X-Men
"Beyond Good and Evil" was originally meant to be the finale of "X-Men: the Animated Series" but Fox said just kidding and ordered ten additional episodes that became the fifth and final season of the series. For this final season, Saban hired an animation studio in the Philippines that was just called the Philippine Animation Studio. You may notice a shift in the quality of the animation compared to previous seasons because of that. The fifth season begins with the show's take on a classic modern comics arc. Let's get to it.
"The Phalanx Covenant" Part 1
Wolverine: "Professor, we gotta talk."
Professor Charles Xavier: "It seems that you have heard."
Wolverine: "You know how I feel. You want him breathing, get him out of here."
Professor Charles Xavier: "As long as Sabretooth is on our custody, he is under my protection. If you want to attack him, you will have to deal with me."
[Wolverine growls, and then stabs the nearest wall with his claws.]
Jubilee: "I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!"
Wolverine: "All right. But I warned you before, and nobody listened. If he stays, he gets me as a babysitter."
Professor Charles Xavier: "I'd prefer it if you'd get some rest."
Wolverine: "I'd prefer that too, but it ain't gonna happen."
After another battle, Sabretooth is brought to the X-Mansion for one last shot at rehabilitation. While guarding him, Wolverine realizes that his old enemy has been taken over. It's not long before the rest of the team aside from Beast have been captured by a techno organic alien race called the Phalanx and they are quickly on their way to taking over the world. With the help of a defector called Warlock, Beast attempts to reverse the assimilation process before its too late.
 |
| Xavier is into some fucked up shit. |
"The Phalanx Covenant" was a big crossover amongst all the X-books at the time and the plot is similar-ish to what happens here with the techno organic alien race attempting to take over and having trouble assimilating mutants. The big thing that came out of the crossover was Jubilee being shipped off to the Massachusetts Academy to work with a team of mutants her own age that would become known as Generation X. If you were hoping that this two-parter would end with Jubilee being shipped off to a boarding school run by Emma Frost, I've got some bad news for you. I am a big fan of the comics crossover because I am a big Gen X fan. I think that this two-parter is a fun interpretation of the event that fits into the world of the animated series.
The episode opens with a scene we have seen a lot. Sabretooth is rampaging. He's endangering humans. Beast and Jubilee bring him in, which feels suspect honestly. Just the two of them? It feels like we are in a time loop. Xavier is determined to try to help Sabretooth one last time. He doesn't want Wolverine to know. Wolverine finds out. He flips out. You'd be forgiven if you saw this, not knowing how the episode was going to go, and you were immediately rolling your eyes. This is a well the show has gone back to time and time again, but that is what kind of makes the Phalanx twist work. You're expecting one thing and you get something else. Wolverine realizes his old enemy smells different and soon you are seeing a giant techno organic blob that has absorbed the whole team.
This two-parter is definitely giving off "Invasion of the Body Snatcher" vibes. Beast is the only X-Man who is able to escape the Phalanx's attack on the mansion, which makes sense since he is the scientist of the team. The episode does a good job of threading this sense of unease throughout it. You never know who Beast can trust. Who has already been assimilated. The Phalanx are having trouble assimilating mutants due to the x-factor in their genes, so that gives Beast time to try to work a plan. I enjoyed them bringing Forge on to the team, and Quicksilver however briefly. It's nice to be reminded that there are other mutant teams out there aside from the X-Men.
The episode introduces the classic X-Men character Warlock to the world of the animated series. It's great to see him. He's a lot of fun. I think some fans think that Warlock is annoying, but I actually think he is pretty endearing. I think the animators do a great job with him.Warlock is a very visual character and I think they do a good job of getting the nuances down. Even when Warlock is stationary something is happening. His eyes are bugging out. He has an exaggerated ear because he's listening intently. Or when he takes the place of Forge's damaged leg. It's little things like this that make the episode fun to watch.
I really enjoy the pacing of this episode. It moves quickly, but I don't think it ever moves too quickly. There are a lot of great action scenes. My favorite is probably the scene where Beast is fleeing the mansion in Wolverine's jeep being pursued but the giant Phalanx. It's where Warlock reveals himself and he ends up flying Beast away. The episode does get a little bogged down when it comes to narration. It can be a bit excessive and the visuals don't always match up to it, but all in all, a solid first part that makes you excited for part 2.
Grade: B+
"The Phalanx Covenant" Part 2
Professor Charles Xavier: "Thank you, all. I never thought I'd see the day when we would all be working together."
Magneto: "I sense no new mutant solidarity, Charles. With the fate of the planet hanging in the balance, many acted to save their own skin."
Cyclops: "Including Sinister! Where is he?"
Jean Grey: "Slunk back into the shadows where he belongs. Let it go, Scott. I just want to go home."
Beast and Forge reluctantly work with Sinister to try to stop the Phalanx. They head to Muir Island and are able to whip up a cure, but don't have a way to test it. They pick up a sulking Magneto who helps them acquire a sample. With verification of the cure, the ragtag group heads to the Empire State Building to confront the Phalanx and their human stooge, Cameron Hodge.
 |
| Alls well that ends well. |
One thing we didn't really touch on in part 1 was Mr. Sinister joining up with Beast and Forge to fight the Phalanx. This seemed extremely out of character for Sinister given what we've seen from him on the show. I get it. The enemy of my enemy and all of that, but like, even with that, I wouldn't expect Sinister to call Xavier to warn him and then after escaping the Phalanx with no explanation of how that happened to agree to team up with Beast and Forge. The entire time I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. For Sinister to stab Forge and Beast in the back. To try to make a deal with the Phalanx. That seems more on brand. Sinister is all about himself and self preservation. It would seem more likely that he would try use this to his advantage when it comes to studying mutants and using them for his experiments. Also, no one seems at all concerned that it wasn't too long ago that he almost tried to wipe them out with the help of Apocalypse.
It's clear the writers are trying to work a theme here of enemies being terse allies because its not long after the cure is produced that Beast and Forge are heading to get Magneto who is deep in self pitying mode. You may have wondered why Quicksilver made the brief appearance in part 1 to only be quickly captured and it was because they wanted to use him to get Magneto to cooperate. Yep, use the man's kidnapped son as emotional blackmail to get him to help you. Well done, Beast. We are seeing shade of the Beast we are currently seeing in X-Men comics right now. I will say that with that beard ol' Magnus is looking for a snack. And I did appreciate the gag of Warlock basically covering Magneto in order to change his appearance and the sight of Warlock's head jutting from Magneto's shoulder was a solid visual gag.
We learn that Cameron Hodge is helping the Phalanx to take over Earth. He's still smarting from the whole having to stop using mutants as slaves in Genosha, so why not agree to help some aliens rule your world. There is some creepy body horror with Hodge in his Phalanx form. It reminded me a lot of Max Headroom. Anyone remember that? I feel like its kind of glossed over in the episode but the Phalanx bonding to Wolverine's adamantium skeleton and taking advantage of his healing factor so they can study up on how to assimilate mutants from the inside out is truly horrendous. I don't usually feel bad for Wolverine, but I definitely did here.
I praised the pacing of the previous episode, but this episode moves a little too fast. It feels like they have a cure within the first five minutes, they've tested it and now they are off to use it to free everyone and then the episode is over. I think they could have taken a little bit of time to allow things to breathe here and there. It would have made things a little more impactful. It also feels a little light on action, which kind of surprised me. I enjoyed that we got to see more of Amelia Voght. Sister is doing it for herself working on Muir Island with Moira. Jean and Polaris briefly appear. It is extremely Xavier for him to think that now everyone is going to work together when Sinister flees the scene immediately and Magneto basically says he's only there for his son. Never change, Charles.
Grade: B
Next up, Storm agrees to marry an alien named Arkon after helping save his planet from meteorological disasters.
What do you all think? Is this a solid adaptation? Do Sinister's motivations make sense to you? Are you a Warlock fan or do you think he's annoying? Let me know in the comments.
No comments:
Post a Comment