X-Men '97 S2 Episode 8 Breakdown - Marvel Easter Eggs You Missed!

[00:01] have missed in season 2, episode 8 of X-Men 97. Spoiler alert for the episode later on in the video, we are going to talk about whether or not this was a down in the comments, but for now, I'll just say I have some thoughts on this

[00:16] episode, but now let's break this baby down. In the opening credits, we get a and charm and kissing Rogu's hand. Now, show, they specifically chose X-Men characters that they thought would make

[00:29] had the love triangle with Scott, Gene, and Logan and the forbidden touch fall in love, but can never physically act on it. In the original show, Gambit would flirt, but they're not able to actually kiss till the season 2 finale

[00:43] when their powers were canceled out. >> Gambit loves you. >> Now, last season, Remy and Rogue had a beautiful exchange in Janosha. Magneto had offered Rogue a chance to rule Janosha by his side with the possibility

[00:55] to rekindle their old relationship. Just like in the comics, Magneto is one of And when she breaks things off with Gambit, they have this real down to earth, heart-wrenching breakup. >> I played the swamp wrath

[01:07] >> and I played your share. >> Rogue feels limited and closed off by with him physically. And he says, >> "Something's a bit deeper than skin >> At the banquet, she dances with Magneto and kisses him, sending Remy outside.

[01:20] After one kiss, she realizes her mistake and chooses Remy. >> Some things are deeper than skin. >> But before she can tell him, the Sentinels attack and Remy gives his life, leaving us on a heartbreaking cut

[01:32] she loves. >> I I can't feel you. but more on that later. And then we see Cable fighting Apocalypse in his Beyond Good and Evil Part One. This is Apocalypse catching Archangel in the

[01:47] episode Obsession. In the episode, The Cure, Rogue actually sought the help of but she opted against it, while Warren said yes to the procedure. But this was actually Apocalypse brainwashing mutants to become his new horsemen. As Warren

[02:00] touched him, it freed him from his mind control. >> Which is why they hope the same thing will work on Gambit. In the episode, Apocalypse with his entire fortune, and he has to learn to let go of his hatred.

[02:14] That is after the team fights him at the Statue of Liberty, which we also see in Beyond Good and Evil, he meets Psylock, who is also hunting Apocalypse. And of course, in the excellent episode 2 this season, we see Cable forming X Force

[02:27] Here in the opening credits, we see Psylock training Jubilee, who has season. And this takes us back to Eday, Now, the first few shots match the episodes perfectly with a wide shot of

[02:41] the island and the palace, followed by Rogue, descending onto the dance floor. We also hear a coral version of the Ace of Bass song, Happy Nation, which played of Bass song, Happy Nation, which played at the ball in the episode, Remember It.

[02:58] with Magneto, but this time she is alone. When she looks at Remy, they are time, instead of touching Magneto, she they dance together. It's shot like the end of a Disney movie with this soap

[03:11] the lens. Then he repeats his famous line, than Skia." >> Now, it turns out her dream is prophetic. She imagines Gambit exactly how he looks after his transformation,

[03:23] and he begins the same process that he will use to brainwash others throughout the episode. I will go ahead and assume that Gambit was somehow sending psychic precog. Now, one thing that's been happening in the background of this show

[03:36] Spider-Man the animated series. In season 1, we saw Peter reunited with Mary Jane, and I really hope that that show also gets a revival. I mean, I Spider-Man is my favorite Marvel hero, and so I've actually been playing a lot

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[05:09] has it that this is the hand that Wild Bill Hickok had when he was shot in the team playing a friendly game of poker reminiscent of the regular poker knight Next Generation. In this opening, Nightcrawler's Dead Man's Hand is beaten

[05:24] by Beast three of a kind, foreshadowing how the X-Men will conquer the dead man. working together. Beast says, >> "Life is not always a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes playing a poor hand." Well,

[05:37] Strength of the Strong. Also notice how the poker chips have X-Men's logo, which specially made? >> Yeah. I mean, maybe Xcore manufactures >> Yeah, I mean that makes sense. Charles is a billionaire, so maybe he's cashing

[05:50] in on their branding. >> Merchandising. Merchandising. X-Force's flying headquarters is suddenly incoming, and we hear that the jet has psionic jammers. Oh, is that Psylock? I doubt it. This is probably a

[06:03] from the future to keep them hidden because otherwise Psylock would have to of the time. Now, the X-Men learned from the attack on Janosha and have developed a defense grid that is a large electromagnetic pulse, which would have

[06:16] disabled the Sentinel attacking the island on Eday. But instead, it's Cable, island on Eday. But instead, it's Cable, and we hear his classic theme play. Cable first appeared in the late 80s when he took over leadership of the New

[06:29] revealing his origin, which is that he is the son of Scott and Jean's clone, who was sent into the future to save his own life. This show updated that origin in later seasons and in episode one, we actually saw Scott and Gan take a hand

[06:42] in raising him thousands of years in the future. Now, in the comics, Cable originally took over the New Mutants and then later broke them away as a new team thought that Sam Guthrie cannonball was an external like a lady in the water.

[06:55] >> Exactly. So, in the comics, the externals are a group of mutants who are is one of them. And I actually loved this idea of Sam being an external know, because in the comics, he's such an unassuming boy from a coal mining

[07:09] >> I like helping people and I reckon God gave [music] me these powers for a X-Force, he wound down the external storyline and made Sam a normal mutant who's just really hard to kill. This episode features Kandra, an external who

[07:22] we saw serving with Ramatut in episode 3 and four this season. Now, Ramatut, a And he said, >> "Your destiny starts today, for his power can only be challenged by a force that is external."

[07:36] >> Now, in that arc, Rogue and the other X-Men were briefly allies with the young told him, >> "Love is pain, living." >> Those words must have stuck with him

[07:49] because he did take a wife, Kandra. And just like we see in this episode in the comics, she was also long-lived because of the life force stored in a gem. Apocalypse in the comics, but the two did have various stories intersect.

[08:01] However, they weren't married. Instead, it was later revealed that Apocalypse's long story. And guys, I have to show you this brand new Xavier School for Gifted where we designed all the merch ourselves. Notice it looks like a

[08:15] added DNA helix at the top. Now, this is in addition to our Magneto tribute shirt showing his wrecked helmet in the desert with his final words to Charles. And right now, our merch store is running a 15% off sale on all of our superhero

[08:28] parody merch like the I'm about to make a name for myself, the X-Men, the remember it tribute to Gambit, the Frasier Beast, LFG, the variant hoodie, No Living with the Killing, and if you are a store member at our $5 tier, you

[08:42] get an additional 15% off this sale. So, that's 30% off total. Plus, orders over $100 get free shipping. Links are below and become a member so you know when we saying. Kandra first appeared in Gambit issue one, and the plot of that limited

[08:56] series was adapted into the episode Externally Yours. In that episode, learn about his past. He is part of a thieves guild who have been in a war with the Assassin's Guild for centuries. >> Assassins kill thieves. [music] THIEVES

[09:08] KILL ASSASSINS FOR 300 YEARS. No one knows why anymore. Every 10 years, they for power. And in the episode, the Guild, and the X-Men intervene to save Gambit's life. The episode is all about

[09:21] hundred times. >> It's a tithe with the tithe. Tithe. tithe. >> In the show, just like in the comics, Cable's overarching goal is to stop Apocalypse. Oh, more than that, he

[09:35] believes it's his destiny to stop Apocalypse. Now, he's an old soldier who he hasn't fulfilled his purpose. So, his methods have become even more violent over the years. Now, the comics took years to reveal his connection to Scott

[09:48] and Gene, and they only learned about it late last season. Then, they finally embraced their weird family dynamic. >> You don't screw with the Summers. to their deaths, Gene linked their minds, and Cable explained why he was

[10:00] >> I belonged in those stories, too, growing up. But as we saw in episode one this season, they did raise him when he was a kid, which is why Scott goes >> Nathan. >> Now, Cables brought along the withered

[10:14] husk of Apocalypse. In the last episode, I explained that Apocalypse's body isn't regeneration cycles that last for decades while he reforms his physical body. In season 5's episode, The Fifth Horseman, we even see his spirit use the

[10:27] energy of Fabian Cortez to bring him back to reality and create a new body. I love this look that Charles is giving Apocalypse's body. He formed Xcore Apocalypse and maybe to get revenge on him for killing his best friend. Is he

[10:41] mad because he hates Apocalypse or is he mad because he was cheated out of vengeance? Charles has always been portrayed as like a paragon of good in this show, but in the comics, we've seen him make lots of morally questionable

[10:53] decisions. For instance, he knew that danger was a sentient AI, but he kept it trapped for years. I really hope this series starts to show him slipping a that little bit of Magneto that lives on in him can be a bad influence. In fact,

[11:06] he'll get real angry if Cable keeps calling him Shuck. Wolverine called him always got on the professor's nerves. And then we go into their new underground headquarters. Now, in this era of the comics, XCore and the black

[11:18] the Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly run of New X-Men. And this coincided with the movie that was being released in 2000. So, the bunker now looks like the original X-Men tunnels under the mansion, complete with the sliding doors

[11:31] this is designed to look like the chamber from the liveaction movies, and it's been renamed Cerebra, just like in the Morrison comics. Now, when Charles first reaches out, the helmet looks like his Cerebro helmet from the Kracoa era.

[11:43] on a single island nation. We zoom out until we land in New Orleans, Gambit's Gro, or people just always dressed like that in Nola. Now, when they arrive, Hearts card that Apocalypse recovered from the ashes of Janosha at the end of

[11:57] season 1. Now, we knew that the show would probably adapt X-Men 184 through 187 when Gambit becomes Death. He originally joined Apocalypse in order to be a double agent, and this is shortly after Rogue. I kind of started to date a

[12:10] complicated. Her mom set her up with him. It doesn't matter. Anyways, worked on Gambit for a little bit, but he was basically cured a few issues Gambit's death didn't turn him into a mindless drone of apocalypse, but we'll

[12:24] we go to a parish where the thieves and assassins have been summoned. This is She is a member of the Assassin's Guild, and they had an arranged marriage before Remy exiled himself. She was actually the main villain and externally yours

[12:38] manipulating the Tithe. >> Tithe again. Tithe. Tithe and tithe. stupid tithe? Now, you can probably tell that I'm not a big fan of Gambit as death, but I do love the design. The way his voice has this haunting echo

[12:53] >> petite, you don't look so happy to see your thie eggs. >> The tarot cards that he can seemingly pull from thin air. It is great. The Gambit's brother, Robert, who's their leader. And notice that this chapel has

[13:05] a stained glass window of the external. And on each side, we see representations they both each have a box over them. And this is the tithe. >> And the tide. >> The tithe. Tide, tide,

[13:17] >> tide, tide. Prepared for the tide. >> In the comics, Kandra had established world, including in her native Egypt. Now, before he transforms them, he says, >> "Death is evolution." >> And this is the core tenant of

[13:31] Apocalypse. Only the strong can survive, and strength is tested through death. This all happens under the glass of the external. And I will say that this does explain why Apocalypse chose Remy as his vessel. A couple episodes ago, I

[13:43] wondered why Mr. Survival of the fittish chose a dead guy as his horseman, but it's because Remy is a mutant who has a connection to Apocalypse's ex-wife, get close to Kandra and take revenge on her. I thought Apocalypse was dead.

[13:56] Gambit destroyed his body, his a horcrux. He's influencing Remy this to cut him out, root, and stem. Now, Gambit tells his old friends that death

[14:09] is evolution. Both referring to himself being the horsemen of death, but also like we talked about a couple episodes ago, the death tarot card represents a rebirth, a shedding of the old self to evolve into something more. At one of

[14:21] card, which is about the dynamic between liberation and suppressing the self. >> "And the devil snatched me out of the grave." Now Remy feels more free as death than he did as Gambit because he has nothing to live for or lose since he

[14:36] already died and came back. He's evolved past the mortal gripes of guilt or reasoning. Death is evolution because it allows one to let the old negative self die so that new energies and opportunities can be born. He views his

[14:49] he converts the group into his followers, he too becomes an extension of his horsemen title. At X Force's headquarters, Jubilee tells Rogue, >> And Rogue has spent her entire life distancing herself from the idea of

[15:03] loving someone. And Jubilee's words are what inspire her to open up to Remy ultimately saves his life by reaching out and touching his hand. Elsewhere, notice that Scott doesn't just have a new uniform. His visor also matches the

[15:15] Then he finally gets a heartto-he heart with Cable, and they ask him, should note that the animated series already hinted that Cable knew they were his parents way back in the episode Time Fugitives when he was briefed on the

[15:29] >> "I know about him and [clears throat] Gan Gray. Continue." is rigid and devoted to his mission. Even when Gene touches him, he never unclenches his gun. It's a small character detail, but it shows who young

[15:43] Nathan became after decades of war. Now, his mission is all that matters. And then we get this bomb. Unless we want XFactor and their Mech Sentinels on our >> Now, XFactor is of course the government sponsored superhero team led by Val

[15:56] episode, they are becoming more antagonistic toward the X-Men. A couple episodes ago, I pointed out that Val had sent Sentinel models in her office. we know why. There are government approved Sentinels under her control.

[16:10] autonomous killing machines we've seen in the past. They are likely based on the Sentinel Squad 1. In the comics following MDday, Val Cooper led the Office of National Emergency or one and the government used Stark Tech to create

[16:24] piloted Sentinels. This could also be laying the foundation for damage control to use Stark Tech to build the Sentinels in the MCU. Then Psylock scans with her And she's done this since her earliest comics before she became a ninja

[16:37] Asian. Do you say right now, brother? It is complicated and not the point of this forces are attacking the ship on flying motorbikes, which is awesome and so very 80s and 90s. Gene has to hold the ship together like she did at the start of

[16:51] his boy into helping too. >> We can do this son together. removes her glove and then it flies out that the kid gloves are off, but it's also indicating her desire to touch Remy

[17:06] with him. And finally, they reunite in the cargo hold. And he tells her, the cargo hold. And he tells her, >> "And when I died, all I saw was you." >> And I like that he never resented her choosing Magneto. After all, in his

[17:20] reunited and fighting Sentinels together. After her touch has no effect, he repeats, >> "Some things may be deeper than skill." >> And then puts her to sleep. Nightcrawler then attacks. And remember, he first met

[17:33] Gambit has two reasons for controlling him. One, it's tough as hell to beat in a fight. and two, he is Rogue's adopted sister, so he's kind of trying to create bringing along her brother. Back at the mansion, they're watching Trish Tilby

[17:48] seeing how the government's messaging is creating a fear of mutant terrorism. >> They have yet to say if this was a failed terrorist attack or a crash. >> It's interesting to see that the X-Men are essentially split into two teams.

[18:03] while the other is in Janosha with Xcore. This is similar to the early9s books, the gold and blue squads. Morph makes this crack. >> News was spooking the kids, so I put on The Exorcist.

[18:17] >> And that's actually appropriate because The Exorcist is about demon possession. Apocalypse earlier. >> Then the devil snatched me out of the >> And as it turns out, the devil was possessing him. So the team heads to the

[18:30] kids offcreen. Now, when Rogue wakes up in this Antabellum mansion, she finds table. He's offering this southern bell, all of her dreams, the big home, the man she loves, and the ability to touch him. >> Can I have a tissue, please?

[18:44] actually a rearranged version of Gambit's theme from the original series.

[18:58] that we talked about earlier. Just like in the comics, her power is tied to this >> a trap she laid to seek [music] revenge for what he did to her people. >> And he is referring to Apocalypse destroying the forces of Ramatut in

[19:11] because she steals a portion of his power. This could be the reason he has to enter a resurrection cycle every hundred years or so. He offers her this relic and a chance to live a life where they can actually touch. And remember,

[19:24] her biggest regret is rejecting Remy hours before his death. and she did that fits in with the theme of this episode, which is regret. Every character is made. Charles and Cable are haunted by their failures against Apocalypse. Remy

[19:39] wants a new life with Rogue, and she wants to redeem her past decision to reject him. So, Rey's plan is to lure out the external with more of that sweet, sweet tithe. >> The tithe is the tithe she gave YOU IS A

[19:51] >> THE real tithe box for the sacred tithe. This tithe >> tithe dishonors the tithe. >> Rogue floats down echoing her dance from Remembrant, except now she's wearing a wedding veil. Her gown is also similar

[20:04] and what we see in flashbacks in the original show. Now, it's fitting how Remy, the old thief, is trying to steal a gem to get what he wants. But to do tactic that the Assassin's Guild used in Externally Yours, offering a fake tithe

[20:19] summons the external with the same ritual that we saw in the original series. Gambit tells the external, >> "It belongs to me. You stole it from my >> Now, he's not lying because actually, this body is the next form of

[20:34] Apocalypse. So, she really did steal it from him. She says, >> "I have stood by the devil's side and glimpsed his dark intense." Apocalypse like he is the devil incarnate. And this also goes back to

[20:48] X-Men implied that because evil will always exist, there's actually no way to >> If Apocalypse is indeed the personification of evil, it may be >> However, Gambit ends up using the weapon of the assassins, murder, to get what he

[21:05] dies in a similar way in the comics when Cyclops shatters her gem. She comes back later on during the Krakcoa era and the X of Swords storyline. But this is all interrupted when the Blackbird lands, uniting X-Force and the X-Men. Gene

[21:18] assassins and thieves and then Storm floods them with nasty ass swamp water. Morph then turns into Earthquake, a member of the Shar Imperial Guard that we saw in the episode the Star Jammers way back in season 3. Then Nightcrawler

[21:31] just goes to work on the team as we see him bamp from firstperson point of view. Last episode, he was able to defeat the telepath exodus in a straightup sword fight. And this is probably because when he teleports, he actually leaps into

[21:43] another dimension. So, it's hard to know when he's attacking. That's probably how telepaths in this scene. Just like in the comics, Gambit staff becomes a magic And we have seen Charles have fights like this before, like in the season 4

[21:57] episode, Xavier remembers when we see him fight the Shadow King. Now, while they're fighting, Gambit says, >> "Where was this will back in Janosha when Gambit needed it?" >> Which has to stink. Remember on Eday,

[22:09] galaxy trying to become a consort to the Empress of the Shar Empire. Now, kind of was able to bind the Macron crystal when she was the Phoenix. >> As Gan once used the power of the Phoenix to bind the Mron crystal,

[22:24] >> which of course happened back in season 3. And then the assault works with Gambit reaching out of his evil self's body like Quad in Total Recall. In the Nightcrawler and Scott takes him down with a quick blast. But all of this

[22:37] worked into Cable's plans. His only plan was to get close enough to Gambit to traveler, Bishop, traveled back in time to kill Gambit to prevent his own apocalyptic future in Days of Future Past. So then we have drama playing out

[22:50] on two planes. Gene appeals to Cable. >> Nathan, do not make me take over your surrogate mother figure from his childhood that we saw in episode 1. Meanwhile, Apocalypse reveals himself and shows that Gambit was only a vessel

[23:03] Kandra. And right here, he would have conquered Remy's soul if Rogue didn't take Jubilee's advice and entered the mindscape using the power of Cander Stone to resurrect Remy. I love that she saves him with touch. This is the very

[23:16] thing that kept them apart for years, but now we'll bring them together Gambit is still battling Apocalypse in his mind, and the X-Men need to find a way to separate them. Notice that the medical readout here says X266, named

[23:29] after Gambit's first full appearance in Uncanny X-Men 266. Meanwhile, XFactor shows up to propose an alliance with X-Force to face off against the X-Men. tarot card for the tower, which by the way stands for major upheaval, signaling

[23:43] that there could be big changes for all of these teams in the finale. And for assembling this video. Check it out at the link below or use my QR code to Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Players can use the promo code Spidey to get

[23:56] Spider-Man Hulk and more rewards to build a stronger squad from day one. But episode down in the comments or on our free to join Discord server. And if it's Smash that bell for alerts. For Screen Crush, I'm [music] Ryan.