X-Men '97 - Episodes 6-10 Reviews

The second half of this season certainly upped the ante with the introduction of another major villain, a return of powers and a three part finale.

Episode 6: Lifedeath - Part 2

Remember how the fourth episode was basically two episodes stories smashed into one? Well, there's a continuation of that. Yet again, the Storm story proved to be the best of the bunch as she tooknn Adversary once again and managed to not only defeat Adversary but also regained her powers in a scene that lifted from Man Of Steel. The second story revealed that Professor X was living off world with Lilandra Neramani, only for the latter's sister to disapprove of their impending nuptials. Structurally, it's much better than the previous part with a bit of a follow up on the attack on Genosha. 7/10

Episode 7: Bright Eyes

Now this was a hell of a prelude to the finale. We had Gambit's funeral and Rogue going to extreme measures in her quest for answers by hunting down both Gyrich and Trask. Let's just say that Rogue really let her dark side out while Cable also returned to warn the X-Men about Mister Sinister's next plan. There's also a subplot involving Sunspot coming out as a Mutant to his mother along with the reveal of another Sentinel programme. The biggest reveal though wasn't Magneto being alive but more that he was being held prisoner by Bastion (Theo James) during the very last scene in this one. 8/10

Episode 8: Tolerance Is Extinction - Part 1

Ending this season with a three part finale was certainly a wise choice on Beau DeMayo's part. This first segment alone certainly kicked things off chaotically with Cyclops, Jean and Cable travelling back in time to uncover Bastion's backstory just as the latter used Sentinels to blow up the school and attack mutants. Magneto getting free however created even more problems as he resorted to his own methods to stop the Sentinels. With Wolverine voicing the obvious concerns of war, Xavier also returned to Earth. 8/10

Episode 9: Tolerance Is Extinction - Part 2 

The middle segment and things certainly intensified here. Throwing in some fan pleasing cameos from other Marvel characters to one side, the highlight in this part was the battle of wits between Xavier and Magneto with the latter making it clear he had tired of Xavier's nonsense. This episode also had the groups splitting into Magneto's team with Rogue and Sunspot and then everyone else. We also had Beast and Forge working together to create a disadvantage for Bastion and the Sentinels. 8/10

Episode 10: Tolerance Is Extinction - Part 3

The final part and what a way to end this season. A reunited X-Men team, new costumes, differences put aside and the defeats of both Mr Sinister and Bastion along with a restored to power Earth. It was a hell of a time during this three part finale but there were so many satisfying moments that played throughout this event, including a surprise resolution to the series finale of Spider-Man: The Animated Series. However the cliffhanger involved our main characters being scattered in different time periods and the predicted return of a certain character that was killed earlier this season. Let's just say the second season can't come soon enough. 9/10

Season 2 of X-Men '97 will premiere on Disney+, likely in early 2025.

X-Men '97 - Episodes 1-5 Reviews

I had been waiting for the whole first season to wrap up on Disney+ to do this and then I had other things to review. However, here's the first of two blogs that I am writing about this sequel series to the popular animated series from the 1990s.

Episode 1: To Me, My X-Men

Essentially this picked up from where the series finale of X-Men: The Animated Series left off. Charles Xavier is dead and it's Cyclops who has taken over the team. Oh and him and Jean Grey are expecting a child, Morph has settled back into being Wolverine's best friend and there's the introduction of Sunspot. On top of that, there's the return of Bolivar Trask and the Sentinels as well as the Master Mold supercomputer. Add in some horrible visions for Jean and Magneto stepping out of the woodwork to confirm he's taking over the school and you've got a great opening episode. 8/10

Episode 2: Mutant Liberation Begins

Magneto taking centre stage in this second episode only felt right after the way the first one ended. Not surprisingly, most of the X-Men aren't exactly keen on having him around as their leader and it's extra complicated for Rogue with hints of a romantic past between. Magneto's return also delayed Cyclops and Jean from leaving the team but not the birth of their son, Nathan. There was also the subplot of Magneto's trial at the UN Headquarters while Storm bore the brunt of the X-Cutioner and lost her powers. The episode did largely telegraph Storm's fate but it still came as a shock. 8/10

Episode 3: Fire Made Flesh 

Something of a spookier episode, I really loved that this one skewered fully into it's horror setting. We did the Dark Phoenix plot with Jean Grey that the next step was of course the Madelyne Pryor/Goblin Queen and at the behest of the returned Mister Sinister, its executed rather well. You've got a complicated triangle of sorts between Jean, Scott and Madelyne as well as Bishop being tasked with sending Nathan into the future in order to save. I also liked that the episode didn't pull away from Storm either. She might have left the team and gone back to her home but the arrival of Forge certainly helped with this subplot. 8/10

Episode 4: Motendo/Lifedeath - Part 1 

After three incredibly strong episodes, the season hit a bum note with this one. I didn't mind the focus on Jubilee and Sunspot but I just didn't care enough for the return of Mojo and the video game plot that nearly killed both Jubilee and Sunspot. Still though, their relationship did pick up, so it wasn't too much of a time waster. Better handled was Storm and Forge working together and the arrival of Adversary at the end. I genuinely thought that plot should've had the most focus on this one. It certainly would've improved the episode. 6/10

Episode 5: Remember It

Well, this might be one of the best episodes from any television show ever. Certainly one of the best episodes of a show airing in 2024. Gambit hadn't too much to do this season and while he wasn't a fan of Rogue and Magneto's growing connection, he certainly got one hell of a heroic sacrifice. The attack on Genosha, following the former being accepted by the UN was devastating. Rogue's pain over losing both Gambit and Magneto was heartbreaking. Then there was the Wolverine/Jean/Cyclops/Madelyne quadrangle, the return of Cable along with revealing the character's real identity (it's Nathan) and this episode didn't let up for a moment. 10/10

The next blog will cover Lifedeath - Part 2, Bright Eyes and Tolerance Is Extinction Parts 1-3.