Episode 12…THE TIGER AND THE PUSSYCAT- Jackie Chan and Jade are at a pie-eating contest in Midwestern America. The two are in pursuit of the Tiger Talisman, which has somehow made its way inside the cherry pies. (How that happens would’ve made a peculiar tale in itself). Jade feels there’s no problem getting to the Talisman ,considering their only competition is an old hick armed with his dentures. But no sooner than she speaks this when Tohru arrives with the intent to get the Tiger Talisman by mowing down a huge serving of pies. (Now I’ve heard of sumos eating the equivalent of 100 burgers, but 100 pies? That’s new…) Amazingly, Tohru is alone without Chow, Ratso and Finn’s special aid. NOW we know the Dark Hand’s running dry on dough, if it can’t afford all its members the necessary plane tickets and has to let Tohru do all the eating and searching!

 

Jackie &/vs. Jade vs. Tohru vs. Old Hick [1st fall, Pie-eating Contest; 2nd fall, winner finds Talisman, 3rd fall, winner leaves with talisman] (NR)- This is not actually a match, but a comedy-type bout that’s about as sweet as American Pie. All four competitors eat their pies their own special way. The Old Hick is an advocate for "slow and steady wins the race", Tohru eats pies like they’re crumbs, Jade utilizes forks to catapult the pieces into her gullet, and Jackie’s stabbing the pies, making him about the only one not caring about Fall Number One. Much to the surprise of the younger three, the Old Hick wins Fall Number Two by finding the Tiger Talisman as he chews on a freshly-made morsel. Jackie jumps across the table and grabs the talisman, but a P’Oed Tohru, who, at his size, can’t jump on the table without going down in a "Holy S." spot, tips the table and welcomes Jackie to his totally free weight-loss method. Jade then grabs a pie and lobs it at Tohru, and that gives Jackie the time to grab Jade and escape through the fields, making the Chans the winners of Fall Number Three. Tohru sneers as he can no longer see the Chans, but then he is awarded a blue ribbon for the contest AND for setting himself a New World Record, which means he wins Fall Number One! EVERYBODY’S a winner at this match-up, how ‘bout that? Sadly, Tohru refuses to celebrate, so his win feels like a one-day deal. Too bad…Mama Tohru would’ve been proud.

 

Back at the Dark Hand HQ, Valmont and Shendu are trading more bitter words. Shendu’s complaining about how the time grows near for the next Chinese New Year, and if there’s no 12 talismans, there’s no lost treasure waiting for Big V. Valmont is pi**ed, so pi**ed, in fact, that he tells Tohru to go to Uncle’s Rare Finds and not come back till Chan is captured. Is that it, you say? Uh-huh, that’s Valmont’s original new plan to start another shiny morning…but as you’ll see, his plan is easier than originally intended.

 

At the Big Crankster’s artifacts shop, Jackie learns from Uncle that the Tiger Talisman is all about maintaining balance. Jade grabs the talisman and prepares to stand atop a pile of books like a performer from Cirque De Soleil, but she tips over and Jackie has to rescue his niece. Uncle adds into his words by saying the balance is of spiritual balance, the forces of Ying and Yang, soft and wild, that exist within everyone. Jade notices that this talisman isn’t very useful, and Jackie cheerily concludes that since Jade won’t use it, it ought to be taken to Section 13. Then Uncle goes over to Jade and asks her to make orange slices and oolong tea for her cherished elders. Jade growls like she’s in "Shendu" mode. How much lamer can this day get?

 

Jackie walks off until he sees a big crack at the center of the talisman. He realizes that the Old Hick must’ve broken the Talisman while chewing on the pie piece from which it’s been hidden. But before Jackie can ready the Crazy Glue, the talisman splits and a dreamy flash surrounds the living room. At first, it seems that Jackie is seeing a mirror reflection making the opposite of his every move. That’s when we notice two Jackies separating two different ways. One Jackie greedily licks his lips over a basket of goodies, while another Jackie squishes a bug, and begins weeping his way over to Uncle for committing his terrible crime. Uncle’s not sure why Jackie’s become such a Pussycat, while Jade, who is offended by the missing goodies and Jackie’s abrupt rudeness, wonders why Jackie’s become a Tiger. As both Jade and Uncle have difficulty explaining Jackie’s definite behavior, they yell as they see two Jackies arrive upon their calling them. Naturally, the two Jackies yell as well.

 

Uncle learns that Jackie’s been split into his Ying and Yang. Jade announces the Yang to be pure evil, but Uncle makes it clear that this Yang isn’t simply evil; he just lacks the huge amount of control that the Ying has. Uncle concludes that since the Ying and Yang still have both sides of the Tiger Talismans, the talismans should be united and therefore Jackie can become one again. (Uncle’s theory could be fallacious, though. Episode 33 doesn’t seem to follow this rule.) The Tiger and the Pussycat, unfortunately, aren’t entirely comfortable with the concept of coming back together. Uncle is irritated and raises his legendary two-fingered salute. Feeling no shame, Tiger launches his own set of two-fingered salutes, and a civil fight begins!

 

Tiger vs. Uncle [Battle of the Two-fingered Salutes] (NR)- This is how it goes…Uncle hits Tiger. Tiger hits Uncle. Uncle hits Tiger. Tiger hits Uncle. Extend this pattern to under 10 seconds, and you’ve got the match.

 

Before Tiger and Uncle can squish each other’s brain cells to death, Jade sees The Enforcers, Tohru, and a bunch of weakling recruits right before the shop. The cool-natured, hot-headed Tiger puts up his dukes as he has found competitors worthy of making impact. Pussycat grabs Jade and escapes the shop (Gee, why don’t either of the two Jackies do something with Uncle? Do both sides have a gripe on him?)

 

Tiger w/ Uncle [I guess…] & Pussycat w/Jade [Handicap] vs. Tohru, The Enforcers and their reinforcements (***1/2)- The first few sequences of the battle happen to be the best. Tohru first arrives into the shop, pausing to spout aloud a ruthless threat a la enemies from my favorite Nintendo game, "River City Ransom". Apparently a could-be fan of "RCR", the Tiger leaps into the air and thrusts a Big Boot on the sumo while the baddie is in mid-sentence. Tohru falls like a giant redwood tree! The Enforcers, for once, are consternated that Jackie actually "shoots the messenger" beforehand. Tiger doesn’t speak a reply, but instead adjusts his neck with some creepy snaps.

 

Meanwhile, Pussycat runs to the alleyway of the shop, only to meet Ratso and two others, who want to meet, greet, and then beat Jackie and send him to Valmont on a brass platter. (I don’t say silver cause the gang’s in the same financial crisis as ECW from 2001; too much wild action, not enough pay!) Pussycat tells Jade to stay in the shop, where it’ll be safer while he runs across San Francisco. But since this is the softer Jackie, Jade feels he would appreciate some tough help in her, so she follows.

 

At the front of the shop, Tiger has shown all the loiterers the door, or better yet, the concrete outside the door. Finn has no idea why Jackie is ticked like a time bomb, while Chow complains that Chan’s jacked his orange glasses. No sooner than the Far Eastern Enforcer says his words when Tiger arrives, apparently enjoying Chow’s style of attire, and proceeds to jacking Chow’s black jacket. Tiger sculpts a smug look over the foes, who immediately spring into their vehicle with tires screeching. The wildcat Chan is not done yet with these human yarn-balls, so he gives chase by leaping across building roofs at record speed. Not long after, the wonderful Mr. Tohru makes his way out of the shop as Uncle harmlessly whacks a broom over the sumo’s back. (It’s times like these that make us hope Uncle can keep the Dog Talisman.) Of course, Tohru hardly feels a pat, but he has no time for a cleaning service, whether it’s by accident or by design….

 

Unfortunately for the batch of Enforcers inside the vehicle, their escape route involves swerving around this big hill, which means they’re kind of going in a circle! (What can we say? Valmont’s so poor, he can’t afford STREET MAPS for his mucky crew.) Tiger, standing atop that convenient hill, watches the vehicle and realizes that chasing is so simple, he can wile a few seconds feigning a play with an air guitar. (Always knew Jackie was a musician, but a guitarist?) Anyways, the Tiger then slides down, leaps onto a cargo truck right in front of the Enforcers, and before the baddies know it, he swings open the truck’s back door, sending a load of fish spilling over the streets. Finn’s no professional stuntman, so the car skids on its side and crashes hard. Tiger smiles in amusement and gets a grip on Finn, but just when he thinks the Pussycat’s poking at his side again, Tiger is met by Tohru, who plays sweet chin music by pounding a fish over the Tiger’s noggin! Before he can play critic to Tohru’s special acoustics, the Tiger falls cold. (Amazing, isn’t it?…Tiger and the Enforcers have just had a chase that involves several speeding cars, and in minutes, Tohru manages to WALK his way into the scene?! Alright, Tohru. Where’s that mega-tronic translocation device you’ve been keeping!?)

 

Meanwhile, Ratso and the two no-name cohorts are running around a festival in the midst of Chinatown, where the celebration of the Chinese New Year is being marked by men dancing in elongated dragon costumes. It’s not long before they spy a lone man in the costume, and when they pull off the costume, it’s none other than Pussycat! Pussycat is nabbed and Jade, watching from an alleyway, realizes this cat may not come back. Jackie’s niece then finds a lone crate of fireworks next to her, and, taking advantage of the performers’ shortsightedness for fireworks safety, has a simple plan.

 

Tiger has now found himself in the interrogation room of the Dark Hand. Chow (who looks like a model for "W" Magazine with that moody gray shirt and black pants) and disco-loving Finn are standing next to Tiger while riches, fame and girls dance in their day-dreaming heads. Valmont shows up and begins questioning the other half of the Tiger Talisman, and Tiger shows little concern for anything at hand, even his own life. Wishing that he could just read the Tiger’s stony mind, Big V gets a call on his vid-phone from everyday Dark Hand employee Ratso. (So NOW Ratso has a vid-phone?! About time, since he’s screwed up the Dark Hand’s plans twice from not having that kind of phone. See episodes 4 and 6 to see what I mean….) Ratso proudly tells Valmont that he’s actually caught the Chan Man without breaking so much of a sweat. A baffled Valmont replies that Finn and Chow already have Jackie Chan, but Ratso doesn’t think so, and he holds up the phone to show a smiling Pussycat in the grips of the no-name cohorts. Valmont is at a loss for words.

 

Consulting his wall ornament, Valmont learns about the Tiger Talisman’s impromptu effects on the Chan Man. It would seem that Valmont is holding hostage the ‘evil’ remix of Jackie Chan, and this could work to the Dark Hand and Shendu’s advantage. Back at the interrogation room, the Tiger is actually cooking up some big laughs among Finn and Chow. (What their sense of humor is will be one of life’s great mysteries.) Both Enforcers find Chan’s humor so infectious that they regret being the cure. Valmont stands up and says new plans can be arranged. An offer is given to the Tiger to bring all the talismans locked up in Section 13. In turn, some fabulous moolah will be on his way should he succeed.. Shocking beloved Chan fans everywhere, Tiger agrees to the low-life offer.

 

At Chinatown, Ratso’s at the helm of the getaway vehicle while the no-name cohorts shove Pussycat inside. Pussycat begins whining when he realizes poor cows have been slaughtered for the leather interior. Ratso thinks this cat’s nuts! Suddenly, the cohorts hear the cracking noises of explosive gunfire and they duck for cover. Apparently, so has Ratso, because he doesn’t run out of the car as Pussycat nimbly escapes and finds Jade and a batch of fireworks she’s set off. (Now Jade is playing with fire….Kids these days…) Jade grabs Pussy before he can chide her about needing an elder’s guidance for using fireworks.

 

Jade and Pussycat realize they’re stuck in a rut with Jackie being split into two beings, one of whom has not yet returned since the Enforcers’ assault. Jade then arranges to have Pussy wait by the phone booth while she tries some storytelling to Black about bizarre going-ons, so she can take Pussy into Section 13 and have the Tiger Talisman sent into the safe. Pussycat gives her his half of the talisman and waits like a good boy. Jade goes inside the maniacal elevator, amazingly not suffering any tension from the terminal velocity.

 

Jade runs into Black’s office and dramatizes Jackie’s big problem, but Black quickly thinks Jackie is A-OK and Jade’s doing some fibs again, because the elite officer sees the Chan Man calmly walk by his door.

 

What Black doesn’t know is that the Chan Man he sees happens to be Tiger. The Tiger, having gotten to Section 13 before Jade and Pussycat, hums a happy tune while picking the talismans off the vault and securing them in a plastic toolbox.

 

Before we move on ahead, put your thinking caps on and complete the following pop quiz with the best possible answer(s).

 

How did Tiger easily get to the talisman vault in Section 13?

 

All that time Chan was exercising was a joke. We were watching an android while the real Chan was figuring out the wires and floor plan of Section 13. Even Black was fooled.

 

Jackie made a chi spell that enabled him to read Jade’s mind. Thus, he found out the password to the safe was "007" and learned how to evade the security measures around the place.

 

Section 13 was in an energy crisis. Therefore, the security measures in the safe were operating incorrectly, so Tiger snuck in.

 

Jade never gave back Black’s key card, and she had kept it in Uncle’s Rare Finds where Tiger managed to find it.

 

Just as Jackie knew how to stop the alarm on the museum display in "Enter the Viper", the Tiger flicked a finger on one spot of the safe, disarming every security keeping it in check.

 

Angus Black was playing "River City Ransom" on his computer and couldn’t afford to leave where he sat. He didn’t notice Jackie heading to the talisman vault because he was too busy trying to throw garbage cans on a villain who was talking in mid-sentence.

 

This Angus Black was an android. The real Angus Black was somewhere in Oahu, having drinks with frou-frou umbrellas on them.

 

The writer, as was the case for most Saturday morning cartoon writers, was a freelancer and had an inaccurate trivia of the show.

 

Animators were too busy figuring out how to draw Valmont as a cat-man.

 

Dah-Ding! Time to put down your pencils. Don’t worry about finding the right answer. I don’t have an answer key! Heh, heh, heh….I am the Infamo Luchadore!

 

Back to the SHOW… Jade quickly runs to Chan and asks him why hasn’t he stayed outside. The Tiger just takes the elevator. Not long after, Jade meets Chan coming back down to the elevator, stumbling awkwardly. (Why does Jackie get stunned in elevator rides and not Jade?) The little Chan’s about to complain again until she learns it’s Pussycat, and that the Chan she’s talked to beforehand is TIGER, which means he’s got all the talismans in a box and is taking them to the Dark Hand!

 

Jade attempts to reason with Tiger, since she figures there’s got to be a bit of good in him, much as a Ying has a bit of Yang. But seeing that Tiger is stone deaf, Jade decides to teach him some manners with a Big Boot of her own. The kick shatters the orange glasses on his face, and a P’Oed Tiger rushes in with a brutal Big Boot in payback!

 

Pussycat/ Jade vs. Tiger w/Tohru (*****)- Just as you’d wish, this is an awesome, once-in-a-lifetime battle between two different Jackies! Pussycat arrives into the scene with a Big Boot at an airborne Tiger’s mulch. He regrets the attack, cause then he and Tiger lock up with such accuracy that it’s immediately hard to describe. The duo then up the ante as a ladder and pipe are brought into the match. Pussycat is even forced to hold on for dear life as the ladder is broken apart into two stilts! While the brawl goes on, Jade checks the box of talismans, but the box is grabbed by Tohru, who takes both box and a stubbornly clinging Jade into the Dark Hand getaway vehicle. This sadly ends the terrific bout, which results in a no contest between the competitors.

 

Pussycat can’t believe that the evil ones now will have the talismans. He explains to Tiger that they must go stop the Dark Hand and save Jade. Suddenly realizing a wily bit of logic, Pussycat manipulates Tiger into thinking that this rescue mission will mean beating up a lot of people. Tiger likes beating up Dark Hand people. Beats beating eggs, right?

 

Valmont is quietly installing the talismans onto the appropriate holes of Shendu’s figure. Meanwhile, Jade is being bound by ropes and finds herself in deep dung.

 

Now, kids, answer this pop quiz that once again has no definite answer available. Select more than one if you wish.

 

Why did Jade end up being a prisoner at Valmont’s room?

 

Ask a bondage fanatic.

 

Tohru was too lazy to squish the child flat as a bug. He needed money from Big V so his mother can see some yodeling kabukis.

 

Tohru figured Jade would make a lovely Chinese New Year’s present for Valmont. Correlates to choice a.

 

The Dark Hand plotted to brainwash her and make her the first female DH member available. (Let’s face it. Not all the Enforcers can be gay…)

 

Valmont wanted to sweeten his deal with Shendu. He figured what better way than to serve the revived dragon a little girl, ready to eat!

 

The people behind the show thought Valmont was undeservedly popular. They made V look like a pedophile so the fangirls could diss him. (Apparently, the fangirls saw through that and the operation collapsed.)

 

Animators were too busy figuring out how to draw Jade into a cat-human.

 

Put your pencils down and let’s just finish the story, a’ight?

 

Valmont finds it all dandy until it appears that he’s now short by half a talisman! Soon enough, Tohru leaves the office resentfully since Valmont has sent him a tirade over coming up short. The sumo joins the Enforcers to find this lone half from the Chans. One of these days, Tohru probably swears, Valmont will be pounded into ground beef…But then…

 

Tiger & Pussycat [Handicap] vs. Tohru, The Enforcers & the Shadowkhan (****)- Squish, squash, smack! That’s what happens as Tohru and The Enforcers can’t stand up against the two Jackies. In just seconds, they're out, leaving the Shadowkhan to drag themselves back into the show and be the big bump-takers. Kawhacks, thwacks and cracks later, the Shadowkhan themselves are a heap of shadows. That’s it, Shendu. Time to upgrade your Shadowkhan by 1000+ years!

 

Valmont grows impatient as Shendu tells him that the Chan Men have found their way into the hideout! That’s when Valmont begins to suspect that the missing half may not be so far off after all. He grabs Jade’s shoes and finds the half secured in there alright. The Chan Men burst through the door and take to the stratosphere, until Valmont inserts the half to complete the 12 talismans into Shendu’s holes. Tiger and Pussycat merge back into a single Jackie, who collapses next to his niece and witnesses a terrible event. The wall ornament mutates, absorbing all the talismans into its body, sprouting arms and legs. The ornament has turned into (gasp) a hunky, well-muscled dragon in a loincloth! Is this game over for Jackie? Not if he can somehow beat this creature should it speak in mid-sentence….. 

 

A-

 

The usual fine show from JCA. Forget the title. Very often, "Jackie Chan Adventures" is "Jackie Chan" in name only! The five-star confrontation among the two Chans is simply classic Chan as we know it. Episode 12 is part of a miniseries finale to the first season of JCA, which will ultimately conclude with "Day of the Dragon". Interestingly, it’s also the shortest episode I’ve known, running about only 19 minutes. Trivia: I’ve watched this episode in the Telemundo Network, and have learned that Jade’s name is pronounced in Spanish as "Hah-deh". Not a very special trivia unless you want to impress our friends.

 

*  *  *

 

Episode 13…DAY OF THE DRAGON- Jackie Chan and Jade are shocked as the living embodiment of Shendu arises from the statue. Shendu is invigorated with all the powers of the talismans, from the flights of Rooster to the balance of Tiger.

 

Jackie Chan vs. Shendu (NR)- More plot than actual fighting. Seeing Chan helplessly before him, Shendu heartily delivers Jackie a most exceptional thank-you gift; a one-way ticket to hell! Jade looks down at her falling Uncle, and she herself falls off! (Like uncle, like niece. Sigh.)

 

Flying out of the building like a human cannonball, Jackie barely saves himself by grabbing the rope of a window washer’s plank. As his niece falls, Jackie grabs her feet with the aid of the baffled but helpful window washer. Full of effortless zeal, Jackie skitters back up for another go at the hunky dragon, while Jade phones in for help.

 

Shendu turns around and meets Valmont, who, seeing that Shendu has all 12 talismans, now expects that he be rewarded with the lost treasure of Chin Shi Huang. But Shendu turns on Valmont, reasoning that it was not Valmont who brought him the talismans, but Jackie Chan himself. Outraged of the turnaround, Valmont orders Tohru to hold down the dragon. Tohru’s efforts prove useless as he’s blown away right through the HQ and into the next door building from almost a hundred feet away! (OUCH! MEGA-BUMP CITY!)

 

Recovering, Jackie grabs an electrical wire and zaps Shendu’s back with the haphazard weapon. Shendu and Jackie lock tooth and nail, but the dragon’s firepower forces Jackie to flee off down the elevator shaft. By this time, the Dark Hand, regretfully empty-handed, have already seen this as a cue to escape for their lives, but just as they go down the elevator, Captain Black and his Section 13 officers arrive with plenty of cuffs to whisk these wild ones into solitary.

 

Jade leads Black towards The Dark Hand’s main office. Black turns white as he sees a gargantuan dragon leap out of the building and zoom away like lightning. Black pleads to Jade to explain the details. Jade doesn’t have enough details, but does know Shendu to formerly be a statue.

 

At a total loss for words, Captain Black finally accepts that all this magical daring-do is no fluke. He meets up with Jackie, Jade and Uncle at the old man’s antique shop to learn more of the situation at hand. However, big, scaly and scary will be insufficient means of uncovering the identity of the demon dragon, so Uncle is stuck in a rut when it comes to researching the demon. Suddenly, into the shop comes Tohru, bandages and all. Raising his fists, Jackie’s about to pummel the dangerous sumo one mo’ time when Tohru merely speaks that the demon’s name is Shendu. Jackie drops his fists down, realizing the sumo has no intentions to attack him.

 

Moments later, Uncle indeed finds an ancient text on Shendu. He narrates the monster’s tale.

 

Shendu was a powerful dragon sorcerer who rampaged China well into the 12th century. However, magic mortals were able to trap him into a statue and banish all the magic talismans he needed to attain his beastly function.

 

But now that he has all 12 talismans, Shendu seeks to quell his vengeance against all of Asia by unleashing a horde of dragons come Chinese New Year’s Day! Jade’s horrified at the thought that the lives of many, including her parents, is at stake. Worse, Black is informed by Jackie that the revered Chinese holiday will eclipse over China in only a few hours!

 

Taking a slight smudge of time to go off subject, Jackie asks Tohru why the Sumo Enforcer would all of a sudden help out the Chans. Tohru replies that he’s heard Section 13 offers donuts on Thursdays. Black is confused, but Jackie indicates that Tohru’s gone to the good side. Uncle sees that revelation quite clearly, so he advises Tohru to guard the shop while Black, Jackie, and Uncle himself hop aboard the fastest jet to modern-day Hong Kong.

 

But that’s not all. Jackie knows this trip may be too intense for young children, so Jade is to remain in Section 13, even though she’d do anything to save her parents. This is one of those days when Jade would just love to be a woman in record time.

 

Deep inside Section 13, the criminal four mope hopelessly behind bars. Or do they? Hearing that Captain Black’s gone demon-hunting, Valmont urgently removes a tooth off his own jaw. The tooth actually is a cleverly-conceived button, and as Big V presses down on it, his cane flies off the evidence room, knocks the prison guard out cold, and flies into Valmont’s eager hands. The white-haired ringleader then unsheathes an electrical sword from the cane and dices the prison bars like chopped salad. Great, but I have one good question; does this mean Valmont has one real tooth missing?

 

At the same time, the room where Jade’s being restrained in floods before her guardians’ eyes. One guardian sees the restroom sink left on and squeaks it off. Another agent spots a small figure in the closet, but running into it, he sees it’s a bunch of strategically arranged objects. No sooner than he sees this when Jade flies a big boot into the guardian’s face and scampers off the room, locking the door with both agents demanding to be let out. Now if only she can land the boot on a BAD GUY….

 

Just as she finds herself close by a vent, Jade hears the Enforcers talking amongst themselves about finding the treasure of Chin Shi Huang. Suspecting that their escape has ties with Jackie’s destination, Jade silently follows them through the ventilation system. Apparently, she doesn’t want Section 13 to catch her as well.

 

With the Dark Hand hopping aboard a jet, Jade hides from beneath the cargo, holding a flashlight up to a treasured photo of herself along with her parents. She vows that mom and dad will be all right after all this. (Sweet, Jade. Now be a good girl and turn the light off. You don’t want Valmont to tie you up again.)

 

Classic Uncle coming up next. At the X-3 jet, a Section 13 agent knocks feebly at the restroom door, bemoaning that Uncle’s been using the lavatory for too long. That’s when we see Uncle in the lavatory, setting up an assortment of chemicals and beakers like the room’s a laboratory! Uncle yells to the agent to shut the door on him or else the agent may never live to hear nature’s call again!

 

Reaching Hong Kong before midnight, Jackie, Uncle, Black and a band of Section 13 agents walk towards what should certainly be Shendu’s palace. Shortly after, the dragon’s wistful form flies into the seemingly empty hillside and raises up a giant Asian temple, which, by accident or design, has a huge space the size of a gladiator’s arena.

 

Shendu walks close to the entrance of the temple and tears a dimensional rift to free his fork-tongued minions. Black hastily orders his men to raise their bazookas and kabosh Shendu, but Uncle points out magic must defeat magic, and therefore modern-day technology will hurt Shendu much the way a butterfly hurts a rhinoceros; zip!

 

Uncle then provides Jackie’s hands with a special balm concocted during the trip. With this balm, Jackie can thrust his hands into Shendu and remove the talismans within the demon. Furthermore, Jackie may not need to remove all the talismans to vanquish Shendu. While the dragon does utilize many dangerous powers from the Ox, Rooster, and so forth, his most critical talismans include the Dog and chiefly the Rat, which, once removed, will revert Shendu back to his statue form. Jackie quickly leaps into the arena, ready to truly "Enter the Dragon!"

 

Jackie Chan vs. Shendu (*****)- Talk about a long buildup to just one bout, but it admittedly is all worth it. The major plus is how often Chan and Shendu trade abilities back and forth at the right time. Not long after Chan strikes Shendu with a taste of the Dragon Talisman, Jade arrives off the Dark Hand jet while Valmont and his buddies enter the temple bearing the long-awaited treasure.

 

Jackie’s taken an awfully long time with the seek and defeat. Black believes that tears it and readies his men for a big ballistic blitz. The Captain urks and collapses as a seething Uncle pinches Black’s neck. Uncle then asks the agents which one of them wants to "enter the Uncle". Again, the agents drop their bazookas in reply.

 

Jackie delivers a sinister Big Boot courtesy of the Ox Talisman, but Shendu outbrawls Jackie in a knuckle-lock and shakes all the talismans off of the Chan Man. Jade feels completely helpless at witnessing her uncle’s oncoming fate, until the bottle of magical balm falls off of Jackie. Having observed Jackie’s glowing hands, she immediately knows what to do.

 

Shendu tries throwing Jackie into the rift of demon dragons when Jade leaps like a frog and nabs the Dog Talisman off his back. The distraction allows Jackie to ultimately grab the Rat Talisman, shrinking Shendu back into a defenseless statue! Unable to wield his magic anymore, Shendu can only lie still as the dimensional rift disappears for good!

 

The Section 13 agents cheer and Uncle happily asks them what they’ve learned today. All of them blutter out that magic must defeat magic. Hopefully, this is something they won’t have to learn everyday….

 

A somewhat controversial sequence occurs next. Shendu the statue curses both Jackie and Jade that somehow he will come back no matter how long it’ll take. Jade doesn’t think so, and she raises up the Dragon Talisman, incinerating the statue and blowing it to bits! That’s right. At 10 years old, Jade has actually snuffed big bad Shendu. Talk about a natural born killa!

 

Just as Shendu screams his last, Jackie and Jade see the entire temple tumbling back into piles of sand. Ignoring the lost talismans, uncle and niece make tracks out of the temple.

 

Much to their dismay, Valmont and the Enforcers find the treasure of Chin Shi Huang crumbling into sand as well. It takes the Enforcers to actually rescue their stunned leader from the ruins.

 

As the temple disappears for good, fireworks rocket up to the sky. Jackie perks that this is truly a welcome way to start Chinese New Year, but suddenly, Uncle drops the two-fingered salute down on him. Uncle chides angrily at Jackie because Shendu’s not supposed to be destroyed. As a result, a stronger, greater evil will now fill the sudden imbalance between the forces of Ying and Yang! (In English; Season 2 coming up!)

 

Amongst the dunes of sand, Finn tells Valmont that they may not have gotten that big treasure, but with Shendu gone, the cache of magical talismans are now in THEIR control…

 

Jade watches up at the fireworks with great sadness. Jackie learns that Jade’s parents may want her to stay in Hong Kong. That may mean no more adventures with his tomboy niece. Jackie doesn’t really have a problem, and that’s what Jade especially hates about this situation….

 

Many days later, all seems normal again as Jackie walks into Uncle’s Rare Finds. Jackie gives Tohru a pot he’s brought in, and then the giant sumo harmlessly starts cleaning it up. Apparently, Tohru’s found a new living as Uncle’s shop assistant. Jackie admits this bright new way of living will take getting used to. It’s definitely not the same without Jade around.

 

Hearing the remark, Uncle tells Jackie about a letter coming from Jade’s parents, who’ve written that Jade seems to have enjoyed her stay with Jackie very much.

 

But no sooner than Uncle reads the letter when the voice of Jade chirps from behind Jackie. Jade tells her uncles that she’ll get to stay in San Francisco for another year. Everybody, even the once formidable Tohru, is quite happy.

 

A+

 

Perfectly done ending to JCA’s first season. Its oddest feature has got to be the title, which makes hardly a mite of sense, unless it’s supposed to hint that Shendu would die at the end. While some may complain that it takes a while for the action to come up, we’ve got plenty of appetizers to swallow up before the big feast (a.k.a., the main event). While we won’t have a true glimpse of the good guy Tohru for another couple of episodes, his premise is very promising and the relationship between him and Uncle promises to be especially boisterous. The note that the 12 talismans are no longer under Shendu’s possession would lead up to a gamut of many exciting concepts that’ll make JCA a series to remember. Season 1 does rule, but as we’ll see, Season 2 will actually outdo the original.