X-Men ’97 on Disney+ hits you with a wombo combo of nostalgia and fresh threats right from the jump. Picking up where the beloved 90s animated series left off, we find our favorite mutants – Cyclops leading the charge, Jean Grey ever-determined, and now pregnant, Wolverine with his trademark gruffness – facing a world still wary of their extraordinary abilities. Other fan favorites such as Rogue, Beast, Storm, Morph, Gambit, Bishop, and Jubilee also return with their illustrious leader, Charles Xavier, dead and gone.
But this isn’t just a retread of old villains and typical X-Men adventures. The premiere episode, “To Me, My X-Men,” throws the team headfirst into a battle with the Sentinels, those giant mutant-hunting robots that have plagued them for years, and against the F.O.H. (Friends Of Humanity), the mutant hate group. We’re also introduced to a new mutant named Roberto Da Costa a.k.a. Sunspot. This time, however, the Sentinels are…different. They’re shells of their former selves, appearing broken down and rusted with some even missing parts which gives them a zombified look. The depiction of these “obsolete” machines of destruction aligns with Jean’s vision of the future, of a world wrought with death and destruction brought on by Mastermold – by death itself.
The animation during this fight is incredible. We see Cyclops unleashing a powerful optic blast that tears through a Sentinel, Wolverine jumping off a tower of metal and garbage, tearing his way through another Sentinel with his adamantium claws in a flurry of rage, and Rogue launching a Sentinel’s head into another. The moment that had me at the edge of my seat was when the Sentinels all sounded the alarm detecting an Omega-level mutant. Storm slowly makes her appearance, controlling the elements like she normally does, and wipes out all the remaining Sentinels in a giant cyclone. It’s a visually stunning and exhilarating sequence that reminds you why the X-Men are such a compelling team.
During a basketball game back at the X-Mansion, Scott and Jean announce their plans to leave the team to focus on their lives, especially with the baby on the way. Suddenly, an alarm is triggered informing the group of a break-in in Charles’ study. Upon their arrival, they find Magneto standing there. The biggest twist is Magneto has been bequeathed everything Charles built – the wealth, the mansion, and even the X-Men. To end the episode on such a cliffhanger is nuts but it made me want even more!
In episode two titled “Mutant Liberation”, we witness a Ferris Wheel on the brink of collapse, and firefighters and news channels are on the scene. As a brave firefighter tries to save a kid who’s stuck on the ride, the whole thing falls apart and heads for a big crash that would injure and kill several civilians. However, Magneto shows up and saves the day, leaving everyone’s jaw on the floor in disbelief. We also see him save a mutant group from the original series, The Morlocks, against some members of F.O.H.
Remember, this is the same Magneto who used to try and, well, wipe out humanity. But here, he takes a shocking approach. Instead of having them remain in the sewers, he arranges for them to live in the newly (somewhat) formed mutant nation Genosha. The shocker is he didn’t kill anyone! Don’t get it twisted, he still views mutants as being superior to humans by referring to them as “sapiens” – a clear distinction that’s made with authority, rather than humility. He tells the X-Men even though he wanted to kill the humans that were harming the Morlocks, he didn’t, instead, he chose to honor Charles’ dream of mutants living peacefully with humans.
What was surprising to me was seeing the relationship between Magneto and Rogue, but I can’t say I don’t blame either of them. Rogue’s mutant powers do not affect Magneto, allowing them to become intimate. Of course, this doesn’t bode well for Gambit who has always been in love with Rogue and almost died from a kiss he stole in season one. During their private conversation, Rogue makes a very interesting point that’s hard to argue with, given Magneto’s circumstances of inheriting everything from Charles. As the new leader of the team, he has to earn everyone’s trust and not demand it.
Shortly after their conversation, guess who shows up on their front lawn? That’s right – the fuzz. Even though they are now allies of the X-Men, they show up to take Magneto in for his past crimes, but they come showing their fangs and making threats. Even with their weapons being resistant to Magneto’s powers, what they didn’t account for was the fact that their helicopters are pure metal – and he demonstrates how quickly things can go wrong for them if they continue being hostile. However, he remains true to his path of righteousness and goes with them willingly, in cuffs and collar.
With his trial being aired on national TV, Magneto argues his case – not only to justify his past actions but to shed light on the struggles mutants face daily. He strikes a chord with the UN council saying their “protection” meant the mutants’ extermination, proof of this would be the sentinels being built as well as the collars being used to restrain mutants from using their powers. As the trial continues, the UN, their security, and the X-men catch wind of an uprising from the many protestors outside. They’ve breached the perimeter and they’re looking for blood.
Meanwhile, a very pregnant Jean is going into labor and the only person available to help is good ol’ Logan. Things couldn’t go any smoother for Jean, as Logan breaks all sorts of traffic laws driving through the city like a madman – almost taking out some innocent civilians in the process. I mean…you have an Omega-level mutant about to give birth and possibly slip with her powers, and he drives at top speed on the sidewalk and in the streets? This man clearly doesn’t have a license!
Back at the U.N., the X-Men face a new foe named X-Cutioner (that’s cute), and he’s giving them a run for their money. Not only is he agile, but he’s cunning and he single-handedly takes out most of the team and gives Cyclops a beating he’ll never forget. Where were all of those flashy moves from episode one?! Anyway, Morph manages to save Cyclops from getting his head blown off and is doing his best to keep this lunatic at bay.
A new strategy is put in place here – Storm is taking over as leader to hold down the fort with Magneto to protect the judges while Rogue scoops Scott and hurries to Jean’s aid at the hospital. The next challenge half of the group now faces is the doctor refusing to deliver the baby. I can’t blame him for his fears, but this isn’t the time to be scared! Rogue uses her powers to sap all the expertise and medical knowledge from the doctor and gives orders to set up and prep for the birth.
Things take a turn for the worst…and it’s heartbreaking. Amid Magneto and Storm regaining control over the courtroom, X-Cutioner steps in and aims Magneto, firing off a powerful blast. Storm sees him taking aim and immediately sacrifices herself to save Magneto. She survives the blast but loses her powers in the process – another Omega-level mutant that has given her all to save humankind is now human herself. Magneto shows a grandiose and frightening level of power when he suddenly brings all of the judges and X-Cutioner into space to show how powerless they are to stop him.
Although the U.N. Tribunal granted a full pardon for Magneto and having Genosha officially become recognized, the cost was too high. Storm pens a heartfelt letter to Jean explaining why she’s leaving the team. During her monologue, we see a few things unfold before us. Scott is taking care of baby Nathan, Morph and Logan spend quality time together outside, and Gambit’s heartbreak while he watches from the shadows as Rogue leaves Magneto’s study…poor Remy. As the group gathers around to listen to Storm’s goodbyes through the letter she wrote, we get another twist – there are two Jean Greys!
Episode three, titled “Fire Made Flesh” starts us off with Jean Grey reading…Jean Grey’s mind. Who’s who? Which Jean is the real one? Well, thanks to Beast going ultra nerd on us with human biology and carbon dating, we find out the Jean that has been with the team the whole time is a clone! Things start to get hairy when [clone] Jean argues her point – she has all of these real memories while [the real] Jean only has fragments. That actually makes sense when you think about it, but when she turns to Scott for some reassurance, he leaves her hanging! Things go sideways and she begins to snap, and no one other than Mr. Sinister himself is behind this nasty plot.
The clone, possessed by the manipulative villain Mr. Sinister, unleashes her telekinetic fury on the X-Mansion, turning it into a psychedelic horror show.
The X-Men are left scrambling. Jean Grey, still recovering her powers, is bombarded by her inability to get a grip on her powers as Beast and Wolverine try their best to help her. Meanwhile, Cyclops and the team face off against the possessed Jean, who’s packing some serious psychic firepower. It’s a desperate fight, and the X-Men are seriously outmatched.
But wait, there’s more! Mr. Sinister, the mastermind behind the whole mess, throws another curveball. He takes the baby [clone] Jean had with Cyclops (it’s a whole thing) and subjects him to some freaky experiment. Because they saved Baby Nathan from the freaky experiment, the child’s life is now in danger due to an extremely rare virus and there’s no medicine or technology in this current timeline that can save him. This throws Cyclops for a loop, forcing him to make a heart-wrenching decision.
By the end of the episode, things are left hanging by a thread. The X-Men are battered and bruised, the real Jean Grey is starting to piece together her memories, and the fate of baby Nathan Summers hangs in the balance. Scott and the clone both agree, albeit reluctantly, to hand baby Nathan over to Bishop to find a cure in the distant future. This episode also gives us the new backstory for Cable, which we saw in the original series. The clone and the real Jean have a brief conversation and before they part ways, the clone takes on a new identity and calls herself Madelyne Pryor.
At the very end of the episode, we see Storm sitting in a bar and a gentleman introduces himself as Forge, a friend of the Professor’s, with a promise of restoring her powers. These last few episodes have been one hell of a ride and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for our X-Men. Stay tuned for the next recap of episode four, starring our favorite teens Jubilee and Roberto!
X-Men ’97 is currently available to stream on Disney+. New episodes debut every Wednesday.
[youtube https://youtu.be/pv3Ss8o9gGQ?si=9wL7svC90nWTKb6I]
Hey! I’m Lais a.k.a. Chipz-N-Stix and I love video games and nerd culture overall. I typically do reviews and impressions on video games as well as offer some helpful tips and tricks to enhance your gaming experience. From time to time I tend to touch on certain topics that get you thinking – things that would matter to the individual. I’m also a self-proclaimed Pokemon Master but that doesn’t mean you can outright challenge me. I have to “motivate” my team for that!
