Jack and the Monks
Episode numeral: XX
Original air date: 4/12/02 (produced in 2001)
After one failed attempt to get home too many, Jack declares his quest hopeless and wanders into the wilderness. As he walks, he comes across three monks who are preparing to climb a mystical mountain to attain enlightenment, and with nothing else to do Jack decides to accompany them.
The episode contains the following examples:
- Bigfoot, Sasquatch, and Yeti: The Final Boss of the episode is a massive yeti that lives near the top of the mountain. Jack is too exhausted from his climb to fight back properly, and only wins when he triggers an avalanche with his scream.
- Chekhov's Gun: Jack's enraged scream at the beginning of the episode ends up saving him at the end, as it trigger an avalanche that buries the yeti he had been fighting.
- Despair Event Horizon: Jack goes through this, after multiple tries and failures to find a way back to the past. He hits it again when he fails to climb the summit at the climax of the episode, leading to the monks to kindle his Heroic Second Wind.
- Rage Breaking Point: Having failed to secure a way to get home thanks to Aku, Jack screams in rage before driving his sword into the ground.
- Secret Test of Character: The trip up the mountain is one big test to show Jack that nothing is impossible and that there is hope to return home.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: The three monks were never seen again. However given their mysterious nature and magical abilities, it's implied they may be Odin, Ra and Rama (or servants thereof) trying to inspire Jack.
