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Beyond Good And Evil, Part One
Review by Stu, Media by Jim Harvey

Episode #55 - Beyond Good And Evil, Part One
Original Airdate - November 4th, 1995

In the year 3999, Apocalypse obtains Cable's time machine and uses it to go back in time. Accidentally falling in the axis of time, Apocalypse hires Mister Sinister to kidnap psychics all across the universe.

Credits
Written By: Steve Cuden
Music Composed By: Shuki Levy
Animation Services By: AKOM


Review: This storyline has always had a mixed reaction from fans, and it’s easy to see why. It’s another one of the show’s bigger story arcs, and features practically ever major important character in the show. Whilst it’s not a truly terrible story, there’s really no reason that this story needed a whole 4 episodes to be told.

This opening episode is a little weak with slow pacing (noticing a pattern yet?). I’m not sure at this point in the show that we actually needed to see Cable and Bishop again, as I felt the previous episodes were enough, but I did like the idea of having being the end of Apocalypse. I’ll get more to that in part 4, but Apocalypse is the main villain of the story, and his motivation is actually really interesting, I just think the plan itself is a little dumb.

I thought his speech about the battle of good vs. evil never having a winner being a miserable joke on his existence was exceptionally executed. I think one of the main problems with this storyline overall is that Apocalypse doesn’t do enough. Bringing in every villain from the show really hurt the story in my opinion, I thought the final fight between The X-Men and Apocalypse should’ve focused more on him.

This episode skimps over one of the biggest moments in the show, Scott and Jean finally getting married. I liked how Sinister intervened (again!), and thought his reason for helping Apocalypse was justifiable, unlike Mystique and Sabertooth, who were simply there for the hell of it, it seems.

Unfortunately, this episode is a fairly weak opening to the story.

Screenshots: