X-Men’97 – Rise of Apocalypse Part 2 review S2 E4
Well, that was something. Rise of Apocalypse Part 2 effectively did what no episode of the X-Men original animated series and certainly not the woeful X-Men: Apocalypse could do — genuinely make Apocalypse come off like a “who could even hope to stop him?” level menace. One who somehow manages to be even more threatening than Magneto.
Think of the MCU version of Thanos and then somehow manage to make him crueler. That’s what this episode delivered with Apocalypse. In some ways, Rise of Apocalypse Part 2 felt like the season 2 version of Remember It, which featured a slew of memorable moments leading to a tragic death. Since this season is nine episodes instead of 10 this serves as that shocking midway point of the season.
The brilliance of Rise of Apocalypse Part 2 is how this all feels like a bullet train to the inevitable. For all of Xavier and especially Magneto’s hopes, they were trying to temper than untamable. It’s not like they were trying to prevent the future of a mutant named Benevolence…
In the wake of the strike by Rama Tut, En Sabin Nur’s forces are decimated. He holds Baal’s dead body with his rage boiling over seeking revenge.
Bishop sees exactly where this is heading and wants the X-Men to go back to the future. He’s not the only X-Man who doubts Magneto’s Apocalypse redemption plan as Nightcrawler questions it as well. Rise of Apocalypse Part 2 goes against the expectations of who believes Apocalypse can be turned from his destiny. Not the ever-optimist Professor Xavier. Not even the man of faith Nightcrawler. Rogue goes along with the plan in some desperate hope that saving Nur from becoming Apocalypse the butterfly effect could keep everyone in Genosha safe.
Magneto doesn’t have time for a vote and destroys Bishop’s time band forcing them to go along with his plan. Like a true troll, Rama Tut starts telepathically chatting with Xavier. Rama scoffs at Xavier’s belief in Magnus that Apocalypse can be turned. “Then you can see for yourself. You can’t stop him. You never stop him.” The advice from a time traveler probably shouldn’t be ignored, Charles.
In a fun nod to a pivotal character in the early X-Factor run, the X-Men track down a massive source of power — Ship — which they know was a vessel for Apocalypse. It’s also created by the Celestials, who offers Nur a crystal capable of maximizing his already formidable power. Eventually, Nur learns the truth of his fate and shocker, he’s not pleased with Magnus and Xavier assuming they tried to take his destiny from him.
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Rise of Apocalypse Part 2 has some absolute gems of dialogue like “We were trying to help protect you from the monster you do not wish to be” and Nur stating, “I have always been the fittest to survive.”
The crystal splinters and forms around Nur just as Beast was able to cobble together some parts from Ship to finally get their time cuffs working again. Rogue wants to stay to deal with Nur while Bishop incredulously (and hilariously) questions if the X-Men have lost their minds. Again, Magneto ends the conflict. “No need to be a villain, Bishop. Not when you have me. I made this mess, you X-men won’t sacrifice your lives to clean it up.”
He activates the X-Men’s time cuffs sending Bishop, Beast, Rogue and Nightcrawler back to the future. Xavier wants to stay behind, but before Magneto can send him away, Apocalypse emerges from the crystal.
Despite facing off against two of the most powerful mutants, Apocalypse puts the beat down on Magnus and Xavier and orders Ship to destroy Rama Tut’s city with a black hole. Recognizing it’s time to depart this timeline ASAP, Rama Tut dons his Kang outfit and heads to the distant future.
Understanding what’s required of him, Magneto has a parting message for his best friend — “Honor me with action, not tears. That is why I gladly played the devil who pushes sinners to embrace the saint.” Rise of Apocalypse Part 2 really has some of the best quotable quotes from the X-Men in any medium and the animation sequence with Magento sending Ship the black hole is stellar.
Magneto is able to wrap Xavier into a protective metal sphere to protect against the impact before crashing to the desert himself. Xavier crawls to get to Magnus, but an ominous tone (excellently done by the sound department) announces Apocalypse’s arrival. In a nod to The Dark Knight, Apocalypse tells Magneto to lie to Charles “like you so often lied to me” before atomizing Magneto. He flings the helmet to a crestfallen Xavier, who gets in a great line “How wise your mother was, abandoning you.” Ouch.
Xavier says this fully preparing to get crushed under Apocalypse’s heel, but in an even colder moment, Apocalypse brushes past him saying “Only a coward feels mighty when stepping on ants.”
Hours later, Bishop returns to get retrieve a broken Xavier who now repeats the line Rama Tut said to him earlier “We couldn’t stop him. We never stop him.”
Just as the (literal) dust settles in Rise of Apocalypse Part 2, we even get a post-credit scene where Wolverine is joined by Captain America and Black Widow, who provides him with some information in a folder titled Weapon X.
Maybe it’s the cover to Uncanny X-Men 268 so he knows exactly how to pose? Logan says he’s got a crew to handle it. That doesn’t sound like Cyke and the other. This show just absolutely won’t let up.
Rise of Apocalypse Part 2 is one of the strongest installments of a series that’s making the high bar the norm.
Rating: 10 out of 10
Photo Credit: Disney
After watching Rise of Apocalypse Part 2, pick up the Marvel Legends X-Men ’97 Bishop action figure from Amazon.
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