'X-Men '97' Episode 5 "Remember It" Review
Image Source: AIPT Comics
In by far the most dramatic episode of the X-Men '97 so far, we are left on the edge of our seats after a huge battle on Genosha with massive ramifications. Remember It starts with a news reporter being shown around the X-Mansion, who is doing an expose on the X-Men, trying to come across as more 'normal'. At the same time, Gambit, Magneto, and Rogue are travelling to Genosha. The country is getting admitted to the UN, and their council wants to see Magneto.
Indeed, the council of Genosha comes off a 'who's who' of memorable mutants from the previous Show. Banshee, Moira Mactaggart, Sebastian Shaw, and Emma Frost of the Hellfire Club. But perhaps the most shocking addition is Madeline Pryor, whom we last saw leaving the X-Mansion two episodes ago to start a new life. The reason they called Magneto to Genosha is to ask him to be their King. He says he will only agree if Rogue can be his queen. While this is going on, Gambit and Rogue are being shown around Genosha by another returning X-Man, Nightcrawler! Very cool to see him return.
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Image Source: Bleeding Cool
Back at the X-Mansion, Cyclops is being interviewed about his history with Jean. He tells the reporter a story about how they first met. Jean herself is in the Mansion's gardens, telling Logan the same story, which are juxtaposed really well against each other, to add to the emotion of the scene. Jean ends up kissing Logan, but both of them know it was a mistake. Cyclops gets asked about his child, and lies, saying he doesn’t have a child. When the interviewer calls his bluff, saying she’s seen hospital files, Scott gets angry and calls the interview off.
Magneto then confronts Rogue and tells her about the Geosha's offer. She is very hesitant to take him up on it but realises it's the right thing to do. She then goes and tells Gambit of her plan. This is a VERY emotional scene. Gambit and Rogue were always the 'will they, won't they' couple of the original show, I was very attached to this storyline as a teen, and to hear Rogue say it was never meant to be, personally, is very painful. The writers are really pulling on the viewer's heartstrings here and it worked, at least for me.
The show then cuts to a gala ballroom where Magneto and Rogue are announced as King and Queen of Geosha. They dance and kiss, which causes Gambit to walk off. But there is a feeling something is off; Madeline Pryor walks out onto a balcony, and Cable turns up. She recognises him as her son straight away, but he says he has failed, it's going to happen and gets sucked away, presumedly back into the future.
After this, a huge futuristic Sentinel turns up and destroys everything. In one of the most visceral scenes this show has put on air to date, the blood and carnage are intense. We see countless Mutant Bodies piling up everywhere. Nightcrawler is doing his best to save people, but the threat is still very present
The Sentinel then spots Magneto and puts everything it's got into destroying him. Rogue tries to help, but Magneto traps her and Gambit in a metal ball to shield them, and when the Sentinel's blast finally explodes, Magento is gone. Rogue is enraged and goes after the Sentinel, but at the last second, Gambit pushes her out of the way, and goes for it himself, sacrificing himself to save her.
The Sentinel kills Gambit by stabbing a pole into his gut, but in one final action, Gambit uses his powers to set the pole to ignite, and as it's connected to the Sentinel, they both explode. We then see Rogue holding his charred corpse to end the episode.
Image Source: Mickey Blog
Massive, huge ramifications from the end of this episode. Magneto and Gambit's deaths, given what had already happened between them and Rogue in this episode, were heart-breaking. It shows a willingness from the creators to deal with hard-hitting emotional situations, and deal with tough consequences from big battles, possibly even refresh the team.
...Or does it? The appearance of Cable just before all this happens cannot be a coincidence. Was Cable trying to prevent this tragedy from happening? Assuming he was, he obviously failed, is he going to try again?
I’m very excited to see where this goes. Some of the best episodes from the original show involved Cable and Bishop jumping through time. The writers could be doing something really fun here. If not, we will have the consequences of two major character deaths, along with a bit part of the population of Genoshia, to deal with. Great episode and leaves us with plenty to look forward to.
Rating: 9/10
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