Jack Remembers the Past
Episode numeral: XIX
Original air date: 4/5/02 (produced in 2001)
Following liberating a village from oppressive robots, Jack, on his travels, stumbles upon the remains of his hometown. There, he begins reminiscing about his childhood from before Aku's attack.
Tropes:
- And the Adventure Continues: The episode ends with a flaming robot rushing up to Jack begging for his help, with Jack rushing off and leaving his homeland behind once more.
- Breather Episode: Only the episode's first few minutes deal with an action sequence (a dogfight). By the time Jack reaches the ruins of his homeland, the episode's second half is focused on him remembering childhood memories (implied to have taken place some time before Aku returned from his imprisonment).
- Bullying a Dragon: At one point Jack flashbacks to when a childhood toy of his was stolen by some bullies. Considering that he was the son of the freaking Emperor of Feudal Japan, it's a wonder no harm came to those bullies or their families.
- Disturbed Doves: A flashback shows young Jack invoking this as a ploy to get his stolen ball back from some bullies; he intentionally disturbs a huge flock of birds so that they overwhelm the bullies, causing them to drop the ball so Jack can get it.
- Puppy Love: In one memory, young Jack chases a cricket through a field and runs into a girl chasing her own cricket. They go after another one together, and when they fail to catch it, he cheers her up by giving her an origami cricket. She kisses him on the cheek in thanks, sending young Jack into Post-Kiss Catatonia, and Jack smiles in the present when remembering it.
- Shout-Out: The samurai and his young son (who his father pushes around in a cart) who inspired Jack to become a samurai himself are a clear homage to Itto and Daigoro, the main characters of Lone Wolf and Cub.
- The Voiceless: The girl Jack chases the cricket with never once speaks.
