[6.6/10] I’m always game to learn more about Wolverine’s past, but this one doesn’t have much going for it. Likewise, I know that Lady Deathstrike is a big deal in X-Men, but delivering some never-before-seen backstory where Logan has an ostensibly deep connection to her, despite having never mentioned her or given the audience a glimpse of her before now makes her presence and deep connection to Wolverine feel tacked on.
Don’t get me started on the cheesiness of her connection to Logan. Wolverine has a long lost girlfriend whom he knew from his days in Japan? That totally works, even if it feels a bit spackled into the show’s continuity. But the twist that she's the daughter of the scientist who gave Wolverine his adamantium claws creates a small universe problem and feels awfully contrived.
If the storytelling in the present was better, I might not mind so much. But Lady Deathstrike does nothing but yell about revenge and taunt Wolvie in a way that lacks any more realistic humanity. The story of her blaming Wolvie for her father’s death, and then becoming a cyborg comes off as silly. I know that's an unfair criticism to level at a fantastical show, but it’s hard to take all of this seriously nonetheless.
The rest of this is no less goofy. Lady Deathstroke’s cyborg goons are pretty hilariously over-muscled gonks, especially the one with a tank for a torso. The Morlocks are basically made props for this other story, which diminishes them from their admittedly weak feature episode in season 1. And the fights here are nothing to write home about, with a bunch of the usual slashing and energy blasts without much to show for it.
I do appreciate the goal and the tease of an alien predator. Xavier getting a charge from Lady Deathstrike setting off the ship’s defenses and trying to warn our heroes sells the urgency and terror of whatever’s contained within that vessel. And at the very least, Lady Deathstrike needing Wolverine to get through the ship’s wall gives everyone a goal to orient around. Though Gambit and Jubilee don’t have much to do here, and they’re pretty blase about letting the Morlocks stay trapped in the bad guys’ net thingies.
Overall, not the most auspicious start ot the season, but the introduction of someone else important from Logan’s past, and the introduction of an alien presence do bode well for what X-Men has in store.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2023-04-30T18:31:59Z
[6.6/10] I’m always game to learn more about Wolverine’s past, but this one doesn’t have much going for it. Likewise, I know that Lady Deathstrike is a big deal in X-Men, but delivering some never-before-seen backstory where Logan has an ostensibly deep connection to her, despite having never mentioned her or given the audience a glimpse of her before now makes her presence and deep connection to Wolverine feel tacked on.
Don’t get me started on the cheesiness of her connection to Logan. Wolverine has a long lost girlfriend whom he knew from his days in Japan? That totally works, even if it feels a bit spackled into the show’s continuity. But the twist that she's the daughter of the scientist who gave Wolverine his adamantium claws creates a small universe problem and feels awfully contrived.
If the storytelling in the present was better, I might not mind so much. But Lady Deathstrike does nothing but yell about revenge and taunt Wolvie in a way that lacks any more realistic humanity. The story of her blaming Wolvie for her father’s death, and then becoming a cyborg comes off as silly. I know that's an unfair criticism to level at a fantastical show, but it’s hard to take all of this seriously nonetheless.
The rest of this is no less goofy. Lady Deathstroke’s cyborg goons are pretty hilariously over-muscled gonks, especially the one with a tank for a torso. The Morlocks are basically made props for this other story, which diminishes them from their admittedly weak feature episode in season 1. And the fights here are nothing to write home about, with a bunch of the usual slashing and energy blasts without much to show for it.
I do appreciate the goal and the tease of an alien predator. Xavier getting a charge from Lady Deathstrike setting off the ship’s defenses and trying to warn our heroes sells the urgency and terror of whatever’s contained within that vessel. And at the very least, Lady Deathstrike needing Wolverine to get through the ship’s wall gives everyone a goal to orient around. Though Gambit and Jubilee don’t have much to do here, and they’re pretty blase about letting the Morlocks stay trapped in the bad guys’ net thingies.
Overall, not the most auspicious start ot the season, but the introduction of someone else important from Logan’s past, and the introduction of an alien presence do bode well for what X-Men has in store.