Tales of X9

These dark days when nothing seems to be interesting on favorite cartoon channels like Cartoon Network and Nickolodeon, one wishes that the least they can do is rerun much beloved series like Samurai Jack. While we were talking about the uninteresting shows that are now part of the animation channels, what came to my mind was a few shining moments from the adventures of Jack.

This series quit while it was at its peak. It rose head and shoulders above other shows by achieving the right mix of art, story, animation, music, concepts, characters and dialog. Many episodes would make a lasting impact leaving us with memorable one liners. Like “Lulu, Sweet Thing”

Samurai Jack Episode 40 – The Tales of X9

This episode was a heady mix of the interesting elements of The Terminator, The Hitman Game, in a retro noire gangster futuristic environment. Samurai Jack does not speak in this episode. X9 is the hero of this episode.

X9 is a reluctant robotic assassin in the Philip Marlowe (Raymond Chandler) mould. A cruel joke has been played upon him in the form of an emotion chip implant by the mad scientists hired by Aku. Now, instead of falling behind in his job as an assassin, X9 transcends his robotic limits.

He meets Lulu, goes into retirement and spends his days playing sweet blues on his saxophone. True to the noire genre, evil Aku kidnaps Lulu and forces him out of retirement for one last job; the assasination of Jack.

X9 follows the trail of destruction that leads to the samurai, well aware of his limitations and lack of skill to kill the warrior. However, he has to try, for the sake of Lulu. Lulu, sweet thing!