First Things First…
Hopefully this two-part finale can wash the taste of “Mojovision” out of my mouth.
I think things will finally come to a head in the Savage Land. I’d love to get some answers—like, how did Magneto come to rule in the first place? How did Mister Sinister take control? Why don’t Magneto’s and Xavier’s powers work there? Is there something extra special about Sauron, since Magneto fears him but not the other Mutates?
3 Things I Like
3. Ka-Zar and Zabu
“Keep your gratitude! Who are you, and why have you brought the devil Magneto back to our land? If he had not created those cursed Mutates, our people would not be enslaved, and my wife would not be a prisoner!”
Ka-Zar
I wish they would’ve introduced Ka-Zar earlier in the season, like they did with the Mutates. They still could’ve waited until now to have him reunite with Magneto and meet Professor X for the first time. But that said, he’s a good x-factor (no pun intended). He hates the Mutates and is trying to help Magneto and Xavier, but for his own reasons.
It’s an especially fun dynamic because he also really hates Magneto, blames him for all the bad stuff happening in the Savage Land, and takes dig after dig at him. He even threatens Xavier if Magneto betrays him.
Ka-Zar and Zabu manage to escape as soon as the other two are caught by Sinister. I assume they’ll help with a rescue effort and to defeat Sinister in Part Two.
2. Sauron Actually Matters
“Look at me, Xavier, and obey! Resistance is futile. Obey me. Obey!”
Sauron
So it wasn’t just a throwaway line in the last episode when Magneto told Professor X that Sauron would be a formidable enemy even if they had their powers.
He has some sort of mind control, as I suspected after seeing him abduct Ka-Zar’s wife, Shanna, last episode. Plus, Sinister uses his tissue sample to suppress mutants’ powers in the Savage Land.
As I’ve said multiple times, the other Mutates, like Barbarus and Amphibius, are cool looking, and I’m glad they’re back. But Magneto and Xavier escaped their clutches easily in the past, even without powers. Sauron, though, is to be reckoned with—even with the whole team on their way.
1. The Team Knows They’re Heading into a Trap
“So we’re flying into a trap. Suits me.”
Wolverine
Beast is the first to say that Professor X sounds strange when delivering his message asking the X-Men to meet him at his coordinates. They then all deduce that he’s in trouble, he was probably coerced into sending that message, and they’re flying into a trap.
Thank God they didn’t just take the message at face value. Not because I’d be so worried about them, but because they’d look incredibly stupid if they didn’t see through this.
1 Thing I’m Mixed On
1. What’s Mister Sinister Really Up To?
“You are a fool, Sinister. The most powerful mutants on Earth shall hunt you down to see Charles Xavier avenged.”
Magneto
Sinister says he “inherited” the citadel in the heart of the Savage Land. But how? Clearly Magneto didn’t intentionally pass it on to him. He doesn’t even know him, he’s merely heard the name before—and says he’s not impressed. So that’s my first question.
On top of that, what exactly is Sinister’s plan? He lured Magneto and Xavier to the Savage Land, took away their powers, and is now using Xavier to lure the X-Men. I assume he’ll take away their powers, too. But to what end?
Magneto wonders the same thing. He asks Sinister what he wants from them, and Sinister replies, “Your very essence.” He’s about to say more but gets distracted by Morph. I sure hope he reveals what that really means and what this has all been about in the finale.
1 Thing I Don’t Like
1. Does Cyclops Matter or Not?
At first, Sinister wants Jean and Cyclops. Morph even says to Cyclops, “He wants you and Jean. He has the professor.”
And once they’ve subdued the X-Men, Sinister says to the Nasty Boys, “Careful with Summers and Miss Grey.”
But after they squash Wolverine’s last-ditch effort to fight back, both Wolverine and Cyclops are laid out on the ground. Yet they leave without taking Cyclops, even though they could’ve easily grabbed him again and carried him onto their plane.
So is Jean the only one who matters? If so, that’s fine. Her telepathic powers make her uniquely powerful, even among mutants. But why the fuss about Cyclops, too?
Tim Matassa
