"Hated and Feared" Re-watch: "Enter Magneto" & "Deadly Reunions"

 X-Men The Animated Series

We have to talk about the theme song for "X-Men: The Animated Series." It's dope. It is one of the most recognizable themes in all of animation. It has no lyrics but that synth is so freaking distinct. It is one of the first things that I think of when I think of the X-Men and that is really impressive. They used to do it right back in the '90's and I love that recent animation is bringing back the theme song. A great modern theme song is "She-Ra and the Princesses of Power." If you are skipping it, there is something wrong with you.

"Enter Magneto"

Magneto: "I had hoped Xavier would have realized that his childish quest for peaceful coexistence with humans is hopeless."

Storm: "I suppose that a civil war is your answer."

Magneto: "Better that we die on our feet than live on our knees!"

Professor Xavier's long-time frenemy, Magneto, attempts to break Beast out of prison, but he declines, not wanting to escalate the human/mutant conflicts. At Beasts arraignment, his eloquent pleas are ignored and bail is denied, after Sabretooth tears through the courtroom. Sabretooth ends up back at the mansion much to Wolverine's dismay. Magneto won't be deterred and launches an attack on a military missile facility with Cyclops, Storm and Wolverine the only X-Men between Magneto and destruction.

Wait. Sonar?

"Enter Magneto" introduces the X-Men's most recognizable (sometime) foe to the animated series. This was pre-reveal of Magneto's actual name, so we get Magnus when Xavier is recounting their past history to the team. Well, part of the team. "X-Men The Animated Series" does a pretty great job of bringing him into the series. There isn't necessarily the level of nuance you get in the comics, but you get enough. Xavier recounts how he originally met Magnus at a hospital and how a civil war brought back memories of his experiences during the Holocaust. It gives you enough to understand where Magneto is coming from while also understanding that his extreme methods are not necessarily the best way to get things done. Or maybe they are? 

There are few ideological debates in this episode. It starts with Beast refusing Magneto's "help" during the attempted breakout. Beast firmly believes in Xavier's dream and wants to show humans that mutants don't think they are above the law. That is noble, but humans keep showing their asses. Look at that douche-y judge who condescendingly humors Beast at his trial. It definitely makes you think that maybe Magneto has the right idea.

The plot of "Enter Magneto" loosely follows the plot of the very first "X-Men" comic where the five original X-Men squared off against the Master of Magnetism at a missile base. It's a little odd that only Storm, Cyclops and Wolverine go after him and it would have been nice for them to have been a casual mention of where Rogue, Gambit and Jean were, but I get it. It's fine. Storm is a genuine badass in this episode. She proves why she should be the leader of the team and Cyclops should take several seats. First, she stops him from firing his optic blasts at a NUCLEAR missile and then she is fully ready to take one for all of humanity by stopping the missiles herself until Xavier intervenes and helps her use her powers to disable the bomb. Seriously. Cyclops sucks.

This episode is jam-packed. I haven't even talked about the Sabretooth stuff, but we will deal with that more in the next episode.

Grade: A

"Deadly Reunions"

Wolverine: "Alright, you egg-suckin' piece o' gutter trash, you always did like pushin' around people smaller than you. Well I'm smaller; try pushin' me!'

Professor Xavier is attempting some psychic therapy on Sabretooth, entering his mind and trying to weed through his subconscious. There seems to be some progress as Sabretooth starts to feel remorse for his actions, but Wolverine isn't buying it. The team is alerted that Magneto is attacking a chemical plant so Rogue and Xavier join Cyclops, Storm and Wolverine to confront him, leaving Jubilee to watch over Sabretooth. Can they stop Magneto a second time and was leaving Jubilee alone with Sabretooth a good idea?

Xaviertooth.

I like this episode but there are some things that make it the weakest episode of the series so far. There are just some things that don't make a ton of sense when you think about them too deeply and a lot of it has to do with everyone except Wolverine's reaction to Sabretooth taking up temporary residence in the manse.

So, I get it. Xavier doesn't want to turn away mutants just because they maybe started things out on what he considers the wrong side of the whole peaceful co-existence debate. Sure, Sabretooth wasn't the best guy, but neither was Logan when he first turned up as Storm points out. I get that.  And I certainly don't think they should just allow Logan to Snikt! him to death, but it feels like they don't really take into account anything that Wolverine has said. He knows this guy. Maybe treat his concerns like they are a little legit rather than pooh pooh'ing them? Even Xavier should have some trepidations after his walkabout in Sabretooth's fractured mindscape. That is a cool scene, probably my favorite of the episode. The quick glimpses of Deadpool and Maverick, plus the Xaviertooth hybrid. But come on, what about that makes you think that this is successful. Plus, leaving Jubilee to watch over him. Who thought that was a good idea?! 

Magneto fight part two is more successful. Magneto pretty easily dispatches the X-Men and we get some X-Men lore during the fight. The wall falls on Storm introducing her claustrophobia to the animated series. When Storm was a child thief in Cairo, she was trapped under a collapsed building which led to her intense fear of enclosed spaces. The animated series does a great job of showing us this rather than explaining through heavy handed exposition and its great. I enjoyed Rogue absorbing Cyclops' power through mouth to mouth and her cheeky apology to Jean. Anytime we get to see Rogue with powers she's absorbed is pretty awesome. 

The deep X-Men nerd in me has a bone to pick with this episode. In the comics, Magneto wears his helmet because it protects him from Xavier's telepathy, something the animated series is flagrantly disregarding. I don't recall off the top of my head if this is addressed later on, but it bugs me because the show has been doing a great job of respecting the mythos. There was such an easy way to handle this. Have Rogue nick Mags with an out of control optic blast after she's absorbed Cyke's powers and then have Xavier attack Magneto telepathically with his trauma.

The episode ending fight between Wolverine and Sabretooth is pretty weak. Wolverine really gets his ass handed to him and it feels like they are teeing up a bigger brawl that will come later. Also, I know that Sabes sliced Wolvie in the gut, which is pretty badass for a kiddie cartoon, but was it bad enough that even with his healing factor he's infirmary bound? I guess so. 

Not only do we have these things going on, but Senator Kelly announces his candidacy for presidency and his platform of mutant internment camps. Because internment camps are such a bright spot in American history and work out really well. 

All in all, not like a garbage episode, but not up to the standards set by the first three.

Grade: B-

Next up Scott and Jean's date night ends with them being held captive in the Morlock Tunnels and Wolverine looks for solace in Canada. I bet you can guess how that goes.

What are your thoughts? Do you love the theme as much as I do? Did the helmet thing bug you or am I just being too much of a fanboy here? Let me know in the comments.