The thing is... people who know the x-men stories have a lot of "Oh shit, I know what's coming moments". People who don't have a lot of "Oh shit, what just happened?" moments. Both experiences have their benefits but they also miss out on things. Both can get great joy out of this show. NEVER let someone make you feel bad about not knowing something :)
They did a great job of crafting this show so anyone can enjoy it regardless of their experience level. Next season cant come soon enough. They are also altering the cartoon story enough that no matter how much you know, you're still surprised at what they are doing. I actually pulled out my old long box and plopped it down in front of my kid and said, "wanna see what's coming next (maybe)"
@@VoidR This is very much like The Legend of Vox Machina. You can go in without knowing anything, and you won't miss anything important. But if you know the original source, there are enough differences that there's still something fresh, while you can still enjoy all the references and tributes they put in. That's great writing.
Fun easter egg, the blond girl Morph turns into is Colossus' little sister, and essentially the "Goblin Queen's" Rival in Purgatory/Hell/Etc. So it was a fun little easter egg to see them together.
Illyana Rasputin aka Magick, becomes a demon sorceress of Limbo. Her ability transports bypasses Limbo thru time and space. Her magic side she learned from the demon Belasco. Explanation by Giant comic book nerd.
I remember when the teasers for this show came out and certain people were upset that Rogue's butt wasn't as big as in the original or something and claiming it was WoKe and declaring the show was already ruined. Then the Goblin Queen shows up...in that outfit.
And "That Outfit" was actually from an earlier point in the comics when Jean was merely being tempted to give in to her more salacious impulses. The actual Goblin Queen outfit from. the comics is far more va-va-voom in appearance. And would have been NSFW to animate.
I don’t get the “woke” pushback. By the current definition of woke, X-Men has always been “woke”. Just enjoy it unless X-Men isn’t your cup of tea, then don’t watch or read it.
When you said Cyclops was the tortured soul of the team, it reminded me of something I only recently learned. In the opening credits, Cyclops is the only character not shown in costume. Instead he's shown in civilian cloths, and in agony. I caught an interview recently that explained that he was animated that was to show the pain that his powers have brought him, that for him, it was more curse than gift. It was this cool little detail that I never picked up on before.
I took it that Beast simply had a well balanced & rational mind that really wasn't susceptible (which certainly did not have to be their choice), but it is neat he is NEVER fooled at all, unlike everyone else. He is simply wondering how their PERCEPTIONS are being altered.
The X-Men canon is so wild and varied and the Summers family tree is especially convoluted with insane soap opera level revelations and timeline shenanigans (trust me, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this family) so I wouldn’t worry too much about being confused. Just enjoy the ride!
Nathan Christopher Charles Summers...named after Madelyne's "father" Nathan, Scott's father Christopher, and Scott's mentor and father figure Charles Xavier.
So this episode I can give you some fun factoids. This is the "arc" that in the comics butchered Cyclops and made Wolverine the new fan favourite. In the initial run there was no clone plotline, Jean really did Die, and Cyclops found this woman that really looked like her, Madeline Pryor, a 1 in a trillion doppelganger of sorts. He was so obsessed with her maybe being Jean's reincarnation somehow until he finally asked her if she's Jean, she slapped him, and he learned to move on from Jean and had a child with her. It was supposed to be sort of his "happily ever after". Then here comes another writer, revived Jean, and Scott literally just abandoned his wife and kid to be with Jean. The writer meant it as a character flaw but the public hated Cyclops for it and no matter how much they tried to explain it away (yes they even sent the kid off to the future to try to write the kid off so Cyclops wasn't such a loser for what he did) people just never really forgave Scott for it and moved onto team Logan. They even tried making her a clone, and etc etc. This series is doing many famous arcs but also sort of fixing some things.
And this arc itself is proof you don't have to feel bad for not knowing stuff. Many don't even know she originally wasn't a clone since stories get retconned and changed all the time.
@@Saphthings wolverine was a fan favorite before that . but they did give cyclops some bad storylines in comic book. There are people who like both characters
It’s them trying to do what the comics’ “Inferno” storyline meant for with Scott, to be flawed but relatable… We’re not meant to agree with his moral failure in that moment, but we understand him; by abdicating the choice because he felt there wasn’t one, he ironically failed his son more… It’s being a person and it’s super-confronting, but when done correctly (unlike the comics that ruined Scott for a long time with this story), it makes the characters more deeply nuanced.
Scott also has plenty of unresolved trauma, trying to live past the idea he has of his father. The context is not in the episode, but Scott and his father where ambushed by space pirates when he was a child; in Scott's POV, his father left him to become a space adventurer (not exactly what happened, but his father did became, eventually, a space pirate himself) while Scott ended up alone (basically), with the brain injury that gave her permanent optic blasts. He vowed to be the perfect father to purge this trauma from his life... and now he couldn't tell his wife had been switch, has had a kid with a clone, wasn't able to prevent his son to be infected and now (on top of alll of that) he is expected to give up in minutes the goal he has cherished for a lifetime. It doesn't justify him, but (damn)... it's not like the guy is a bad father just out of the blue. And sending Nathan to the future will haunt him in several unexpected ways for years. The cherry on top all the trauma and poor choice cake? Mr. Sinister designed all this to mess with Scott in this particular way. True, some parts were unintended... but Mr. Sinister just loves to torture Scott with his most personal demons.
Amazingly, the Goblin Queen outfit here is Sooooooooo demure compared to the comic version. Like literally flip all of the clothed parts and exposed parts and you have something more like Goblin Queen in the comics. Honestly the original Inferno is so batshit that I think I prefer this episodes version where it’s just condensed to 30 minutes.
Do not feel bad, or allow others to make you feel bad because you do or don't know something. Everyone's level of knowledge is different. Because you don't know a lot of the lore, you watching this allows us watching you on RUclips to rewatch this with fresh eyes, and enjoy your perspective. Regarding Nathan's birth, mutants don't normally express their powers until they reach puberty. Cyclops can't control his power because when he was young, he suffered a traumatic head injury, while escaping a crashing airplane with his brother Alex.
Somebody else mentioned grabbing Jennifer Hale was a huge win. The entire cast is stellar. The clean dialogue is big benefit but the delivery elevates it. Trying to avoid spoilers, if you can swing it without the subtitles I highly recommend it; at least with episode 5. The timing is perfect.
Day one of ‘97, definitely. It’s interesting to recall that the first season came out before Cable was established to be Nathan. The comic event that first revealed the truth, X-Cutioner’s Song, was being released during that first season. And even that left us unsure whether Cable or Stryfe was the real one. That wasn’t confirmed until 1994 (though my money was on Cable, since I didn’t think a clone would have the mechanical parts).
Something I love about this episode is it showcases just how powerful Jean is. She had a psychic battle with her clone, who is just as powerful and controlled by Mr Sinister, in a completely different location, WITHOUT using Cerebro.
I'm glad this episode did right by Madelyne Pryor. It's absolutely a speedrun of her arc or introduction to it. I found the way Scott treated her in the comics even more devastating. I really think he should have been less hesitant to show his faith in her. It's almost a common idea that clones don't have rights. They do. One of the first movies I've seen stating this was the film "The Island." (2005) Great film. Recommended.
I can only imagine how much fun Jen Hale had being both Jean and Maddy in this episode, really getting to flex. I had the misfortune of having too much free time when this was first announced and binged the entire original animated series - it's great you were able to watch the quick notes version. I think this show gives you the answers eventually, but it's definitely fun to be able to catch all the references ahead of time too. Really loving your reactions to what is possibly one of the best Marvel shows out there 😎
Gotta love how they condensed Madeline and Nathan's history into something more understandable And until I'm told otherwise, I believe the Jean switch was during S4's "Beyond Good and Evil" 4-parter
During your intro bit you said a lot of things that made me go 'oh boy just you wait' but you also said things that made me go 'oh no just you wait'. This season is peak X-Men.
Forge was in the original series and that’s who Bishop was referring to that he knew in the future. There are some new players in this show so it’s not a big deal if you can’t recall someone, they may or may not have been in the animated series anyway. As long as you’re enjoying it; that’s all that matters. 🎉
I’m a huge fan of xmen. I’ve watched all the live action movies all cartoons like x-men evolution and i had no idea the clone thing was even a thing in the comics lol. So don’t feel bad omg you are my fav reactor on RUclips!!! The fact that you even take time to educate yourself shows how much you care❤️ keep it up
This episode is an interesting one to watch people react to, people who aren't aware of the story in the comics. The Madeline Prior/Goblin Queen and the Inferno storyline were very long and complex storylines that took years to develop and yet somehow they condensed it to one episode. They had to cut so much stuff that we are just getting a skeleton of a story here, so it's interesting seeing people experience it in such a way. In short, Jean was dead after the dark phoenix saga. Scott left the X-Men and eventually met Madeleine, a woman who somewhat reminded him of Jean. They get married, she has Nathan, Jean gets resurrected, Scott leaves his wife and child, Nathan gets abducted, Maddie goes nuts and gets possessed by a demonic force and becomes the Goblin Queen, the X-Men find Nathan who has been infected with the technorganic virus and send him to the future, then Maddie gets retconned to be a clone of Jean by Mr Sinister who was hired by Apocalypse to create a worthy heir/vessel for his consciousness in Nathan, the Goblin Queen merges the entire New York with Limbo, making everything alive and out to get people until she gets defeated, dies, comes back, universe hops and more. As I said, long story.
The Jean clone is named Madeline Pryor. The switch must have happened when Apocalypse kidnapped Jean for the Axis of Time takeover to try to reshape to take over the world. Forge is the mutant that created the time portal that Bishop and his sister Shard used on their time travel missions. In present time, Forge is the leader of the Mutant team X-Factor, who Havok, Polaris, Wolfsbane, QuickSilver, Strong Guy, and Multiple Man were part of.
"Nathaniel" Fun that you mention Mr. Sinister could be anyone; because Mr. Sinister's human name is *Nathaniel Essex* XD. It's not a coincidence also that Madelyne Pryor went on and "randomly" named his son (the whole target of this project) Nathan (along several other names... but it's hard not to see an echo there). Nice reaction, see you in the next one.
The opening sequence changes slightly episode to episode in X-men ‘97 to reflect the changes since last episode and to give tiny clues to what is about to happen
“Madelyne” came from Jean’s childhood friend that got run over when she was little. Forge is a character that was initially introduced in the future as an older man who sends Bishop back in time, but has a run with the X-Men with his team, X-Force, a government funded mutant team.
Jean's childhood friend was Annie Richardson. Madelyne's name drop is kind of awkward because there's no real explanation behind it. She's named that because it's what she's named in the comics, and in the comics she had that name because it *wasn't* connected to Jean in any way.
This episode is exactly how I remember the X-men, they are campy and filled with soap-opera levels of relationship drama multiplied by aliens and dinosaurs.
So to back track a bit this episode is a condensed and altered version of a comic crossover event (in case you don’t know that’s where multiple comic titles all have issues involved in the same over arching story) called Inferno. There was about 2 years worth of story leading up to Inferno and the event itself involved over 30 issues of comics as opposed to the single episode we get here. This episode works because of the idea that Jean was switched with her clone in the show in the comics however Jean was long since dead and the clone was introduced as a woman who looked like Jean and married Cyclops. The biggest changes made are obviously that along with in the comics when Cyclops learned Jean was really alive he left his wife and son to be with her (the baby was later kidnapped and Cyclops thought his wife and son had died) and the demonic element were actual demons manipulate Madelyne into becoming the Goblin Queen as well as the demon realm of Limbo where Colossus’ sister (the girl Morph turns into) was kidnapped and taken to (the reason morph looks like 2 different blonde girls is because IIlyana, Colossus’ sister, has 2 forms her good form and her demonic form so this was a fun Easter egg for comic fans).
This season has leaned heavily into connected Psychic Powers with the Astral Plane: The monsters were semi-real, existing on the Astral Plane, and the heroes were .... _connected_ ... to it as well. So all of that was pseudo-real, and that has the benefit of meaning that their powers worked on the monsters 😅
Since YOU know cable is Nathan. Just remember when reacting that the characters do NOT know. Also, I love you and your reactions! You’re amazing and in the words of the GREAT SIR PENTIOUS!!! OkAy ByE…!!!!!!
Strangely, Jean read Cable’s mind in a past season and saw Madelyn so I was surprised this didn’t come up, but then, Jean and Madelyn’s memories are all screwed up. I’m just glad they finally got to continue a story line they’ve been building since season 1 of the original series when Cable said he didn’t need intel on Scott and Jean because he knew who they were and Sinister’s kidnapping of them for their genetics.
Long time comic readers looked back at the scene of the baby being named--they did not go "IT'S CABLE" but rather "IT'S MADDIE". It is so much fun to watch people getting introduced to the weapons-grade insanity that is the Summers family tree in general and the Inferno storyline in particular.
Honestly, a lot of stuff is likely better if you don't know the comics. I mean, yes, it was fun seeing things I knew come to life but certain twists are more fun if you don't see them coming, such as Jean and her clone, as well as Cable's identity. I was hoping you would have no idea about who baby Nathan was lol
I spoiled myself at least 🤷♀️ I think sometimes I like not knowing what’s coming up and then other times, it makes me feel really really stupid and I hate to feel stupid
@@funnylilgalreactsyeah if you have read the comics you’ll likely know every thing that happens in this series. It honestly makes it way less surprising like the other person said and you’re just kinda waiting for the next thing you know is supposed to happen, happen. That’s why I’m glad I only know/read the modern comics cause I still don’t know what’s gonna happen!
@funnylilgalreacts I mean, I obviously don't think you're stupid, I watch mostly for your insights (especially at the end!), but I get it. Having an entire RUclips comment section yelling at you for missing a tiny detail isn't pleasant. Great reaction regardless of your Cable knowledge!
@@funnylilgalreacts I don't think something like "knowing history" is really a spoiler. For me a spoiler is something that i quite new and most people don't know it so far, so mostly from upcoming movies or some that were just released recently. But stuff that is 40 years old.. thats history, not spoilers.
@@gdaddereven for comic readers who know the stories, the show is just taking recognisable elements and remixing them to make something new so even we don’t really know what going to happen exactly
Last comic con I went to I waited in line to get Len Wein's autograph. While they were getting set up his assistant asked if you can name Wolverines real name you'll get this free autographed comic. I looked down the line and nobody was doing anything so I raised my hand and said it and got the book then had Len sign my Giant Sized X-Men book. It was a good day.
In the comics, the love triangle between Scott, Jean, and Logan eventually resolves as them being a throuple - all three of them in a relationship - because it turns out that all the tension between Cyclops and Wolverine wasn't just rivalry. It remains to be seen whether the show will be willing to do that.
If you would like to know when the Jean / Madelyne switch most likely happened. Check out “Beyond Good and Evil” in season 4 of the original series. It was also originally going to be the series finale and it feels much more like an epic finale than the actual one we got. “Sanctuary” and “One Man’s Worth” are also worth revisiting if you want some more context for upcoming plot points
Goblin Queen giving nightmares to X-Men: Gambit: Insecurities about Rogue and Magneto. Roberto and Jubilee: Scary movie comes to reality. Beast: Spirited Away is a terror movie!
A funny comment I saw once was that the plushie kid Jean has in the flashback is a representation of her two main love interests, because on one hand it is a cyclops, and on the other, it is a small ugly creature.
A few thoughts on knowing all the backstory: it's a blessing and a curse. For context, I read the X-Men since the 80's, grew up on the books, and know the lore of this era really well. But knowing that, or doing research like you did at the beginning, I don't consider spoilers because we don't know how they're going to vary from the original story as this comes out. Now, that knowledge, and the theorizing we can do combining that knowledge with what we see on the show is a TON of fun, and I recommend knowing all this stuff. But it's a mixed blessing, because sometimes it SUCKS. I won't risk spoilers here, but similar problems have come up in the MCU. Wandavision is an adaption of a comic story that was heavily dependent on Mephisto, so it made sense to keep looking for clues for him, and to have the writers skip that felt awful. Following all the movie and studio and casting news made Pietro's casting AMAZEBALLS, but then it all fell flat because the writers didn't see those same ideas. And waiting and waiting for the White Vision to show up in Multiverse of Madness left an unfair negative feeling because it was just something I wanted to see. So sometimes, I think people that don't know are better off because they aren't let down by these things. But when payoffs do happen, they are so great. So it's a tricky subject working with 40 years of backstory...
I started X-Men in the early 90s (hopped on with Jim Lee/Claremont like a lot of people my age). Did you read pre-Cable being a Summers reveal? I always wondered if people thought Cable might be Nathan before it was officially revealed.
@@dkfrito I started in 1985, and then bought as many back issues as I could afford. I didn't suspect Cable as a Summers, but there weren't chat rooms or discussion boards back then, just me and my buddy Curt brainstorming. 🙂
I don’t know how important the recap is because the show does do a good job of filling you in on what you need to know. Even if you’re a bit confused, as the show goes on it will reveal the pieces need to make the picture whole.
Ignore the moaners. I'm greatly enjoying your learning this at your own pace. I didn't watch much of it, i was too busy, but yeah, this show could only work now. Love your spirit, enjy your reaction. Thanks for sharing. :)
I think a great thing about ‘97 is that it plays well regardless of how much background you know. Even knowing about Nathan/Cable’s history, I was still unsure how the show would adapt it. It’s still engaging to watch. There’s enough tweaks from the source material to make recognizable beats fresh.
The name Goblin Queen doesn't make sense for the tv show, but for the comics it made perfect sense. She got the name during an invasion from a hell dimension called Limbo.
Don’t worry Angela, you really don’t need to know anything about the xmen comics or anything, this show does give you everything you need to know. You’re right that having all the comics stuff is nice, but you won’t need it, promise 😅
My favourite callback easter egg is when Madelyne tells Sinister "Get away from our son!" because in the original series, Cyclops tells Sinister "Keep away from my friends!"
Interesting thought I had after watching some episodes yesterday... Scott literally is the world through ruby colored glasses. It's obvious, however, when considered that he is the boyfriend of Jean, student of Xavier, leader of the X-Men, it explains so ego and blind spots.
When the episode came out I remember thinking it would get really confusing / seem stupid to people as to why Maddy’s powers involved twisted reality and she calls herself the Goblyn Queen. Hate to say it, but it was good to see I wasn’t being nitpicky with that concern. The shortest to make a long story: Jean was dead and Sinister didn’t want to lose his genetic experiment so he created a powerless human Madelyne Pryor (Made Prior) to unknowingly “honey pot” a grieving Scott with her similarities to Jean. The two wed, had a child and then a whole lot of stories happened. Eventually Maddy’s brain snapped and she cut deals with the demons of a Hellish Limbo, becoming their Queen. She unleashed an event called “Inferno” which involved a lot of demons doing things like you saw in the one act in the mansion (eg: they love animating objects into evil toon-like sentients like a hot dog cart that kept eating people). So there the name and powers made sense. Here…not so much. Oddly, this episode made me like Madelyne far more than I ever did back during “Inferno”.
In the comics I was deeply in love with Maddie. Scott did her wrong too. Her becoming the Goblin Queen makes a lot more sense in the comics. A fun watch with you as always.
Just a friendly reminder not only has Xavier known Jean since she was a kid, but had the inappropriate hots for her which he never pursued because he's in a wheelchair. Not because he's twice her age but because his legs don't work.
Cable in the previous series was a time traveler. It wasn't his mutant power that he's a time traveler. He is a mutant that happened to also be a time traveler for reasons that I know, but I don't think it was explored in the first series (because it happened in X-Factor)
The Goblin Queen name makes more sense in the comics. The whole Inferno arc in the comics though was almost of straight year of convoluted plots points being weaved together through editorial interference. The fact they condensed it to 30 minutes into such aa good episode is one of the most impressive things this new show did. It could have very easily been the whole season.
But that’s the problem, and at the same time the solution lol, cause Jean Grey has ALL of Madelaine’s memories, so theoretically, she lived all that on Scott’s side too…
Without Madeline's connection to Limbo's demons, through Belasco, the Goblin Queen title doesn't make as much sense. Dont care tho, the whole show is awesome 😊
I love your reactions. I have become a big fan. If you keep your eye out you will notice that the title sequence changes each episode I love this show so much. Growing up watching this as a kid it's outstanding how good this show is. How insane that Disney sacked Beau DeMayo for what I see is one of the best marvel presenters ever.
Also you may not be a fan of love triangles, but recently in the comics Jean, Scott, and Logan formed a throuple. Yes, it sometimes is just Scott and Logan.
This episode is absolutely why you get Jennifer Hale to play Jean Grey. She can do Goblin Queen, Marvel Girl and Phoenix.
I was smitten with her voice in Spider Man as Felicia Hardy. (1994)
@@DarkKnightBatman420 she’s the reason I play as FemShep whenever I play Mass Effect.
@@PrinceIMC I played the trilogy. No regrets.
I’m glad the original VA still came back (as Dr. Cooper). I heard she couldn’t do Jean anymore because her voice changed too much.
Jen Hale is the best female voice actor out there. :)
The thing is... people who know the x-men stories have a lot of "Oh shit, I know what's coming moments". People who don't have a lot of "Oh shit, what just happened?" moments. Both experiences have their benefits but they also miss out on things. Both can get great joy out of this show. NEVER let someone make you feel bad about not knowing something :)
They did a great job of crafting this show so anyone can enjoy it regardless of their experience level. Next season cant come soon enough. They are also altering the cartoon story enough that no matter how much you know, you're still surprised at what they are doing.
I actually pulled out my old long box and plopped it down in front of my kid and said, "wanna see what's coming next (maybe)"
While they have adapted a lot of comics stories in the show, they did a lot of remixing, so there are surprises for all
Well said
@@VoidR This is very much like The Legend of Vox Machina. You can go in without knowing anything, and you won't miss anything important. But if you know the original source, there are enough differences that there's still something fresh, while you can still enjoy all the references and tributes they put in. That's great writing.
Scott's relationship status is the definition of "it's complicated"
The everlasting truth of all versions of Scott Summers 😂😂
Keep in mind Goblin Queen/Madelyne’s outfit is tame compared to her looks in the comics 😂
I remember being a kid and reading Inferno, and not understanding Claremont's story AT ALL, but being veeeeeeery fixated on Madelyn.
The best part is how she made Alex wear the exact same thing.
Fun easter egg, the blond girl Morph turns into is Colossus' little sister, and essentially the "Goblin Queen's" Rival in Purgatory/Hell/Etc. So it was a fun little easter egg to see them together.
Also she was played by Anya Taylor Joy in the failed New Mutans movie
Magik😍But i must say i also didn't knew her since i started playing "Marvel Heroes". Still miss that game 😭😭
@@beldin2987 She's a staple card for me in Marvel Snap 😁
Failed that movie was badass what are you talking about it was just a one-off
Illyana Rasputin aka Magick, becomes a demon sorceress of Limbo. Her ability transports bypasses Limbo thru time and space. Her magic side she learned from the demon Belasco. Explanation by Giant comic book nerd.
I remember when the teasers for this show came out and certain people were upset that Rogue's butt wasn't as big as in the original or something and claiming it was WoKe and declaring the show was already ruined.
Then the Goblin Queen shows up...in that outfit.
And "That Outfit" was actually from an earlier point in the comics when Jean was merely being tempted to give in to her more salacious impulses.
The actual Goblin Queen outfit from. the comics is far more va-va-voom in appearance. And would have been NSFW to animate.
Madeline Pryor's outfit on the cover of New Mutants #25 is more risque
Anyone who complains that "X-Men is now woke" never really knew anything about X-Men in the first place.
@@timmooney7528 Variant cover for those doing an image search.
I don’t get the “woke” pushback. By the current definition of woke, X-Men has always been “woke”. Just enjoy it unless X-Men isn’t your cup of tea, then don’t watch or read it.
When you said Cyclops was the tortured soul of the team, it reminded me of something I only recently learned. In the opening credits, Cyclops is the only character not shown in costume. Instead he's shown in civilian cloths, and in agony. I caught an interview recently that explained that he was animated that was to show the pain that his powers have brought him, that for him, it was more curse than gift. It was this cool little detail that I never picked up on before.
I took it that Beast simply had a well balanced & rational mind that really wasn't susceptible (which certainly did not have to be their choice), but it is neat he is NEVER fooled at all, unlike everyone else. He is simply wondering how their PERCEPTIONS are being altered.
Yeah, just like, "Okay... this definitely can't be real because it makes no sense..."
The X-Men canon is so wild and varied and the Summers family tree is especially convoluted with insane soap opera level revelations and timeline shenanigans (trust me, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this family) so I wouldn’t worry too much about being confused. Just enjoy the ride!
The X-Men have always been a soap opera.
Nathan is named after his grandfather 😉. It’s kinda crazy how you see the strings were being pulled for quite awhile
His grandfather is Christopher Summers, Nathan, it's because of Mr Sinister (Nathaniel Essex), Madelyne was under his influence.
@@pablochian1439 Sinister “made, baked” Madelyne so pretty much that would make Him her pops.
Nathan Christopher Charles Summers...named after Madelyne's "father" Nathan, Scott's father Christopher, and Scott's mentor and father figure Charles Xavier.
So this episode I can give you some fun factoids. This is the "arc" that in the comics butchered Cyclops and made Wolverine the new fan favourite. In the initial run there was no clone plotline, Jean really did Die, and Cyclops found this woman that really looked like her, Madeline Pryor, a 1 in a trillion doppelganger of sorts. He was so obsessed with her maybe being Jean's reincarnation somehow until he finally asked her if she's Jean, she slapped him, and he learned to move on from Jean and had a child with her. It was supposed to be sort of his "happily ever after". Then here comes another writer, revived Jean, and Scott literally just abandoned his wife and kid to be with Jean. The writer meant it as a character flaw but the public hated Cyclops for it and no matter how much they tried to explain it away (yes they even sent the kid off to the future to try to write the kid off so Cyclops wasn't such a loser for what he did) people just never really forgave Scott for it and moved onto team Logan. They even tried making her a clone, and etc etc. This series is doing many famous arcs but also sort of fixing some things.
And this arc itself is proof you don't have to feel bad for not knowing stuff. Many don't even know she originally wasn't a clone since stories get retconned and changed all the time.
@@Saphthings wolverine was a fan favorite before that . but they did give cyclops some bad storylines in comic book. There are people who like both characters
Scott saying he won't abandon his son only to immediately do so makes me laugh everytime 😂
It's both terribly tragic and painfully hilarious
He basically left the decision up to Madelyne
lol I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who thought it ironic that Scott says “I’m not abandoning my son” right before walking out and doing that.
He didn’t really have a choice to be fair. It was either “abandon” Nathan by sending him to the future or condemn him to death in the present.
It’s them trying to do what the comics’ “Inferno” storyline meant for with Scott, to be flawed but relatable… We’re not meant to agree with his moral failure in that moment, but we understand him; by abdicating the choice because he felt there wasn’t one, he ironically failed his son more… It’s being a person and it’s super-confronting, but when done correctly (unlike the comics that ruined Scott for a long time with this story), it makes the characters more deeply nuanced.
Scott also has plenty of unresolved trauma, trying to live past the idea he has of his father. The context is not in the episode, but Scott and his father where ambushed by space pirates when he was a child; in Scott's POV, his father left him to become a space adventurer (not exactly what happened, but his father did became, eventually, a space pirate himself) while Scott ended up alone (basically), with the brain injury that gave her permanent optic blasts.
He vowed to be the perfect father to purge this trauma from his life... and now he couldn't tell his wife had been switch, has had a kid with a clone, wasn't able to prevent his son to be infected and now (on top of alll of that) he is expected to give up in minutes the goal he has cherished for a lifetime.
It doesn't justify him, but (damn)... it's not like the guy is a bad father just out of the blue. And sending Nathan to the future will haunt him in several unexpected ways for years.
The cherry on top all the trauma and poor choice cake? Mr. Sinister designed all this to mess with Scott in this particular way. True, some parts were unintended... but Mr. Sinister just loves to torture Scott with his most personal demons.
Another fun reaction, loving the fact that you do a long breakdown part after to discuss all you loved best and why :)
Amazingly, the Goblin Queen outfit here is Sooooooooo demure compared to the comic version. Like literally flip all of the clothed parts and exposed parts and you have something more like Goblin Queen in the comics.
Honestly the original Inferno is so batshit that I think I prefer this episodes version where it’s just condensed to 30 minutes.
They also made Scott into way less of a douche in this version also.
I kinda like that batshit wildness of Inferno
Do not feel bad, or allow others to make you feel bad because you do or don't know something. Everyone's level of knowledge is different. Because you don't know a lot of the lore, you watching this allows us watching you on RUclips to rewatch this with fresh eyes, and enjoy your perspective. Regarding Nathan's birth, mutants don't normally express their powers until they reach puberty. Cyclops can't control his power because when he was young, he suffered a traumatic head injury, while escaping a crashing airplane with his brother Alex.
You are so here of the melodramatic over the top emotions of the x men and I enjoy every second of your reaction to this series!
There was an episode in the final season of the original series that shows Sinister’s origins. His real name was Nathaniel Essex.
Somebody else mentioned grabbing Jennifer Hale was a huge win. The entire cast is stellar. The clean dialogue is big benefit but the delivery elevates it. Trying to avoid spoilers, if you can swing it without the subtitles I highly recommend it; at least with episode 5. The timing is perfect.
Scott's Reaction to "say my name, Scott" always has me dying
you just know they are doing shit like this in the bedroom all the time 😭😭
It’s crazy that they put the entire Inferno! storyline into one episode. That was a whole summer of crossover comics.
Most fans of the show knew who cable was from day 1, you are good and up for an amazing show.
Day one of ‘97, definitely.
It’s interesting to recall that the first season came out before Cable was established to be Nathan. The comic event that first revealed the truth, X-Cutioner’s Song, was being released during that first season.
And even that left us unsure whether Cable or Stryfe was the real one. That wasn’t confirmed until 1994 (though my money was on Cable, since I didn’t think a clone would have the mechanical parts).
Something I love about this episode is it showcases just how powerful Jean is. She had a psychic battle with her clone, who is just as powerful and controlled by Mr Sinister, in a completely different location, WITHOUT using Cerebro.
I'm glad this episode did right by Madelyne Pryor. It's absolutely a speedrun of her arc or introduction to it. I found the way Scott treated her in the comics even more devastating. I really think he should have been less hesitant to show his faith in her. It's almost a common idea that clones don't have rights. They do. One of the first movies I've seen stating this was the film "The Island." (2005) Great film. Recommended.
I can only imagine how much fun Jen Hale had being both Jean and Maddy in this episode, really getting to flex.
I had the misfortune of having too much free time when this was first announced and binged the entire original animated series - it's great you were able to watch the quick notes version. I think this show gives you the answers eventually, but it's definitely fun to be able to catch all the references ahead of time too.
Really loving your reactions to what is possibly one of the best Marvel shows out there 😎
Omg these reactions need to come faster! Can’t wait for you to see the rest of the season!!!
Gotta love how they condensed Madeline and Nathan's history into something more understandable
And until I'm told otherwise, I believe the Jean switch was during S4's "Beyond Good and Evil" 4-parter
Your dancing and humming to the intro is spot on - they should put you on the opening for next season!
35:00 I like to think Hank's fur is like a chinchilla's: super soft and actually cools as well as it warms 😁
During your intro bit you said a lot of things that made me go 'oh boy just you wait' but you also said things that made me go 'oh no just you wait'. This season is peak X-Men.
Forge was in the original series and that’s who Bishop was referring to that he knew in the future. There are some new players in this show so it’s not a big deal if you can’t recall someone, they may or may not have been in the animated series anyway. As long as you’re enjoying it; that’s all that matters. 🎉
This was an awesome episode. Great story and great teamwork together.
I’m a huge fan of xmen. I’ve watched all the live action movies all cartoons like x-men evolution and i had no idea the clone thing was even a thing in the comics lol. So don’t feel bad omg you are my fav reactor on RUclips!!! The fact that you even take time to educate yourself shows how much you care❤️ keep it up
This episode is an interesting one to watch people react to, people who aren't aware of the story in the comics. The Madeline Prior/Goblin Queen and the Inferno storyline were very long and complex storylines that took years to develop and yet somehow they condensed it to one episode. They had to cut so much stuff that we are just getting a skeleton of a story here, so it's interesting seeing people experience it in such a way.
In short, Jean was dead after the dark phoenix saga. Scott left the X-Men and eventually met Madeleine, a woman who somewhat reminded him of Jean. They get married, she has Nathan, Jean gets resurrected, Scott leaves his wife and child, Nathan gets abducted, Maddie goes nuts and gets possessed by a demonic force and becomes the Goblin Queen, the X-Men find Nathan who has been infected with the technorganic virus and send him to the future, then Maddie gets retconned to be a clone of Jean by Mr Sinister who was hired by Apocalypse to create a worthy heir/vessel for his consciousness in Nathan, the Goblin Queen merges the entire New York with Limbo, making everything alive and out to get people until she gets defeated, dies, comes back, universe hops and more. As I said, long story.
"Say my name, Scott..."
🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵
He's got a type.
The Jean clone is named Madeline Pryor. The switch must have happened when Apocalypse kidnapped Jean for the Axis of Time takeover to try to reshape to take over the world. Forge is the mutant that created the time portal that Bishop and his sister Shard used on their time travel missions. In present time, Forge is the leader of the Mutant team X-Factor, who Havok, Polaris, Wolfsbane, QuickSilver, Strong Guy, and Multiple Man were part of.
"Nathaniel"
Fun that you mention Mr. Sinister could be anyone; because Mr. Sinister's human name is *Nathaniel Essex* XD. It's not a coincidence also that Madelyne Pryor went on and "randomly" named his son (the whole target of this project) Nathan (along several other names... but it's hard not to see an echo there).
Nice reaction, see you in the next one.
The opening sequence changes slightly episode to episode in X-men ‘97 to reflect the changes since last episode and to give tiny clues to what is about to happen
They weren't playing around with this episode. It ain't no Saturday morning cartoon anymore.
8:31 That is one of the loudest silences of any show I've seen in a long time, and it gets me every time I see it 😂
Happy nation, livin' in a happy nation
Where the people understand and dream of perfect man
Situation leading to sweet salvation
Love your reactions...spot on.
“Madelyne” came from Jean’s childhood friend that got run over when she was little. Forge is a character that was initially introduced in the future as an older man who sends Bishop back in time, but has a run with the X-Men with his team, X-Force, a government funded mutant team.
X-Factor, not X-Force. Super easy mistake to make when typing out the name of one of the dozens of X teams out there lol
@@dkfrito thanks for the correction. Yes, lots of X teams haha 😅. X-Force is the one with Cable and X-Factor is the one with Forge.
Jean's childhood friend was Annie Richardson. Madelyne's name drop is kind of awkward because there's no real explanation behind it. She's named that because it's what she's named in the comics, and in the comics she had that name because it *wasn't* connected to Jean in any way.
@@Heavensrun it sounded like she said “Maddie.” My bad 🤷♂️
The fact that Forge made its first appearance in the future only applies to the series. In the comics, he was first introduced in the present.
This episode is exactly how I remember the X-men, they are campy and filled with soap-opera levels of relationship drama multiplied by aliens and dinosaurs.
So to back track a bit this episode is a condensed and altered version of a comic crossover event (in case you don’t know that’s where multiple comic titles all have issues involved in the same over arching story) called Inferno. There was about 2 years worth of story leading up to Inferno and the event itself involved over 30 issues of comics as opposed to the single episode we get here. This episode works because of the idea that Jean was switched with her clone in the show in the comics however Jean was long since dead and the clone was introduced as a woman who looked like Jean and married Cyclops. The biggest changes made are obviously that along with in the comics when Cyclops learned Jean was really alive he left his wife and son to be with her (the baby was later kidnapped and Cyclops thought his wife and son had died) and the demonic element were actual demons manipulate Madelyne into becoming the Goblin Queen as well as the demon realm of Limbo where Colossus’ sister (the girl Morph turns into) was kidnapped and taken to (the reason morph looks like 2 different blonde girls is because IIlyana, Colossus’ sister, has 2 forms her good form and her demonic form so this was a fun Easter egg for comic fans).
The moment they revealed a pregnant Jean I pointed at the scream and yelled “That’s not Jean!” 😂
Love the pink floyd t-shirt!
This season has leaned heavily into connected Psychic Powers with the Astral Plane: The monsters were semi-real, existing on the Astral Plane, and the heroes were .... _connected_ ... to it as well.
So all of that was pseudo-real, and that has the benefit of meaning that their powers worked on the monsters 😅
Since YOU know cable is Nathan. Just remember when reacting that the characters do NOT know. Also, I love you and your reactions! You’re amazing and in the words of the GREAT SIR PENTIOUS!!! OkAy ByE…!!!!!!
Strangely, Jean read Cable’s mind in a past season and saw Madelyn so I was surprised this didn’t come up, but then, Jean and Madelyn’s memories are all screwed up. I’m just glad they finally got to continue a story line they’ve been building since season 1 of the original series when Cable said he didn’t need intel on Scott and Jean because he knew who they were and Sinister’s kidnapping of them for their genetics.
Long time comic readers looked back at the scene of the baby being named--they did not go "IT'S CABLE" but rather "IT'S MADDIE".
It is so much fun to watch people getting introduced to the weapons-grade insanity that is the Summers family tree in general and the Inferno storyline in particular.
Honestly, a lot of stuff is likely better if you don't know the comics. I mean, yes, it was fun seeing things I knew come to life but certain twists are more fun if you don't see them coming, such as Jean and her clone, as well as Cable's identity.
I was hoping you would have no idea about who baby Nathan was lol
I spoiled myself at least 🤷♀️ I think sometimes I like not knowing what’s coming up and then other times, it makes me feel really really stupid and I hate to feel stupid
@@funnylilgalreactsyeah if you have read the comics you’ll likely know every thing that happens in this series.
It honestly makes it way less surprising like the other person said and you’re just kinda waiting for the next thing you know is supposed to happen, happen.
That’s why I’m glad I only know/read the modern comics cause I still don’t know what’s gonna happen!
@funnylilgalreacts I mean, I obviously don't think you're stupid, I watch mostly for your insights (especially at the end!), but I get it. Having an entire RUclips comment section yelling at you for missing a tiny detail isn't pleasant.
Great reaction regardless of your Cable knowledge!
@@funnylilgalreacts I don't think something like "knowing history" is really a spoiler. For me a spoiler is something that i quite new and most people don't know it so far, so mostly from upcoming movies or some that were just released recently. But stuff that is 40 years old.. thats history, not spoilers.
@@gdaddereven for comic readers who know the stories, the show is just taking recognisable elements and remixing them to make something new so even we don’t really know what going to happen exactly
3:05
Fun fact: his name at birth wasn't Logan. 😅
Last comic con I went to I waited in line to get Len Wein's autograph. While they were getting set up his assistant asked if you can name Wolverines real name you'll get this free autographed comic. I looked down the line and nobody was doing anything so I raised my hand and said it and got the book then had Len sign my Giant Sized X-Men book. It was a good day.
Yeah... we don't acknowledge that name. You know, for the same reason we don't acknowledge X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
@@BlackShardStudio It's acknowledged quite a lot actually. And the comic that revealed that name was much much more well received than the movie
In the comics, the love triangle between Scott, Jean, and Logan eventually resolves as them being a throuple - all three of them in a relationship - because it turns out that all the tension between Cyclops and Wolverine wasn't just rivalry.
It remains to be seen whether the show will be willing to do that.
I say just enjoy the ride! You can still appreciate it and your reactions matter more
The X-men intro shimmy is universal!
Haha so I'm not the only one who first instincts when hearing the into theme song music is we gotta turn the sound up ASAP...
If you would like to know when the Jean / Madelyne switch most likely happened. Check out “Beyond Good and Evil” in season 4 of the original series.
It was also originally going to be the series finale and it feels much more like an epic finale than the actual one we got.
“Sanctuary” and “One Man’s Worth” are also worth revisiting if you want some more context for upcoming plot points
Goblin Queen giving nightmares to X-Men:
Gambit: Insecurities about Rogue and Magneto.
Roberto and Jubilee: Scary movie comes to reality.
Beast: Spirited Away is a terror movie!
21:25 Notice the Cyclops doll hehe
Good re-imagining of the comic stories. I only wish we got more.
Cable is Nathan *****...I did known vaguely in later comics blurbs before finding out for myself. Its kinda mind-blowing, though!
A funny comment I saw once was that the plushie kid Jean has in the flashback is a representation of her two main love interests, because on one hand it is a cyclops, and on the other, it is a small ugly creature.
A few thoughts on knowing all the backstory: it's a blessing and a curse. For context, I read the X-Men since the 80's, grew up on the books, and know the lore of this era really well. But knowing that, or doing research like you did at the beginning, I don't consider spoilers because we don't know how they're going to vary from the original story as this comes out. Now, that knowledge, and the theorizing we can do combining that knowledge with what we see on the show is a TON of fun, and I recommend knowing all this stuff. But it's a mixed blessing, because sometimes it SUCKS. I won't risk spoilers here, but similar problems have come up in the MCU. Wandavision is an adaption of a comic story that was heavily dependent on Mephisto, so it made sense to keep looking for clues for him, and to have the writers skip that felt awful. Following all the movie and studio and casting news made Pietro's casting AMAZEBALLS, but then it all fell flat because the writers didn't see those same ideas. And waiting and waiting for the White Vision to show up in Multiverse of Madness left an unfair negative feeling because it was just something I wanted to see. So sometimes, I think people that don't know are better off because they aren't let down by these things. But when payoffs do happen, they are so great. So it's a tricky subject working with 40 years of backstory...
I started X-Men in the early 90s (hopped on with Jim Lee/Claremont like a lot of people my age).
Did you read pre-Cable being a Summers reveal? I always wondered if people thought Cable might be Nathan before it was officially revealed.
@@dkfrito I started in 1985, and then bought as many back issues as I could afford. I didn't suspect Cable as a Summers, but there weren't chat rooms or discussion boards back then, just me and my buddy Curt brainstorming. 🙂
I don’t know how important the recap is because the show does do a good job of filling you in on what you need to know. Even if you’re a bit confused, as the show goes on it will reveal the pieces need to make the picture whole.
My boy Forge is wicked smart.
Ignore the moaners. I'm greatly enjoying your learning this at your own pace. I didn't watch much of it, i was too busy, but yeah, this show could only work now. Love your spirit, enjy your reaction. Thanks for sharing. :)
I think a great thing about ‘97 is that it plays well regardless of how much background you know.
Even knowing about Nathan/Cable’s history, I was still unsure how the show would adapt it. It’s still engaging to watch.
There’s enough tweaks from the source material to make recognizable beats fresh.
Except maybe the name “Goblin Queen”. Without knowing it from the comics I admit that’s a pretty wild swing to just pull out of thin air.
14:22 Behold the Cajun Wilhelm
( isn't it obvious we're on hell) morph quote had me cracking up.
The name Goblin Queen doesn't make sense for the tv show, but for the comics it made perfect sense. She got the name during an invasion from a hell dimension called Limbo.
If you think Storm saying "I can't feel the breeze" hits emotionally, just you wait....
yeah, I definitely could watch goblyn queen jean all day
Morph is my modern Favorite! ⚧
Don’t worry Angela, you really don’t need to know anything about the xmen comics or anything, this show does give you everything you need to know. You’re right that having all the comics stuff is nice, but you won’t need it, promise 😅
Laughing to myself at the “I hate love triangles” comment, while wearing a triangle….
Never occurred to me how much that bands symbol could also be read as a Pride display.
Ha
Fortunately for her, it's more like a love pentagram. Scott, Madelyne, Jean, Logan, Emma. 🤣
Always watch the opening they change it a lot
My favourite callback easter egg is when Madelyne tells Sinister "Get away from our son!" because in the original series, Cyclops tells Sinister "Keep away from my friends!"
In the comics when Jean died in the phoenix saga Scott left the x-men. He meet married and had a child with Madeline Prior.
Not quiet right. Jean died in X-Men 137, Scott left in 138 and rejoined in 150. He met Madelyne first in 168.
Interesting thought I had after watching some episodes yesterday...
Scott literally is the world through ruby colored glasses. It's obvious, however, when considered that he is the boyfriend of Jean, student of Xavier, leader of the X-Men, it explains so ego and blind spots.
Goblin Queen is only a stupid name if you don't read comics. That's why this show is beloved, at its heart it was made for fans.
Her name makes more sense in the comics, because she literally became the queen of an army of goblins.
Yeah Nathan is Cable. I think he had another code name before he got the Cable name but I forget what the name is.
Yes we are episode 3 let's go
They took the title and mannerisms from the movie Labyrinth, and David Bowie as The Goblin King, to make a new "bad guy" for the show, lol.
I knew this show was top tier when the animation in this episode went to 11!
Clone is Madelyn Pryor Goblin Queen. Sister Sinister was a funny guess tho 😂
Told you they named their son Josh *Josh Brolin’s character Cable* lol
When the episode came out I remember thinking it would get really confusing / seem stupid to people as to why Maddy’s powers involved twisted reality and she calls herself the Goblyn Queen. Hate to say it, but it was good to see I wasn’t being nitpicky with that concern.
The shortest to make a long story: Jean was dead and Sinister didn’t want to lose his genetic experiment so he created a powerless human Madelyne Pryor (Made Prior) to unknowingly “honey pot” a grieving Scott with her similarities to Jean. The two wed, had a child and then a whole lot of stories happened. Eventually Maddy’s brain snapped and she cut deals with the demons of a Hellish Limbo, becoming their Queen. She unleashed an event called “Inferno” which involved a lot of demons doing things like you saw in the one act in the mansion (eg: they love animating objects into evil toon-like sentients like a hot dog cart that kept eating people). So there the name and powers made sense. Here…not so much.
Oddly, this episode made me like Madelyne far more than I ever did back during “Inferno”.
In the comics I was deeply in love with Maddie. Scott did her wrong too. Her becoming the Goblin Queen makes a lot more sense in the comics. A fun watch with you as always.
they did make Scott more likeable here than in the comics. what he did to Maddie in the comics is so horrible.
Just a friendly reminder not only has Xavier known Jean since she was a kid, but had the inappropriate hots for her which he never pursued because he's in a wheelchair. Not because he's twice her age but because his legs don't work.
Cable in the previous series was a time traveler. It wasn't his mutant power that he's a time traveler. He is a mutant that happened to also be a time traveler for reasons that I know, but I don't think it was explored in the first series (because it happened in X-Factor)
He was also a former mercenary who goes after Mystique, when she was pretending to be Dr Adler and working for Apocalypse to recruit the 4 Horsemen.
The Goblin Queen name makes more sense in the comics. The whole Inferno arc in the comics though was almost of straight year of convoluted plots points being weaved together through editorial interference. The fact they condensed it to 30 minutes into such aa good episode is one of the most impressive things this new show did. It could have very easily been the whole season.
Yeah, I hoped, that they would do the Inferno Saga throughout the Season, cause this is my favorite event in the comics. 😢
But that’s the problem, and at the same time the solution lol, cause Jean Grey has ALL of Madelaine’s memories, so theoretically, she lived all that on Scott’s side too…
Without Madeline's connection to Limbo's demons, through Belasco, the Goblin Queen title doesn't make as much sense. Dont care tho, the whole show is awesome 😊
I love your reactions. I have become a big fan. If you keep your eye out you will notice that the title sequence changes each episode I love this show so much. Growing up watching this as a kid it's outstanding how good this show is. How insane that Disney sacked Beau DeMayo for what I see is one of the best marvel presenters ever.
roberto looks like the beyonder
Seeing Madelyn Pryor in that outfit 😍
These episodes are capturing the first X-Men comics I bought in the 80s. It's great to see them adapted well, though I think they go too fast.
WE NEVER SKIP THE INTRO :D
NEVER EVER
Also you may not be a fan of love triangles, but recently in the comics Jean, Scott, and Logan formed a throuple. Yes, it sometimes is just Scott and Logan.
“Goblin Queen” is a much better name for Jean’s close Madeline in the comics. Context gives helps it make sense.