
41** [[TheJuggernaut The Guardian]], a beefy blue dude who looks like [[Franchise/TheMatrix Morpheus]] on steroids and has bodied everything from colossal robot titans to puny bruisers, surrounded in an entire ''junkyard'' of their remains. He took down ''Jack'', too. [[spoiler: Unfortunately Aku was too much for even the likes of him.]]
42* CreepyAwesome: The show has its share of comedic villains, but there are a handful whose chilling presence left an impression.
43** Demongo. His demonic design, oily voice, and the seemingly limitless amount of warriors he can summon made him this.
44** The Minions of Set may have brought Jack to his most desperate (at least at the time of the show's original run on Cartoon Network). They were relentless, powerful, and unable to be harmed by conventional methods. They kept Jack on the run in-between handing out a savage beating.
45** The Demonic Spirit that Jack encounters in the haunted house. The episode was decidedly horror-themed with this ''thing'' having invaded and consumed a family and paraded them around to consume Jack as well. There's nothing we know about this creature other than how scary it can be.
46** The Ninja. Totally silent and absolutely deadly in both his methods and stalking down Jack. He actually forced Jack to change tactics from fighting like a samurai, stop relying on his base fighting style, and switch to fighting like a ninja, in a battle of ninja versus ninja.
47** Aku in his more serious appearances can be this way. His surprise entrance in the latter half of "Jack and the Zombies", where he manages to take the sword from Jack and goes all out trying to kill the samurai, is a big example.
48* CrossoverShip:
49** Jack is frequently shipped with WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo, mostly from their appearance on [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOeo_zHTWB4 this Commercial Bumper]].
50** Demongo is also frequently shipped with fellow EnsembleDarkhorse Jack O' Lantern from ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy''.
51** For [[CrackPairing some inexplicable reason]], it's popular in some circles to ship Aku with [[WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls Blossom]]. Interestingly, in ''VideoGame/CartoonNetworkPunchTimeExplosion'', these two are possibly the biggest {{Game Breaker}}s of the game, with the former being able to effortlessly spam long-range lasers while the latter has an [[CycleOfHurting infinite stunlock]].
52%%* DesignatedHero: [[GreaterScopeParagon Odin, Ra, and Rama.]] Despite their [[CurbStompBattle effectiveness]] in the extremely rare [[note]]Read: Barely even countable on one hand.[[/note]] times they do act directly, they're nearly-always [[AllPowerfulBystander All-Powerful Bystanders]] who seem content to just watch the PunyEarthlings [[note]]Admittedly after giving them a KryptoniteFactor weapon; but even then, just one for a specific ChosenOne (instead of, say, enough for an army -- and since many characters are shown to have similar goodness-of-heart to Jack, there doesn't exactly seem to be a shortage of candidates).[[/note]] struggle for millennia to overcome Aku themselves. Combine that with TheReveal that [[spoiler:their FailedASpotCheck was responsible for Aku's birth to begin with]], and one can wonder why anyone ever looked up to these guys in the first place.
53* DesignatedVillain: The Elemental trio from "Jack and the Gangsters". Sure they try to kill Jack, but only because he's trying to steal the jewel they're guarding which they're trying to keep out of Aku's hands. It's almost odd that the show treats them as [[MonsterOfTheWeek monsters of the week]] while similar characters like X9 were given a sympathetic POV. Perhaps this is why they're ultimately incapacitated after [[HoistByHisOwnPetard accidentally shooting each other]] rather than killed by Jack.
54* DracoInLeatherPants: Three words: ''Aku''. ''Has''. ''FANGIRLS''.
55** Besides, he has a loud fanbase that sympathize with him for being MadeOfEvil. He simply CAN'T stop being evil because it's in his very nature to be evil. The fact that [[spoiler:some fans saw his death as a TearJerker moment of the series only cemented this status, since his death marks the end to an iconic Cartoon Network villain many grew up with]]. Of course, this is ignoring that Aku is a chaotically evil {{sadist}} whose list of crimes can fill a book; and his [[LaughablyEvil sense of humor]] aside, he has no redeemable traits. Some fans even consider him as UglyCute or CreepyCute, largely due to his somewhat simplistic design.
56* EnsembleDarkhorse:
57** The Scotsman, the fact that he's got a ''[[LegCannon machine gun for a peg leg]]'' should show how cool a character he is.
58*** And he later returns in Season 5 as a HandicappedBadass grandpa with a ''[[LiteralMetaphor literal army]]'' of his [[TheUglyGuysHotDaughter young, hot,]] and [[AmazonianBeauty heroically built daughters]]; and he even [[spoiler:goes against Aku [[HeroicSacrifice to save them and dies for it]]. But not even turning into a ghost could stop him, as he promises to lead his daughters to find more allies to help Jack against Aku]].
59** Ikra, Aku's female alter-ego, is popular enough to be shipped with Jack. Despite the fact that, you know, "she" is really ''Aku''.
60** Exdor, who seemed very similar to [[WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory Dexter]]. He later appeared in the 2004 video game.
61** The Lava Monster, due to his [[TragicMonster surprisingly tragic backstory]] and beautiful death scene.
62** Demongo, apparently enough to get him a profile on Cartoon Network's site at one point in their old shows archive. He also makes an appearance on the game ''VideoGame/FusionFall''. [[spoiler:And... Demongo makes a surprise return in season five's "XCVII", with [[UnexplainedRecovery no explanation]] on how he survived his apparent death at the hands of Aku.]]
63** The Guardian is well-liked because of how badass he is; he's the only antagonist to ''single-handedly '''defeat Samurai Jack''' and get away with it''. Many are hoping that he and the time portal he's guarding will once again become relevant in Season 5. [[spoiler:[[TheWorfEffect Tragically, the sorting algorithm of power got to him first]], and Aku, proving himself to be even ''more'' powerful than the Guardian, took him out of the picture long, long ago.]]
64** Og from ''Jack vs Mad Jack'' is particularly popular for his memorable scene but more so because of his Wookie-like appearance.
65** Narc is a three-eyed alien dancer who happened to be a spy for Aku as shown in "The Samurai Called Jack". Despite her very minor role, some fans like her attractive design.
66** The Imakandi have gotten some fans due to being a ProudWarriorRace who actually succeeded in capturing Jack, only to [[NobleDemon let him go out of respect]] for being a WorthyOpponent.
67** Da Samurai has also been picking up some steam as well. People seemed to enjoy his change towards the end of his episode, and some even hope he comes back for Season 5. [[spoiler:They got their wish in "XCVII", though it turns out he's become a humble bartender.]]
68** X9. His episode was an excellent [[FilmNoir neo-noir]] story, and he had an delightful 1920s mobster theme. [[spoiler:Shame he was forced to go against Jack... which only meant one thing.]]
69** The cricket-chasing girl whom Jack befriends in one of his flashbacks in "Jack Remembers the Past" is well-remembered for giving him his first kiss. Quite a bit of fanart and fanfiction has been written about her, and some fans hope that the two will reunite when Jack returns to the past.
70* EsotericHappyEnding: PlayedForLaughs in "Jack and the Farting Dragon", where Jack saves the day only for the baby dragon to basically set the town on fire. Everyone is too busy celebrating to stop it.
71-->'''Jack''': (cheerfully) [[CrossesTheLineTwice Now all I need to do is put out the fires!]]
72** Even Jack questions if what he did was a good thing.
73* EstrogenBrigade: Jack himself has attracted quite a few female fans to the series. It should come as a surprise to no one that a male character who is not only ripped, but loses half his clothes (or sometimes ''all'' of his clothes, aside from his {{fundoshi}}) and has his hair [[SlipknotPonytail come undone]] in a flowing, sweaty mess at least OncePerEpisode was greatly appreciated by many of the show's female fans.
74* EvilIsCool:
75** Aku. He has ruled the world for centuries and defeated many warriors in his way, as well as determined in his war with Jack. However, what makes him truly awesome is that he's different from other "dark" villains. He's capable of being an epic and ass-kicking villain, while still being fun and hilarious at the same time.
76** There's also Demongo, the Collector of Souls.
77** Let's not forget the coolest villains in the show, the Minions of Set. They're demonic creatures from the past who are too strong for Jack to face head-on.
78** Shinobi, a deadly ninja who takes advantage of the show's lack of outlines to seamlessly blend into the shadows. His duel with Jack is well remembered for how beautifully stylized the whole thing was.
79* FanficFuel: What adventures was Jack up to in the 50 year timeskip? Genndy says it's up to you. To help with that, the episode number skips from LII (52) straight to XCII (92), allowing fans to fill their stories in with the numbers in between.
80* FandomRivalry: ''Samurai Jack'' has quite the rivalry with ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsCloneWars'' even though they have a similar style and are both works of Creator/GenndyTartakovsky.
81* FanNickname:
82** "Tartakovsky without limits." At the time this was Genndy Tartakovsky's most explicitly violent show and his first to regularly depict on-screen death and bloodshed. (Of course, his next show ''WesternAnimation/Primal2019'' would make this one look tame by comparison.)
83** It's not uncommon for fans to refer to Da Samurai as "Sam-Moo-Rhai" or some variation thereof.
84** The alien family who Jack saves at the beginning of the fifth season's first episode -- whose words are displayed on electric wavelengths on their antennae -- were nicknamed "the Emoji family".
85** Many took to calling the Omen "the Horseman" (this website included) as a placeholder name before his true name was given.
86* FanonWelding: There are an alarming amount of people who think that ''Samurai Jack'' takes place in the same universe as ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'' and ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'', due to the fact that the remains of what looks like Townsville are seen in the first episode, and some people have commented on how [[http://static.vix.com/es/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/btg/series.batanga.com/files/7-geniales-referencias-que-nunca-habias-notado-en-Las-Chicas-Superpoderosas-6.jpg?itok=WEBSnUoy Professor Utonium and Jack look a lot alike]]. Some people have even made some [[http://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1236171-samurai-jack pretty interesting theories here and there]].
87* FoeYayShipping:
88** Oh God, when Aku [[VoluntaryShapeshifting disguised himself]] as a beautiful woman named "Ikra", (s)he seems to actually show growing chemistry with Jack. Urgh, how far would Aku have kept up the ruse?
89** Believe it or not, Aku pulls this off ''a second time'' [[http://actionpackjack.tumblr.com/post/16397748010/jack-and-jill-jack-is-the-most-gullible in one of the CN Action Pack comics]]. He takes the form of a beautiful geisha for what is implied to be ''several months'', only to change back right after Jack confesses his love for her. This time there wasn't even any threat or time portal involved; [[ForTheEvulz he just wanted to screw with the poor guy]]. His last words?
90-->'''Aku:''' "[[LonersWillStayAlone You will always be alone]]. HA HA HA HA HA!" ''(returns to his lair)'' "But I will never be alone... as long as I have '''you'''."
91** In Season 5, [[spoiler:Jack encounters a deadly, but pretty girl named [[DarkActionGirl Ashi]] who starts out as his mortal enemy, as she attempted to assassinate him out of [[ReligionOfEvil fanatical devotion to Aku]]. After Jack eventually [[HeelFaceTurn snaps Ashi out of her lifelong brainwashing]], the two become best friends and show [[ShipTease a lot of romantic chemistry]]. But not too long after they're confirmed as an OfficialCouple, Aku shows up to reveal that ''[[LukeIAmYourFather Ashi is Aku's daughter]]'', which results in Aku [[TransformationHorror forcibly turning]] [[HalfHumanHybrid Ashi]] [[HumanoidAbomination into a demon much like her daddy]]. To say that Jack's not thrilled about almost becoming Aku's son-in-law would be an understatement. Even after she regains control of herself, she's still basically an Aku clone with her own, separate personality.]]
92** So what's the lesson behind [[spoiler:the poor, lonely old Jack's entire love life? '''''Aku is the only woman he can ever fall in love with!''''' It makes one wonder if this is supposed to be one {{overly long| gag}}, [[BlackComedy cruel joke]] on the writers' part.]]
93* FountainOfMemes: Aku, for [[LargeHam obvious]] [[LaughablyEvil reasons]], is just so damn quotable.
94* GeniusBonus: In "Samurai vs Samurai," Da Samurai is boastful, arrogant, flashy, loud, and generally an insufferable jerk. In short, he acts like a typical historical samurai... [[spoiler:at least until Jack manages to get through to him in the end.]]
95** This next one takes three seasons to kick in: the rave music in "Jack and the Rave" is strongly dissonant. When we hear the music Olivia plays in XCVII, it's of an extremely similar style, but it's extremely assonant, emphasizing the difference between '''HER''' raves and the ones Aku controlled.
96* HamAndCheese: Aku, to NarmCharm levels.
97--> '''Aku:''' ''(into the phone)'' "Thirty minutes or it's ''free? Excellent! HA HAAAA HA HA HAAAAA HA HA!''"
98* HarsherInHindsight:
99** In "The Aku Infection", Aku was sick with a horrible coughing fit, and he spits out a virus that infects Jack and slowly turns him into another Aku. {{Creator/Mako}} (Aku's voice actor) would later die of esophageal cancer.
100** "Aku's Fairy Tales" had Aku trying to brainwash children with [[BlatantLies stories of Aku being the hero, and Jack being the villain]]. It was PlayedForLaughs and is a light-hearted episode overall. But then Season 5 introduced the Daughters of Aku, seven [[DarkActionGirl women warriors]] who were [[TrainingFromHell raised under harsh conditions]] by an [[ReligionOfEvil evil cult]], which brainwashed them into believing that Aku is their lord and savior; thus reminding the viewers that while Aku's first attempt at propaganda was an EpicFail, [[FridgeHorror the motive behind it is still terrifying]].
101*** From the same episode, one of Aku's stories depicted Jack acting like TheBigBadWolf, and makes a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td2Ldu4y2zk reference]] to ''Film/TheShining''. In Season 5, [[EnemyWithin Jack's inner-self (dark side)]] appears; in one episode he resembled "Jackie" from Aku's fairy tale, with the same DerangedAnimation, DutchAngle, and NightmareFace.
102** At the end of "Jack and the Baby", the Baby has a scowl on her face, and Jack says it's because she had "witnessed death" and now has the spirit of the samurai. [[spoiler:Then in "Episode XCIV", we learn that Jack had literally witnessed death as a child when he saw his father kill off a gang of bandits, which also ended his innocent outlook on life.]]
103** The opening narration for Seasons 1-4 of the show sounds like Aku is narrating from the past about how he sent Jack to the future, where the hero is now searching for a way to get back home (the narration sounds completely harmless at best). Come the final season, [[spoiler:and we discover that what we thought was Aku's harmless narration from the past is actually him chronicling in the future about Jack's escapades there up to the time of the GrandFinale, where Aku had already defeated and captured Jack (and is about ready to straight up execute our hero too!).]]
104** In "Jack and the Three Monks", Jack came dangerously close to abandoning his quest after one too many failures, until the titular monks reminded him of all the suffering Aku has caused and what he's fighting for, [[{{Determinator}} rejuvenating his spirit to carry on]]. But then [[MoodWhiplash Season 5's premise was revealed]], and Jack has pretty much [[DespairEventHorizon abandoned all hope]] after ''50 long years'' of still being trapped in the future with Aku also still alive. Even the ArmorPiercingQuestion the monks give out to Jack becomes all the more tragic when it is repeated in another form once Season 5 premieres.
105** In the episode "Jack, the Monks, and the Ancient Master's Son", when Tam Sung expresses awe that Jack has apparently remained unchanged despite all the centuries that have passed, and believes that Jack had achieved a level of chi even beyond his own, before Jack hastily corrects him that he had merely been displaced in time. Come Season 5, and we find out that a side-effect of the time-travel spell that Aku used to send Jack to the future has also turned him [[TheAgeless biologically immortal]].
106** In "Jack vs. Aku", the episode is kicked off by Aku having grown tired of the [[StatusQuoIsGod static]] [[StrictlyFormula premise]] of the show, and how he and Jack can't seem to decisively kill each other, resulting in a perpetual stalemate. Aku even has a LeaningOnTheFourthWall speech about how his plans to kill Jack, and Jack's plans to return home, will always inevitably fail [[OncePerEpisode week after week]], "And then we'll do the same thing all over again." While this is a largely comedic episode, it gets a ''lot'' darker after Season 5 premiered. Turns out that ''fifty years'' of doing "the same thing all over again" [[SanitySlippage hasn't been kind to either character]]: Aku has crippling depression, and can't even be bothered to run his own empire; and Jack is struggling with PTSD, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts.
107*** That episode was also Aku's final appearance on the show prior to the TimeSkip, and thus Mako's last time voicing the character. His last line, "We'll meet again, Samurai!" is a bit tragic given that fact.
108** In "Jack and the Warrior Woman", Jack befriends "[[FalseFriend Ikra]]", a beautiful woman whom he was [[ShipTease slowly growing a romantic crush on]]; but he is very shocked and dismayed to learn that "she" was actually [[VoluntaryShapeshifter Aku]] [[PaperThinDisguise in disguise]] this whole time. Later, if you count [[http://actionpackjack.tumblr.com/post/16397748010/jack-and-jill-jack-is-the-most-gullible this comic story]], ''Aku pulled off the same trick twice''. [[spoiler:Much later in Season 5, Jack finds himself caught in a ''very eerily similar'' problem; it turns out that his first [[LoveInterest real girlfriend]] (Ashi) was [[TomatoInTheMirror unknowingly]] ''[[AntiAntiChrist the literal daughter of Aku]]'' this whole time, [[BrainwashedAndCrazy and Ashi is forced by her dad to attach Jack]] (though she breaks out of this).]]
109** In "The Aku Infection", Samurai Jack was somehow infected with a [[TheVirus mutagenic disease]] that [[TransformationHorror gradually turned him into a mini-clone of Aku]], until he eventually managed to purge the illness from his body, mind, and soul. [[spoiler:Later, in the same episode where [[LukeIAmYourFather Ashi's long-lost father]] was revealed, Aku forces Ashi to go through a very similar and painful [[SuperpoweredEvilSide transformation into an Aku-like demon herself]]. But because the curse is in ''her own genes'', this will be very difficult to reverse.]]
110*** Speaking of, there's the fact that it took a small fragment to infect Jack and mutate him into an evil clone, but much later on, [[spoiler:the High Priestess is revealed to have drank a ''whole chalice'' of Aku's essence and it did ''not'' mutate, infect, poison, or kill her in any way, because she's already evil]].
111* HeartwarmingInHindsight: The children in "Aku's Fairy Tales" playing Samurai Jack, then telling an awesome story about him at the end, all reads like how ''actual'' fans of the series talk about it in real life.
112* HoYay:
113** When Jack meets the Scotsman for the first time, we get this exchange:
114--->'''Jack:''' No, I Look, we are both in a hurry. So I shall hang from these planks and you may walk over.\
115'''The Scotsman:''' So you get a peek up my kilt?
116** Nearly-naked Jack tickling a nearly-naked sumo wrestler.
117** In the episode "Jack vs. Aku," Aku replaces Jack's sword with a note that says "Dear Jack, Look behind you. '''Love''' Aku." IT also had a heart at the end.
118** There's a surprising amount of romantic tension between Jack and WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOeo_zHTWB4 this Cartoon Network commercial bumper]], which led to many people [[CrossoverShip shipping them together]].
119* LoveToHate:
120** Aku is well beloved for being downright [[LaughablyEvil hilarious]] and entertaining, all while still being deliciously evil [[ForTheEvulz for the sake of being evil]]. But it can be so easy to forget that he's supposed to be completely loathsome and irredeemably evil.
121** [[EldritchAbomination The Demonic Spirit]] from "Jack and the Haunted House" doubles with CreepyAwesome, and it's possibly the most frightening and disturbing creature to have appeared in the original series. Unlike Aku, this being is played completely seriously, with no humorous quirks to detract from the insane nightmare that is this creature.
122* MagnificentBastard: "[[Recap/SamuraiJackS2E9JackAndTheHunters Jack and the Hunters]]": [[ImplacableMan The Imakandi]] are a quartet of cat-like creatures known as "the greatest hunters in the universe", and they easily prove to be more than worthy of that title. After getting hired by Aku to hunt down the titular samurai warrior and bring Jack to him, they arrive on Earth, [[ScarilyCompetentTracker sniff out Jack's footprints]], sneak up on and capture him with great ease. One of the hunters grabs onto Jack's sword in midair before Jack can swipe him, forcing Jack to run for his freedom, knowing he can't fight the hunters. The hunters pursue an extremely long chase, managing to keep up with Jack despite his attempts to shake them without breaking a sweat. When they finally capture him, they betray Aku and allow Jack to roam free due to him proving to be a WorthyOpponent thanks to their CodeOfHonor.
123* MemeticBadass:
124** Jack himself.
125** The Scotsman gets a bit of this as well.
126** The Scotsman's Wife also gets this. You can see some [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uwGrqdj97k&app=desktop comments]] on this video, claiming that the series would be finished already if she had been given Jack's sword and Aku had insulted her weight.
127* SugarWiki/MostWonderfulSound:
128** The hawk-like screech that plays whenever a time portal is opened.
129** ''WATCH OUT.''
130* MemeticMolester: In "Jack and the Warrior Woman", Jack learns to his horror that Ikra, a beautiful woman whom he was clearly feeling love for, was actually Aku in disguise. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P--jhcJiCKo In these comments]], there are so many jokes speculating that [[BedTrick the disguised Aku must've had]] [[BlackComedyRape sex with an unwitting Jack]]. [[note]]On a slightly more serious note, given how uncomfortable "Ikra" seemed to be just ''watching'' the male dancer the sultan brought out for "her", it's very unlikely that any actual canoodling happened.[[/note]]
131* MisaimedMarketing: One of the Cartoon Network promos has Jack shouting "WHO ELSE WANTS SOME?!", even though the point of the episode was that his anger issues were a character flaw that needed to be overcome.
132* {{Moe}}: Jack as a young boy. His design and cheerful demeanor makes him come off as this.
133* NauseaFuel: "Jack and the Farting Dragon". In particular, the scenes where Jack travels inside the dragon's organs. Please, if you are sensitive to everything related to intestines and digestive system, DO NOT watch this episode.
134* OlderThanTheyThink: The ignorant would think that "Jack and the Spartans" is a blatant rip-off of the more MemeticMutation movie ''Film/ThreeHundred'', even including many of the same sepia tone visuals. But the episode was made years before and was inspired by Creator/FrankMiller and Lynn Varley's 1998 graphic novel, of which the infamous film was an adaptation. It's more likely a WholePlotReference to the 1962 film ''Film/The300Spartans'', which inspired Miller to write ''300''. Of course, all these works are based on the RealLife [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae Battle of Thermopylae ]], which happened in 480 BC.
135* OneSceneWonder: Very few characters recur, so there are a few of these.
136** [[AntiVillain X9]] spends his entire episode as the [[VillainProtagonist protagonist]], and deconstructs WhatMeasureIsAMook, making him a memorable tragic character.
137** Mira, The Gentleman, Jujunga, Boris, I and Am... all from "The Princess and the Bounty Hunters" were also [[VillainProtagonist protagonists]], and they spend their episode preparing to fight Jack. Their group dynamic was interesting, they all have unique and interesting designs, each have their own musical leitmotiv, and Princess Mira has an interesting backstory, but they are defeated at the end of their episode and don't come back.
138** The Imakandi, the hunting pack who were one of the few groups who bested Jack.
139** Also, The Guardian of a Time Portal, who is the only person to best Jack in single combat.
140** The Minions of Set, who are remembered as some of Jack's most formidable opponents. Relentless, powerful, and unable to be harmed by conventional methods, they kept Jack on the run in-between handing out a savage beating and may have brought Jack to his most desperate.
141** [[BountyHunter Ezekiel]] and [[FemmeFatale Josephine]] Clench, the two western-style bounty hunters. Both have nice designs: Ezekiel with his cybernetic hands and PlayingCardMotifs; Josephine with her SouthernBelle attire. Both use cool [[SwissArmyWeapon Swiss Army Weapons]] and know how to fight. While underplayed, the fact that they used to be married and the gag that Ezekiel had to take a restraining order on her gave them a good group dynamic. Finally, they are also among the few human opponents who were able to give Jack a tough fight. However, even though they are shown to have survived at the end of their debut episode, they don't come back. Josephine also has sex appeal on her side.
142** The unnamed thief from Jack and the Labyrinth, who is stylish, [[BadassInANiceSuit badass]], and has the greatest [[SwissArmyWeapon briefcase]] ever.
143* {{Padding}}: The show is very slow-paced and often filled with long segments where very little happens (for example, the first minute and a half of "Jack versus Mad Jack" is just a bunch of bounty hunters playing the knife game, and it takes another minute for the main character to show up) or have prolonged shots of repeated animation. Of course this is usually seen as an example of Administrivia/TropesAreNotBad, as it helped give the show a unique cinematic style that has been well-received.
144* PeripheryDemographic: Tartakovsky said outright that they went to make a show anyone could enjoy. It has aired on both Creator/{{Toonami}} ''and'' Creator/AdultSwim, a block meant for adults. Now the show has been revived, but was aired on Creator/{{Toonami}}... [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs which is now airing on [=[adult swim]=]]] hours instead of regular Cartoon Network hours.
145* SacredCow: The first four seasons are hailed as masterpieces of animation due to their art, action, and emotion, making them beyond reproach. The fifth season, which is more divisive, does not get this level of protection.
146* SignatureScene:
147** The first two minutes of "Jack Learns to Jump Good", where Jack seemingly finally reaches a time portal, after which, with absolutely no warning, Aku appears out of nowhere, snatches the portal, and then dangles the portal just outside of Jack's reach. It's generally seen as a good summary of [[StrictlyFormula the first four seasons]].
148** Aku challenging Jack to a fight in "Jack vs. Aku" is also an incredibly memorable and down-right hilarious sequence.
149* SpoiledByTheFormat: Averted hilariously in the second part of "Scotsman Saves Jack". A heated battle ensues with the sirens with about 10 minutes left of the episode. They defeat them in about ''2''. The rest of the episode is devoted to a set of competitions set by the Scotsman on who would row the boat to get off the island, since [[UngratefulBastard the pirates who brought them there left without them, despite Jack and the Scotsman saving their lives]]. See MoreHeroThanThou in the main page.
150* SpiritualAdaptation: This is perhaps the best AnimatedAdaptation of ''ComicBook/Ronin1983'' ever made with the series sharing the exact same premise of a Japanese samurai being sent to a dystopian future by a demon.
151* {{Squick}}: TheReveal at the end of "Jack and the Warrior Woman", even if it was a CaptainObviousReveal in hindsight.
152* StrawmanHasAPoint: While Da Samurai was portrayed as a DirtyCoward for attempting to run away from the assassins that surrounded Jack, him staying back and attempting to fight them would have been synonymous [[TooDumbToLive with playing Russian Roulette with his life]]. With Da Samurai having little to no experience in martial arts, it’s not too unreasonable for him to not want to fight the assassins.
153* SuspiciouslySimilarSong:
154** One cue often used for tragic scenes is borrowed from Music/JohnWilliams' score for ''Film/ANewHope'' from the scene were Luke looks out at the sunset.
155** In "Jack vs. Mad Jack," a female patron of the BadGuyBar dances to sound-alike of Quincy Jones's "Soul Bosso Nova" (more commonly known as the ''Film/AustinPowers'' theme).
156** In "Episode XCIII", the Daughters of Aku are searching for their bounty, Samurai Jack, who is hiding in a grave, while a music very close of ''Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly''[='s=] "Ecstasy of Gold" plays over.
157* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: Come on, who else would've liked to see Ra himself take on Aku? CurbStompBattle or not.
158* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The show has some incredibly impressive 2D effects animation, but special mention goes to Aku's body burning, meant to resemble inflamed film celluloid, whenever he's being defeated in "The Birth of Evil."
159* {{Woolseyism}}: Occurs occasionally in the Swedish dub. One memorable instance is with the announcer of the Dome of Doom. In the English original he states the line "Well, there you have it folks" in a somewhat disappointed tone. In the Swedish dub he states "Ja, så kan det gå"[[note]]Can have many meanings, but in context can mean something along the line of "Well, that just happened."[[/note]] in a flabbergasted and excited tone, changing the context of the scene into something that suggests that whatever happened, it [[ThatsGottaHurt looked painful]].
160* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids:
161** The series is known for using heavy robotic gore, show realistic examples of slavery, some swearing and sexual comments. All of which had been deemed unusual for a Cartoon Network show at the time.
162** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT6yhhfiUh8 Tartakovsky has acknowledged]] the freedom with Season 5 of the show being on Creator/AdultSwim, but he knows full well how the show is also watched by kids then and now. It will be edgier, but not to a significant degree.
163[[/folder]]
164
165[[folder:Season 5 YMMV]]
166* AccidentalInnuendo:
167** In the first episode, one of the first things Scaramouche tells Jack is to "whip it out" when referring to his [[FreudWasRight sword]].
168** Episode nine, when Aku sees Ashi for the first time and [[spoiler:notes she shares his blood]]:
169--->'''Aku:''' "Yes, I smell [[spoiler:''me'']] inside of her..."
170* AngstAversion: For every two fans who enjoy this DarkerAndEdgier revival, there's one who finds it ''too'' dark and ''too'' edgy. For them, watching the main character continue to get [[YankTheDogsChain jacked around by the villain]] is too unpleasant and many were left emotionally exhausted by the BittersweetEnding.
171* AngstWhatAngst:
172** [[spoiler:Ashi doesn't seem to hold any resentment towards Jack for killing her sisters (at least not anymore). Granted, the Daughters' harsh upbringing by their mother, the High Priestess, made them repress any empathy for each other. Also, Ashi might understand Jack's actions were justified because he was only defending himself.]]
173*** [[spoiler:In "Episode XCVIII", during the duel between the High Priestess and Ashi, the High Priestess points out that despite the fact Jack killed all her sisters, Ashi decided to befriend him anyways; which is counter-argued by Ashi, who points out her mother's cruel abuse of her own daughters, that she was the one who turned them into killing machines, and thus was responsible for leading Ashi's sisters to their deaths. Ashi does seem upset about her sisters, but (rightfully) pins the blame on her mom.]]
174** [[spoiler:The Scotsman is rather jolly while rising as a ghost shortly after being '''scorched to death''' by Aku, and in front of ''his daughters'' no less. Granted, if anything he's better off than before (he now looks like he's back in his youthful prime rather than as an old cripple, and his daughters can still interact with him).]]
175** We never see how Jack reacts to the idea that [[spoiler:everyone he's ever befriended in the future may or may not have been [[RetGone erased from existence]] just like his lover Ashi, which is unfortunately never addressed since we only see him feeling hurt over Ashi's fate and no one else's. Though it's still possible that Jack could've pondered about all this while sulking under that tree. And Ashi was the only one who literally couldn't have been born without Aku and who definitely faded away]].
176* AntiClimaxBoss:
177** [[spoiler:The Dominator, who was defeated by Ashi without much effort.]]
178** [[spoiler:[[TheGrimReaper The Omen]] is built up throughout the season as the only thing that can instill paralyzing fear in Jack, and it finally leads him to attempt {{Seppuku}} at his lowest moment. Ashi's brief fight with him also reveals him to be a HumanoidAbomination and far stronger than most opponents Jack faces. However, once Jack is inspired to finally turn on him, he's taken out in two sword strokes without much resistance. One could argue, though, that the point was [[HesBack Jack's mental recovery]] enabling him to effortlessly defeat the embodiment of his torment.]]
179** A justified example occurs in the GrandFinale with [[spoiler:Aku, who goes down more easily than he did in previous one-on-one fights with Jack. This is because Ashi allowed Jack to finally return to his own time to SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong, and both Jack and Ashi had just landed back in Aku's lair... about 15 seconds after Jack was originally flung into the future, where Aku was at his weakest due to just barely surviving his first battle with Jack]]. In any case, [[spoiler:the earlier fight with Aku in the future more or less compensated for this]].
180* AwesomeEgo: Scaramouche the Merciless, [[VerbalTic babe!]] He's extremely confident in his abilities and even refers to himself as "Aku's number one assassin" [[SmallNameBigEgo (even though he's actually only third)]], but he's [[LaughablyEvil delightfully hilarious]] and actually manages to give Jack a rather good fight, making him seem all the more awesome for it.
181* BaseBreakingCharacter:
182** Ashi became this based on the amount of CharacterFocus she has, leading some to fear she's become a SpotlightStealingSquad.
183** The Omen was one of the most mysterious and terrifying new characters of Season 5 and fans were caught up in the mystery behind him. The show's decision to [[spoiler:make its identity and purpose subject to an UnReveal]] either made fans accept it due to his mysterious nature or felt cheated due to the mystery [[spoiler:building to nothing but a fight]]. Others feel like they can determine what its purpose was through the show's context clues.
184* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: In "XCVII", [[spoiler:Demongo]]'s cameo has absolutely no impact on the plot (which is a ContinuityCavalcade) and only seems to be included due to the character's status as an EnsembleDarkhorse. [[spoiler:Not to mention that he's nowhere to be found in the finale.]] Da Samurai even lampshades it.
185-->'''Da Samurai:''' ''(whistles)'' We got some straight-up freaks comin' through this place...
186* CatharsisFactor:
187** [[spoiler: Watching Ashi give The Dominator a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown before he blows up is quite satisfying, especially for those who genuinely believe The Dominator is [[WesternAnimation/SouthPark Eric Cartman]].]]
188** [[spoiler:Not like fans weren't hoping for it; after all the scenes with the High Priestess brutally torturing her own daughters, the scene in "XCVIII" where Ashi finally strikes her down is ''very'' fulfilling. What makes it even better is that with Aku's death in the past, the cult will never exist in the future]].
189** [[spoiler:Unsurprisingly, after all the times that Aku has [[KickTheDog tormented Samurai Jack]], [[MoralEventHorizon along with all his atrocities against nearly everyone in the galaxy]], Jack ''finally'' killing Aku in the series finale made it all worth it.]]
190** Another moment from the finale: After Aku had spent most of the episode [[spoiler:tanking all of the army's attacks, the robots from season 4 arrive piloting the Robo-Samurai. Aku proceeds to [[TemptingFate taunt it for about two seconds,]] before it begins [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu viciously kicking his shit in.]]]] It doesn't last long, but it's satisfying to see Aku knocked down a few pegs.
191** For ''Samurai Jack'' at large. After waiting THIRTEEN LONG YEARS for the series to reach its conclusion, many people who watched the show as children and/or teens are now adults, some with children of their own. Now, a once-unfulfilled dream of their youth has finally been realized.
192* CreepyAwesome:
193** Inner Jack in general.
194** The Omen. A creepy, mysterious entity who appears every time Jack has an HeroicBSOD.
195* CompleteMonster: While [[Characters/SamuraiJackAku Aku]] himself, the ArchEnemy of [[Characters/SamuraiJackJack the titular hero]], is MadeOfEvil, this duo from the [[DarkerAndEdgier final season]] proves that, sometimes, HumansAreTheRealMonsters:
196** The HighPriestess is the leader of the [[Characters/SamuraiJackCultOfAku Cult of Aku]], and a [[PsychoSupporter zealot]] dedicated solely to appeasing the dark god she worships by any means necessary. Drinking Aku's essence and [[EvilMatriarch giving birth to septuplets]] with Aku's dark energy within them, the High Priestess dubs them the Daughters of Aku and proceeds to [[TrainingFromHell horribly condition them]] into unfeeling weapons whose sole purpose is to kill Samurai Jack. The High Priestess [[AbusiveParents systematically abuses them for years on end]], searing their flesh with hot coals while they're still young and putting them through brutal, life-or-death training routines where every slight distraction means torture and beatings -- sometimes simply for things as minor as looking outside. Having the Daughters graduate by having them massacre her own devoted followers, the High Priestess sends the Daughters into the world to kill Jack and callously brushes off the deaths of most of them at Jack's hand, furiously attempting to kill [[Characters/SamuraiJackAshi Ashi]], her only surviving [[OffingTheOffspring daughter]], with her own hands after she finally turns on the High Priestess. An unfeeling fanatic able to rival her own dark god in evil, the High Priestess justifies her cruelty simply by stating Jack must die at any cost -- regardless if that cost is her own flesh and blood.
197** "[[Recap/SamuraiJackS5E5XCVI XCVI]]": [[PsychoElectro The Dominator]] is a sadistic TortureTechnician seemingly motivated purely by a desire to hurt people. Slaughtering a village of innocents and abducting all of their [[WouldHurtAChild children]], the Dominator painfully transforms all of the children into psychotic killing machines to be used as weapons, and tests them out on Jack and Ashi once they try to retrieve the children, with complete knowledge Jack's [[NeverHurtAnInnocent refusal to hurt innocents]] makes him [[VirtueIsWeakness easy prey]]. The Dominator brutally tortures Ashi upon capturing her with clear lascivious intent, gloating that children are easily manipulated tools--and that Jack's refusal to hurt them only makes him a "righteous fool".
198* CrackShip: Demongo and Scaramouche are often paired up due to their [[EvilIsHammy hammy]] personalities, [[ShipsThatPassInTheNight despite having no interaction onscreen, nor evidence that they even know each other]]. [[spoiler:This skyrocketed when they both reappeared in the same episode, still never having seen nor spoken to each other.]]
199* CrazyIsCool: Scaramouche the Merciless combines CampGay sensibilities with MusicalAssassin abilities and LargeHam voice acting to produce a bad guy who's [[LaughablyEvil totally vicious but throughly entertaining to watch]].
200* CrossesTheLineTwice: Jack seeing the ghosts of children begging him for help is suitably NightmareFuel. The PerspectiveFlip of Scaramouche staring nonplussed at Jack [[ImaginaryFriend talking to someone who isn't there]], on the other hand, is [[BlackComedy very darkly amusing]].
201* CryForTheDevil:
202** Right from the very first episode, many viewers felt genuinely bad for the Daughters of Aku. As vicious and dangerous as they are, they're ultimately just seven women who were raised from ''birth'' in horrible conditions (including being brutally beaten for the smallest slights by their own mother) to become the {{Tyke Bomb}}s they are with zero choice in the matter. It says quite a lot that instead of being excited for their eventual battle with Jack, fans actually dread it, not wanting either side to be hurt. [[spoiler:And it only got worse in the second episode, in which Jack kills one of them, not knowing that it's a human being and not a machine until he does so. In the third episode, Jack kills off the rest of the Daughters (save one). Granted, he did give them a choice to give up their pursuit or to be eliminated.]] After Episode 3 it got so bad that fans have actually called Jack a murderer, accusations that Jack himself actually ends up hallucinating in Episode 4. [[spoiler:While he did give them a chance to leave, many would argue the daughters aren't of sound mind to actually be able to choose, in fact Jack's ultimatum is probably the first choice they ever had. That said, Jack would have no way of knowing that, and in actuality if someone is to be blamed for their deaths it falls squarely on the High Priestess. In episode 7, when Ashi is fighting with her mother, Ashi in fact does this and lays that blame at her mother's feet, making it clear that whatever role Jack had in her sisters' deaths, she accepts without question that it wasn't his fault.]]
203** Some people even feel bad for Aku himself after the finale. Unlike the Daughters, he was esentially the Japanese equivalent of {{Satan}} who soundly deserved everything he got, but his bombastic personality combined with his iconic status make it slightly sad and surreal to see him finally finished for good. Not to mention that him not getting a final showdown with Jack and instead getting offed in the past, where he is far weaker, and retroactively erased didn't sit well with some. [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12505902/1/Unmade This short fanfic]] manages to turn Aku's death into an outright TearJerker by exploring Future!Aku's presumed fear, powerlessness, loneliness and disappointment as he is fading from existence due to Past!Aku's death. The InferredHolocaust surrounding his death in the past is another factor that could easily generate this kind of feeling regarding it:
204-->''Perhaps these final moments would be best spent cursing the foolish Samurai one [[KilledMidSentence last...]]''
205* DesignatedLoveInterest: Quite a few viewers felt that [[spoiler:Jack and Ashi's relationship, especially at the beginning, came off as closer to father/daughter than anything romantic. Even some who didn't felt that it wasn't a very satisfying romance story]].
206* DracoInLeatherPants: The High Priestess herself is this for some. In fact, there's a theory circulating in the [[Fridge/SamuraiJack Fridge sub-page]] about the possibility that [[TroubledAbuser she was raised just like her daughters were]]. If it's true, it's sad, but it doesn't change or excuse what she did.
207* EnsembleDarkhorse:
208** Scaramouche the Merciless became absolutely beloved by fans from the second he appeared thanks to being a LargeHam RoboticPsychopath with a terrakinetic flute who's both [[LaughablyEvil absolutely hilarious]] and [[BewareTheSillyOnes surprisingly competent in his fight against Jack.]]
209** There's ''a lot'' of fan art of the [[FanNickname Emoji Family]] (this name was allegedly used by Genndy at Comic-Con) that Jack saves, despite them only appearing in the beginning few minutes of the first episode. While their designs alone are very {{cute|nessProximity}}, most agree that it's because of the way they communicate a la [[WesternAnimation/TheAtomAntShow Atom Ant]].
210** Surprisingly enough, the White Wolf that serves as a metaphor for Jack in "XCIII" is rather well-liked, mostly because of how badass its fight scenes were. [[spoiler:Some fans began to rejoice when it was revealed that not only was the wolf real, but it [[DisneyDeath somehow survived]].]]
211** The Scotsman's Daughters got a lot of positive attention for how little time they got in their debut episode, all for being [[AmazonianBeauty very attractive yet heroically built young women]].
212* EpilepticTrees: There are ''a lot'' of fan theories and questions running around now that the series is over. Who or what is The Omen? Who is the mysterious stranger that helped Ashi find Jack? Who is the High Priestess and what does she look like underneath her mask? Where is the Guardian and [[spoiler: is he truly dead]]? [[spoiler: Is Ashi truly gone for good now that Aku is dead?]] Is the dying old Spartan King who met Jack the same king from the final battle? If so, how was he able to remember those events? Does the BadFuture still exist? Now that the series is truly over, these questions can only be answered by Genndy himself.
213* EvilIsCool:
214** Scaramouche from the first episode, partly for being the comic relief to break up the heavy drama and tension for the rest of the episode, and for how his fight with Jack is the perfect blend of intense, creative and ridiculous. [[spoiler:Suffice to say, a lot of people were happy when it [[DisneyDeath turned out that he survived as a disembodied head]]. [[AlasPoorVillain And many were sad to see him]] [[KilledOffForReal die permanently]] in "Episode C".]]
215** The High Priestess is the living embodiment of this trope during her last fight with Ashi, largely due to her [[LightningBruiser ninjutsu-like skills.]]
216** [[spoiler:Ashi's demonic form under Aku's control]] is getting this reaction from the fanbase.
217** Aku any time he actually fights. During his fight against the Scotsman's army and his last fight with Jack's allies, ''he's practically unstoppable''.
218* FandomRivalry: The fandom developed one with ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' within ''hours'' of the latter show airing its Season 3 Premiere. On any other day this would be fine, but as an AprilFoolsDay joke Adult Swim chose to air it unannounced on a loop until midnight, delaying ''Samurai Jack'' until next week. Needless to say, fans were less than thrilled, especially since this also meant recording disruptions for [=DVRs=] that are programmed to only record an episode once, potentially failing to record the episode when it actually aired.
219-->''Before the fourth episode aired, I tore open a portal in cable, and flung viewers into a scheduling nightmare, where'' Rick and Morty ''is law! Now the board waits in hope, that they will undue (sic) [[http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/238/910/c13.png the future that is Adult Swim...]]''
220* FanficFuel: So what happened to all those characters in the future after [[spoiler:Aku died? While Ashi's death was pretty much inevitable given that she was Aku's ''daughter'']], lots of people like to write their own explanations as to what happened after [[spoiler: Aku's death]]. It has since fallen to the fandom themselves to create a WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue, with the most common recurring elements being [[spoiler:The Scotsman and the Guardian still being alive]].
221* {{Fanon}}: Many fans believe one of the kids in "Aku's Fairy Tales" grew up to be the High Priestess, considering what the cult believes.
222* FanonDiscontinuity:
223** As far as "Episode CI" is concerned, [[spoiler:Ashi's death]] never happened.
224** Likewise, as far as "Episode C" is concerned, Aku never [[DiabolusExMachina cheaply]] invoked KilledOffscreen on [[spoiler:The Guardian '''''or''''' his portal]].
225** "Episode CI" in ''general'' never happened to some. Some have gone as far as to deem it one of the most anti-climactic and disappointing series finales in history.
226* GrowingTheBeard: Not to say that the show wasn't already great before, but [[BrokenBase for at least some of the base]], the revival takes it to new heights. Jack has literally grown a beard, too.
227* HarsherInHindsight:
228** The Daughters of Aku sure are sexy with their skintight catsuits that look like they were painted on, right? Turns out they ''are'' painted on... or rather [[FanDisservice charred on after some rather extreme torture with hot, burning magic]].
229** When Ashi asked Jack why he left her while being understanding, he tells her all the happier times he had would be just become memories, and doesn't want her to be just a memory. [[spoiler:And then she fades away on their wedding day and all he can do is see her as a memory]].
230* HesJustHiding:
231** Some fans have this opinion regarding [[spoiler:the Guardian, after "Episode C" shows the portal he was guarding destroyed and [[NeverFoundTheBody no trace of him left except his broken glasses]]]]. The final episode leaves his fate ambiguous, as he's one of the few characters not to come BackForTheFinale. Even after the finale, [[spoiler:some speculate that the Guardian is possibly alive, considering how he's been guarding a time portal for many millennia and thus might have been already around when Jack was first sent into the future]].
232** One of the Daughters of Aku (the one with the naginata) suffers no obviously fatal wounds during her fight with Jack and is only (seemingly) killed by [[DisneyVillainDeath being thrown off a cliff]]. Jack and Ashi also go over the cliff a few moments later, and they both survive, so there was some speculation she might still be alive as well. She was never seen again, and [[spoiler:even if she did survive, she presumably would have suffered the same fate as Ashi after the finale]].
233* IKnewIt:
234** After the tragic passing of Aku's iconic voice actor [[{{Creator/Mako}} Mako Iwamatsu]], many fans correctly guessed that Greg Baldwin would [[TheOtherDarrin take over the role]] in Season 5, given the actor's well known portrayal of [[WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra Iroh, another character]] [[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender Mako had voiced]].
235** Some viewers believed that [[spoiler:the "Daughters of Aku" had a literal meaning to their name, even though most had assumed it was only a figurative title given to them by the Cult of Aku. "Episode C" confirmed that the title was indeed ''[[HalfHumanHybrid literal]]''.]]
236*** Ever since the ''first episode'' of Season 5, most people correctly predicted that [[spoiler:Ashi would not only be the {{sole surviv|or}}ing Daughter of Aku (due to being [[NominalImportance the only one who was named]]), but she would also eventually go on a [[HeelFaceTurn path of redemption]], and become [[LoveInterest Jack's girlfriend]].]]
237** Many also predicted that [[spoiler:The Scotsman would return (in "Episode XCVI"), only so that [[BackForTheDead he would be]] [[SacrificialLion killed by Aku]]. At least [[OurGhostsAreDifferent his spirit (literally) continued to live on]].]]
238** "Episode XCVII" confirmed some viewers' guesses that [[spoiler:Aku was behind the cursed Well of King Ozric from way back in the Season 1 episode "Jack and the Three Blind Archers".]]
239** Several fans figured that [[spoiler:if Scaramouche tried to tell Aku that Jack lost his sword, Aku would destroy him due to them both having been LockedOutOfTheLoop (Jack had already reclaimed his sword during the time it took for Scaramouche to inform Aku). When Aku discovers the truth, he kills Scaramouche by [[YourHeadAsplode blowing up his head]]]].
240** While it was by no means a universally agreed upon prediction, some guessed well ahead of time that [[spoiler:The Guardian and his time portal were not spared Aku's purge and that Jack would have to find another way to the past]].
241* InferredHolocaust: In the finale, [[spoiler:Jack finally goes back to the past and kills Aku just after their original battle. While Ashi, who goes back with him, is explicitly shown to fade out, what's ''not'' shown is that now nearly ''every character in the show'' may or may not ever be born, depending on whether they're subject to ButterflyOfDoom or simply live in a brighter version of the future that was never conquered by Aku]].
242* ItsShortSoItSucks: Some fans really didn't like that the final season to conclude the series was only 10 episodes, feeling that the short episode count made the season feel rushed, particularly the finale.
243* LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt:
244** Due to the fact that [[spoiler:Ashi gets the most characterization out of the Daughters of Aku, very few doubted she didn't actually die from the fall in Episode 3, especially since Jack was going to survive it. Indeed, she not only survived, but furthered her CharacterDevelopment]].
245** Episode 5 featured [[spoiler:the Scotsman being reduced to nothing but ash less than two minutes after he appeared. However, due to the suspiciously short amount of screen time and his [[EnsembleDarkhorse massive popularity with the fandom]], it was quite easy to guess that he'd [[OurGhostsAreDifferent still be around in some form]].]]
246* LoveToHate: Basically, all the villains in Season 5 were memorable for being [[KnightOfCerebus incredibly scary and chilling]] or [[LaughablyEvil funny]] or [[TakeAThirdOption both]].
247** Scaramouche the Merciless. Sure he destroys an entire village just to get Jack's attention, but he's also a CampGay, KillerRobot, LargeHam PsychoForHire who [[MusicalAssassin attacks with a sword he controls with scat singing and playing the flute]]. He makes for a thoroughly entertaining StarterVillain and the perfect way to get the series back on track and introduce the DarkerAndEdgier tone.
248** The High Priestess. She serves as a major role to demonstrate how Aku is not the only malignant character in the whole story. Unlike Aku, she's a completely serious character. Her final fight was an incredibly cathartic moment.
249** The Dominator from "Episode XVCI" is a colossal dick, but his role in the story is held up as an example of how a [[MonsterOfTheWeek one-shot villain]] can be just as scary and terrifying as the main antagonist. [[EvilSoundsDeep His chilling voice]] certainly helps.
250** Both the Omen and Inner Jack. [[EnemyWithin They serve as a more psychological threat to Jack]], making the narrative much more complex and interesting than before.
251* MemeticBadass: Jack's ''beard'' is this to the fans who loved its look, to the point they see it as its own character rather than being part of Jack's face. [[spoiler: When Balanced Inner Jack appears, his appearance changes to his bearded self, making as if "the beard lives within him"]].
252* MemeticLoser: The 7 Daughters of Aku being hilariously {{curb stomp| battle}}ed by Jack has people questioning, jokingly or not, if their training was even all that efficient. [[spoiler:Might be disappearing for Ashi at least after XCVIII, where she [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomps]] an entire army [[OneManArmy by herself]] and defeats her mother in combat, showing that yes, it ''was'' efficient, just not against the likes of Jack, especially with them not being trained to work as a team]].
253* MemeticMolester:
254** In S5 E4, a crab-like monster kidnaps Ashi while Jack's back is turned. One would think it just wants to [[ToServeMan eat her]], but the way it whisked her off suggests it had [[AttemptedRape other motives in mind]].
255** In S5 E5, the [[VillainOfTheWeek Dominator]] kidnaps hundreds of alien children, drains them of their energy like batteries, and uses mind control to turn them into his enslaved minions. He also grabs Ashi's pretty face with obvious perversion. You can't be the only one who got a pedophile/rapist vibe off this guy.
256* {{Moe}}: The Daughters of Aku as little girls come off as adorable.
257* {{Narm}}:
258** The reveal that Ashi and the other Daughters [[spoiler:were naked the entire time and that their catsuits were actually a layer of charcoal/ash]] has been seen as silly rather than creepy by many, largely due to the FridgeLogic involved in that.
259** The DerangedAnimation around Inner Jack and his pointed angular design is frightening for some fans whilst for others it brings to mind the Jack caricatures from "Aku's Fairytales."
260** The way everyone forms their hands into a perfect "S" in tribute to Jack at the rave Ashi attends comes off as rather silly.
261** [[spoiler:In "Episode CI", Jack telling Demon!Ashi he loves her is easily the most face-palmingly bad moment in the show. It's only sillier when it's the ''very reason she is able to escape from Aku's grasp.'']]
262** A big reason why [[spoiler:Ashi's death]] left many viewers uncomfortable was because of how it was handled. [[spoiler:After Jack slays Aku, he and Ashi prepare to marry sometime in the future, but on the exact day of their wedding only then does Ashi die as they realize that without Aku's existence then she would never have been born. It sure is strange that time allowed Ashi to live for a while before conveniently having her fade away on such an important day to give dramatic impact]].
263* NarmCharm:
264** The dancing montage during the Samurai Drop had SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic to make it flow well. Seeing Ashi join in a ''dance party'' ought to be incredibly cheesy - but it's a beautifully nostalgic CallBack for fans of the original series, and it's also the first time in the entire season where we get to see Ashi ''[[WhenSheSmiles happy]]''.
265** Jack [[spoiler:killing three sheep in anger]] is what made him lose his sword. Sounds pretty ridiculous, but given [[spoiler:the sheep were innocent, helpful, and adorable creatures that were turned into monsters and died horrifically by the hands of the hero, that still manages to make it pretty bleak and tragic. It also helps that his sword was implicitly not taken from him for the deed itself, but rather the havoc it wreaked on his mental state, in essence, Jack simply became too guilt-ridden and unstable to wield the sword, which itself is understandable, given his nature as an AllLovingHero who had never up to that point taken an innocent life (with the exception of one robot, and that was under the effect of Aku's possession).]]
266** The ending of "Episode XCIX". [[spoiler:[[TheBigDamnKiss Jack and Ashi kiss each other suddenly]] while "[[Music/DeanMartin Everybody Loves Somebody]]" plays instead of the ending theme. It can be very cheesy, but it certainly qualifies as this trope for Jashi shippers.]]
267* NightmareRetardant: Downplayed with the Dominator. He's an awful {{sadist}} and a CompleteMonster, but beneath the intimidating armor, he turns out to be a really ugly man with a silly expression on his face.
268* NoYay: The Dominator's unsettling fixation on Ashi's beauty. The man gives strong vibes of being a sexual sadist.
269* OlderThanTheyThink: The 2017 season is produced by Cartoon Network Studios... for airing on Toonami on [adult swim]. Shocking as it seems, this isn't [[WesternAnimation/BlackDynamite the first show]] that Cartoon Network Studios has produced a season for that aired on [adult swim].
270* RomanticPlotTumor: [[spoiler: Especially during Episode 8. The same pacing that usually works for the whole action-laden series, definitely don't work for the romantic genre.]]
271* ShippingBedDeath: [[spoiler:While a lot of people were hoping for Jack and Ashi to be romantically paired up a lot of them found the execution too rushed to enjoy it.]]
272* ShipsThatPassInTheNight: Despite (or perhaps because of) their completely different personalities in the series, [[LaughablyEvil Aku]]/[[KnightOfCerebus High Priestess]] is a surprisingly common pairing, [[spoiler:despite only encountering each other in person once]].
273* ShockingMoments: Tons of it.
274** The very first episode, where we see Jack again for the first time in over a decade, tearing shreds through Aku's forces [[spoiler: ''without'' his sword.]]
275** Jack's first battle with the Daughters of Aku, where he can barely get a single hit off, gets rather brutally stabbed and [[spoiler: kills a human being for the first time ever.]]
276** His rematch with them in the very next episode, where he [[spoiler: [[CurbstompBattle wipes them all out easily]], unarmed and half-naked in the snow.]]
277** The return of all Jack's friends and allies in the final episode. Special bonus goes to the [[spoiler: [[HumongousMecha Robo-Samurai]], who [[DynamicEntry smashes through the wall of his tower]] and gives a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome to]] ''[[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu Aku.]]'']]
278** [[spoiler: Jack ''[[EarnYourHappyEnding finally]]'' [[CatharsisFactor destroying Aku for good]]. ]]
279* SignatureScene:
280** The scene in which the Daughters of Aku hunt Jack in the ancient tomb is considered by many to be ''the'' most memorable and well-done scene in the entire season. The SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic playing over the scene makes it even more epic.
281** Jack and Ashi's kiss, helped by how [[BrokenBase wildly controversial]] it was among fans.
282** An obvious one from "Episode CI" [[spoiler:the death of Aku]].
283** The final ending scene in "Episode CI".
284* SpiritualAntithesis: Many animation fans like to contrast this revival with, of all things, ''WesternAnimation/RenAndStimpyAdultPartyCartoon'', another show originally intended for young audiences that was revived for the adults who had watched it as children. ''Jack'' is often seen as this concept "done right" (even if not everyone loved it), as it maintained everything that the original series was loved for, both in style and substance, only making the violence and drama explicit rather than implied, whereas ''APC'' just turned all of the subversive aspects of the show up to eleven without retaining anything emotionally substantial, arguably becoming even ''more'' juvenile than the version meant for kids and alienating its fanbase.
285* StrawmanHasAPoint:
286** Inner Jack in "Episode XCV" suggests leaving Ashi behind to die and go look for the exit himself. Sounds selfish until you realize Ashi did try to kill him many times and isn't cooperative in escaping with him.
287** [[spoiler:Mad Jack (as envisioned by Jack as a reddened monsterlike version of himself to the point of cartoonishness) in "Episode XCVIII" may have cost Jack the battle and have no redeeming qualities about him... but he does bring up a good point: Jack has waited too long for this and others have suffered because of it.]]
288* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Fans were naturally divisive about [[TheOtherDarrin Aku's voice actor switch]] and whether the replacement did the character justice. In fairness, it was an unavoidable change due to Mako's passing, and many still appreciate Greg Baldwin's near equal enthusiasm for the role.
289* TheyCopiedItSoItSucks: Part of the BrokenBase for the ending is based in viewers drawing unfavorable comparisons to the [[AudienceAlienatingEnding similarly controversial ending]] of ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann''. Many fans see ''Samurai Jack'''s ending as a poor imitation of said show due to the lack of {{Foreshadowing}} and the rushed ending, as we had fewer episodes to know Ashi than we did with Nia and therefore we couldn't feel for the character more. Funnily enough, just like ''Gurren Lagann'', this series ''also'' responded to the backlash with a [[VideoGame/SamuraiJackBattleThroughTime video game adaptation]] that allows the player to undo the ending and [[SparedByTheAdaptation save the doomed love interest]].
290%%* Stop adding They Just Didn't Care. It's no longer a trope.
291* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter:
292** Scaramouche. [[spoiler:He wouldn't be this had he been just a one-off character whom Jack faced and defeated in the first episode, but then he's suddenly revealed to have survived and got turned into [[ButtMonkey a comic relief character]]. Even as he made it back to Aku's lair and got his body back, he's promptly KilledOffForReal when Aku finds out that Jack already got his sword back, [[AllForNothing making all his misadventures after his encounter with Jack pointless]].]]
293** Despite his return being heavily hyped up, [[spoiler:the Guardian does not actually return, having been killed offscreen and his portal destroyed despite the prophecy that Jack would use it]].
294** Fans were also upset that Demongo, one of Aku's most powerful henchmen, only appeared as a one-off joke. Many viewers wanted to him to appear later on, possibly possessing the dead Daughters of Aku and forcing them to fight Jack and Ashi.
295** Some fans also wanted the return of the most insane horror that existed in the first 4 seasons: the Demonic Spirit from "Jack and the Haunted House". Unfortunately, it did not happen.
296* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot:
297** Some were disappointed that [[spoiler:The Scotsman was killed off despite being a HandicappedBadass grandpa who could've received a lot more character from his life experiences in war. True, he returns as a ghost, but still...]]
298** [[spoiler:Some felt this way about The Omen. Many were disappointed that he [[RealAfterAll was actually real]] and not inside Jack's mind, which had many hyped for an interesting EnemyWithin or EnemyWithout fight between Jack and the Omen.]]
299** As cheesy it admittedly may sound, a popular opinion is that the ending should've had an [[spoiler:[[WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue ending montage]] showing the [[EarnYourHappyEnding good future]] of the future characters and how their lives are different without Aku or Jack being directly in their lives. Especially if it showed the High Priestess as a good mother and the Daughters of Aku [[note]]Presumably with a different, non-Aku father this time around, too.[[/note]] being healthy Samaritan [[HeroWorship hero worshipers]] of the Samurai instead.]]
300** Some fans were disappointed that [[spoiler:Astor and Verbina were not involved in the final battle against Aku. It would have been interesting. Similarly, the unnamed baby girl whom Jack befriended in the final episode of Season 4, who received her own ''Sakai'' aka "Spirit of the Samurai" after witnessing Jack's violent but heroic actions and having her InnocenceLost. The episode ended with strong implication that the child was destined to go on her own warrior's journey and grow up to become a fine hero in her own right, and fans were interested in seeing this story unfold in Season 5, especially given the 50 year TimeSkip and its DarkerAndEdgier premise. Sadly, the baby wasn't among the returning characters, leaving her status unknown]].
301* TooCoolToLive:
302** PlayedForLaughs when the fandom cried how Jack's [[CoolBike motorcycle]] didn't last long.
303** [[spoiler:Scaramouche]] for many people who LoveToHate the character since he was a comical, highly skilled assassin who almost posed as a threat to Jack himself.
304** [[spoiler:Aku, since his death marks the end to an iconic ''Creator/CartoonNetwork'' villain many grew up with.]]
305** [[spoiler:Ashi, one of the most epic, [[ActionGirl female fighters]] in the show who nearly took down Samurai Jack himself, only to undergo a [[LoveRedeems change of heart]] and develop into the only woman he ever loved, also gaining god-like powers herself thanks to being revealed as Aku's true daughter and assisting Jack in finally killing off the ultimate evil in the universe, gets erased from the timeline after the death of her MadGod father Aku.]] Needless to say, tears were shed on this one.
306* ToughActToFollow: It's generally agreed that the first three episodes were the best and that the last three was where this season began to fall off.
307* UnintentionallySympathetic: [[spoiler:In Episode C, Scaramouche has his [[YourHeadAsplode head blown up]] for giving Aku outdated information. Despite him [[AssholeVictim not being a sympathetic character in the slightest]], many fans ended up mourning his death due to him being one of the most memorable characters in the series. There was also the fact that he was completely loyal to Aku and sounded genuinely distraught before being killed.]]
308* TheUntwist: [[spoiler:The reveal that Ashi is half-Aku. Any direct involvement Aku had with the cult worshipping him was glaringly obvious prior to the season's airing, yet once it aired, the audience was to believe the idea that he had any direct contact with them whatsoever to be a RedHerring, only for those predictions to turn out to be right to a degree.]]
309* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: Advances in digital technology have been kind to this show and the more streamlined process has allowed for some incredible animation, ''especially'' any of the battles in the dark where the characters are illuminated with each blow, as well has a handful of chase sequences animated on one. The ride on the water dragon in "XCVI" is particularly beautiful.
310* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids:
311** It has the same animation as the first four seasons, but in the second episode one of the characters [[spoiler:gets their throat slit]], a giant beast mauls a wolf with blood spilling everywhere, and Jack wants to commit [[{{Seppuku}} ritual suicide]]. It's one of the biggest examples of DarkerAndEdgier and BloodierAndGorier, as it was a TV-Y7 show upgraded to a TV-14 rating, and it airs on [adult swim]. There's also a middle ground where the show ends up being TV-PG in both the old and new seasons, but another big change is that the flexible use of profanity and crude indecent language allotted with the TV-14 tier finally crept into the show by the sixth episode and pushed the envelope well past what standards would ever allow to be used on the previous.
312** Episode 8 takes this to a whole new level with the whole episode being a metaphor for sex with moaning and lots of female nudity. Yet somehow it got a TV-PG rating.
313[[/folder]]

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