Disney+’s X-Men ‘97 is the rare occasion of reboot done right. Critics and fans have praised the Marvel Animation series since its March 20th premiere, earning it a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score. The secret to its success: not resting on nostalgia alone. As a continuation of the 90s Fox animated series, the writers made the deliberate choice to create a narrative that elevated the commentary on the sociopolitical struggles of an oppressed class.
While the first two episodes reminded viewers that the X-Men have always been “woke”, episode five pushed the conscious storytelling to new heights, converging comic lore with real-life perils of the past and present. Entitled “Remember It,” the fifth episode follows the violent fall of the mutant utopia, Genosha, months after its acceptance into the United Nations. This is an event known to comic readers as the Genocide at Genosha. While harrowing in comic panels, the tragedy had never before been depicted on screen.
Genosha first appeared in The Uncanny X-Men, issue #235, by Chris Claremont and artist Rick Leonardi. Modeled after South Africa, the nation itself went through several rulings and iterations before Magneto claimed it as a mutant-only nation. During a period of peace, 16 million Genoshans thrived in the advanced society until the island was reduced to a shallow grave by Cassandra Nova – an arch-villain and Charles Xavier’s twin – who enacted the terrorist attack with Wild Sentinels. This serves as the basis for the series’ version of this climatic event.
“Remember It” delivers both peak fan service and riveting plot development with the first half embodying happy mutant reunions and cameos exciting viewers’ inner child. We’re reunited with Madelyne Pryor as she’s a member of the Genoshan council, along with the Hellfire Club’s Sebastian Stan and Emma Frost, Banshee, leader of the Morlocks, Callisto, and mutant ally, Moira MacTaggert. Later, Gambit and Rogue encounter their blue devil friend, Nightcrawler, at the street festival. In addition to these supporting characters, the episode is littered with fan-favorite and lesser-known mutants. Cyclops’ love interest during the Phoenix saga, Dazzler, shows up along with Multiple Man and Exodus. Younger mutants such as Leech, Pixie, Glob, and Lin Li also make appearances. While these characters only appear for mere seconds, they help establish the grander X-Men universe.
As the episode progresses, the soapy three-way tension between Magneto, Rogue, and Gambit rises as Magneto – being nominated to lead the nation – chooses the Southern belle to rule by his side. Her decision is to be made during the evening’s beautiful gala. But the catastrophic attack from a behemoth Sentinel turns the celebratory occasion into a perilous fight against death. Casualties reach the thousands including two beloved X-Men – Magneto and Gambit – committing the ultimate sacrifice. Head to the end of this article for a full count of presumed deceased characters.
The episode establishes some wild theories moving forward. One very clear idea is that these deaths may not be permanent. Comics have proven for decades where there’s a writer’s pen, there’s a way to resurrect fallen comrades. The strongest case for this is the presence of Cable. Nathan Charles Summers, the infant son born to Madelyne Pryor and Scott Summers in episode two, is now a full-grown time traveler. His failed attempt to evacuate the banquet hall minutes before the attack alludes to him being there before, trying so desperately to prevent the mass-casualty event. Perhaps viewers will witness him battle time to save the lives and Genosha.
The other question to contemplate is who orchestrated the ambush. We know MasterMold is involved from the vision Jean Grey and Madelyne both experience, which could point to Bolivar Trask. But as a mere mortal, he doesn’t possess the resources to accomplish such a feat. And last we saw him, he was being dragged to jail in episode one. Then there’s Mr. Sinister, who has already been established as an adversary. What could his motivations be for such a horrific event? While Nova is the culprit in the comics, her lore may be too far a reach to accurately adapt for the show. And then there’s the possibility of Apocalypse, the self-proclaimed mutant deity, who seeks to bring a reckoning via his four mutant horsemen.
While the possibilities are endless, one thing is for certain: X-Men ’97 is delivering Mavel’s best-televised content, possibly ever. Except for a few titles, the MCU has struggled to find a happy median on the small screen. Fashioned more like a film cut into chapters, fans complained the new series undercut good storytelling in favor of cinematic action and cliffhanger post-credit scenes. After the mess that was Secret Invasion, the Kevin Fiege machine declared new, less-is-more approach to its TV properties. That’s probably why the writer’s strike-delayed Daredevil reboot was pushed again after a creative overhaul.
On a larger scale, the current Multiverse saga – while surely headed somewhere – has been a laborious journey reaping low rewards. Other than Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and the allegedly unappreciated sequel, The Marvels, this chapter has left a lot to be desired. Knowing fans have anticipated the arrival of mutants since Fox was acquired by Disney, the powers that be were smart to first rid the taste of the film iterations with the animated elixir that is X-Men ’97.
Under Marvel’s tutelage, the series has restored comic-accurate portrayals of characters, while maintaining the campy fun and drama. It has also most notably remembered that X-Men, at its core, is about empathy for the human condition. While The Avengers gloriously save Earth from countless perils, the X-Men fight for another reason entirely. They fight to be seen, to be heard, and to belong. It’s a story that resonates with more than just the average comic fan. And it continues to be relevant whether in 1960 or 2024. Welcome home, our X-Men.
Catch new episodes of X-Men ’97 every Wednesday only on Disney+.
All character cameos in X-Men ’97 episode five, “Remember It:”
- Madelyne Pryor
- Nightcrawler
- Banshee
- Callisto
- Sebastian Shaw
- Emma Frost
- Moira MacTaggert
- Leech
- Glob
- Pixie
- Lin Li
- Multiple Man
- Exodus
- Squid Boy
- Marrow
- Archangel
All characters presumed dead after X-Men ’97 episode five, “Remember It:”
- Magneto
- Gambit
- Madelyne Pryor
- Banshee
- Callisto
- Sebastian Shaw
- Leech and other Morlocks
- Moira MacTaggert
- Squid Boy