Previously on the Disney+ series X-Men ‘97, we saw Logan team up with some old friends to take down Dr. Cornelius and Weapon X. We were able to see characters such as Morph, Yuriko, Sabretooth, Kane, and Maverick work alongside Logan throughout the entirety of the episode.
Taking a break from the En Sabah Nur “Apocalypse” storyline, Episode 6 brings us viewers back to the present, having one of the most emotional episodes of the series so far. This episode has a nice balance between more serious, vulnerable moments and action. While the previous episodes centered on larger conflicts and moments that happened in the past, this episode turns its attention inward, exploring how grief, identity, and belonging shape the X-Men both as heroes and as a family. We also see a lot of character growth from many characters, including Polaris, Professor X, and even Bishop and Storm, as we see the two of them moving into new beginnings of their careers.
Episode 6 follows Polaris and Charles on a journey post-Magnus. Polaris, conflicted about working for X-Factor, goes rogue and is dismissed from the team. It leads her to reunite with the Xavier School for Gifted Mutants.
Meanwhile, Charles processes his grief by reliving Magneto’s final moments in the Danger Room. In an attempt to become stronger, he inadvertently causes the AI to evolve its scenario technology. When he and the elder X-Men leave for Genosha, the students, Polaris and Bishop, become targets of the Danger Room. The technology becomes sentient and is determined to advance its power.
The team chases the robot to Genosha, where it seeks to challenge Charles. To override its power, Charles encourages Polaris to unleash her full power, while embracing the best parts of her father. Together, they eliminate the threat in an emotional homage to their fallen comrade.
The episode closes with Charles forming XCorp, a loophole to regroup the X-Men without violating the government’s anti-mutant law. He says they must take action as he senses Apocalypse.
In Athens, we see the ancient villain powering one of his Horsemen to life. It’s revealed to be Gambit brought back from the dead!
One of the themes that’s shown in this episode is homecoming. Poalris returns to Xavier’s School, searching for a fresh start after feeling disconnected from her previous path. The episode explores what “home” really means, revolving around the people who accept and support you even after you’ve changed. This episode, especially the beginning, feels like an X-Men reunion. As everyone comes together, it’s clear that their bond is still strong, no matter how much time has passed.
Another theme showcased is grief. We watch as Professor X continues to grieve the death of his best friend, Magneto. The X-Men watch as their leader tries coping skills and new things to keep his friend’s memory alive. The grief influences Charles’ leadership and relationships with the X-Men, especially with Polaris. We see a lot of her learning and growth, as she begins to understand her father and the person he was through grief.
Following that theme comes identity and legacy. We watch as Polaris questions her identity, which, as said before, stems from her estranged relationship with her father. Soon, she figures out that she can balance the skills from her father, while also being aware of how she wants to carry herself, revolving around her morals and values.
Overall, this was a really good episode. Even though it was more vulnerable and slower-paced than others, there were still a lot of moments filled with action as they battled a new enemy. Carolina Ravassa does an amazing job as Polaris, as we get to see a much more vulnerable and emotional side of her. This episode was filled with such heartfelt moments, and it’s intriguing to see how this loss will continue to affect everyone as the storyline moves forward.
Rating: 8.5/10