t the end of last season, the Mutant Xers developed new powers and discovered they had a new enemy, Gabriel Ashlocke (Michael Easton), who turned out to be the most powerful New Mutant ever created. As season two opens, Ashlocke steals an Egyptian burial urn from a millionaire, killing him in the process. Shalimar (Pratt) and Brennan (Webster) show up, and Ashlocke nearly kills them, too, but before he can carry out the deed, his power seems to weaken and he barely makes it out himself.
Back at Sanctuary, Adam (Shea) is upset that Shalimar and Brennan tried to take on Ashlocke alone. However, when they tell him their story, he realizes that Ashlocke may be sick. Adam determines to help Ashlocke get better, but Shalimar is furious and believes they should kill him. Ashlocke has been taunting her psychically, and she can't keep him out of her head.
Meanwhile, Ashlocke realizes he's getting worse. His accelerated metabolism, combined with the rapid mutation of his genes, is killing him. He plans to use the DNA sample he got from the burial urn to bring an Egyptian alchemist named Avaris to life, believing she can save him. However, he isn't sure he has enough time left to put his plan in action. He needs one more artifact, a crystal, which will allow the alchemist's magic to work.
While Adam works on a cure for Ashlocke, Jesse (March) and Brennan run into Ashlocke's people as they try to steal the crystal. However, both sides end up with only one piece of the puzzle, and before it's over, they may well be headed for an explosive confrontation that might destroy them all.
Magic and science don't mix
Last season, Mutant X proved a nice, consistent presence with plenty of action and an appealing cast that often offset the uneven storytelling. While "Past as Prologue" maintains the entertaining eye candy, the story is so silly and incomprehensible it's difficult to understand why the producers would want to start the season off with such a weak episode.
While certainly Easton continues to be a compelling bad guy and "Past as Prologue" does allow him to show his evil colors, Ashlocke's plan to bring a 3,000-years-dead Egyptian alchemist babe to life complete with her past memories by using the DNA from her burial jar is ridiculous. Even assuming you buy that plot, Ashlocke never seems to consider that the babe couldn't prevent her own death (i.e., 3,000 years in a burial urn), so why would he think her magic could save him? Obviously, his 25 years in stasis has affected his brain if this is the first big, evil plan he can come up with after taking care of Eckhart at the end of last season.
Even in its best moments, Mutant X stretches the bounds of believability. However, "Past as Prologue" mixes the show's fantastic science with magic, and the combination doesn't work at all.
So why does this episode earn a C? Well, simply because even though the episode makes no sense, it's fun to watch as long as you don't think about it. No, it's certainly not the best Mutant X has to offer, but it still looks so darn cool.
