"Hated and Feared" Re-Watch: "Slave Island" & "The Unstoppable Juggernaut"

 X-Men The Animated Series

We are getting a lot of iconic X characters in these two episodes. A lot of them don't have speaking roles, but we do get to see them at least. This is another reason to love "X-Men." We get Easter eggs for fans from the very beginning.

"Slave Island"

[Gambit is carrying Jubilee over his shoulder.]

Gambit: "How do you sweat so much, petite, and not lose weight?'

Jubilee: "Ooh, I hate you!"

After being captured by the Genoshan government, Storm, Gambit and Jubilee are put to work with other mutants working on a dam. They are told that "the Leader" will let them go when work is complete, but Storm isn't buying it. She attempts a rebellion when their power dampening collars are turned off so they can use their powers to work but is put down by a Sentinel and thrown in a box, not great for a woman with claustrophobia. Things go from bad to worse, when it looks like Gambit has betrayed his fellow mutants. Has Gambit turned on his friends? Will the other X-Men get there in time? 

It's Cable, bitches.

First off, so many cameos in this episode. I saw Mystique, Feral, Avalanche, Pyro, Sunfire, Northstar, Aurora, Warpath, Blob, Domino and Rictor. Not all of them had speaking parts but it was great to see them and I'm sure as a kid, I was even more excited. Since Cable makes his debut in this episode, it isn't a huge shock that a lot of the cameo characters were part of X-Force at the time. 

I don't love the title of this episode. "Slave Island." I'm not sure if that would go over well now.  I get that the X-Men are an allegory for oppressed people but having a whole episode where mutants are literal slaves with overseers and all that. It's a lot and it isn't terribly appropriate. They use the word "slave" so much and it isn't really a comparison. I am just thankful they don't have any African American mutants on Genosha.

Otherwise, we get the humans are the worst brigade consisting of Henry Peter Gyrich, Bolivar Trask, Cameron Hodge and the Leader. The MasterMold, a giant Sentinel that makes other Sentinels, is introduced. They are just a who's who of the worst humanity has to offer. It's almost not surprising that Gambit would potentially throw his lot in with them. You are like 90% sure that Gambit is playing them, but Gambit is that kind of character that he could be doing this. 

The way the show treats Cable is odd. In the comics, Cable is the future son of Jean Grey and Scott Summers. In this, he is a mutant who was in the Leader's military squadron when they were going to liberate Genosha not enslave mutants on it. It's a really odd take and it doesn't feel like Cable at all. There's no sense of what his mutant powers are, just that his gun can completely disintegrate things.

The action in this episode is great. Storm is the MVP. She is immediately ready to try and escape. She brings the dam down on her own and she stops Blob from killing one of Leader's men, even though they completely deserve it. The episode also sets up things that will come to fruition as the season continues and the episode ending cliffhanger of finding the school completely demolished is a great beat to end on.

Grade: B

"The Unstoppable Juggernaut"

Rogue: "Care to join the jailbreak, Beast?"

The Beast: "Thanks, no. But come back during regular visiting hours, we'll catch up on gossip. And tell Jean thanks for the delicious cookies!"

After finding the school completely demolished aside from the lower levels, the team quickly realizes that Professor X is gone thanks to a message left in the War Room. Wolverine doesn't have time to work with the rest of the team, he follows a scent back to town. Wolvie and Jubilee meet a Russian mutant named Colossus who they initially believe was the perp. After a brief scuffle, they realize he's innocent and after a bank robbery, the real culprit is revealed to be the Professor's stepbrother, Cain Marko, the Juggernaut. How will the X-Men stop the unstoppable?

Right before she passes out.

Not only do we meet one of the X-Men's greatest foes with the Juggernaut, but we also meet one of the greatest X-Men out there, Colossus. After returning to the school, the X-Men do some quick recon and realize the Professor vacated the building prior to the destruction of the mansion. I am glad that they didn't draw that out. We definitely didn't need a whole episode of "Is or isn't the Professor OK?" drama. Wolverine, on the other hand, may be back with the team, but he isn't ready to be a team player. It's almost laughable how immediately he fucks right off and goes to do his own thing. I guess it makes the lesson he learns about how the mansion is the one place that has felt like home to him hit harder in the end? I guess.

This iteration of Colossus is how I always think of him. In that tank top, heavy Russian accent. Kind of a himbo. It's great. I love that they do the whole miscommunication leads to fight trope, because it leads to the point where Colossus tosses Wolverine and we get a pseudo fastball special. It's great. It's hilarious how they realize that Peter is a good guy and then he immediately gets picked up by the cops for bank robbery. 

Watching this episode made me realize another reason I love the X-Men. It's not just because they are a pretty clear queer allegory, it is also because they make terrible decisions on the regular. Take Storm and Rogue breaking into the police station and breaking Colossus out. That is clearly such a terrible idea. How is mutants breaking another mutant out going to make clear his name in the end. Even Beast knows it's a bad idea. Which is another really funny thing, Beast encouraging Colossus to go with the ladies but he is going to stay and wait for his day in court. It's really bananas. 

Teamwork makes the dream work as the X-Men finally work together to take Cain down. Each X-Man plays their part. Storm uses the weather to slow him down, Rogue absorbs some of his energy causing her to have a freak out and Jean uses Cerebro to amplify her abilities and mess with Marko's mind. Yes, she does pass out, but it still works. Leave her alone! Colossus doesn't want to join the team, which is a good decision, so clearly he wouldn't fit in. Though, he does offer to stay and help them rebuild the mansion, which is big himbo energy.

Grade: B+

Next up, a cure for mutants could lead to the Apocalypse. *wink, wink.*

What do you all think? Did "Sl*ve Island" make you a little uncomfortable? What was the deal with Cable? Were you here for the Juggernaut, bitch? Let me know in the comments.