X-Men ’97 2×04 Review: “Rise of Apocalypse – Part 2”

X-Men 97 season 2 episode 4, titled ‘Rise of Apocalypse – Part 2’, continued to share details about Nur’s transformation into one of the greatest villains the X-Men have ever faced.

While I understand why certain fans would have preferred ‘Rise of Apocalypse’ – Part 1 and Part 2 to be a two-episode offering, I have to say that I’m glad we got a three-episode premiere instead. I mean, we have waited a long time for the animated version of the X-Men to grace our screens, so getting to enjoy three chapters from the get-go felt like a much-deserved treat. Also, I feel that having ‘Rise of Apocalypse Part 2’ air separately this week helped with the pacing. I found myself focused on the specific events that transpired during this week’s episode instead of being juggled across the future, present, and the past via the first three installments.

With Nur learning about the X-Men lying to him and Rama-Tut firing a powerful laser at their location at the end of episode three, the fourth chapter opened with Nur and the X-Men surviving the attack. Though Magneto had to create a force field around Charles, Bishop, Rogue, Nightcrawler, and Beast to protect them, Nur’s incredible durability was showcased with how he survived Rama-Tut’s laser without the need for putting up any kind of barrier. However, Nur’s adoptive father didn’t make it, adding to Nur’s anger and frustration with his current situation.

The writers continued with Erik wanting to appeal to Nur’s good side and have him become the first X-Men instead of turning into Apocalypse. I understood what Erik was trying to do, even though I didn’t agree with his goal. Mutants like Erik have suffered so much loss in the present that he was willing to potentially not exist in the “future/present” if it meant mutantkind would experience fewer hardships by turning Nur into a member of the X-Men. Rogue also found herself siding with Erik, especially after having lost Gambit during the Genosha massacre.

I was expecting Bishop to call Erik out on such a risky plan involving playing with the timeline. And I’m glad the writers had Bishop say that. However, I also appreciated Erik’s counter to Bishop by stating how Bishop himself decided to travel to the “past” to stop his dreadful future from happening. So, how was Bishop’s mission any different from what Erik was trying to do?

From what I could understand, Beast was the only one who came across as a person who believed that time was a circle and that certain things were meant to be. According to Beast, perhaps the X-Men were supposed to aid Nur’s journey to the Celestial spaceship, and perhaps the X-Men were supposed to try to stop Nur after he succumbed to the voice in his head.

As for the involvement of the Celestials in X-Men 97, it’s revealed that the Celestial Eson had been reaching out to Nur. Due to the Celestials being, basically, addicted to evolution and the survival of the fittest, Nur was supposed to become Apocalypse as a way to spell the end for beings who couldn’t evolve fast enough to survive his carnage.

Another major reveal was Rama-Tut being Kang the Conqueror. The dude had traveled to the past to try and conquer the timeline, but instead, he was forced to flee (again!) after Nur transformed into Apocalypse. I mean, considering Kang’s supposed to be all about time travel shenanigans, one would assume he would see the sense in not playing too much with time because, in the end, as Beast put it, time will reach the specific events it’s supposed to, and that included Kang being defeated over and over again.

‘Rise of Apocalypse – Part 2’ also continued with the emotional weight being felt by a couple of characters. I liked Rogue’s short conversation with Nur about whether or not he’s ever experienced love. According to Nur, having been abandoned as a baby by his mother and then losing people he had cared for, love was pain and thus a weakness. I don’t know about you, but the moment Rogue asked Nur that particular question, I couldn’t help but remember Genesis, Apocalypse’s wife and an Omega-level mutant who was quite annoying to Storm during the events of X-Men Red. If the animated X-Men 97 continues, I think every fan is waiting for the writers to do their own version of the Krakoan Age, and that would include introducing Genesis.

The major emotional weight was through Charles and Erik’s confrontation with Apocalypse. Charles and Erik are basically married, and that’s why it was very impactful to see the two try to fight Apocalypse while also protecting each other. They were definitely over their heads, but knowing Charles and Erik, they would never back away from a fight for the survival of mutantkind (and each other).

Seeing Magneto expend his Omega-level power to stop a black hole from destroying Rama-Tut’s city was cool as heck. But you could tell Erik was going to meet his end afterward. The scene where Charles tried to pull himself toward an exhausted Erik while Apocalypse slowly walked up to Erik… amazing!

Knowing it’s the X-Men, no one is actually dead. So, I’m looking forward to seeing if Apocalypse will resurrect Erik as one of his Horsemen in the present or not. We all know that Gambit is coming back as one of them, which will add to Apocalypse psychologically messing with Rogue in a manner he can do with Charles by making Erik his Horseman.

Also, seeing Charles being nasty toward Apocalypse after seeing Erik being disintegrated, fans are speculating that the writers might be planting the seeds for Onslaught. And you know what? I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what happens. Such a storyline will have the X-Men needing to fight a dark version of their own teacher/leader. Nice!

With the surviving X-Men returning to the present, episode 4 concluded with Logan interacting with Captain America and Black Widow because of Logan’s mission involving the Weapon X project. I’m not the biggest fan of Logan, but I’m okay with a Logan-centric episode that expands the world of X-Men 97. Switching the focus to Logan for a more contained chapter would also help with changing up the pacing after the rollercoaster that was the first four episodes. So, it makes sense to me.

Also, I can’t help but laugh at how most villains/antagonists in storylines across Marvel Comics aim to ascend to Godhood as the pinnacle of power, while Storm simply exists as a Goddess who is beyond the Omega-level mutant classification. I just know such characters are jealous of her. Ha!

Did you watch X-Men 97 season 2 episode 4? What did you think of it?

Let us know.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

Twitter

Help support independent journalism. Subscribe to our Patreon.

Copyright © The Geekiary