TV REVIEW: X-Men (4.10) – One Man’s Worth – Part II

First Things First…

This episode originally aired as Episode 4.2.

I want to spend more time in the new reality that was created in Part 1. The Storm/Wolverine relationship is one I never imagined, but I love it. And I’d like to see how young Charles is changed once they inevitably stop the assassination attempt against him.

Also, let’s give Fitzroy a little more character development… please? He’s the assassin, but he felt like such an afterthought in Part 1.

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3 Things I Like

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3. Conflict of Heart

“I feel the way I feel, bub. That don’t mean I’d turn traitor!”

Wolverine

When Xavier reads Storm, Bishop, and Wolverine’s minds to confirm this wild story they’re telling him is true, he makes a surprising discovery…

“You’re telling the truth! But one of you does not wish your mission to succeed.”

Bishop instantly puts his gun to Wolverine’s temple and is ready to fire. He has zero tolerance for sabotage from within.

But it doesn’t come to that. Despite Wolverine’s personal feelings, he’s still doing everything in his power to complete their mission—even if he’s only doing it because Storm asked him to. And he refuses to deny or apologize for how he feels.

2. Forge and the Alternate Future

In Part 1, we were introduced to an alternate present.

This alternate future isn’t quite as awesome, but it’s still fun to see a future different than the one we’re accustomed to seeing Bishop and Forge in.

Everything looks much more high-tech, including the new time portal Forge is working on, because he’s working for the rulers, not for some underground resistance.

One of the biggest differences in this future is Forge himself. He now appears to be more machine than man. He’s also afraid because of living under the fascistic control of Master Mold. But he’s still a good guy, and ultimately, he sacrifices himself to help Wolverine, Storm, and Bishop go back to 1959.

1. The Romance That Never Was

I had never considered Wolverine and Storm as a romantic possibility before. But after spending just two episodes with them together, they share one of the most emotional moments ever in the series.

They did the right thing by stopping the assassination and saving the world, but now they don’t want to say goodbye to one another. Their wristbands from Bishop keep them outside of time after saving Xavier, so they have a few last moments together. It makes me wonder what could happen between the versions of them we’ve known all along.

And their final goodbyes will break your heart…

Wolverine: “It was good, darling.”

Storm: “It was the best, tough guy.”

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0 Things I’m Mixed On

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2 Things I Don’t Like

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2. Fitzroy Is Still Undercooked

Fitzroy and Bantam get slightly more to do here in Part II, but only just. They’re still not fleshed out, and we still don’t know what’s motivating them in the first place. Power, sure—but to what end?

But even worse, Fitzroy helps the good guys.

Now, there’s a reason he helps them, and I’ll get to that point next. It’s just that, when a villain works with the heroes, it’s usually a big deal, and it’s often a lot of fun. But since I never got to care about Fitzroy, or hate him, in the first place, him suddenly working with the good guys means nothing.

To be clear, I don’t think Fitzroy is a lame villain. He’s just not developed enough for me to know. And since this two-parter is his first appearance on the show, I have nothing else to go on.

Even with Mojo—the character I by far hate most in the series—I walked away from his episodes feeling like I knew exactly who he was. He was clearly defined, so I could make a fair judgment. With Fitzroy, he’s still a nearly blank canvass after these two episodes.

1. Master Mold’s Big Fat Mouth Costs Him Everything

“I’m weary of all mutants, even those useful as slaves. After they’ve destroyed the time machine, eliminate Fitzroy and Bantam.”

Master Mold

The reason Fitzroy helps the good guys is because he overhears Master Mold tell Nimrod to kill him and Bantam after they ensure Xavier’s death will remain intact.

And how does he overhear this absolutely critical information, that would be incredibly damaging to Master Mold if Fitzroy heard it?

Is Fitzroy a brilliant strategist with a series of failsafes in place?

Was high-tech espionage involved?

Does someone get tortured?

No.

Master Mold gives Nimrod the kill order as soon as Fitzroy and Bantam leave the room, and they literally just hear him through the door.