X-Men '97 has managed to impress fans and critics alike across its 10 episode revival of the classic 90s X-Men: The Animated Series. Without relying too much on nostalgia, X-Men '97 provides this universe and its Mutants with the respect and characterization they deserve, which has led to some of the most exciting content in not just the animated medium, but in Marvel's entire library of entertainment.

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The first season of X-Men '97 has come to a close on Disney Plus, and as fans eagerly await what's next for these characters, it's time to look at the ten episodes available, and see which of them ranks as the most exciting, exhilarating, and truly emotional, paving the way for how the X-Men should be treated when they finally debut in the MCU.

Spoilers ahead for X-Men '97!

10 Motendo/Lifedeath - Part 1

IMDb Ranking: 7.1

• Season 1, Episode 4

Jubilee celebrates her 18th birthday, but not the way she'd like, as she is transported into a 16-bit video game as entertainment for Mojoworld. Yes, it's another one of those episodes where Mojo is the central villain, and it's a shame that one of the few Jubilee-centric episodes in the entire 90s series and revival, that she's stuck with the more obnoxious villains of the show.

There isn't much for the other characters to do in this episode, and it certainly feels like filler content for a 10 episode series, as it's mainly just Jubilee and Roberto running around a virtual world. Meanwhile, the B plot is far more interesting, as it involves a regretful Forge attempting to help a grieving Storm develop her lost powers.

9 Lifedeath - Part 2

IMDb Ranking: 7.9

• Season 1, Episode 6

Lifedeath - Part 2 focuses on Storm as she battles against the Adversary and the doubts that plague her in an attempt to save Forge and regain her powers. Meanwhile in the stars, Lilandra and Charles Xavier's relationship is challenged by Lilandra's mad sister, Deathbird, and the fate of their affair hangs in the balance on whether Charles can renounce his X-Men and move on to another life.

After the tragic genocide that took place on Genosha, Lifedeath - Part 2 gives its audience and characters some breathing room by focusing on more isolated characters and what they've been up to during that time. Whilst the stories are somewhat interesting, especially the Storm side, the events of Genosha were so heartbreaking that fans are desperate to see what happens next.

8 Fire Made Flesh

IMDb Ranking: 8.6

• Season 1, Episode 3

The X-Men can't seem to catch a break, and as another Jean Grey falls unconscious at the X-Men mansion, the team are torn between who is the real Jean Grey out of the two, and when the swap between them happened. Fire Made Flesh is like a house of horrors come to torment the X-Men, with individual fears realized from the elusive powers of Mister Sinister.

The pacing is a tad confusing for Fire Made Flesh, as not only has Jean and Cyclops just had their baby, Nathan, but now there's a mixture of two Jeans, with one being a clone, and a monster house that makes things move a little too fast, leaving no time to digest the ongoing carnage and drama.

7 To Me, My X-Men

IMDb Ranking: 8.4

• Season 1, Episode 1

The first episode of X-Men '97 does well to reintroduce these characters to fans old and new. For fans who had not seen the original X-Men cartoon, it serves as a good starting point, providing interest in their drama and their powers, whilst for old fans, it shows the progression of the show into maturity, with new storylines such as Jean's pregnancy and the continuation after Charles Xavier's "death".

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It takes a while to get the ball rolling in this episode, as it's more about setting up the board for what awaits for the show, so there isn't much to expect from it other than a good time and a good show of characters that definitely have more to say and do as time goes on.

6 Mutant Liberation Begins

IMDb Ranking: 9.1

• Season 1, Episode 2

With the shocking reveal that Magneto will now lead the X-Men under the last will and testament of Charles Xavier, things heat up pretty fast when Magneto is forced to stand trial for his crimes at the United Nations, providing an audience for anti-mutant rioters to stir the pot and even attempt an assassination on the Mutant extremist master of metal.

Mutant Liberation Begins wastes no time with its pacing, and the episode throws audiences into the action and drama that makes the X-Men work as well as it does. With more of a focus on American history, oppressors, and standing up for what's right, episode 2 shows how the series has matured over the years.

5 Bright Eyes

IMDb Ranking: 8.7

• Season 1, Episode 7

After the events of Genosha has Mutants and humans reeling from the devastation, Cyclops tasks the X-Men with finding the man responsible for the Sentinels, Bolviar Trask. Meanwhile, Rogue is on her own hunt after the death of Gambit, and her grief takes her to some dark places.

Bright Eyes is a great episode that puts a much needed focus on a grieving and vengeful Rogue. It's what audiences needed to see after the tragedy they witnessed episodes prior, and it's the perfect set up for the three part finale that is yet to come.

4 Tolerance Is Extinction - Part 1

IMDb Ranking: 9.4

• Season 1, Episode 8

With the anti-mutant human Sentinel, Bastion, unleashing his master plan across the world to turn humanity into machine to eradicate mutantkind once and for all, the separated groups of X-Men must work with the numbers they have to quell the threat, whilst Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Cable investigate the origins of this newest villain.

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Mystery and intrigue runs deep within the first part of the three part finale, and dialogue grips almost every scene. If anything, Tolerance is Extinction - Part 1 proves that the series has evolved from the 90s and serialized television. The episode also gives Wolverine and Nightcrawler fans a moment to remember, showcasing the talented animation and fight choreography that some Marvel shows and movies could only dream of.

3 Tolerance Is Extinction - Part 3

IMDb Ranking: 9.5

• Season 1, Episode 10

Xavier's dream is put to the test once more as the relations between mutants and humans grows ever closer to a world war. With the threat of Bastion and Mr. Sinister still at large, and Wolverine out of action, perhaps for good, Tolerance is Extinction - Part 3 will have fans of the show and comics wondering just how the X-Men will win this one, or, if they even will.

The finale is intense from start to finish, with fans all over holding their breaths to see who would survive, and who would not. Tolerance is Extinction - Part 3 isn't just noteworthy for featuring some iconic Marvel character cameos, but for ending on a cliffhanger that will surely make X-Men '97 Season 2 a wilder ride than it already was, with an episode full of amazing writing an pleasing action that proves why the X-Men are one of the best teams that Marvel has.

2 Tolerance Is Extinction - Part 2

IMDb Ranking: 9.5

• Season 1, Episode 9

With Magneto declaring war on humanity, the X-Men are divided on whether to help him, or stop him. With Genosha causing so much death, and such personal loss for members like Rogue, the team has never been more divided in the time that the world needs them most. Those still against Magneto fight for humanity and mutantkind to co-exist, with the team splitting to take care of Bastion and Mister Sinister, whilst the others go for Magneto on Astroid M.

The X-Men have never looked so good, with Storm back on the team, and classic outfits making their return, Tolernace is Extinction - Part 2 brings the team to their most dangerous mission yet. If fans thought what happened on Genosha was intense, then they need to tune in to episode 9 and see how these legacy characters are handled with such care, triumphed by the action and soundtrack to make comic moments come to life.

1 Remember It

IMDb Ranking: 9.8

• Season 1, Episode 5

Genosha is celebrated as a Mutant nation, where prejudice and bigotry is left behind. Mutants are free here, and as the nation prepares to join the United Nations, a few members of the X-Men are invited to the island as honorees, bringing along their personal dramas, and being met with a tragic surprise.

The emotion runs high in Remember It, and characters like Rogue, Magneto, and Gambit, take center stage for this one. The action is intense and heart stopping, and the resulting chaos in Genosha is crushing, emotional, unforgettable, and certainly irreversible for what's to come.

X-Men '97

Release Date

March 20, 2024

Seasons

1

Studio

Marvel Animation

Number of Episodes

10

Streaming Service(s)

Disney Plus