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Episode XCIX is the eighth episode of Season 5 and the sixtieth episode of Samurai Jack.
Premise
The burgeoning relationship between Jack and Ashi takes a turn after they are hunted by one of the galaxy's deadliest creatures.
Plot
In the depths of space, a massive, rectangular spacecraft suddenly collides with a large asteroid, sending the ship crashing to Earth somewhere over the Sahara. Meanwhile, Jack and Ashi are preparing to board an enormous camel-like creature which acts as a ferry across the desert. After sampling some food from the market stalls, with surprising results for Jack (temporarily turning his head into a tropical fish), the two board and the creature departs. Ashi and Jack quickly find themselves hemmed in by a large crowd of green tiger-men wearing lettered shirts. The close proximity makes the two somewhat nervous until Jack notices that the sweaters of the tiger-men spell out: "Death" and "Die Samurai Jack". Realizing the trap, Jack and Ashi fight back, but with every touch, the attraction between the two seems to rise. They finally decide to retreat, escape off of the beast, and begin to traverse the rest of the way on foot.
Eventually, they stop to drink at an oasis and Jack makes one of his handmade straw hats for each of them. Soon, a sandstorm hits and the two seek shelter in a towering structure that happens to be the spaceship seen earlier. As they explore, they discover that the ship is actually one huge prison, though the prisoners have mysteriously vanished. Suddenly, Ashi is bitten by a strange leech-like creature. Jack kills the creature with a single sword swing, but a sinister green infection starts to spread from the bite. Acting quickly, Jack is able to suck the poison out and stop the infection and, after hearing a horrible screeching sound, the two decide it is time to leave. They race back to where they entered, but find it's not the same. They climb a ladder and cross several catwalks, all the while being pursued by the screeching creature, becoming completely lost in the vast corridors of the prison ship. Eventually they find themselves in a large chamber containing a huge glass prison cell, broken open. It is here that they confront the creature that has been chasing them: A massive horde of the same leech-creature that attacked Ashi join together to form a vaguely humanoid shape. The Leech Swarm Creature attacks, throwing pieces of itself at them. The two warriors fight back, but soon must retreat. Jack cuts a ventilation line, allowing Ashi and himself to escape amid the concealing steam.
Jack and Ashi find themselves at a door which, after scanning to make sure they are not prisoners, lets them in. It turns out to be the ship's armory. A computer voice explains that the creature that attacked them is known as Lazarus-92. It shows Jack a weapon made specifically to kill Lazarus-92. Unfortunately, Ashi accidentally sets off a laser rifle, causing Jack to miss the part where it explains how to arm the weapon. Ashi arms herself with a double-bladed spear and a shield and the two go out to battle. They soon encounter Lazarus-92 again, but Jack is unable to figure out the initiation sequence. Ashi offers to try and he tosses the weapon to her while he holds off the monster with his blade. However, a swarm of the leeches outflank Jack and attack Ashi. She is able to fend them off, but not before they eat away her clothing, leaving her naked, much to Jack's embarrassment. He quickly removes his gi and drapes it over her, claiming that she "needs protection". Jack and Ashi fight on, but are soon surrounded. Jack tries once more to activate the weapon while Ashi covers him. The leeches overwhelm them just as Jack manages to figure out the initiation sequence. As the two are covered by the alien worms, the weapon activates and electrocutes the leeches, killing them all simultaneously. As the creatures die, the infection in Jack and Ashi's wounds is also neutralized.
Recovering from their ordeal, Jack and Ashi turn to look at each other. Finally realizing their feelings for each other, they embrace in a passionate kiss.
Credits
- Written by
- Directed by
- Storyboards by
- Voices
- Phil LaMarr as Jack
- Tara Strong as Ashi / Computer Voice
- Billy West as Walrus Merchant / Tiger Men
- Casting by
- Karie Gima Pham
Trivia
- This episode is the second episode of Season 5 to be rated TV PG alongside Episode XCVI. This is most likely due to the fact that there is no blood. Episode XCVII also had no blood, but had a higher rating due to cursing and Jack almost committing seppuku.
- On the giant camel-like creature, an anthropomorphic camel is riding it.
- Jack and Ashi travel the desert at the beginning of the episode. This is similar to how Jack and Ikra traveled the desert in 'Jack and the Warrior Woman'.
- Ironically, both episodes feature some sort of romantic subplot. Unlike the previous episode which had a bad ending that revealed Ikra to actually be Aku in disguise, this episode has a good ending.
- Ashi and Jack become a couple by sharing their first kiss.
- Ashi is the second girl to give Jack a kiss, the first being his childhood friend on the cheek when Jack was a kid from 'Jack Remembers the Past'.
- Although Jack and Ashi have a make-out session and not just an ordinary kiss.
- Jack and Ashi's relationship developed inside of a literal ship.
- The song that plays when Jack and Ashi kiss is Dean Martin's "Everybody Loves Somebody" from 1965.
- This is the first episode in Season 5 without the classic ending of Will.I.Am rapping "Gotta get back to the past".
- As of this episode, Ashi has completely lost her leaf dress from Episode XCVII. Although the next episode promo shows Jack in his gi kimono, so it is possible she will craft herself a new dress (or wear a kimono for the rest of the season, as Jack usually repairs or replaces his kimonos throughout the series).
- This episode marks the second time Ashi was completely naked since Episode XCVII" .
- Although Ashi and Jack didn't become a couple until now, it was foreshadowed in previous episodes of this season.
- Episode XCIV: Ashi and her sisters witness deer nuzzling. Also in this same episode, the white wolf foreshadowed that Jack would find an intimate partner that would help him heal his wounds physically and mentally.
- Episode XCV: The puffball hallucination asking Jack "What did you expect; a hug and a kiss?"
- Episode XCVII: Jack awkwardly compliments Ashi's hair and dress; Ashi smiles from this.
- Prior to this episode, Jack and Ashi already had a symbiotic relationship as they helped each other heal physically and mentally, were already close friends, cared about each other deeply, and they already had similar a similar background/upbringing.
- There was a lot of sexual innuendo/tension in this episode:
- Jack and Ashi feel uncomfortable holding hands.
- Ashi notices something poking her and it is Jack's sword.
- The scene of Jack and Ashi boarding the camel is similar to a typical scene in Japanese romance anime where people rush to squeeze into a train and are shoved closer together.
- The two become nervous due to the amount of physical touching they do while they fight the tiger men.
- Jack becomes nervous when he sees Ashi naked.
- As the two are overwhelmed by Lazarus-92 just before finishing it off, the two moan quite heavily and they yell each other's names.
- At the end, the two engage in a passionate kiss.
- As Jack is shocked to see Ashi naked, she doesn't seem to care (mainly because she doesn't understand), However in Episode XCVII, she says "Uh Oh" when realizing that she has no clothes on. This could also be due to the fact they were in a life and death situation and Jack worrying about Ashi being naked didn't really matter at that point.
Gallery
- Main article: Episode XCIX/Gallery