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With such an epic two part finale for the second season (the Xavier Institute destroyed, humanity now is fully aware that there are mutants among them because the battle of the X-men along the Brotherhood against the Sentinel in the streets of New York, where Magneto was apparently killed but also some X-men and the Blob got captured. To make matters worse Mystique was impersonating the professor), there were a lot to expect for this and...I wasn't dissapointed.
Since the beginning of this season we see both X-men and the brotherhood dealing with the prejudice of people fearing and hating them. All of them being hunted by the military in their respective homes, and even some of the new recruits hiding in the sewers. But also the other main groups deal with their own business. And even when Professor X is rescued and some speeches about how the mutants aren't that different form humans, they had to deal with returning to high school with everyone now fully aware that among the students are mutants, some more personal stuff there is also the unfinished storyline of Mesmero trying to free Apocalypse.
I used to think this season went too soft on the human/mutant problem but seeing how in the comic books of that time onwards the stories took an extremely pessimistic approach that makes one think that the X-men just pospone the bad apocalyptic future, I'm glad this series never went too dark, having even an episode where they save a island from a volcano and people are actually grateful for them.
Storm was kind of overlooked in the series, but this time as the other adults members were kidnapped/missing since last time, the show took advantage of the stituation as she isn't as hot headed as Wolverine (though you can tell if in every scene she wanted to make a thunderstorm fall into Mystique when having to deal with her bossy attitude) and more of a mother approach to the remaining students and even better when she and Beast go to the Washington D.C. Capitol to convince all the Politicians to stop persecuting mutants and even telling Jean that she should open to Scott about how she fells about him.
Cyclops is one of my personal favorites here since season 1, and it keep improving, when he tried to keep his cool to save the other mutants to the moment when he abandoned Mystique in the military base, it was incredible, while some may think he was too subjective and stupid (himself included), it was hard to blame him considering the collateral damage the blue evil lady just did to them (and no one actually got angry at him), him having to fight Duncan, and the episode where Mystique tries to get revenge on him, culminatting in him finally starting a romance with Jean. So glad as both him and the redhead are often underestimated and with she ending her stupid relationship with Duncan I can finally consider her one of the better characters of this season.
Nick Fury was well written, even better than Operation Rebirth as he is shown to be a very misterious, well organized and with a lot of soldiers at his command. Mystique really showed how much of a nasty woman she was, as she still threated all the X-men like shit when infiltrating the military base, and when she returns fo get her revenge on Scott Summers, one paper the story might sound too simple or idiotic (Mystique escaped from the military base, kidnapps Scott and left him in places where he might get hurt) but the execution was brutal and even when Rogue discovers her human friend was actually the blue evil shapeshifter.
When they return to school I kind of dreaded since I never liked the idea and... I still feel it's like Harry Potter went to a regular school while also attending Hogwarts. though it was interesting to see how the rest of the students reacted as they all know Scott and company are mutants, and liked that Kurt didn't want to stop using his image inducing projector, which some of the other x-men and even his girlfriend dissaproved, though considering how he in previous episodes mentioned how many got scared of his real aspect, it was kind of hard to blame him. Jean FINALLY DUMPS Duncan and it was glorious as Principal Kelly decides to use that jerk as well as the Brotherhood for his anti mutant agenda (also making Kitty dump Lance), being more threatening and despicable than Mystique ever was in season 1. And even in the graduation episode speaks ill of the mutants students in his school. Almost made me tolerate the idea of the X-men and the Brotherhood going to a regular school...almost.
Rogue was one of the better characters in this series, I even dare to say, better than the previous cartoon, really liked she teaming up with Kitty when dealing with anti-mutant students, or when both help other mutants, seeing some cops who aren't intolerant and the episode where she loses control of her powers was one of the highlights of this season.
Since the beginning Iceman was getting more in the spotlight and he was arguably replacing Spyke as the youngest member who is powerful but also fun loving, and honestly I didn't mind as Ororo's nephew just didn't click with me., to the point that I though Drake should have his own costume different from the other New Recruits, as they don't get a lot of spotlight aside from the return of Boom Boom to the team and Magma in the cruiser episode.
While I don't think Spyke was that bad, really liked the episode where he left, never felt forced or disrespectful for the character, but also liked the idea of seeing the rest of the Morlocks trying to destroy a factory where a soda/energized drink that is harmful for mutants.
The brotherhood...well, Toad got more of a spotlight as he is in love with Wanda, and even steals Nightcrawler's image inductor projector, which led to some funny scenes but also made their fights much more credible than the one we got in episode 1 as Toad ruined Kurt's visit to his girlfriend home and her parents saw how he really looks.
Magneto's group also did get more of a spotlight with Gambit being the mysterious cool guy, Pyro being just a mad man who lives for the fight, Mastermind while I liked his redesign it was confusing the way his powers where used, he could make illusions but also a telepath? kind of weird, and loved the moral implications of him altering Wanda's memories in order to make her stop hating Magneto, but also a nicer person with the other brotherhood mutants, something that really makes Toad question if this is the right thing as he fell in love with the Scarlet Witch but likes that she no longers threats him as a pest.
The battle with Juggernaut was spot on, not only did they have to fight in a dam, but considering how the last time they fought (along the Brotherhood, and had Professor X to numb him when taking off his helmet) but this time had to do everything themselves and without any of the adults, and oh boy, it felt epic in every moment!! seeing how they used every bit of their power and intelligence to defeat him made it such an powerful battle, specially since it also helped Storm and Beast proving to the people in the Capitol that not all mutants are dangerous.
As for X-23, her story was touching and the episode was effective, can see why would she was later incorporated to the mainstream comic books, though not the best character of this cartoon, frankly it was more interesting how Wolverine got softer with the New Recruits.
And of course, the 2 part episode was epic, Mesmero along Mystique manipulating Rogue to free Apocalypse, who proves to be a big rival for Magneto's and Xavier's teams and is now free to conquer the world. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W7c8Q…
My only complain this time: Wolverine's costume change. Seriously, I loved the orange and black one, it gave this version of the character such a classical but new feel, and it got lost with this one who looks way too much like his "ultimate comics" counterpart. Also when he appeared in the end of that episode I was like: "Really Logan? the other adults of the team go to Washington on behalf of all mutants, some of the new recruits were missing and the rest of the team fight with the Juggernaut in one of the most dramatic fights in the history of Marvel animation and you were all day modifying your costume?" didn't made him look good if you ask me.

To be concluded

Description
With such an epic two part finale for the second season (the Xavier Institute destroyed, humanity now is fully aware that there are mutants among them because the battle of the X-men along the Brotherhood against the Sentinel in the streets of New York, where Magneto was apparently killed but also some X-men and the Blob got captured. To make matters worse Mystique was impersonating the professor), there were a lot to expect for this and...I wasn't dissapointed.
Since the beginning of this season we see both X-men and the brotherhood dealing with the prejudice of people fearing and hating them. All of them being hunted by the military in their respective homes, and even some of the new recruits hiding in the sewers. But also the other main groups deal with their own business. And even when Professor X is rescued and some speeches about how the mutants aren't that different form humans, they had to deal with returning to high school with everyone now fully aware that among the students are mutants, some more personal stuff there is also the unfinished storyline of Mesmero trying to free Apocalypse.
I used to think this season went too soft on the human/mutant problem but seeing how in the comic books of that time onwards the stories took an extremely pessimistic approach that makes one think that the X-men just pospone the bad apocalyptic future, I'm glad this series never went too dark, having even an episode where they save a island from a volcano and people are actually grateful for them.
Storm was kind of overlooked in the series, but this time as the other adults members were kidnapped/missing since last time, the show took advantage of the stituation as she isn't as hot headed as Wolverine (though you can tell if in every scene she wanted to make a thunderstorm fall into Mystique when having to deal with her bossy attitude) and more of a mother approach to the remaining students and even better when she and Beast go to the Washington D.C. Capitol to convince all the Politicians to stop persecuting mutants and even telling Jean that she should open to Scott about how she fells about him.
Cyclops is one of my personal favorites here since season 1, and it keep improving, when he tried to keep his cool to save the other mutants to the moment when he abandoned Mystique in the military base, it was incredible, while some may think he was too subjective and stupid (himself included), it was hard to blame him considering the collateral damage the blue evil lady just did to them (and no one actually got angry at him), him having to fight Duncan, and the episode where Mystique tries to get revenge on him, culminatting in him finally starting a romance with Jean. So glad as both him and the redhead are often underestimated and with she ending her stupid relationship with Duncan I can finally consider her one of the better characters of this season.
Nick Fury was well written, even better than Operation Rebirth as he is shown to be a very misterious, well organized and with a lot of soldiers at his command. Mystique really showed how much of a nasty woman she was, as she still threated all the X-men like shit when infiltrating the military base, and when she returns fo get her revenge on Scott Summers, one paper the story might sound too simple or idiotic (Mystique escaped from the military base, kidnapps Scott and left him in places where he might get hurt) but the execution was brutal and even when Rogue discovers her human friend was actually the blue evil shapeshifter.
When they return to school I kind of dreaded since I never liked the idea and... I still feel it's like Harry Potter went to a regular school while also attending Hogwarts. though it was interesting to see how the rest of the students reacted as they all know Scott and company are mutants, and liked that Kurt didn't want to stop using his image inducing projector, which some of the other x-men and even his girlfriend dissaproved, though considering how he in previous episodes mentioned how many got scared of his real aspect, it was kind of hard to blame him. Jean FINALLY DUMPS Duncan and it was glorious as Principal Kelly decides to use that jerk as well as the Brotherhood for his anti mutant agenda (also making Kitty dump Lance), being more threatening and despicable than Mystique ever was in season 1. And even in the graduation episode speaks ill of the mutants students in his school. Almost made me tolerate the idea of the X-men and the Brotherhood going to a regular school...almost.
Rogue was one of the better characters in this series, I even dare to say, better than the previous cartoon, really liked she teaming up with Kitty when dealing with anti-mutant students, or when both help other mutants, seeing some cops who aren't intolerant and the episode where she loses control of her powers was one of the highlights of this season.
Since the beginning Iceman was getting more in the spotlight and he was arguably replacing Spyke as the youngest member who is powerful but also fun loving, and honestly I didn't mind as Ororo's nephew just didn't click with me., to the point that I though Drake should have his own costume different from the other New Recruits, as they don't get a lot of spotlight aside from the return of Boom Boom to the team and Magma in the cruiser episode.
While I don't think Spyke was that bad, really liked the episode where he left, never felt forced or disrespectful for the character, but also liked the idea of seeing the rest of the Morlocks trying to destroy a factory where a soda/energized drink that is harmful for mutants.
The brotherhood...well, Toad got more of a spotlight as he is in love with Wanda, and even steals Nightcrawler's image inductor projector, which led to some funny scenes but also made their fights much more credible than the one we got in episode 1 as Toad ruined Kurt's visit to his girlfriend home and her parents saw how he really looks.
Magneto's group also did get more of a spotlight with Gambit being the mysterious cool guy, Pyro being just a mad man who lives for the fight, Mastermind while I liked his redesign it was confusing the way his powers where used, he could make illusions but also a telepath? kind of weird, and loved the moral implications of him altering Wanda's memories in order to make her stop hating Magneto, but also a nicer person with the other brotherhood mutants, something that really makes Toad question if this is the right thing as he fell in love with the Scarlet Witch but likes that she no longers threats him as a pest.
The battle with Juggernaut was spot on, not only did they have to fight in a dam, but considering how the last time they fought (along the Brotherhood, and had Professor X to numb him when taking off his helmet) but this time had to do everything themselves and without any of the adults, and oh boy, it felt epic in every moment!! seeing how they used every bit of their power and intelligence to defeat him made it such an powerful battle, specially since it also helped Storm and Beast proving to the people in the Capitol that not all mutants are dangerous.
As for X-23, her story was touching and the episode was effective, can see why would she was later incorporated to the mainstream comic books, though not the best character of this cartoon, frankly it was more interesting how Wolverine got softer with the New Recruits.
And of course, the 2 part episode was epic, Mesmero along Mystique manipulating Rogue to free Apocalypse, who proves to be a big rival for Magneto's and Xavier's teams and is now free to conquer the world. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W7c8Q…
My only complain this time: Wolverine's costume change. Seriously, I loved the orange and black one, it gave this version of the character such a classical but new feel, and it got lost with this one who looks way too much like his "ultimate comics" counterpart. Also when he appeared in the end of that episode I was like: "Really Logan? the other adults of the team go to Washington on behalf of all mutants, some of the new recruits were missing and the rest of the team fight with the Juggernaut in one of the most dramatic fights in the history of Marvel animation and you were all day modifying your costume?" didn't made him look good if you ask me.

To be concluded