Fun
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Choked Up
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When we talk about streaming culture, we’re usually enthusing about what’s new, but one of the best things about streaming is how it’s made old and obscure cult hits available to a new generation. Presenting Cult Corner: your weekly look into hidden gems and long-lost curiosities that you can find on streaming.
In a television climate packed with show and movie revivals, there are few better than the masterpiece Adult Swim just aired. Season 5 of Samurai Jack was everything a good revival should be, a piece of art that fully embodies the original while taking its characters, narrative, and cinematography to new creative highs. During the age of peak TV, Samurai Jack concluded with a near perfect season of television, which is why it’s so shocking the series hasn’t been discussed more.
This isn’t to say that the Samurai Jack continuation didn’t receive an adequate amount of attention from fans of the series or Adult Swim. For people in tune with the revival, it was highly anticipated and fully embraced for the breathtaking narrative accomplishment it was. However, Season 5 of the series was so good, it more than deserves to be included in mainstream conversations about the greatness of modern television.
Set 50 years after the show’s Season 4 conclusion — and premiering 11 years after the show’s ending — the latest season starts by following a different version of Genndy Tartakovsky’s time traveling samurai hero. Whereas the original version of the character was driven by an optimistic drive for justice, Season 5 sees Jack haunted, questioning himself and whether he’s done any good for the world. The manicured and honor-bound center of past seasons has been replaced by a wide-eyed and scruffy shell of his former self, a transformation that echoes the themes of self doubt throughout this final season. The animation also plays a similar role. Whereas past scene transitions and angles would often reflect Samurai Jack’s strict, no-nonsense view of the world, in Season 5 the tone of certain scenes is often dictated by whatever character he’s interacting with. Samurai Jack is no longer in control of himself, and he’s certainly not in control of his story.
Also, this latest season is just gorgeous. Samurai Jack has always been a beautiful show, but the colors and backgrounds seem more vibrant and better composed than ever before. Each breathtaking scene transitions to another breathtaking scene. Watching something so visually stunning that also has such incredible fight scenes, character development, and storytelling feels like a rare privilege. Even if you’ve never seen Samurai Jack before, Season 5 is a must watch. It’s far too good of a season to ignore merely because you’re not up to date.
As of the time of publication, you can stream certain episodes of Samurai Jack Season 5 on Adult Swim’s site for free.
