Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Who (Or What) Is the Upcoming Threat In Legion?


Legion's second episode certainly put a lot of my uncertainty about the first to rest, but it also raised a few more questions. Namely, who (or what) is coming that could be such a threat that David needs to actively assist the parasite that's been dead-set on ruining his life? 

For those who don't quite understand the question, please watch the show, because there's going to be some spoilers and it's also very good. 

Basically, we discovered at the end of last week's season premiere that the mysterious orb that took David was built by Syd and, if a musing by Cary in this week is anything to go by, Cary in some not-too-distant future. In the orb, Syd wordlessly explained to David that he needs to help the Shadow King locate his body before dropping him in a nightclub in France. This week, David is able to communicate with Future-Syd in a proper conversation, and she warns that David will kill the Shadow King a week from now (whether that means next episode or further down the line remains to be seen) and it will leave a power vacuum filled by some "thing" that in turn kills David, alongside most of the planet. When David tries to get more answers, Future-Syd severs their communication, leaving him uncertain and eager to seek out the Shadow King for answers. 

As for the greater threat, I'm certain we'll get to the answer of that before the end of this season, but for now I've got a prediction: En Sabah Nur, better known as Apocalypse. 


For those unfamiliar with Apocalypse, he's the first ever mutant in the main timeline of Earth-616 and a frequent foe of the X-Men. Apocalypse is a figure that inspires massive cults of worship wherever he goes, and he's likely the most powerful enemy the X-Men have done battle with. In one particular case, his unchecked rise to power led to the Age of Apocalypse event, which was brought about by David accidentally killing a younger version of his father before he could form the X-Men, leading to a dystopia in which Apocalypse has wiped out most of the human race. 

When the idea of the threat being Apocalypse first came into my mind, it initially stemmed from Syd mentioning that it killed most of the world, David included. Outside of the Pheonix Force (which is likely off limits due to the upcoming Dark Pheonix movie), I can't imagine any other unchecked threat that the show could be playing towards, especially given how heavily the show is tying into the concept of delusions and planting ideas through Jon Hamm's mysterious Narrator. 

A major part of Apocalypse's story is that he believes himself to be a god and mutantkind's greatest hope, regardless of whether his behavior matches his motifs. In fact, a major element of Rick Remender's Uncanny X-Force run was whether or not a young reincarnation of Apocalypse could be taught to be benevolent and kind. So, perhaps Hamm's Narrator is actually a major player in the series, his speeches (coupled with the scene of a Shadow King-possessed Oliver teaching a young child false information) foreshadowing the rise of a mutant tyrant who can't be stopped unless someone like the Shadow King is there to stop him. 

It's hard to predict or entirely be sure at this point, but after the utter letdown that was the portrayal of Apocalypse in 2016's X-Men: Apocalypse, perhaps a take from Noah Hawley, a man famed for writing compelling villains, could give the character the mainstream portrayal he deserves. 

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