First Things First…
This episode originally aired as Episode 4.11.
I was disappointed in Part 3, particularly Cable’s role in the story. I hope they land the plane here, because there’s so much cool stuff in this arc, including the sprawling cast of characters. And it’s about time we find out why Apocalypse wants these psychics in the first place.
And let’s finally get Bishop into the fight!
3 Things I Like
3. Building the nWo Outside of Time
“And so it shall come to pass that all existence will end, except that which is here within the Axis, outside time. Then shall I begin anew, recreating the universe in my own image, a perfect universe, where I shall rule, unchallenged!”
Apocalypse
Apocalypse may well be the Hollywood Hogan of the X-Men universe. He’s literally trying to build a new world order in his own image.
The explanation about the psychics releasing so much psychic energy that it destroys all of time is a bunch of mumbo jumbo. But I’m interested in the reason why it matters.
Apocalypse wants to destroy all timelines but, interestingly, that doesn’t mean he wants to destroy everything.
Now that he’s set up shop in the Axis of Time, he exists outside of time. And that’s where he wants to build.
If he keeps everything in the Axis of Time—where time doesn’t exist—nothing will age. He’ll always rule. And the fact that Cable destroyed his Lazarus Chamber won’t matter, because he’ll have no need to rejuvenate himself.
It’s a cool plan that only someone as diabolical as Apocalypse would have the brilliance and patience to concoct.
2. Bishop and Wolverine Defy the Odds
“Four against one, huh? I like the odds.”
Bishop
Finally… Bishop gets to step up and play a huge role in foiling Apocalypse’s plans.
He’s in a one-man-versus-the-world situation because he’s been stuck in the Axis of Time. He’s the one who starts freeing the psychics. I still wish he wasn’t sidelined for half this arc, but his heroism here makes it worth it.
Wolverine is in a similar position.
I didn’t realize it at the end of the previous episode, but when Apocalypse captured Professor X, Wolverine followed him through the portal. So he’s captured, too, alongside all the psychics.
After he’s freed, he gets to fight back like a badass. Right after Mister Sinister snarkily says about Bishop…
“One man, small and alone, remains, defending the universe. If only he knew.”
Wolverine immediately interjects as the second man fighting back.
1. Magneto Makes His Stand Against Apocalypse
“I call no one master. Especially not one who would destroy the innocent along with the guilty.”
Magneto
When Magneto first joined Apocalypse in Part 2, I was disappointed because he’d been more of a good guy recently. But I understood. Apocalypse promised to resurrect his wife.
Of course, that was never really gonna happen. I’m just happy Magneto realized that, too. He never trusted Apocalypse or believed he’d follow through on his promise.
When Magneto first hears Apocalypse’s true plan, he says…
“When you sought my help, you said nothing about this madness. You spoke of creating an alternate future in which mutants would rule, as I have always dreamed.”
Apocalypse admits he lied to Magneto. Building an alternate future in which mutants rule was never his plan. As soon as he admits this, he constrains Magneto and orders the Horsemen to kill him.
But Magneto is ready. I knew he’d never be duped. Mystique is on his side. And he frees Wolverine to aid his fight.
1 Thing I’m Mixed On
1. The Blip
As Apocalypse’s plan starts to work, it leads to something very familiar looking…
People start to disappear from reality, much like what happens with Thanos’ snap.
Lilandra vanishes… then random civilians in New York… then Jubilee, Beast, Rogue, and Shard in the X-Mansion.
Then, time portals start to disappear from the Axis of Time. (One shows Mojo disappear. I’d like to keep that part of the story intact.)
I’m mixed on this because I’ve seen it before.
Of course, this series is from way earlier than the MCU, though it’s a few years after the Infinity Gauntlet comics. But regardless of what came first, I found that, while it makes sense, I didn’t love it.
1 Thing I Don’t Like
1. Bender Isn’t Really Bender (but He Still Sucks)
The downside of spending more time with Bishop is that we also spend more time with Bender. And he still sucks. I mean, he’s playing “made you look” jokes on Bishop.
He also reveals that he created the Axis of Time. I’m not sure I understand how a place like that could even be created by one person (or one being).
At the end, it looks like Bender was in disguise all along, as he reveals a much different form.
According to my “half-ass internet research” (all credit to The Rewatchables), it looks like he’s really Immortus (aka Nathaniel Richards), a name I started to hear when Kang was still going to be at the center of this phase of the MCU.
I don’t understand why he’d disguise himself during this time. And frankly, I don’t appreciate it. I don’t know much about Immortus, but he can’t be as irritating as Bender.
Tim Matassa
I didn’t pay attention to it at first, but later saw on IMDb that Magneto said about his wife, but here no mention about wife, only mutant-ruled world.
As per the Blip – you yourself mentioned this came way before the movie. So you should look at it in comics sense – how soon after comics, did it transfer well, does it make sense to use Blip here…
When you finish X-Men, could you please review 1994’s Spider-Man? It’s set in the same universe, and I liked these X-Men reviews