‘X-Men ‘97’ Episode 1 Recap & Review: To Me, My X-Men

Warning: Spoilers ahead for X-Men ’97 Episode 1.

After nearly 30 years, everyone’s favorite team of mutants returns in X-Men ‘97, with the first two episodes now streaming exclusively on Disney+. Following Charles Xavier’s (Cedric Smith) death, the X-Men continue their mission for the peaceful coexistence of humans and mutantkind. When a mutant hate group takes a young mutant with some advanced tech, the X-Men discover an old nemesis that threatens everything they have fought for and the future they are trying to build.

The Mutants Immediately Show Up To Save the Day in ‘X-Men ’97’ Episode 1

The episode opens with a young mutant (Gui Augustini) being taken away by members of the hate group Friends of Humanity, or F.O.H. They bring him to an old skating rink, but suddenly, the party is broken up by the arrival of Storm (Alison Sealy-Smith) and Bishop (Isaac Robinson Smith). The two mutants fight off the thugs until they begin using high-tech arm canons that can knock them both out.

Just then, Cyclops (Ray Chase), the new leader of the X-Men, shows up and makes quick work of the group until they reveal a repossessed Sentinal arm — the mutant killing robots created by Bolivar Trask (Phil Lamarr) in the original series. The thugs subdue Cyclops but make the mistake of taking off his visor, which restrain his eyebeams. Using his unfiltered optic eye blast, Cyclops blows the whole place and escapes with the young mutant and his teammates.

The X-Men Gather Together for the First Time Since ‘X-Men: The Animated Series’

Back at the X-mansion, Cyclops grills Gambit (A.J. LoCascio) about not joining the raid. Rogue (Lenore Zann) comes to Gambit’s defense and tells Cyclops to lighten up a bit. Then Charles Xavier comes into the kitchen to offer advice to his star pupil, but it turns out to be Morph (JP Karliak). Jean also joins the group, and we see that she is pregnant.

After meeting up with the young mutant, he wakes up from his ordeal with the F.O.H., and his name is revealed to be Roberto. Following this, Beast (George Buza) and Jubilee (Holly Chou) are introduced before Cyclops and Storm visit to question Roberto about the thugs and Sentinels. Cyclops and Jean then meet with Dr. Cooper (Catherine Disher) to tell her about the Sentinel tech and ask her to look into it. Jean suggests that the X-Men don’t need them anymore and that they should leave to raise their son. Cyclops isn’t thrilled with the notion, but Jean assures him it’s okay to let go.

On the basketball court, Jubliee blasts Wolverine back into the hoop, and we learn that Wolverine caused Rodrigo to run off. Worried that the F.O.H. will find him, Cyclops orders the rest of the team to look for him. Wolverine, Morph, Rogue, Gambit, and Jubilee follow Rodrigo to a nightclub, and the F.O.H. also arrives looking for him. The team makes quick work of them and recovers one of their sentinel blasters.

Even as Heroes Mutants Are Seen As Threats In ‘X-Men ’97’ Episode 1

Cyclops and Storm then question Henry Gyrich (Todd Haberkorn), who originally financed the Sentinel program and killed Professor Xavier. Gyrich is unwilling to help them and tells them they should be wiped out. Then come the big guns as Jean uses Xavier’s Cerebro to infiltrate Gyrich’s mind and discovers Trask in the Sahara desert.

As the team flies over to find Trask, a Sentinel comes out of nowhere and destroys the X-jet. The X-Men fight off the Sentinels and find Trask, who unveils the Master Mold, a super Sentinel, and unleashes an army of zombie Sentinels.

The team jumps into action but is overwhelmed by the machines until Storm comes and rains lightning down upon them, turning the sand into glass and creating a tornado with the shards that quickly destroy the remaining Sentinels.

The X-Men Take the Fight to Master Mold

With the rest of the Sentinels down, Master Mold joins the fight. Wolverine and Gambit take the fight to Master Mold, charging Wolverine’s claws with kinetic energy, and Morph turns into Blob to launch him in the air and decapitate the Master Mold.

Dr. Cooper and the government arrive to arrest Trask, and she tells Cyclops that the X-Men have saved the world yet again and that Professor Xavier would be proud of him. Cyclops quickly brushes off the compliment, saying it has always been a team effort.

A New Leader for a New Team of X-Men

Back at the X-Mansion, Jubilee tells Roberto that the team defeated Trask, and he can’t wait to leave. Jubilee shares that she was a runaway like him, and the X-Men saved her. She explains how this is a place where he can be himself and be accepted, and we learn that Roberto has been hiding his mutant abilities from everyone, even his parents. Roberto shows off his solar energy powers but rejects Jubilee’s offer and leaves her with his card.

The rest of the X-Men resume their basketball game, and Cyclops tells the team that he and Jean will be leaving. They are then interrupted by alarms going off in Professor Xavier’s office. The team rushes in, ready for a fight, to find none other than Magneto (Matthew Waterson). He reveals Xavier’s last will and testament, which leaves Magneto the school, his fortune, and control of the X-Men.

‘X-Men ’97’ Is a Love Letter to the Franchise

X-Men ‘97 is everything a fan of the original series could want and more. The animation is crisp and smooth, but it still somehow captures that same feel from the 90s series. This first episode is the perfect re-introduction to the team and truly makes it feel like we never left. While Fox had the X-Men, the Avengers had their moment in the sun, but now Marvel’s A-list team is back, and they are truly better than ever.

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