The second episode of X-Men ’97’s “Tolerance Is Extinction” trilogy sees the X-Men fighting against time to prevent Bastion’s future from becoming reality. While being humanity’s last hope, the X-Men combat with Charles Xavier and Magneto’s opposing philosophies, leading to unfathomable consequences.
At the helm, director Emi Yonemura and writer Anthony Sellitti continue the level of greatness maintained throughout the series. The episode greatly balances great dialogue with joyous reunions, emotional separations, and jaw-dropping action, leaving viewers exasperated by the final seconds.
The animation remains crisp, with nods to classic comic lore for the die-hard X-Men fans. Again, the scenes harken to X-Men’s video game era of the late 80s and early 90s. Great set pieces help depict the impending doom that has befallen our heroes. Action sequences are fluid and thrilling, as we encounter both collaborative team efforts and one-on-one battles. This episode also takes a huge risk, pushing the boundaries of what we’ve previously witnessed throughout the series. They are matched with an extraordinary score that helps boost scenes to their emotional peaks.
The writing is excellent, never abandoning the pre-established plot, or rushing the viewer to some new destination. Characters’ actions and motivations feel justified by past behavior and events.
Sellitti’s amazing script would not succeed without the extraordinary talent on hand. At the top of the list is Matthew Waterson as Magneto. He commands attention in every scene, delivering his powerful words with conviction and strength. Lenore Zann stands out too as Rogue, whose arc has taken an interesting turn since episode five. Adrian Hough’s Nightcrawler and Alison Sealy-Smith’s Storm also rise as series favorites. Since his appearance in episode five, Nightcrawler’s wise words lift every scene and have real-life applications. And Sealy-Smith’s Ororo’s equally sage advice is an instant mood lifter in dire times.
Overall, “Tolerance Is Extinction Pt. 2” is everything one seeks in a penultimate episode.
Rating: 10/10