X-Men `97, "Remember It", builds again another dramatic episode weaving classic characters and storylines and taking X-Men to cinematic storytelling! Re:cap - “Motendo/Lifedeath - Part 1”; Jubilee’s eighteenth birthday goes awry, the game, Motendo has taken her and Roberto to play like Tron. She discovers an ally, Abscissa, an older version herself as the last beta tester model! They team up to defeat the villain, Mojo.
In Texas, the mutant inventor, Forge, has taken Storm to his cabin. They go out for a horseride and Ororo sees a circling owl. Forge shows Storm the invention he is working on to restore her mutant power. They pass a photo of Forge with his X-Factor teammates. They were introduced in “Cold Comfort” (1995), the season three episode of X-Men: The Animated Series.
X-Factor #1 (1986) brought the original X-Men and the new team seen with Forge debuted in X-Factor #71 (1991). He worked out a problem when they were out riding and shows Ororo a chamber. She takes a deep breath, enters the chamber, and Forge has her try to use her weather power. Ororo calls the wind at the night sky from the cabin’s balcony. There is no response and she falls to her knees in tears.
Later, Forge is working on a bracelet, he tells Storm that the didn’t have the money to build his inventions after the war. The Defense Department funded his inventions if he built the inhibitor collar, the very device that led to Storm losing her powers! He says a scientist in Scotland, Moira MacTaggert, used his designs, but he said he left the government by that time. Ororo says he is a liar. Forge takes her in his arms and says he loves her. She slaps him. Ororo takes her horse into a rain storm. Demonic eyes appear and she falls back to the cabin, shattering a chair.
Forge runs to her and the broken roof reassembles! An owl demon appears and bites his shoulder! It first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #188 (1984). The demon (Sealy-Smith!) knows Ororo’s mental state. The Adversary feeds on despair! Interestingly, The Adversary plays into the recent Captain America storyline. It holds Ororo in a nightmarish world. “Remember It” begins with another FC News report by Trish Tilby.
She interviews Beast and then walks the X-Mansion grounds. Next, she talks to Jubliee who casually mentions the threats she has faced! Trish then moves on to note that the UN has admitted Genosha. We see a number of mutants on the streets of Genosha including Glob from New X-Men #117 (2001), a pinkish blob covering a skeleton, the fairy-winged Pixie who debuted in New X-Men: Academy X #5 (2004), both recent mutants, and Leech, the child Morlock from Uncanny X-Men #179 (1984). It is a utopia.
The Blackbird flies overhead and the mutant kids see it from a monorail. It is piloted by Rogue next to Magneto with Gambit in the passenger seat. They are cheered by the Genoshan crowds with signs including “Magneto is Right!” On the landing pad is Madelyne Pryor and Val Cooper. Rogue greets Madelyne. She is told that the Interim Council wanted an X-Man on their board and Madelyne volunteered.
I really like this moving on from Madelyne, the Genosha era was well past her introduction, whom really didn’t have a place in the comics. Magnto was invited by the UN. Madelyne takes him to speak with the council. Then, there is a BAMF! with the appearance of Nightcrawler (Adrian Hough)! He last appeared in the X-Men: The Animated Series ep, “Bloodlines” (1996). Kurt was with the new team introduced with Wolverine in Giant Size X-Men #1 (1975). They eventually became friends. He filled the function of Morph in the show as a light hearted, but also tragic character.
Kurt Wagner says he will act as Rogue and Gambit’s guide around Genosha. Madelyne says he joined the council to work on faith matters. Gambit brings up the “killer monks” from their first encounter in “Nightcrawler” (1995) that retold his origin. Nightcrawler teleports them to the market where we also see the mutant kids. Nightcrawler says it is a home.
Still, Utopias always have to have defenses from all matter of threats, internal and external. Gambit says the $10 apples are too expensive. Singing begins and the Multiple Man who first appeared in Giant-Size Fantastic Four #4 (1974), and former member of X-Factor dances. Dazzler tops it off with her mutant light show! Genosha is a paradise like Wakanda, a place I would like to visit IRL. Nightcrawler teases Gambit about Rogue and says he should marry her. I love this convesation in the middle of the ep.
At the X-Mansion, Cyclops is interviewed by Trish about being team leader, then she changes the subject to Marvel Girl, Jean Grey’s old code name. We go to Breakstone Lake, underneath it, Jean Grey has parted the waters to check globes of her memories. Wolverine joins her. She says that Scott still hasn’t talked to her over giving up baby Nathan. Shouldn’t it have been Madelyne who gave birth to Nathan?
Jean thinks back to when she was possessed by the Phoenix, this is intercut with Scott’s interview, she tells Wolverine that he was distant the even with their psychic rapport. She says she wanted to leave as the Phoenix, but took off his visor holding back his optic blast and his eyes had her stay. She kisses him! If there is a love triangle and Madelyne is exactly like Jean…? Wolverine leaves her. Trish brings up his baby which Cyclops denies, but she has seen the birth record. He gets frustrated angry at the doctor and humans like Trish whom he says are ungrateful.
On the Interim Council is Sebastian Shaw (Travis Willingham), former leader of the Hellfire Circle!, Callisto (Courtenay Taylor), leader of the Morlocks, Banshee, and Moira MacTaggert (Martha Marion). Magneto wonders why he was asked to the council and then we hear from Emma Frost (Marion)! The mix of hero, ally, and villains makes me think of the Quiet Council of Krakoa that was introduced in House of X #6 (2019).
Emma disputes the place of Moira, a human, on the council. Madelyne backs Moira acting as chancellor. Emma wants Magneto to act as a “poster child king.” Moira says Charles Xavier wanted him to be leader of Genosha. He thinks back to his first meeting with Charles telling him about his dream. We see the ice melt in a closeup of a cup, great visual. Madelyne says Xavier would say, “Time to dream bigger.”
Rogue is angry at Magneto who wants to make her queen. He holds out his hand to Rogue. Jean consoles Cyclops and asks him about Nathan, he says he sees him everywhere, and they kiss. Suddenly, Jean’s psychic voice yells at him! They are projected into the astral plane with Jean’s face towering over them! This startles Madelyne at the council. Manipulated by Emma Frost? Jean is angry at his rapport with Madelyne.
Scott admits that he was checking in on her for a month, in secret basically, she tells him to go to Genosha. This is while Trish is interviewing Beast! Jean runs out and Scott tries to explain that Madelyne is the mother of his baby. Wait until he finds out about Rachel Summers! They argue and then a psychic burst strikes Jean! In Genosha, Gambit gets ready in a fancy tuxedo, and Rogue flies down. Tears start to fall and then she tells him when she ran away from her father. Her mother showed her to a man who could help her, Magneto!
She says how he told her about eventual mutant life with art, painted a portrait of her with several brushes. A real May December romance. Rogue says his electromagnetic powers protected him from her touch. We see Magneto struggling with nightmares as Rogue watches him in bed. She left him and joined the X-Men, Magneto wanted her to stay with her new family, so they pretended their relationship never happened.
Gambit throws his Queen of Hearts card into the fireplace. Rogue says she can never touch Gambit, he sheds a tear, and says they will just be friends. A very personal moment, this show is very mature for animation. Fireworks burst over Genosha Palace. Magneto enters the ball in his dress suit. Val Cooper interrupts Magneto’s talk with Shaw and Emma.
Shaw tells Val that he accepted leadership only if Rogue were on the council. She enters in a red dress. This reminds me of the recent Hellfire Gala. They start to dance to Ace of Base’s “Happy Nation” and Gambit walks off. Hope and heartbreak. Magneto and Rogue kiss. Madelyne's nose bleeds and she goes out to see Cable (Chris Potter) shout a warning, but he is too late! “Remember It” is an incredible episode of X-Men `97!
Five Sentinel Blasters out of Five!
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