XTAS Reviews
Sep. 23rd, 2010 07:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stormkeeper_lovedorisAt long last – more XTAS reviews!
Episode: The Phoenix Saga, Part I: Sacrifice
Brief summary:The Professor is plagued by telepathic images which he cannot interpret. He sends the X-men aboard a space shuttle launch, not knowing why but only knowing that they must be on the shuttle.
- The Phoenix Saga is definitely a milestone. Sometimes I feel almost overwhelmed when I watch the episodes in this saga because there is so much to it.
- I had to smile over (Princess) Lilandra’s “Help me Charles Xavier”. Shades of “Help me Obi Wan”?
- But my favorite line in this episode is Xavier’s directive over the loud speaker in the middle of the night: “All X-men report to the war room immediately.” Soooo….there are people who live in the mansion who aren’t X-men? (Who?)
- Jammies! I love seeing the X-men in their PJs.
- We also see in this episode – if we didn’t sense it before – that Gambit is a night owl.
- Good scene with the Professor and Scott where Scott questions why he can’t tell the team more about their mission. Excellent interaction.
- When the X-men are infiltrating the location of the shuttle launch, Beast basically tosses Cyclops, Gambit, and Wolverine over the fence. With Jean and Jubilee, he holds them in his arms and jumps over the fence with them. I guess it’s nice to see some chivalry but does his gesture imply that he finds the female members of the team in need of some coddling? This scene has always given me pause.
- I liked Wolverine’s, “Sorry, Dad” comment at Cyclops.
- Jubilee tells Cyclops that she has “always wanted to be an astronaut”. Really? She must’ve kept this desire a secret for most of the series until now. On the other hand, there was that scene in “Red Dawn” with her flying Colossus in one of the X-men’s fancy ships. And I guess when you’re a teenager “always” might really mean a few weeks or so.
- Jean’s powers again are awesome. She can absorb Dr. Corbeau’s flight training. She can convince Dr. Corbeau that she and the other X-men are his original shuttle crew. She doesn’t even seem that taxed by any of this. I have to question anyone who thinks she comes across as weak.
- Interesting that Dr Corbeau identifies Beast as Hank McCoy right away, when Jean’s hold over his mind is released. I guess Hank is still famous (or infamous) from his trial and release.
- It goes without saying that both Scott and Logan’s concern for Jean is touching. She’s one brave person too.
- Rating: I’ll go with 4 stars for this installment, even though it’s too early into the Phoenix saga to see where it’s going at this point.
Episode: The Phoenix Saga, Part II: The Dark Shroud
Brief summary: The shuttle crash lands to safety but both the Professor and Jean are acting very strangely.
- Yeah, so last episode when I marveled at Jean’s strength? It is true that at the start of this installment, she’s weaker. Before she passes out she says, “Help me.” But c’mon, she’s been through a ton! I still say she’s strong.
- Why do the X-men go to a hospital sometimes? (We also saw this with Storm in “Till Death Do Us Part”). Don’t they have medical facilities and a doctor? Later on they say that the hospital is small and Jean is under the care of a colleague of Hank’s, though, so I guess that helps explain it.
- I liked Scott and the Professor’s argument in the hospital corridor. It shows that they are only human. And, of course, that everyone’s worried about Jean. Also, Hank did a great job stepping in. As always, he’s balanced and reasonable and he can get other people thinking more clearly.
- Wolverine was obviously upset over Jean’s condition too; she is so important to the team’s well being. And once again, Hank is awesome – offering to spend time with Wolverine, helping to get his mind off Jean. Hank seems just as important as Jean, to the team’s well being!
- There were many humorous moments with Evil Professor attaching the team.
- Apparently the idea of the Professor not being disabled is more radical than the idea of him shooting at and trying to kill the X-men. Evil Professor shoots Wolverine on the subway. Wolverine’s first words? “Professor. Walking”. Later on, Evil Professor tells Gambit that he’s going to give him a one-way ticket to oblivion. Jubilee’s first reaction is also to express shock that the Professor is walking (and not, you know, the fact that he just said he wanted to kill Gambit.) Maybe the Professor tries to kill Wolverine and Gambit all the time when the cameras aren’t rolling?
- I’m kind of torn on the scene with Jubilee and Gambit waiting in line for the Broadway show. It just seems to me that given all that happened in Part I, this isn’t the best time for a fun night on the town. But on the other hand, as we saw with Scott and Xavier in the hospital, maybe everyone needs a brief diversion.
- But that brings me to something that has always seemed off to me. What’s with Gambit flirting with the woman in line at the show? I guess the problem here is that the creators kind of dropped the ball on where things are at with him and Rogue. During their last on-camera interaction (“Reunion” Part II), he tells her that he loves her. That was a milestone. We actually haven’t seen the two of them together since then and there really is a huge gap here. I guess we can only speculate on what’s happened since then. Did she tell him “thanks but no thanks” and that he shouldn’t pursue it given that she can’t touch him? Are they trying to make something work but Gambit can’t resist some harmless flirting? Are the creators just trying to show us his way with women?
- You can bet what’s going to happen once the police and the public came on the scene of Wolverine, Gambit, Jubilee, and Evil Professor’s scuffle. One more instance of mutants appearing to behave violently and unpredictably.
- Evil Professor finally heads for the hospital and attacks Scott. Scott starts to talk before he’s cut off by a blast, saying, “Professor, you’re ---“ Wait, I know what he was going to say! He would’ve marveled at the fact that the Professor was walking. I guess the Professor not only routinely attempts to kill Wolverine and Gambit but Cyclops as well.
- Banshee makes his debut in this episode. I’ve always liked him. Also found it interesting when Moira points out that she is likely Charles’s only friend.
- I’m not finding Lilandra’s bathing suit outfit terribly regal.
- So wow, Lilandra is Xavier’s soulmate. I often debate myself as to whether I think Lilandra or Moira is a better match for Charles. (Amelia I’d put out of the running myself though she does add some spice). But then again I wouldn’t want to break up Moira and Banshee, so I’d lean towards Lilandra.
- Rating: 4 and half stars, things are definitely getting interesting. Good team dynamics here too.
Episode: The Phoenix Saga, Part I: Sacrifice
Brief summary:The Professor is plagued by telepathic images which he cannot interpret. He sends the X-men aboard a space shuttle launch, not knowing why but only knowing that they must be on the shuttle.
- The Phoenix Saga is definitely a milestone. Sometimes I feel almost overwhelmed when I watch the episodes in this saga because there is so much to it.
- I had to smile over (Princess) Lilandra’s “Help me Charles Xavier”. Shades of “Help me Obi Wan”?
- But my favorite line in this episode is Xavier’s directive over the loud speaker in the middle of the night: “All X-men report to the war room immediately.” Soooo….there are people who live in the mansion who aren’t X-men? (Who?)
- Jammies! I love seeing the X-men in their PJs.
- We also see in this episode – if we didn’t sense it before – that Gambit is a night owl.
- Good scene with the Professor and Scott where Scott questions why he can’t tell the team more about their mission. Excellent interaction.
- When the X-men are infiltrating the location of the shuttle launch, Beast basically tosses Cyclops, Gambit, and Wolverine over the fence. With Jean and Jubilee, he holds them in his arms and jumps over the fence with them. I guess it’s nice to see some chivalry but does his gesture imply that he finds the female members of the team in need of some coddling? This scene has always given me pause.
- I liked Wolverine’s, “Sorry, Dad” comment at Cyclops.
- Jubilee tells Cyclops that she has “always wanted to be an astronaut”. Really? She must’ve kept this desire a secret for most of the series until now. On the other hand, there was that scene in “Red Dawn” with her flying Colossus in one of the X-men’s fancy ships. And I guess when you’re a teenager “always” might really mean a few weeks or so.
- Jean’s powers again are awesome. She can absorb Dr. Corbeau’s flight training. She can convince Dr. Corbeau that she and the other X-men are his original shuttle crew. She doesn’t even seem that taxed by any of this. I have to question anyone who thinks she comes across as weak.
- Interesting that Dr Corbeau identifies Beast as Hank McCoy right away, when Jean’s hold over his mind is released. I guess Hank is still famous (or infamous) from his trial and release.
- It goes without saying that both Scott and Logan’s concern for Jean is touching. She’s one brave person too.
- Rating: I’ll go with 4 stars for this installment, even though it’s too early into the Phoenix saga to see where it’s going at this point.
Episode: The Phoenix Saga, Part II: The Dark Shroud
Brief summary: The shuttle crash lands to safety but both the Professor and Jean are acting very strangely.
- Yeah, so last episode when I marveled at Jean’s strength? It is true that at the start of this installment, she’s weaker. Before she passes out she says, “Help me.” But c’mon, she’s been through a ton! I still say she’s strong.
- Why do the X-men go to a hospital sometimes? (We also saw this with Storm in “Till Death Do Us Part”). Don’t they have medical facilities and a doctor? Later on they say that the hospital is small and Jean is under the care of a colleague of Hank’s, though, so I guess that helps explain it.
- I liked Scott and the Professor’s argument in the hospital corridor. It shows that they are only human. And, of course, that everyone’s worried about Jean. Also, Hank did a great job stepping in. As always, he’s balanced and reasonable and he can get other people thinking more clearly.
- Wolverine was obviously upset over Jean’s condition too; she is so important to the team’s well being. And once again, Hank is awesome – offering to spend time with Wolverine, helping to get his mind off Jean. Hank seems just as important as Jean, to the team’s well being!
- There were many humorous moments with Evil Professor attaching the team.
- Apparently the idea of the Professor not being disabled is more radical than the idea of him shooting at and trying to kill the X-men. Evil Professor shoots Wolverine on the subway. Wolverine’s first words? “Professor. Walking”. Later on, Evil Professor tells Gambit that he’s going to give him a one-way ticket to oblivion. Jubilee’s first reaction is also to express shock that the Professor is walking (and not, you know, the fact that he just said he wanted to kill Gambit.) Maybe the Professor tries to kill Wolverine and Gambit all the time when the cameras aren’t rolling?
- I’m kind of torn on the scene with Jubilee and Gambit waiting in line for the Broadway show. It just seems to me that given all that happened in Part I, this isn’t the best time for a fun night on the town. But on the other hand, as we saw with Scott and Xavier in the hospital, maybe everyone needs a brief diversion.
- But that brings me to something that has always seemed off to me. What’s with Gambit flirting with the woman in line at the show? I guess the problem here is that the creators kind of dropped the ball on where things are at with him and Rogue. During their last on-camera interaction (“Reunion” Part II), he tells her that he loves her. That was a milestone. We actually haven’t seen the two of them together since then and there really is a huge gap here. I guess we can only speculate on what’s happened since then. Did she tell him “thanks but no thanks” and that he shouldn’t pursue it given that she can’t touch him? Are they trying to make something work but Gambit can’t resist some harmless flirting? Are the creators just trying to show us his way with women?
- You can bet what’s going to happen once the police and the public came on the scene of Wolverine, Gambit, Jubilee, and Evil Professor’s scuffle. One more instance of mutants appearing to behave violently and unpredictably.
- Evil Professor finally heads for the hospital and attacks Scott. Scott starts to talk before he’s cut off by a blast, saying, “Professor, you’re ---“ Wait, I know what he was going to say! He would’ve marveled at the fact that the Professor was walking. I guess the Professor not only routinely attempts to kill Wolverine and Gambit but Cyclops as well.
- Banshee makes his debut in this episode. I’ve always liked him. Also found it interesting when Moira points out that she is likely Charles’s only friend.
- I’m not finding Lilandra’s bathing suit outfit terribly regal.
- So wow, Lilandra is Xavier’s soulmate. I often debate myself as to whether I think Lilandra or Moira is a better match for Charles. (Amelia I’d put out of the running myself though she does add some spice). But then again I wouldn’t want to break up Moira and Banshee, so I’d lean towards Lilandra.
- Rating: 4 and half stars, things are definitely getting interesting. Good team dynamics here too.
