Dark Phoenix (2019)

The final installment in the main X-Men storyline is Dark Phoenix. The film is a direct sequel to 2016’s X-Men Apocalypse and follows the same group of mutants. The story takes place in 1992, and audiences are quickly immersed in an X-Men mission in space. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Didn’t the Avengers do this already? And weren’t they unsuccessful?” Yeah, they were. However, this is a completely different franchise, so there’s no need to worry about that. Plus, they’re mutants — they can handle anything … mostly.

While up in space, Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) is struck by an energy force, a strong one at that. Everyone expected her to die — no, they knew she should’ve died. Miraculously, Jean survives the near-death experience, absorbing the energy and saving the craft carrying the team. Hooray! Mutants are the heroes, and everyone appreciates them!

Not for long.

Even though this week, both Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany were teasing a “huge cameo” in the show, I didn’t expect it to come so soon, let alone the fifth episode. What I didn’t expect was for me to jump from my bed and scream so loud my room shook — talk about wild!

The fourth episode of the series, “We Interrupt this Program,” created a pivotal shift for the show. Rather than only focusing on the suburban sitcom world, viewers finally get an outside perspective with the help of Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), Jimmy Woo (Randall Park), and fan-favorite Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings). And, in this fifth episode, time is split between the two realities.

“On a Very Special Episode…” viewers are automatically thrown into the sitcom world — this time, in the 80s. As usual, the miniseries pays homage to the classics of each period. This time, it’s the American sitcomFamily Ties. The opening credits of this episode was brilliant, especially with baby Vision looking so out of place. However, the intro also made me a little uneasy. Knowing that the entire town is being held captive (most likely under Wanda’s control), and realizing Vision has no idea what is going on produces an eerie feeling.