Previously on our Summer TV Binge, we covered the good, the bad. We covered them both and then you have X-Men: The Animated Series. It’s a series that is well-remembered but not without issues. The beginning of season two does pick up some of the plot threads left behind from the year prior as well as hitting some more mature beats like the opening ‘Night of the Sentinels.” So, welcome true believers! Here’s five thoughts on “Till Death Do Us Part.” And, I should hope I don’t need to give a warning for a twenty-plus-year-old-show but, as always, beware of spoilers.
1. Man, Wolverine Really Is a Dick
“Till Death Do Us Part” begins with the wedding of Cyclops and Jean Grey–which probably needs to be annulled for reasons we will get in to. But Logan spends the entirety of the ceremony in a Danger Room session playing out some dark fantasies as he fights holographic representations of Scott Summers. Look, I don’t like the guy, but I wouldn’t skip his wedding to punch a Bop ‘Em blow-up of the one-eyed d-bag.
2. And Miles to Go Before I Sleep
One of the things I always loved about this show growing up was the literary references. Beast’s frequent noting of “The Bard” is rather obvious but this quoting of Robert Frost is a throwback to season one and just one of the many ways the creators tried to make us kids smarter back in the nineties. After all, Animal Farm has no illustrations and the guards watching over Beast were clear plebs even before they were running from Magneto with their pants around their ankles.
3. Friends of Humanity
One of the elements of X-Men: The Animated Series and “Till Death Do Us Part” in particular that always stuck with me was the socio-political commentary. I mentioned this at the beginning of this summer TV binge but it is ever more present here. The Friends of Humanity–led by one Graydon Creed–make a bid to take advantage of the tense climate between mutants and humans.
This is absolutely an extreme hypothetical but imagine if you will our current president being the victim of a violent attack upon which a Muslim saves him, thus causing him to renounce his previous xenophobic rhetoric. Mind you, that is not going to happen but many have speculated how his base might react if Trump were to advocate for minority groups, most especially immigrants.
I mentioned this in the opening salvo of this review series but you can draw a direct line between the FoH–in fiction–and the 3%ers–in the real world. Both of these groups represent a fervent base support group that would turn on a politician in a heartbeat, and this is what plays out in “Till Death Do Us Part.” In fact, this story element takes center stage in front of Scott and Jean’s abduction by Mister Sinister.
4. Ol Shark Teeth
Speak of Mister Grey Skin, this is the introduction of Nathaniel Essex in the series, though he was given an audible cameo in the season one finale. Sinister graces us with his nefarious presence as well of that of his lackeys. We see a discount Banshee, goopy Mr. Fantastic, and black-face monkey-suit–who weirdly is NOT the character named “Ruckus.”
I never understood why the Nasty Boys were all such Party City rejects rather than using some of the Marauders from the comics. But, that is another question for the creators, I suppose.
5. Setting up a new season
The hype level I had as a child for this is indescribable. It was the beginning of the second year of something we had never even expected. And to have Xavier go looking for Magneto? Morph reappearing? Wolverine injuring himself while masturbating to Jean? Wait…that last one was not surprising at all. Regardless this was a great opening to the season that would bring us the Shadow King, Omega Red, Alpha Flight, and the return of Bishop and that sweet, sweet mullet and harmonica. 1993 was a great time to be alive.
Our summer binge will continue next week with “Whatever It Takes” and “Red Dawn.” Join us in seven days and, as always, excelsior!
