The show did what it set out to do. People questioned and criticized the choice about NickToons. And it turned out fine. NickToons has not hurt the show.
No, it hasn't. That concerns my point how?
TheVileOne said:
Because I unlike you do not find these things POOR. I don't dismiss any thing. I acknowledge them, or accept them because maybe I am fine with the execution generally. I've stated the issues and critiques I have for the show and things I worry about for the future of the show's storyline. You only say I dismiss things to make it convenient for yourself.
Fair enough, maybe I missed some of your rare criticisms. Just nearly with all of mine you seem to ignore because I'm terribly "biased".
TheVileOne said:
You seemed to often complain about the lack of violence or implied violence and would point out how in TMNT people died, got slashed, or got killed offscreen.
Look at all the carnage in the last two episodes. The sentinels killed humans and mutants. There was a great deal of implied, offscreen death. You saw a sentinel put its hand into a building and let loose with a blast. You see the result, but you don't see the actual deaths.
Yeah, there was a little of that. I didn't note the lack of it as a problem at least for this episode. There is some room to improve but they started to at least in this boarding regard.
TheVileOne said:
The thing is, plenty of characters were given arcs and the chance to become their own characters outside Wolverine in this show. But since this is an ensemble and a limited time frame to tell the stories people get whiney that their favorite characters aren't used here or there. Storm didn't get to do enough. Colossus is gone and no one even mentions him. But now they have 26 episodes in the can. Now they are getting 26 more. They laid the groundwork for Storm, and now the potential is there for Storm to have a much bigger role in the second season. And there's actually unique and now flawed person Storm is being paired up with.
Iceman didn't have some huge hero save the day moment, but Iceman was re-established as a competent and important member of the team that's also highly attracted to Shadowcat. Despite Shadowcat's age, she's also proven herself to be a competent member of team in the battle and can hold her own. So all those precedents were set and can be expanded upon in later on.
Sure some more mention of Colossus would be nice. Maybe some regret that how this is sort of a time where Colossus would throw Wolverine into battle, but the show can't dwell on things like that. The team was already dealing with two major losses in Jean and Xavier. And they need to focus on that. In the comics, when the teams revolve around and change so regularly you can't have the characters constantly make mention of who is or isn't there anymore.
Outside of Wolverine, the only characters who got what I would consider decent and consistent character arcs were Angel, Cyclops, Rogue (at least until she rejoined the X-Men), Nightcrawler, and Scarlet Witch. To a lessor degree there was a lot of focus on Future Xavier and Magneto. Unfortunately, those are about half the cast.
Iceman, Shadowcat, Beast, and Forge are bare bones character sketches, like Storm. Not very fleshed. Same with many of the Brotherhood, aside for Quicksilver and Domino. Compare this to EVOLUTION where by 26 episodes in, even Blob was a character, at least for his intro.
My point is the character balance needs to improve in Season 2. There needs to be more interaction, and stronger interaction. That is not the same as a focus episode. In fact it is more important.
TheVileOne said:
I think you are totally twisting things around here to suit your argument. For one thing at the end of the day, the person who saved everybody was Emma Frost. So if anyone really turned out to be Mr. X-man it was her after she played the Terra/Judas role.
Because she was cut free by Wolverine, who was told to do so by Future Xavier, only after he learned how to save the world by Future Wolverine. She never would have been able to do that had Wolverine not saved them from Silver Samurai, or from Master Mold in "Backlash". But, yeah, at the finale it was Frost, because Logan learned to trust her.
TheVileOne said:
The only thing I feel that is ruined Wolverine as a character is the derivative nature of his big storylines. Millar has Wolverine brainwashed and working for the bad guy as this big blockbuster storyline even though this same thing has happened with Wolverine before a dozen times. Larsen did the same thing. It happened before with Wolverine as the Death Horseman for Apocalypse. And then you have these God awful, street clothes Wolverine storylines that are just grim, dark, and gritty for the sake of it. Or you have Morrison, Daniel Way, and numerous others continuing to muddle up and confuse with his history. And then Jeph Loeb saying Wolverine is really an evolved wolf or something.
While I wouldn't say that such derivative stories were the only thing that have ruined Wolverine in many ways, I will say they are a contributing factor, and I agree with this point. Rehashed stories and awkward retcons and whatnot about his origins don't usually help him. In fact, WOLVERINE: ORIGINS has done more harm to Logan's history that anyone can imagine.
TheVileOne said:
For one thing, nothing was ever defined as DARK PHOENIX being taken out of the picture. Also, Xavier said the team being disbanded was the problem. In Xavier's future, the team never returned.
But after Wolverine reorganized the team, nothing in the future changed. Hell, he nipped Master Mold in the bud and it didn't matter. It was all tied to Dark Phoenix.
TheVileOne said:
Thank you Dr. Freud.
And they had every reason to be that way from their perspective. Not to mention, there was no evidence to support that Jean hadn't perished despite Scott's hope which was justified due to their mental link and bond. But Cyclops became reckless as a result.
But you can at least miss someone you think is dead. No one even missed her. Lord knows if I hung around some girl for 5 years at a school and fought crime with her, I would still miss her a year after she "died", even if I wasn't a reckless putz about it like Cyclops.
TheVileOne said:
In the end though in the present timeline, where was the big Wolverine battle? All Wolverine did was pursue Cyclops and Emma, and he freed Emma to save everyone from the Phoenix. They gave a lot more spotlight to the Emma, Cyclops, and Jean storylines.
Future Wolverine and his X-23 Singers tore through some Sentinels in the future, but yeah, the finale didn't rely on Wolverine's battle in the present. It was still his choice that was essential.
TheVileOne said:
Looking at the first season of X-men Evolution, this show turned in a much stronger first season. Whatever problems you had in this show, I found Evolution to be much more logically problematic and at times even ridiculous.
If you compare 26 episodes of W&TXM to the first 13 of EVOLUTION, that isn't fair. You have to compare it to up to episode 26 of EVOLUTION, which was towards the later end of their second season. As I have said in reviews, both are different fish. If you are judging solely on serial storytelling and adapting the comic stories, W&TXM is the balls. If you actually want that combined with characters who are mostly well fleshed and distinctive as an ensemble cast, then EVOLUTION has a bit going for it. That said, EVOLUTION wasn't really "great" until the very end of Season 2, which was episode 29 or so, going onto Season 3, their best.
I agree, a lot of plots in the first half of EVOLUTION were simplistic and stupid; I thought episodes 12-13 were especially dodgy. I cared more about the characters, though. W&TXM has better storylines and whatnot, but not as many distinct characters involved.
TheVileOne said:
Except that whole chemically unbalanced and beating women within an inch of their life thing. You are way into psycho-analysis of super heroes my friend.
I didn't say he was exactly the same as Ultimate Hank Pym. I said "not far removed." Considering you are always telling me I should embrace Cyclops' inner jackass as being absolutely essential, I am surprised you are fighting me on this point.
TheVileOne said:
The moment was there. I don't think they needed to milk it any further. My quote was a joke to sort of exaggerate your disappointment over these parts.
I didn't think it was enough, especially as the X-Men are all back-slapping themselves afterwards.
TheVileOne said:
Seriously, I think you've put way too much thought and effort into your interpretation into these events that's not necessary or even valid at all.
Yeah, don't judge a show on those petty details. All that matters is who gets smashed at the end.
TheVileOne said:
They matter because the story isn't over yet. This just the first part of a story. The story continues and we will continue to see how characters, emotions, and storylines develop.
You're honestly saying that it isn't fair to criticize the first 26 episodes of material because there is due another 26 episodes of material? We have the same episode count as many shows had in two whole seasons on FoxKids or Kids WB and it's UNFAIR to criticize it now, we have to wait for ANOTHER 26?
By that logic, SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED, SILVER SURFER, MTV SPIDER-MAN, and AVENGERS: UNITED THEY STAND were all unfairly judged. If only Marvel hadn't gone bankrupt, or if MTV had a heart, that next season woulda/coulda/shoulda.
(And NO, WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN is nowhere near as bad as those shows. It is a B grade show, of above average quality. Better than THE BATMAN or LEGION OF SUPERHEROES or even the goofy-fun FANTASTIC FOUR: WGH, or BATMAN: BRAVE AND THE BOLD).
I think SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN has proven to me and others that it IS fair to judge a show from the pilot, expect quality, and expect it to be fulfilled consistently. Whether from episode 10 or 20.
TheVileOne said:
Who knows what the loss of Emma's presence might be felt in the future. But I mean, Scott got Jean back, and there's that great conflict in that the same woman that caused him all his pain and suffering was ultimately the same woman that relieved all of it.
However if someone tortures you and breaks you mentally and emotionally and ultimately they save your life that doesn't take away the fact that they still put you in that place. I'm sure Scott is aware of all of this. And I am at least open to the potential of this idea and seeing where it goes.
Hopefully it goes someplace interesting.
TheVileOne said:
Maybe that's exactly why she suggested Logan to do that, ya think

.
Perhaps.
TheVileOne said:
Just because it wasn't shown doesn't mean it didn't happen.
By that logic, can I assume that Logan goes to Madripoor and slaughters bar fighters on off days? He did that in the comics. Just because it wasn't shown doesn't mean it didn't happen.
TheVileOne said:
Shadowcat said beforehand that Scott used to always be the first one there. The first one on the jet and everything else. Sinister referred to Scott as Xavier's prized student or apprentice or what have you.
Shadowcat was ragging on Cyclops for his lack of motivation. Not because he was actually competent before; just implying he was motivated. "Before, not only would you have showed up for the mission, you'd be the first one there," basically. That doesn't imply any sort of commanding presence.
Mr. Sinister never called Cyclops as prized student of Xavier's. While he claimed that "Xavier didn't know what he had with the two of you" and referred to their powers, he didn't seem to believe Xavier held Scott as dear as Jean.
Anyway, episode 20 made very clear that Scott was incompetent, but that Xavier felt pity on him so he included him on things. That fits perfectly well with the idea of a teacher's pet who never earned anything through merit and could never stand tall without support, which was why Logan didn't respect Cyclops, and still doesn't, and Scott has no reason to grow because Jean is there.
Honestly, with the version of Cyclops this show is intent on bringing forth, the idea of him being a Never Was fits with how he is portrayed in the ACTUAL SHOW, not the THEORETICAL SHOW that viewers can only imagine happened off camera, how everyone treats him, and especially how the star hero views him. Now, some people absolutely love this version of Scott. I've read some posts on IMBD or something that said, essentially, "Yeah, Scott may be a selfish, petty jerk here, but at least he isn't boring." I concede that Cyclops as written here is unique and not boring. I just don't find him sympathetic or heroic very often. Wolverine was given every right to thus take over the team, since he clearly is the embodiment of all that Xavier preaches.
TheVileOne said:
Also, when Cyclops was motivated, he more than held his own in battle. Now I'm sure you would say in response that all he had was Jean as a source of his strength and tenacity. But I mean is that no different than Spider-man saying that MJ makes him feel like he can do anything and that's why he needs her?
Spider-Man has fought crime before and after MJ. The only version where he was SUPER attached to her was the movies, where she was the only girl he lusted for and loved from childhood to adulthood (which sometimes seems creepy). SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN has captured how completely distracted Peter is by girls and how he is into whichever one gives him attention at the moment (even if his true love is Gwen Stacy, he just hasn't admitted it and acted on it yet).
As for per-episode competence, it waxed and waned for Cyclops. He usually was no more or less efficient than Iceman at what he did in a typical fight. He stood back and shot a blast at something, and was only done for if he had to actually move. For every episode like "Shades of Grey" where Cyclops was zapping away, there was a "Backlash" where he was useless. I suppose that is fine for the position he was in for the show, even if it meant he was only distinct by his character, which by episode 26 was not very sympathetic.
If he wasn't screaming after Jean, he usually never did expecially well. The only episode I recall where he did was "Battlelines" (episode 13) where he was blasting Avalanche while Blob was beating the tar out of Wolverine, so Rogue could look good rescuing him. Come to think of it, the only "tanker" character Wolverine ever defeated was the Hulk, the one he should have no chance against. Even Blockbuster was mopping the floor with him.
If Cyclops isn't going to be the leader, he has to be distinctive in another way, and I understand that, needing to change things around from old dynamics. I just am still curious whether it was the best choice to instead choose to define him by his flaws, and NOTHING else beyond those and his morbid attachment to Jean. I mean, Gambit by contrast came off as MUCH more noble and genuine, and he is a merc for hire, basically.
You also have to remember, the X-Men including Cyclops LOST EFFORTLESSLY to NINJA. That is akin to losing to Smurfs. It takes your nasty meter down instantly.