When modern shows just aren’t cutting it, revive a series from over 30 years ago that’s still ripe with exciting narrative possibilities. X-Men ’97 returns with yet another epic season, focusing on a new threat while adding a slew of new characters to the roster.
This season has succumbed to one of the best-case scenarios in TV. The first season was so good and set up such an awesome arc going into this season, that while this falls just short, it’s still a wonderful watch. The writing is is quick, punchy and intelligent, with each episode covering a tonne of ground, weaving in plenty of character arcs and holding a number of surprises. Right from the get-go you know you’re in for something special; the first few episodes paint a picture of the scale of Apocalypse’s threat to the X-Men in epic fashion. With interlinked narratives across three time periods, the writers have crafted an exceptional level of tension and excitement that builds through each weekly episode. It may be an animated show, but it knows its audience, treating viewers like adults and delivering content that doesn’t dumb anything down.
From the dialogue to the social and political themes, all the way to the poignant emotion-driven moments, each episode is packed with memorable content that utilises the large ensemble of characters really well. There are so many monologues, quotes and conversations that are captivating even without the presence of all-out mutant warfare, that it shows the confidence of the writers in being able to craft genuinely interesting characters. Some of the new additions this season don’t get a lot of focus and aren’t quite as fleshed out as their importance in the story would dictate, but because of the sheer volume of characters, this isn’t much of a blight on the show.
What is a blight on the show, however, is that all the momentum gained from the first few episodes of building up Apocalypse dissipates somewhat through the middle of the season. There’s a chunk of the season where the focus largely shifts away from the main threat, opting in favour of building up other areas of the story. The content itself is still good, and it absolutely plays a role in the final two episodes, but it’s just not as engaging knowing we’re watching the B-plot while the A-plot is unfolding in the background. Of course it’s still very fun following the X-Men and witnessing fun character interactions, but without the season’s central threat playing a role, there’s almost no threat and no stakes.
Once the season gets back on track for the final two episodes, it’s full steam ahead, with the penultimate episode packing a punch about as heavy as season one’s iconic Genosha episode (yet the episode 4 “midseason finale” of this season is still stronger). The season ends on a high note that puts the series into a phenomenal position to springboard into a story that could top everything we’ve seen thus far. With the season’s first and last few episodes delivering some epic narrative and awesome action, it’s just a shame the middle couldn’t bridge the gap with more content of that calibre.
Moreso than last season, the crisp animation style is such a delight to watch. The retro-inspired look of the show brings so much more character and charm to the action sequences, that it makes them look absolutely spectacular. Every mutant’s powers are highlighted in such a fun way that they all utilise the absolute best of the animation style. The violence is a treat, as is the level of blood that accompanies the action sequences; used sparingly and in spots that it makes an impac
With such a large roster of characters, focus has shifted slightly in favour of different key players; Storm and Jubilee, for example, take a little backseat while Cable and Nightcrawler are more prominent. This paves the way for even more standout voice performances. Once again, the likes of Ross Marquand (Professor X) and Cal Dodd (Wolverine) are as riveting and charismatic as ever. Lenore Zann (Rogue) is a star, elevating the emotional weight of the narrative during some key episodes. Adrian Hough (Nightcrawler) steps up and is given a lot to do, nailing both the dramatic and comedic components of his character. Cable may walk around with a very stoic demeanour, but it’s Chris Potter’s fantastic performance which brings that personality to life. It’s not just the individual performances that shine; it’s the chemistry of the ensemble, with so many character combinations providing endless entertainment.
If I was to specify one thing I would want from a future season; I’d love for them to slow down. While I loved the stories being told in this season, there’s room for improvement across many arcs, something that could have been capitalised on if they didn’t feel the need to cram multiple entire arcs in 25 minutes. Don’t get me wrong, the fast pace of the show is something I absolutely adore, but sometimes there’s a great character development unfolding over 10 minutes that could have been epic if they spread it over an episode or two.
In the end, X-Men ’97 continues to shine as one of the best-written superhero shows. It’s not without its issues, particularly with the lack of focus in the middle of the season, but the highs are so exceptional that they severely outweigh any potential low. With a fantastic sense of tension and suspense, as well as a riveting building of momentum, it keeps you largely locked in and excited to return week after week. If it’s more shocking, epic and rewatchable X-Men action you’re craving, this second season delivers the goods.
8.7/10
