- Title: Samurai Jack – Episode II: The Samurai Called Jack
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“Episode II” introduces both the hero and audience to a bizarre dystopian future filled with talking canine archaeologists, aliens and robots of every type, and a worldwide kingdom ruled over by Aku (Mako). Although centuries of Aku’s rule has morphed the world into a technological dictatorship, for our hero no time has passed. Earning the name Jack from some alien teens, and learning the sad history of the world by a trio of talking dogs hoping to hire the swordsman, Samurai Jack‘s (Phil LaMarr) long journey to find his way home begins.
Where “Episode I” set-up the backstory for our hero and his never-ending quest to battle Aku, “Episode II” sets the template for the odd future in which the samurai will spend the rest of the series battling all manner of creature, helping others, and searching for a way home. Sir Dreyfus Alexander (Jeff Bennett), Sir Angus McDuffy (Bennett), and Sir Colin Bartholomew Montgomery Rothchild III (Rob Paulsen) not only help give Jack some context into the world in which he’s been transported against his will but they also hire the samurai leading into “Episode III” and the final part of the three-part opening to the series.
“The Samurai Called Jack” also introduces the nefarious aspect of Aku’s future. Not only is the non-confrontational Jack forced into a bar fight shortly after his arrival but we see that Aku’s world is filled with his spies and agents (a theme which will continue over the series). It’s also important to notice that the samurai’s real name is never given. Accepting the term Jack (slang used by teens when discussing the odd warrior), it’s this name which the samurai will be referred to from this point on by both friend and enemy alike. And he’ll make plenty of both over the course of his travels.
