This episode didn't feel quite as necessary (in its first half anyway) as the first three episodes due to Jubilee and Sunspot not getting too much in the way of urgent development. I understand the story wanting to slow down after the series of bombshells in the first three episodes, but the arcade sequence, while charmingly animated, lacks the dynamic action we've gotten thus far. The fight scenes are all resolved without much in the way of either tactical strategy, impressive staging, or emotional character development (as per anime logic, as long as a character grows to defeat the villain, the audience, including me, will overlook other aspects that usually make an action scene exciting). Jubilee isn't challenged all that much and so we don't really delve in to her character with too much depth. The villain, too, felt annoying without feeling too dynamic in any other way. I like Jubilee and Sunspot's dynamic which made their section feel worth it despite my heavy criticisms.
Storm's storyline was more interesting to me as we got to explore her character better. Her loss of powers brings out an angrier, less polished side. I appreciated that, after Forge's sincere declaration of love, she still stormed (heh) off due to her anger at him being involved in manufacturing the collars that restrain mutant powers. X-Men 97' has character development play out in an expedited, extreme way which works because it embraces its soap opera style. What works about the soapy plotting of Storm's arc in the episode is that she is allowed to be flawed and emotional. A lot of Disney and Netflix shows these days, especially, are afraid of their characters being even temporarily unlikeable. Storm slapping Forge is not acceptable but it is a mistake a human being could make.
The episode does potentially signal future issues for the show. The first three issues have a breakneck pace I found refreshing, but if the series keeps up barreling through plot-lines then there may be eventual whiplash. This episode suffers from not choosing one story or another to tell- it decided to short change them both.
Storm's storyline was more interesting to me as we got to explore her character better. Her loss of powers brings out an angrier, less polished side. I appreciated that, after Forge's sincere declaration of love, she still stormed (heh) off due to her anger at him being involved in manufacturing the collars that restrain mutant powers. X-Men 97' has character development play out in an expedited, extreme way which works because it embraces its soap opera style. What works about the soapy plotting of Storm's arc in the episode is that she is allowed to be flawed and emotional. A lot of Disney and Netflix shows these days, especially, are afraid of their characters being even temporarily unlikeable. Storm slapping Forge is not acceptable but it is a mistake a human being could make.
The episode does potentially signal future issues for the show. The first three issues have a breakneck pace I found refreshing, but if the series keeps up barreling through plot-lines then there may be eventual whiplash. This episode suffers from not choosing one story or another to tell- it decided to short change them both.
