WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Dark Phoenix, in theaters now.

Cyclops is one of the original X-Men with one of the most complicated and complex histories. He's held a number of roles throughout his comic history but he's only had minor ones in the X-Men films before being written out in X-Men: The Last Stand.

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That trend changes with Dark Phoenix, which features Tye Sheridan finally embracing the coolest aspects of Cyclops to become the best version of the character in any film. 

SUPER SNIPER

Dark Phoenix

Cyclops has a distinct, singular power. His optic blasts, while uncontrollable when unrestrained, are incredibly powerful. Earlier films have played up the pains of having such a power but Dark Phoenix is the first X-Men film to show off just how useful the ability can be. Cyclops frequently uses his unique skill to great effect throughout the film, most notably during his battle with Magneto and Beast. When the pair come to kill Jean for killing Mystique earlier in the film, Cyclops is among the members of the team who try to stop them.

Cyclops not only easily defeats Beast (thanks in part to an assist from Xavier), but he even goes toe-to-toe with Magneto; holding his own and eventually gaining the advantage. At one point, he even uses his underutilized comics power of geometric understanding -- reflecting a blast off of a car at a specific angle to hit Magneto.

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The best use of his powers though comes earlier in the film, however. When the X-Men are in space attempting to save some astronauts being confronted by the Phoenix Force, the shuttle is revealed to be spinning dangerously out of control. Cyclops is lowered into essentially a sniper position in the X-Jet. He puts his head up against a scope and turns himself into a high powered sniper, where he's both the shooter and the gun. It's an incredibly cool moment, one of the best uses of his powers in any X-Men movie.

A REAL LEADER

Dark Phoenix

Cyclops is often defined by his role as a leader in the comics. It's been both a benefit and a deterrent in his life. His commitment to the X-Men as a team is one of the most important elements of his character. But, the movie version of Cyclops has often lacked that distinction. He's nominally the leader, but the original trilogy was so focused on Wolverine that Cyclops became an after-thought. He was ignored in the first film, brainwashed in the second and promptly killed off in the third.

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This incarnation of Cyclops, while still young, feels like the burgeoning leader he should be. He's confident, but not cocky. He's reassuring to the students but strong-willed against his enemies. When Xavier tries to convince Storm to sit out the coming battle, Cyclops is openly confident in her abilities and backs her up. The two agree they have each other's back. It's a nice of change of pace to see Cyclops actually do something in these films and serve as a leader.

ETERNALLY LOYAL

Scott and Jean in dark phoenix

The relationship between Jean Grey and Cyclops has somehow always seemed difficult to portray correctly on screen. Even Tye Sheridan and Sophie Turner, who played the two characters in X-Men: Apocalypse had trouble making their romance engaging. But, Dark Phoenix shines when the film puts them at the forefront. Cyclops is genuinely supportive and occasionally even charming when he's just with Jean. It's a far cry from the overly heroic persona he puts on for most of the film. He cracks jokes and even smiles when he's around her. Jean is able to talk openly with him and clearly loves him. They can relax with each other, instead of being the future of the Mutant race like they so often have to be with the rest of the team.

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Their constant refrain of how she'll always come back to him becomes the tragic throughline of the film. At the climax, it's the knowledge that she could kill Scott with her cosmic powers that convince Jean to leave Earth behind. It's not disgust with humanity or exhaustion with the world that makes her decide to leave humanity behind: It's that she can't risk the one she loves.

Dark Phoenix finally gives the relationship between the two characters the tragic sacrifice it always needed to feel complete. And, while the rest of the film may not do justice by all the characters, Cyclops definitely receives his time in the sun.

Directed and written by Simon Kinberg, Dark Phoenix stars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Holt, Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Evan Peters and Jessica Chastain.