💾 Archived View for gemini.ctrl-c.club › ~singletona082 › gemlog › 2024 › 2024-06-14.gmi captured on 2024-06-16 at 12:58:34. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
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Considering the xmen was one of the foundational cartoons I had growing up? That they have managed to not just capture the superficial elements of animation and voice acting but the story and gravitas? I have opinions, and most of them are good ones.. So I'm going to spend a bit of space going into details itemizing things. Just, the TL;DR is that it feels like a damned fine addition to things and more importantly it FEELS in line with what came before.
'You can never go home.' That is what is often said as a truism of growing up and trying to return to either a physical home you once lived in or to some touchstone of one's youth. that may well be true, but this is definitely in the same neighborhood.
'X-MEN HAVE GONE WOKE!' I'm.... going to ask when the franchise of persecuted outcasts that range from getting Pretty Privilege ability to pass in normal society, to those who are so obviously Diffrent they are on sight seen as non-conforming, to LITERAL HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS.... wasn't woke? to make my point clear Declaring the X-Men as having 'gone woke and they should go back to just telling stories' is not just comically, but criminally missing the point of the franchise.
Morph Controversy: They changed the look to, lets face it, give him a new look. Simple As. that they do reference the haggered appearance he had when under Sinister's control does show this isn't a retcon. Comic Characters get appearance refreshes and costume changes all the time. I take it as part of the process of healing and getting over his PTSD. The other thing is 'morph is nonbinary! WHAAAAAA' These people are complaining the.... shapeshifter.... has a fluid sense of gender identity.... Cue implied facepalm disappointed dad stare.
Voice Actor Swaps. Several of the originals are nolonger with us. Others were re-cast for the sake of giving diversity. My opinion is 'not just going for the same talent pool time and again to allow others a chance at the mic' is always good. That they invited the original VAs back for cameos and other parts (See Jubilee's digital clone in ep4 being voiced by her original VA) leaves me feeling overal positive rather than them clearing the slate for empty goodboy points.
I love that the intro for each episode follows the general format of the old intro but changes to reflect the changes within the story itself.
Nice peppy introduction. That 'previously on X-Men' ... It's a little thing but it not only is a memberberry for old farts like me but it helps establish things for folk coming in fresh. This whole episode serves as that. Showcasing the character dynamics, how things are as opposed to how they had been, and it was just a fun look at things. Plus? Seeing Jubilee welcome the new kid and try getting him to see this as somewhere he is safe at and these are people he can be safe WITH was heartwarming given she was the newcomer perspective character in the first go 'round. Scott and Jean's trying to sort things out. Then that end reveal. It is both ominous as it is awesome. This Magneto has had a complicated history with the X-Men so it is up in the air what he would DO with all the resources xavier had. Of special note is the VA maybe aping the cadence but even with it being a distinct new voice it... feels correct to the character. Even going back and listening to old clips then coming back to this? It feels like 'OK equipment change could explain that.' It just FEELS like magneto talking rather than someone having to pick up a part.
Give magneto credit for making an impression. Just... showcasing and going on full display that whatever his past, in the hear and now he is playing the shield rather than the sword of his prior encounters. That along with his arrest. Making it perfectly clear if he wanted the arresting fources could be made to just... Go Away. Also props to Cyclopse for showing he has reservations, but come intrusion? He is backing the professor's play at least for now and the team is standing ready to effectivly defend their own. that can't be overstated. It's very ruddy clear cyclopse thinks it's xavier slapping him in the face by putting magneto in charge instead of him, but he's trusting that there is a plan.
I'm gonna be blunt the 'Trial' both feels exceedingly heartfelt and also nonsensical. Magneto iterates on his motive and history. These do not absolve his crimes even though it does make plain that his motives are sympathetic and, on a personal level, ones I would find myself in universe supporting to degrees and measures (the 'launch nukes' is an absolute no, but seeking to create a sanctuary for mutant-kind because it's sadly clear they need a place that is as much a fortress as home? the Kid-Me in the 90's would have absolutely tried to find a way to send a letter outlining both regret that integration and coexistance seems a fantasy, and hope that this sanctuary can actually BE safe.)
Maybe they ruled him guilty but sentanced him to effectivly community service? Aka 'keep doing what you've been doing and we will consider that your sentancing as it's simpler for everyone.' That he allowed himself to be chained, collared, caged... and paraded? Given his history? That alone says not just volumes but whole LIBRARIES to his want to honor his friend's wishes. That and how he deals with the 'totally not KKK' goons that storm the place and effectivly cripple Storm.
That shot of him taking the tribunal into earth orbit. that shot of our world hanging there. I'm a space nut at heart and have been my whole life. That shot of how fragile our one lone world is has an affect on everyone who has seen it from orbit. I forget who said it exactly but I swear one of the apollo astronaughts said something along the lines of 'I want to drag the politicians up here and make them look down while shouting at them 'Look at it you sonovabitch. LOOK at it!'
Interspaced with magneto's plea that he wants his people to have the right to live with 'Jean' giving birth. and the music for the moment. It is a moment that had me in tears because it does not show Magneto's redemption, but it does show his sincere desire to honor his friend and more to the point he was making Charles's point to these people.
I hate that Storm left. Not waiting for more tests. Not waiting to see if Hank can Science something up. Just 'I'm leaving.' That's home Ororo. That's your family. this isn't last Stand Magneto that would throw you away if you had no powers.
And then the end reveal.... Hoooboy....
He... Everything here. Credit to madalyn for demanding Hank be honest. Credit to everyone else in being uncertain how to proceed and wanting to not be rash. Sadly Sinister wasn't going to give them that time by way of whatever conditioning he put in madalyn to activate. I like that nobody blames her for what happens here as they all understand that she wasn't in control of her own actions.
Morph's shower moment. there was a prior moment between those two but it feels very much that he has 'more than friends' feelings for Logan. I don't know the shape of those feelings or if they're reciprocated but the two are solidly friends. So the whole shower thing. Moment of lighthearted exceedingly personal/intimate straight into PTSD flashback hell. The whole mansion freaking out for a variety of reasons abnd here Beast is staring at the elevator like 'Huh. Must be Tuesday.' God bless ya Hank for keeping a calm head.
Love that Magneto of all people give Morph a chance to step back from this. Probably shouldn't surprise me given the man is aware of how not just trauma but Sinister himself can leave lasting wounds and Morph is... an infiltrator, not a frontline fighter. Give them a chance to gracefully bow out. To morphs' eternal credit they takes the hard road both for the sake of Scott's son but also because he knows Madalyn isn't herself, and til a few hours ago... they all thought that was Jean. So it would be shitty to bail on her.
I don't like that they speedrun madylan's arc but I do appreciate that they give her a far less stripperiffic outfit and show that when fully uncorked she is absolutely able to slug it out with Magneto. A far cry from their first fight where Magneot curbstompped everyone. Then again this is a Jean that hasn't had fainting spells every five minutes. So there's that.
I.... both want to slap Scott for being bullheaded about his Son's needed medical care, and I can completely understand him not wanting to be part of anything involving sending his son away given his own father sent him away.. Also this is where we say goodbye to Bishop (for now.) I liked that the guy was part of the team properly for a bit.
The jubilee segment is honestly a refreshing breather and a bit of a reminder that we must always look ahead. Bit on the nose but it was a fun look at past exxploits whiel advancing the mall rat's character. Lifedeath... I have nothing to say beyond it wasa great distillation.
....I'm still not OK....
The love triangles are on full display here and, to give absolute and COMPLETE credit to Logan here. 'You're Jean Grey. He's Scott Summers. thems the rules.' he shows the kind of maturity that other examples of Wolverine utterly lack. It was heartwarming to see him put his friends above himself for no reason other than that was the right thing to do.
Normally I hate 'cheating' plotlines, but in Scott's defense? Til however many days before? That was the woman he thought was his wife, and i expect that sort of mental contact just.... felt familiar. He'd lost his son. He's got to play nice wit ha media that is looking for any excuse to get a story and he's ... not OK. Given how he talked to the reporter? In any other day he would have had himself calm, collected, a set of talking points lined up but because of what happened? We get a look at the resentment he has for constantly having to eat shit just for the right to exist.
I hated the comics where they turned Scott into 'new magneto' in terms of sentiment but that frustration? I absolutely understand and empathize with. He's been this boy scout because he's always had to be careful to put his best foot forward just for the privilage of getting to exist with only occasional harassment. I'd be upset too.
Genoshia. Avalon. That bright hopeful dream....
We have a continuation of what I think was dumb in the magneto/rogue subplot, but to be blunt? It does work in a way. Rogue was someoen wit ha less than savory past and Magneto isn't above using every tool avalible. Still. Even as a kid I thoguth Rogue and gambit were meant to be..
'Mom. I'm so sorry.'
Avalon fell. Not without a fight. Not without gallantry on display. yet fell it did all the same.
This episode? This was when we saw Magneto's full redemption on display. He was not shouting for blood or revenge save perhaps as a rallying cry against the tri-sentinal itself. Instead...
'We will not look back on this day and wonder if we could have saved more.'
Using a train as grim mirror to the slavemaster's whip. Him trying to draw fire. Hurling Rogue away from himself when the beam came.
"I... can't feel you."
I will be terribly upset if they bring Gambit back. There's theories and whispers he will be made horseman of Death, or we will get New Sun Gambit but I hope he stays dead. Even as someone who wanted Remi and Rogue together? Let his sacrafice stand.
it's aching and beautiful and... Honestly I've always found people returning from the dead cheap. When everybody can come back, it removes what stakes remained.
Everything global is put on hold. We get ot see Ororo and Forge. Iti s both a breahter episode and at the same time also one with high personal stakes. I like the streamlining of the comic this is lifted from far more than shoving madalyn into a single episode though, because it doesn't feel nearly so rushed. It says what is needed, and even if I prefer Storm wearing the white costume? Her flying is a treat.
Rogue's rampage. The one reason that she wasn't there when Remmy was lain to rest. Everyone there knew her absense spoke louder than anything because they all knew her.
I love that they're referencing other marvel properties by way of referencing the bunker Ross and others are holed up in is 'hulk proof.' Yea sorry no. Base level hulk? Maybe. Possibly. Not likely but let's just say. Rogue fights far smarter, can fly thus attack from differing angles than the hulk and as she said, 'easier breaking into prison than out.'
I will say this episode left me irritated. Where are the normal people willing to stand and help? You have even steve rodgers 'oh wishi couldh elp but my hands are tied because-' Nothing. That's what galls me the most here. For all the real wolrd parellels? Where are the people who arne't mutants that want to help because it's the right thing to do?
Bastion putting Gyrech's glasses on him before killing the man amuses me. Polite but very much 'I want you to know who is killing you.' Ditto his examing what he literally calls villains and 'I'm simply looking at what they did... and not doing that because it clearly failed.'
Then you get a good look at where Xavier's been. Beyond getting to hang out with his hot alien wife? I get why he wants to stick around. He probably thought Magneto would uphold his legacy and would be a genuinely good leader (which he showed that he would have been had Episode 5 not happened,) and the empire with wildly expansionist manifest destiny everything going on needed him to help.
The mindscape classroom was a great touch along with Xavier going back to that same green suit he normally wore. Gone was the power armor and alien bling. Stick to his roots as an educator. Also. very insistant that anyone in class raise their hand to be recognized rather than intruding on everyone else. Up to the point of shoving an apple in their mouth.
A moment of levety before everything goes to hell. After all we have that stinger at the end showing Magneto survived and was being given a shave. I'd at the time theorized he was goign ot be brainwashed or monkied with. THat might have been the initial idea, but what happens is far... FAR worse.
All those people who were turned into Prime sentinels. We're told they all volunteered, but given none seem to remember the proceedure? Is it really voluntary? Again. Where are the non mutants that in the wake of Genoshia going 'What the fuck' and taking action? bastion nails the issue on the head with overloading people so there's a sense of apathy but even so the fact this show does not show anyone non-mutant on side of the mutants? At best yo uget a careful neutrality or those exploiting the pretty mutants as 'exotic thing to market.' It's infurating because it paints the whoel thing as 'the out group literally only has itself to rely on' which could be taken as tactic 'us vs them' mindset which... No.
We get armed mobs going after the x mansion when Bastion puts all over the news xavier being alive and... people's sentement seemingly turning on a dime. Again that infuriates me. Again it feeds into that 'the out group has no friends no allies. Nobody that isn't seeing them as something to poke with a stick or exploit.'
Robert's mom casting him out to save her own reputation is... SADLY all too real though. Anything to not have to actually Do anything outside of that precious bubble of safety and comfort.
I find it funny that the allyway Jubilee and Robert run down? Literally it's the shot from the intro from a diffrent angle.
And then Val Cooper says the thing. right before Magneto turns the lights out... for Everyone.
Breakneck speed here. Two teams (I do love them going with Blue and Gold,) and I LARGELY agree wit hthe team comps except for two things. You're sending the guy wit hthe metal arm to go against a technopath, and your'e sending the guy with metal covered bones after the guy that is literally 'the master of magnatism.'
Rogue and Robert defecting makes tradgic sense. For Rogue's part this isn't her going 'oh choice one is dead so go back to my backup.' It's far far more and worse than that. How much have they suffered? How much had they BEGGED to be given the right ot be accepted and this is where it's all led? She's heartbroke, and she's at her lowest point. Robert is in much the same place. 'Oh honey we have known for years andi t's FINE' and then the moment his mom had to do anything 'go with the nice zombie murder bots and leave me alone.' He got cast out by his own family. So either side wit hthe people preaching tolerance i nthe face of people like that, or someone who's never going to let them be hurt again.
Lastly, they did it. Those mad beautiful people did it. They made Logan sneak attacking the guy that can sense metal all around him plausible. Keep him emotionally off balance, give him too muchto deal with, too many higher priorities.
And then just as he's realizing logan's there whispering in his ear (a callback to his own line at the end of the first season,) he's got knife wounds in his gut.
This isn't a wonderful moment. This is a family fighting itself. Jubilee is in tears. Rogue doesn't have her heart in it.
Even at the start Ororo herself notes that Bastion shouldh ave been part of their first class, standing beside them. So even with the earthside strike you have that going on. I'm glad they acknowledge that Cable is also a telekinetic and largely doens't because that power is focused inward. The conflict between Jean and Sinister was great including Cable as sleeper. Also heartbreaking that Cable couldn't see Jean as the closest he hadto his mom. Just 'you're not my mother' and then rampage Ho. Still. Had I a theme to put on this episode? 'A family tearing itself apart.'
Deus Ex Phoenix! Jean is about to die. Gets Phoenix Posessed. and... I don't like that because 'oh hey it's gone again' but they have bene pointing to the phoenix all season as A Thing. I do like that we basically are done with Sinister. Reduced to a withered old husk and Morph getting to do to him what every abuse victum should get to do. Take away that last bit of power their abuser had by way of one final punchline.
Yaaay Jubilee's half-episode paido ff and we got to see her be the first person to do actual lasting damage to Bastion.
I get as a show you are supposed to reach out to others, but Cyclopse offering Bastion a chance when the man LITERALLY spent his life turnign the world int oa weapon of extermination?
Morph's confession to Logan via morphing into Jean? That's gonna bite them in the rump isn't it? Still. I get why both in and out of universe. Out of universe 'gotta market ot china. Gotta make it past the bigots that would freak out over a male presenting person confessing their feelings to another guy.' In universe Morph is either afrade Logan isn't into them, or just as likely knows logan needs something to hold onto and knows the MASSIVE torch he holds for Jean.
Speaking of. Scott and Jean saying Goodbye to Cable. It's a touching scene.
And we get Apocolypse in the past with Magneto, Rogue, and Beast. Quothe Hank. 'Oh dear...'
There's a lot of setup for next season up to and including Jubilee stepping up as one of the only xmen in the modern day still around and likely on side for whatever Forge is cooking up. We stil ldon't know where Storm, Logan, and Morph are or WHEN they are.... Scott and Jean are in the far future. Bishop's back.
So the ride ain't over.
I have complaints. Mostly this feelign that 'the outgroup must stand alone and anyone not part of that out group is at best a fair weather friend and at worst exploitative.' Words... Cannot express how much I hate that message, intentional or not, because it gives people permission to be shitty to those that are societally seen as 'normal' that want to help.
Beyond that? Was a fun ride. Gambit's deaht was a beautiful heartache. Avalon falling ... sadly needed to happen. Show that there is no way to makeam ythical land where it's Just Us. Show that everyone's in the same boat and we gotta figure it out.
I look forward to S2.
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