Spoilers ahead for the first two episodes of X-Men ’97, which premieres today on Disney+.
The warning “You can’t go home again” does not apply to the X-Mansion. The palatial boarding school and training facility for talented mutants was a refuge for Saturday-morning-cartoon watchers of That is the place for hyper-competition. basketball.
The new, attractively stripped-back look of X-Men ’97 understands what now-adult viewers of the classic cartoon want, which is very little changes. Yes, nostalgia can easily tempt audiences, but it’s great when it provides exactly what we want. X-Men ’97, set one year after X-Men:
The Animated Series, ends with the assassination of Professor Charles. The dialogue is stilted, the plots are rushed, and the metaphor of humans being racist outcasts has never been more discussed. It’s exactly as you remember X-Men: The Animated Series, and it’s strictly full of rules. Here are 12 moments from the season’s first two episodes, “To Me, My X-Men” and “Mutant Liberation Begins,” that will bring you down the memory lane.
1.The theme song is still very popular.
That guitar riff! Those synths! Bombing! Ron Wasserman’s iconic animated series theme is reused to excellent effect here (though credited to Haim Saban and Shuki Levi following a recent lawsuit). The theme song is still pretty amazing, especially when paired with the character introductions and portrayals of this series’ cast:
They start with Cyclops, and then Magneto joining the team at the end of the first episode of X-Men ’97. Are there. After that, he gets top billing in the second episode. Putting Magneto at the top is a thoughtful touch, as is the weird metallic sound effect when the “’97” text comes up at the end of “X-Men.” (The rest of the Newton Brothers series scores pretty well, too.) 2. Remy LeBeau in a crop top,
Our favorite Cajun going Emeril in the kitchen is actually canon; Personally, I definitely would have preferred their spicy holiday food over Jean Grey. And I’m grateful to whoever decided that Remy’s culinary instincts should shine when he’s frying beignets in a crop top, ripped jeans, and an aggressively side-swept hairstyle. Both my kids, who never quite understood his attraction to Gambit, and my adults, who are now quite comfortable with that thirst, appreciate it very much.
3.Morph is trying what it’s like to be Professor X.
Morph is a divisive animated series character, considering he was somewhat annoying most of the time. But it also makes perfect sense for the morph that he’ll turn into Professor X to tease Scott Summers for being self-serious about leading the X-Men. Morph’s powers will not be hindered by sadness, manners, or good taste! It’s also solid: The series rekindles Morph and Logan’s friendship, especially with a quick scene where Morph cheers up a “disappointed about Jean Grey” Logan by turning him into Sabretooth so the two can hang out.
4.Some X-celent vernacular from the 90s.
Jubilee is insulting someone by calling him an “arrogant yuppie”; Cyclops a “…no!” Are being exposed. Getting flirtatious during a fight; The anti-mutant vigilante named it “Executioner” and spelled it “X-Cushner”. (Using “X” as a single letter to denote something extreme was actually the signature of the decade.) It’s all very strange.
5.The storm is telling people that they are worthless.
I’m hoping that the Mistress of the Elements’ loss of power at the end of “Mutant Liberation Begins” will be temporary, as it would be very disappointing if she actually spent the entire season absent from this narrative. Storm brutally insulting people and telling them to shut up whenever they dare talk to her is always enjoyable, and we should be enjoying more of that!
6.’For me, my X-Men!’
It’s enjoyable when Scott, in his new role as X-Men leader, repeats Professor X’s catchphrase as they prepare to take down Bolivar Trask and the rebuilt Sentinels and Master Mold. It is good for him to get respect from everyone. But it comes as a surprise when Magneto arrives at the end of the premiere episode and informs everyone that Charles has left the X-Mansion and his fortune has passed to former bestie-turned-maniac Eric Lehnsherr. The way Magneto’s voice actor Matthew Waterson says, “Everything he created, everything he fought for, is now mine… my X-Men,” it’s a wonderful turn of phrase to say. Scott struggled a lot. It would be fun to see Magneto not being completely impressed by Scott.
7.Let me repeat: Magneto is here!
Check out this giant anti-human hero – he looks like a hot version of John Noble’s Denethor, no? That’s praise! Magneto is a fan favorite because, well, he’s mostly right that humans in this universe don’t particularly deserve the kind of treatment that Professor X gave them for so long, but he’s also so principled that He will honor Charles’ good wishes and take up the responsibility of leading the X-Men.
(I’m assuming this was actually Charles’ wish, not Magneto’s prolonged deception, but only time will tell.) “Mutant Liberation Begins” is such an entertaining dive into Magneto’s new “mutant terrorist turned hero” arc because he Saves both the humans and the Morlocks and gets a chance to be a dirty bitch by telling the X-Men that maybe they didn’t really know Charles as well as he did. “You finally realize what I did centuries ago: Even Charles There is magneto for.
8.Rogue and Magneto are a thing.
This development may be more nostalgic for readers of the various For the rest of us, it’s at least a solid source of future intragroup tension as Scott insists that the X-Men’s goal is “de-escalation” and has secret romantic meetings in Charles’s old office. , so Wicked and Eric look suspicious. , Wicked, Magneto and Gambit; Jean, Scott, and Logan – so many love triangles!
9.Genosha is back on the map.
Remember how mutants have their own nation? Magneto joins the X-Men and reminds us, it’s a good time before the word “co-exist.”
10.Another X-Men member is on trial.
Beast spent a large portion of the first season of the animated series awaiting trial for the That mutants were no threat to them. Magneto being brought before the United Nations Commission on Extraterrestrial Activities in chains to defend himself echoes those story lines, as does the fact that the human demonstrators at the trial are far more violent than the mutants themselves.
And Magneto restrained Ex-Cushioner and the U.N. Crying a tear in space while turning away from the judges, whom he chastises for their ignorance and hatred, is a beautiful moment of animation.
11.Mutants can enhance each other’s powers.
Here’s another idea taken from various comics; “Mutant Circuit” is a high level of teamwork, with mutants working together to enhance each other’s powers and combine abilities. They make the animation more creative – Wolverine’s claws glow bright pink due to the transmission of Gambit’s kinetic energy – and, like the Evil-Magneto duo, open up exciting spaces for the season, now that the mutants are fighting each other. Can increase skills. Could all mutant circuits have an era-appropriate neon color palette? Click here for more info
12.Logan and Scott still hate each other.
This isn’t an Nothing feels more right than the hatred these guys share about X-Men ’97. Most welcome!