X-Men 97 - Season 1, Disney Plus
To Me, My Millenials!
Some Spoilers.
WooWee!
I’ll start by saying that in general, you should really leave old stuff alone. I’m, looking at you Highlander remake. This could so easily have been a big bag of nostalgia mixed with current MCU references. In actuality, it’s something that had my not-so inner child bouncing in my chair.
I watched the original animated series back when it first came out. I remember having school holidays and sick days at my Nanna’s bungalow sitting on the sofa watching X-Men and Spiderman while her homemade corned-beef pies sat keeping warm on the fireplace. 97 reminded me of this so strongly I could smell it.
I gave the original series DVD to my own children when they were old enough, but like the TMNT, Transformers, and the Real Ghostbusters, it sat mostly unwatched. Sad times as a dad when your favourite childhood cartoons aren’t cool enough for your progeny. For the record I was the opposite when I was young.
My own Dad had videotaped the entire Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Stingray and had them meticulously labelled. I watched – and loved – them all. That’s weird. I often talk about how little I received from my dad in terms of who I am now, but my mind just flew there as I was thinking about 97. Very weird.
Speaking of Dads.’ Everyone’s favourite mutant big brother becomes a dad this season. I mean, we always knew Cable was his son, but we see it all happen here. I saw favourite but there’s a lot of people who hate Cyclops. Why? For not being as cool as Wolverine? Watch Episode 1 and tell me he isn’t cool as hell. I’ll wait.
Cable is one of my favourite X-Men and I was incredibly happy at his inclusion, even if it wasn’t main cast, he was important to the story. Also a big shout out to all the cameos. The internet went wild when Spiderman turned up in a three second shot, then we get people like Omega Red, Dr Strange (performing surgery with magic no less), Iron Man, Daredevil etc. Not to mention Cap himself. I imagine he wasn’t in it much because of the walk it took to pick up his shield from wherever Rogue threw it.
In this world of targeted persecution and manufactured hatred X-Men as a team are needed more than ever. Especially the times they try to solve issues without punching them with adamantium claws. Given the role of the media in the above, I would be surprised if a Spiderman continuation isn’t in the works with a central J Jonah Jameson role (and as much as I love original Spiderman, JJJ really is JK Simmons role now).
For a lot of the first few episodes we could probably call the show Rogue and Friends (X-Friends) as it was heavily about her weird love triangle between Gambit and Magneto. Yes a Cajun in his prime (but who cant wear a proper sized t-shirt) or a 60+ year old survivor.
Then Episode 5 happened.
Episode 5 was a huge gut punch that completely changed the tone and the direction I thought the show was going. Yes I’d read the comics, but I didn’t expect a cartoon from my childhood to go there. Be prepared.
The ending perfectly set up where they could and should continue on to next and if it isn’t renewed then I shall hold my breath until I go blue I the face.
Highlights
Nightcrawler fighting with 3 swords when the Prime Sentinels attack the Mansion. Every movement precise, and the score…perfect.
Not making Wolverine the main character. He’s part of the team and that’s great but they didn’t focus on him too much like the films did to their detriment.
Magneto vs The Goblin Queen. Master of Magnetism vs Telekinesis.
Bastion. A much less obvious villain than Sinister but a much more dangerous, and charismatic one.
Jubilee made more badass than perhaps we give her credit for. Yeah she shoots fireworks out her hands (yes yes, plasmoids) but we get safety lectures about the dangers of fireworks for a reason.
Magneto’s entire arc. I always liked Magneto as someone who was a reaction to the horrors he’s witnessed and survived, and I can’t bring myself to hate him completely.
Morph. All of Morph.
Episode 5. Heartbreaking and awe-inspiring at the same time.
Lowlights
Motendo. Yeah we get filler episodes sometimes and this was one of them. Jubilee and Sunspot’s relationship was worthwhile, but the episode felt flat considering the following one…
Storm’s arc. I love that someone other than rogue got her powers removed (and the fact that it was storm, mirroring the Last Stand meme) but it was over far too quickly and felt too far removed from everything else happening. I can see other ways to make it last longer given the ending of the season.
Wolverine’s Adamantium. It was ripped from his body which was a huge event in the comics turning him feral for a while as the trauma was too much for his mind. In 97, it happened in the penultimate episode then forgotten about during the final one. If they’d had moved it to the finale, I think I’d have been happier.
Dues Ex Phoenix. The Phoenix came back for two minutes right when it was needed. A bit lame. Be more creative.
Beast. I think my boy Hank was underused as a brilliant scientist. More McCoy!
No Colossus. Metal Russian Man Favourite X-Man.