X-Men
Remember, Magneto? I feel like he hasn't been in an episode in forever, but we are getting a Magneto focused two parter. Let's go.
"Sanctuary" Part 1
Gambit: "Byron Calley, running off with Magneto. What you think they doing up there?"
Beast: "Much as I am doing right now, I suppose. Magneto had access to the advanced technology he found in the Savage Land. No doubt they're adapting it to their own uses, as we are adapting the Shi'ar devices to achieve Earth orbit."
Gambit: "But what for? These mutants are scientists, not soldiers. Why they join up with Magneto?"
Rogue: "I reckon they got tired of getting beaten up and treated like dirt. Still no reason to pack up and leave."
Gambit: "I don't know, chere. We stay here fighting all the time, things don't get much better."
Beast: "Gambit's point has a certain validity. Despite our most earnest efforts, we seem to spend more time fighting for our lives than for mutant rights."
Rogue: "You thinking about moseying skyward?"
Gambit: "Just thinking out loud, chere. You know Gambit follow you anywhere."
Magneto has decided to grant all mutants sanctuary on Asteroid M. The world governments aren't excited about this development after he crashes into the UN and has taken nuclear satellites. Magneto tries to assure everyone that he won't attack if he's left alone. Xavier takes this news hard because he feels like his dream of peace between mutants and humans has failed. After liberating mutants on Genosha, Magneto meets Fabian Cortez and his Acolytes. Cortez is not happy that Magneto seems genuine and he won't attack the human astronauts on Asteroid M. Cortez turns on Magneto, seeming killing him and jettisoning his room from the asteroid, blaming the murder on the X-Men aboard Asteroid M.
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| Beast loves cradling Xavier. |
As "X-Men: The Animated Series" entered it's later seasons, the writers started to try to adapt more of the comics stories into the world of the show. The plot of "Sanctuary" is very similar to the arc that opened the adjectiveless "X-Men" book which also wrapped up Chris Claremont's legendary run on the X-Men. These episodes aren't a great example of the show doing that well.
First off, we've only seen Magneto wanting to achieve mutant superiority and if that means some humans have to die, then so be it. This is a pretty drastic change for Magneto and I kind of wish they had spent a little more time on how this changed happened. They wouldn't have to spent the whole episode, but like a few minutes explaining this change of heart, would have helped the episode greatly.
Maybe the largest issue with this episode is that this is one of the clearest cut example of Magneto being right. Why wouldn't mutants want to flee this planet? Nothing is getting any better. And the show really hammers this home. It shows the Friends of Humanity, Sentinels, Genosha going after mutants. If I were a mutant, I'd want to take off, too. Maybe back in the '90's things didn't feel as bad as they do now, so it was easier to sympathize about Magneto whining about how his dream had failed. Honestly, has Xavier been more unlikeable than he is in this episode? He could have gone up there and worked with Magneto. They could have potentially found a solution that worked for everyone but all Xavier was concerned about was crying and being right. Lame.
This bring us to the topic of Genosha. It's clear from the beginning of the episode that Genosha is still using mutants as slaves. I'm sorry, if you're calling your nation "Free" Genosha, than it is pretty clear that it's not actually free. And I don't get how they are still getting away with this. The X-Men aren't keeping tabs on this after they thought they had liberated the nation? They just trusted that this would never happen again? Have they never read a history book? Is no one in the UN sending inspectors to check on the island nation? It's kind of bananas to me and I was ready to be proven wrong. But no. When Magneto shows up on "Free" Genosha, what does he find, but Sentinels.
He also finds the Acolytes led by Fabian Cortez. Cortez is not the most subtle character in the comics but everything he does from the moment he's introduced in the episode screams bad guy. Like, Magneto doesn't even question Cortez using his powers on him. He just accepts it. It's so clear that what Cortez is doing is causing Magneto harm and Magneto is too smart for this. He should see through Cortez immediately. He should never let Cortez get close enough to him to potentially kill him. None of it makes any sense.
It really doesn't make sense that the episode spends so much time focusing on the relationship between Xavier and Amelia Voght. This is time that could have been spent on Magneto and his plan, which should have been the main focus of the episode. Instead, we get this lackluster "love story" which feels like every single love story Xavier has ever had except for Lilandra. Voght's whole personality makes zero sense and just makes her seem like kind of an idiot. Sigh.
The cliffhanger is not exciting and we have a whole another episode of this to go.
Grade: F
"Sanctuary" Part 2
Gambit: "Chere."
Rogue: "C'mon, huh, just like you to be running around with another woman."
Gambit: "What took you so long, chere? Gambit had to hold this place on his own."
Rogue: "Just take it easy hotshot and next time you go gallivantin' around some big ol' space rock, why don't you take someone along to look after you."
Wolverine: "Ugh. You're making me sick."
Beast and Xavier escape Asteroid M but they have to leave Gambit behind. Gambit is tortured by Cortez as the maniacal Acolyte leader tries to get the Cajun to take the fall for his murder of Magneto. Back on Earth, Xavier, Rogue, Beast and Wolverine come up with a plan to stop Cortez and rescue Gambit. But, is Magneto actually dead?
The first thing I have to bring up is what the hell is up with Xavier's space outfit. I'm super into Rogue's and Wolverine's. Wolverine's space outfit looks a lot like his Uncanny X-Force uniform, black and gray uniform. I'm super into Rogue's sleek green and black ensemble with the yellow accents. And then there is Xavier. Why are they trying to make him look like Lobot? If you're not sure, Lobot is Lando Calrissian's cyborg friend from the "Star Wars" films. Seriously. Look at Xavier in the above picture and then Google Lobot. They look almost exactly the same. It's crazy. Was this on purpose? Or was it just a weird coincidence? The world may never know.
Since we are talking about outfits, I feel like we need to talk about Rogue's outfit at Magneto's "funeral." I am not sure I'd wear a Victorian style like horse riding outfit to someone's memorial complete with ruffled ascot, but I'm not mad about it. Rogue is bringing her style to this sparsely attended memorial. And if you're thinking, man, this episode must be as bad as the first one since we have spent the first two paragraphs talking about what the characters are wearing, you'd be correct.
I think this episode points out the issue with a lot of the X-Men being missing from a lot of these episodes. Where are Storm, Cyclops, Jean and Jubilee? Why wouldn't they appear here. Why wouldn't they come to his memorial being held at their homes. Like, I'd accept any excuse as to why they aren't here. It just has to be one line of dialogue. They are on another mission or whatever. But the show's refusal to ever address this, particularly in this instance, is maddening.
This episode is a mess. Cortez continues to just be a caricature of a real person. He spends the entire episode just screaming and making really bad choices. He leaves the security tape of him "killing" Magneto just out and about for anyone to find. Why would you do that? It is such a dumb move. I can't take Cortez seriously. I refuse.
The fact that anyone is buying this the X-Men killed Magneto business shocks me. Like, it feels so obvious that it's actually Cortez that did it. I love Gambit, but he is big dumb. He is a himbo and we love him for it. So, if he can figure things out, then everyone should be able to figure it out. Why is everyone in these episodes so dumb?!
Like, it's so ridiculous. They don't explain at all how Magneto comes back to life. The climax isn't exciting. The way they show Voght using her powers is dumb. I really don't like any of this and I'm done talking about it.
Oh, and Cortez is rescued by Apocalypse and Deathbird in the end. I'm sure that will come back to haunt us at some point.
Grade: F
Next up, Xavier gets a concussion and Morph rejoins the team.
So, let me know what you think? Do you dislike these episodes as much as me? Am I being too hard on them? Let me know in the comments.
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