X-Men: TAS "Descent" Talkback (Spoilers)

[James Harvey]

Discuss this classic X-Men: The Animated Series episode!


http://marvel.toonzone.net/marvelboard/xmenlogo.jpg

Episode #74 - Descent
Original Airdate - September 6, 1997


In London during England's Victorian era, two scientists, Dr. James Xavier and Dr. Nathaniel Essex, hotly debate Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection. Essex believes mutants are the next genetic step forward and begins a bizarre experiment involving mutant evolution. The origin of Mr. Sinister is revealed, as Dr. Xavier attempts to stop Essex before he goes too far.


Comments?

[Dogbert]

I think it was a great episode. I saw it back on its first Toon Disney airing, so I don't remember all the details, but I recall thinking that the story was great. Setting it as a flashback dream was perfect. There was no bothersome story telling scenes such as in Jubilee's Fairy Tale Theater, plenty of time to tell it as if the episode actually took place then, and the nightmare format really helped to establish both a proper place in the timeline & the feeling that it did occur exactly as the Prof's nightmare told it.

[Spider-Man]

This was quite the risk for the X-Men series you have to admit. Placing an entire episode outside of the usual X-Men universe and only having a small link to the regular characters. I thought it was pretty brave. This is one of my favorite episodes towards the end of the series. It was well done and provided a great backdrop for Sinister. Sinister has always been one of my favorite characters and I'm glad what got to see more of him.

[ShadowStar]

I managed to see this one today. I have a soft spot for this one, since it chronicles the origin of the awesome Mr. Sinister and tells a riveting tale while it's at it. Essex's connections to the Grey and Xavier families are explored and explained, and while he's portrayed as the typical mad scientist, the cruel experiments he conducts on mutants make him seem like a truly malevolent figure. I especially like how the episode ends; it really left me longing for a showdown between Mr. Sinister and Professor X.

Odd that his immortality wasn't referenced, though. Did the series ever deal with that? I know that he did have some affiliation with Apocalypse in this series... And since I saw the Toon Disney version of the episode, and it's been ages since I first saw the episode, I have to wonder: was Mr. Sinister's wife's death ever present in any version of this episode? After all, that scene explains why he's called Mr. Sinister. Oh well, at least they worked in an explanation anyway through the comments of parliament and the townsfolk, who had remarked on the rumours of "sinister" goings-on around his lab.

The ending is awesome. But I have to know what became of Jack the Ripper! Mr. Sinister's disappearing act at the end is terrific, anyway, and the final moments with Charles looking at Essex's signed "Origin of Species" book while we hear Sinister's laughter and see thunder, lightning and rain great.

[dmxx116]

Dr. James Xavier Wittiness to the evolution of Dr. Nathaniel Essex as he becomes Mr. Sinister in In London during England's Victorian era.

http://i.annihil.us/u/prod/marvel/i/content/st/14164header_banner5700797.jpg

http://marvel.com/videos/1546.x-men_~op~1992~ep~_-_season_5%2c_episode_75