Welcome back to Boomb Tube! Here, we will be catching you up on the week in comics TV, both through micro-reviews, as well as links to our full-length TV reviews. We also tend to review series that are dropped all at once weekly so there are a few ‘older’ shows mixed in for good measure. Are we missing your favorite show? Let us know in the comments!
Avatar: The Last Airbender – “Spirited Away” (S1E5, Netflix)
Read our full review by Ramon Piña.
Invincible – “It’s Not That Simple” (S2E6, Amazon Prime)
Stay tuned for our full review by James Dowling later today.
Resident Alien – “Bye Bye Birdie” (S3E6, Syfy)
Read our full review by Christopher Chiu-Tabet.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch – “Bad Territory” (S3E8, Disney+)
“Bad Territory” marks the mid-way point in The Bad Batch‘s final season, but in a few ways feels like the start of something. After wasting most of the first half with episodes that, ultimately, didn’t add much to the overarching plot, this episode adds a few points of intrigue, all of which seem like they should resolve with the end of the series. Fennec Shand returns, bringing with her the news that her bounty of Omega was called off because the client felt ‘she was safer with’ Hunter and co. Who had the bounty on Omega? My money is on Nala Se, but there are a few other interesting options.
Fennec also appears to have doubled crossed Hunter and Wrecker at the end of the episode, though that could just as easily be a fake out. While she’s not the most three-dimensional character either here or in live action, there is a nice bit of synergy in having a character we’ve seen in live action connect with The Bad Batch in some way.
The other development in this episode is the bonding between Crosshair and Omega, along with Crosshair’s decision to give Omega’s suggestion of meditation – and the tacit admission that, perhaps, there is something psychologically or emotionally wrong with him. This represents the first real growth we’ve seen for Crosshair, as well as the first time that he has let himself feel anything resembling warmth towards Omega. There is also what appears to be a clear allusion to the end of The Last Jedi with the angle of the shot showing Omega and Crosshair meditation while looking toward the horizon. I don’t think that this is necessarily teasing any connection to that film, thematically or otherwise, but it is a shot that we’ve seen in Star Wars before, and it was framed nearly identically. Brian Salvatore
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live – “What We” (S1E4, AMC)
Read our full review by Alexander Manzo.
X-Men ’97 – “To Me, My X-Men” (S1E1, Disney+)
Read our full review of the series premiere by Christopher Chiu-Tabet.
X-Men ’97 – “Mutant Liberation Begins” (S1E2, Disney+)
Several classic comics storylines unfold, or begin to as the season gets truly underway. Magneto (Matthew Waterson) manages to live up to Xavier’s ideals after being named his successor in his last will and testament, despite everyone else’s cynicism, including the United Nations, who put him on trial for his previous crimes against humanity. A riot ensues, with the X-Cutioner (Lawrence Bayne) making his debut, intending to strip Magneto of his powers, only to accidentally hit Storm.
Magneto makes it clear he will continue to maintain Xavier’s pacifism, but only after a spectacular show of force that makes it clear he’s the one carrying the big stick, leading to him being pardoned. It was striking how topical it all felt, from Erik’s mention of how his own people became oppressors, to the use of the phrase “insurrection,” and the Master of Magnetism’s demonstration reminding us how lucky oppressors are that their victims are not seeking revenge.
Meanwhile, Jean goes into labor, with Wolverine winding up being the one to drive her to the hospital, and Cyclops and Rogue having to get pulled away from the UN to join them. It was all very comical, but never felt ridiculous, with Rogue absorbing the OB-GYN’s experience a reminder of how absurd prejudices themselves are. And if that wasn’t enough drama for 33 mins, Rogue and Magneto kindle a romance, with the two discovering she can touch him without hurting him, leaving Gambit heartbroken.
The episode ends with the powerless Storm leaving for parts unknown, and in spite of Morph’s optimism, she does not return; instead, they’re greeted by another, haggard version of Jean at the door. Could it be time travel? Is it the real Jean? Has the version who’s been around since the Dark Phoenix Saga in season three, who just gave birth to Nathan, actually been Madelyne Pryor the whole time? I guess we’ll get some clues before the next exciting cliffhanger this week. – Christopher Chiu-Tabet
