User blog:Hawkeye2701/Review4U: X-Men TAS Episode 9

Okay, sorry for the lull in my reviews everyone, but because of timing, I've been busy the past while, so I'll be putting up the latest X-Men review now and follow with the Iron Man movie as quickly as possible. So for now, on behalf of Xemnas-Spidey, this is episode 9, The Cure.

Story
We open with Cable in his first appearance since Slave Island, heading towards a cabin in what I can only assume to be the Alps or some similar ski destination. Inside, Warren Worthington entertains a beautiful woman with some sort of accent. The two discuss a doctor that Warren has in his employ, one Godfrey Adler, but Warren says he sent him to Scotland to do research. Before the two can get intimate however, Warren gets all emo about being a mutant and attempts to send her away.

Breaking into the cabin, Cable confronts Warren and in what I can only call the most badass upper class line ever, he introduces himself as Warren Worthington the third, punctuating the last two words with a gunshot. After a brief fight, Warren is knocked over a balcony and into the snow below. Just then, his date enters the room calling for him. Cable interrogates the woman about Adler, finding out he's on Muir Island just before Warren re-enters the scene, his wings on display as he attacks Cable. The time traveler makes his escape, but Warren's date, blinded by a flash bang grenade, accidentally shoots Warren, prompting him to flee.

On Muir Island, we see Xavier, having visited his friend Moira MacTaggart, doing some investigations into Adler's research on reversing mutations. When visiting his lab, Xavier tries to probe Adler's mind, images of Mystique and Apocalypse flash before him only for some force to stop him probing deeper. This scene proving that this series isn't always subtle and that Xavier's "Responsible use of powers" is more of a guideline than a rule. Resting after the shock, Xavier and Moira discuss the nature of the 'cure' and the ethical position on it, that not all mutants see themselves in a positive light and might want rid of their powers.

Back at the mansion, the X-Men fix up the building, Rogue making reference to Yankee generals, just to remind us she's a Southern girl, and Wolverine extending his middle claws to about a meter to cut boards. (Clearly adamantium claws are both indestructible, yet flexible enough to fit the length of his arm) Wolverine tries to help Jean nail boards and advises Storm on the thickness of her mortar, only for Gambit to remark on his butting in. The two have an argument, Gambit charging one of Wolverine's bricks to explode, prompting a fight between the two before Rogue intervenes. Jubilee eventually shows, giving us a shot of her brown eyes before announcing that someone wants to talk to them.

In the war room, Xavier tells the X-Men about the cure via a monitor. The X-Men themselves discuss the use of this cure and how it could be weaponized against them, but while Wolverine sticks his foot in his mouth for suggesting there are no 'deserters' in this crowd, Rogue is seen clearly lamenting her inability to touch people.

Later on, Rogue prepares to head off to Scotland, Gambit hopping in the car with her, only to be tossed out. Using his powers to jump the wall and land back in the car as it speeds off, he offers Rogue a kiss before she goes, only for Rogue to lose it. Getting out of the vehicle, she flies off.

Hitching a plane ride to Muir Island, we switch to the pub on the island where Pyro and Avalanche, in their full mutant regalia sans masks, sit playing darts. Apparently the concept of secret identities only apply with the mask, and no one would suspect two guys dressed exactly like criminals but without masks, to be criminals. The two discuss a friend of Pyro's they're waiting for and that it better be worth while as they're rapidly running out of both money and patience on the island. Rogue enters the bar and Pyro surmises that it must be Mystique, as the shapeshifter could look like anyone. (Sound logic, if not everyone in the bar seemed to be a mutant and wearing either tattered rags or bright spandex. Honestly, do only humans dress normally?) He tries to talk to Rogue, but despite clearly not knowing who he is, he attempts to hit on her, only to be thrown through a dartboard. Quickly dispatching Avalanche also, he finds himself at the bottom of the cliff as Cable passes in a boat.

Going to visit Adler, Rogue busts in and demands to be turned human. Adler tells her to come back in an hour as Pyro overhears the exchange. Shutting the door on her, Apocalypse stands behind it. Surprised, Adler reveals himself to be Mystique and the two detail their plan to use "Adler's" machine to turn her into Apocalypse's slave.

Rogue sits on the rocks, remembering the first time her powers activated, draining her beloved Cody's life when he kissed her.

Pyro goes looking for Avalanche, only for Cable to appear. The two fight, only for Cable, like the Futuristic John Wayne he is, to hand the disturbingly limey Pyro his ass. Cable carries on as Pyro is fished out of the water by Avalanche. The two concoct a plan to kidnap Adler, not knowing he is in fact, Mystique.

Back at the lab, Rogue gets in Adler's machine only for Dumb and Dumber to break in, interrupting the process. They kidnap Adler, Rogue and Cable taking off in pursuit.

Stopping for a breather, Pyro and Avalanche discover the error of their ways as Mystique calls them out for being idiots. In a surprising turn around, Pyro somehow makes the leap in logic from not knowing who Apocalypse is to knowing the machine does not actually cure mutants, but makes them slaves to the ancient overlord. I'd make a rain man joke, but that would be insensitive. Rogue arrives, distracting the morons as Mystique tries to run, only to meet the gun end of Cable.

In the lab, Xavier and Moira investigate the destruction of Adler's lab just as Cyclops and Jean arrive, informing him of Rogue's leaving.

Back with the battle, Rogue dispenses with Pyro and Avalanche as Cable attempts to force Adler off a cliff for his work on the Genoshan suppressor collars. Rogue arrives, getting into a fight with Cable, he knocks her out, allowing Mystique to reveal herself. The other X-Men arrive to save the day, Cable going over the cliff as Mystique hides in her Adler guise once more.

Back at the lab, Rogue helps repair Adler's machine, saying she no longer wishes to be cured, having come to terms with the fact that she is her powers and all the good they can do for others. Leaving, she nearly crashes into Warren on his way to Adler's lab. Meeting Mystique, he says he wants the treatment.

Mystique goes out to meet Apocalypse, she brings up their latest recruit, only for Apocalypse to reveal he already knows and that he intends to destroy the world.

The Review
Alright, long one today. Anywho, as per usual, let's start with the bad. The bad in this case can be summed up in three words, Pyro and Avalanche. Not only do they add to the list of characters who the plot could have done without, Cable kidnapping Adler being able to easily fill the roles of these two, they border on the point of too stupid to live right up until the plot requires them to be smart, namely Pyro's leap in logic, but even that was unnecessary as the earlier scene with Apocalypse already clarified the machine makes people his slaves. Not to mention, while I do occasionally get sick of hearing Rogue's southern sayings which I'm sure no one says or Jubilee's incomprehensible teen lingo, having made Pyro English and Avalanche just vaguely American as opposed to Australian and Greek, I find makes the characters even more bland and irritating. I'm not asking for 'Throw another Shrimp on the Barbie', but hearing Pyro speak in English slang and Avalanche act thicker than two short planks just bugs me.

Other shortcomings exist with Wolverine, a character I normally quite like, having multi-purpose claws, the length of which is indeterminable and the use of which extends to both wood saw and cement trowel. Other than that, the apparent insistence of every X-Man and mutant in this episode to wear their full uniform, even when just sitting around annoys the hell out of me. We've seen Rogue and the like in casual clothes before, having them wear the uniform all the time here is pointless. The only one who does change outfit is Warren, and his need to be in a full uniform when he has apparently never been a hero in this continuity and actually wants rid of his powers, seems incredibly stupid.

Now, onto the positives. This will also include Pyro and Avalanche. As much as they are stupid, I won't lie, including them as an added element, as dumb as they are, is amusing and does help to flesh things out. Mystique's reason for calling them is also intelligent and they aren't just there to be there like Colossus or Cable before. Honestly, given the 2D personas of the later Horsemen in this series, if they'd actually used Pyro and Avalanche, I wouldn't of minded.

Rogue reflecting on her past when it's important and not just random exposition in the field is a big step up in storytelling and with the exception of the stupid twins, most of the characters have reasoned and intelligent reactions to situations. Cable's appearance here in attempting to take out the one who made the collars is both reasonable and pretty cool since he is essentially the X-Men equivalent to John Wayne, especially with his manner of speech in this series.

In one final note of my personal opinion. Apocalypse sounds like he's entered every scene after downing a twelve pack of beer, and while it at times reduces the intimidation factor of the mighty mutant monster, it just makes him all the more hilarious in compensation, which makes me love the character all the more.

Now the message. Today's special moral is in being content with who you are, but I must say, it's another one that comes across as being handled rather awkwardly. Early on we get Warren's one man pity party, which comes across as rather stupid when he can still get a hot date who doesn't seem to mind his wings, only having shot him when half blinded and is still both handsome and rich. Wolverine and Storm being in the camp of "We like our powers, screw you" also makes sense, but the lack of sensitivity, at least from Storm, also comes across as heavy handed. Jean and Scott at least seem to understand the position of people like Rogue, even if Scott's first thought was on how this cure could be weaponized.

During the course of the episode however, there really isn't any evidence at all that Rogue is better with her powers, if anything, most of what we see is that people like Pyro and Avalanche abuse these gifts and that Cable is perfectly capable of kicking ass without using his, really only proving that some people are better not having them, and if you really try, it doesn't seem to matter if you have them or not. The only thing that seemingly changes Rogue's mind on the matter is that without her powers, she wouldn't have saved Jean from falling from the cliff, which given that if Storm had been there, she could have done the same and that Cable later seemingly survived the fall just fine, seems a bit forced. I mean yeah, sure, its much better to have a hero with super strength and flight on your side than not, but when others can pick up the slack, is it really worth giving up everything you've ever wanted? Especially when Rogue's issues with being unable to touch resurface later on, proving she's not as fine with this as she appears. I wont say she made the wrong decision as I was personally screaming at Rogue in Last Stand for having gone through with it, but I find that in trying to get their message across, this episode handled the character of Rogue and message behind it dreadfully.

All in all, I quite like this episode, I enjoy watching it and as terrible as it is under scrutiny, it is just laughably enjoyable. The message is forced and clichéd, but what are you gonna do with a 20 year old series? So once again, this is Hawkeye2701, working my butt off for Xemnas-Spidey to find a cure for Jubilee. XD