Series creator Genndy Tartakovsky has said, "The
third season is always the toughest in television production," but
episodes 27 through 39 of Samurai Jack show no signs of
flagging imagination. To the contrary, the Season 3 collection
includes some of Jack's best adventures. In the outrageous episode
28, Aku turns teenagers into destructive zombies with rock music.
Incongruously clad in hip-hop threads, Jack crashes a rave and
defeats the sinister DJ in a wonderfully anachronistic mixture of
break-dancing and martial arts kata. Tartakovsky and his
artists won a well-deserved Emmy for the two-part "Birth of Evil,"
that traces the origins of Aku to a primordial, destructive cloud
that Odin, Rama, and Ra destroyed. The same gods forged Jack's
enchanted sword from human righteousness. The more dramatic stories
are balanced against sillier tales: in episode 27, Jack gets turned
into a chicken by an irritable wizard, and in episode 33, he has to
deal with giant blue teddy bear-like creature, who has an
unexpectedly nasty side.
The extras include storyboard
artist/martial artist Brian Andrews explaining how the crew stylized
Chinese Whu Shu and Wing Chun techniques for Jack's combat moves, a
gallery of preliminary sketches, and a commentary on "Birth of
Evil." It all adds up to a winning package. (Unrated, suitable for
ages 10 and older: stylized violence, minor gross humor, grotesque
imagery) --Charles Solomon
Season 3: 2002-2003
Title
Original Airdate
Production Code
Roman Numbers
Chicken Jack
October 18, 2002
301
XXVII
A vengeful wizard turns Jack into
a chicken. He then has to figure out how to return to normal.
Jack and the Rave
November 1, 2002
302
XXVIII
As Jack passes through a town he
discovers that all the children of the town have been hypnotized
by Aku's music, which is being played on the outskirts of town,
turning the children to violence and keeping them away from
their parents.
The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful
November 8, 2002
303
XXIX
While taking a trip on an Old
West-style train, Jack is stalked by a bounty hunter, Ezekiel
Clench. Jack evades capture but is caught by Clench's ex-wife
Josephine.
Jack and the Zombies
October 25, 2002
304
XXX
Jack's path lands him in a
graveyard. Mobbed by undead warriors, Jack must fight against
his own sword - in Aku's hand!
Jack in Egypt
November 22, 2002
305
XXXI
Aku unleashes the minions of
Set. Only a distant memory can save Jack when he encounters
the minions in an eerily familiar surrounding.
Jack and the Traveling Creatures
April 26, 2003
306
XXXII
Jack's path leads to a mysterious
lake. Several creatures guide him to a passage through time.
however, once Jack reaches the passage, he discovers an
unbeatable warrior guards it. The Guardian nearly destroys Jack,
but relents - it is not yet Jack's time.
Jack and the Creature
May 3, 2003
307
XXXIII
While continuing on his mission,
Jack is followed by an overly friendly creature who accidentally
thwarts his every move. This episode pays homage to
Hayao Miyazaki's
Totoro.
Jack and Swamp Monster
May 10, 2003
308
XXXIV
Jack meets a hermit who guides
him to three gems of the Titans.
Jack and the Haunted House
May 17, 2003
309
XXXV
Jack encounters a haunted house
in his travels and he met a japanese girl named Kuni with long
purple hair in pigtails and must free the family trapped inside.
Jack, the Monks, and the Ancient Master's
Son
May 31, 2003
310
XXXVI
Jack meets a hidden temple of
Shaolin Monks, who agree to help guide him to a time portal.
The Birth of Evil, Part 1
August 16, 2003
311
XXXVII
This "epic" story tells how Aku
came to exist, and how he came to be in conflict with Jack's
father.
The Birth of Evil, Part 2
August 16, 2003
312
XXXVIII
Continuation of the story (as
told to a young Jack in the first episode of the series) about
how his father defeated Aku.
Jack and the Labyrinth
August 26, 2003
313
XXXIX
Jack finds a booby-trapped
labyrinth, in the center of which is a diamond which could send
him back to his own time, but a mysterious stranger who has also
entered the maze could put Jacks plans in jeopardy. Jack faces
off against a thief while they compete to steal the same magical
jewel. This character is an homage to
Daisuke Jigen of
Lupin III fame.
