X-Men ’97 Season 2, Episodes 1-3 Review & Recap

Emotionally, this reunion gives the episode all the hook it needs, especially in light of the farewell between Scott/Jean and Cable last season. It deftly cuts to the core of what made The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix such a seminal storyline and seizes on that parental dynamic. My only complaint here is that this is another case where one episode doesn’t seem quite enough to do the material full justice. I would have liked to see the Scott/Jean/Nathan story play out even longer. But alas, this series is ever marching forward.

As a huge fan of Rick Remender and Jerome Opena’s Uncanny X-Force, I was also very pleased to see this episode draw on that run as well, specifically with the introduction of the Final Horsemen. Here, too, the only problem is that these characters don’t play a big enough role. Maybe the series should have spent multiple episodes in the far future before wrapping things up?

In any case, X-Men ‘97 returns to the present for “A Force to Be Reckoned With,” as the adult Cable (Chris Potter) recruits Jubilee (Holly Chou) and Sunspot (Gui Agustini) to join his new X-Force squad. Tonally, this episode serves as a very fun change of pace, and one that really leans into the over-the-top nature of those classic X-Force comics. Sure, it would be nice if the roster included more of those traditional early X-Force characters, but the spirit is there, regardless. We even get a new, bespoke intro sequence out of the deal.

Episode 2 is a great ‘90s-flavored romp, but its main appeal rests in the uncomfortable dynamic between Cable and Jubilee. On one hand, you have the hyper-militant, gun-toting soldier who believes that the ends always justify the means. On the other hand, you have one of the youngest and most idealistic members of Xavier’s school, one not willing to sacrifice her morals even in these dark days. A fitting conflict for an episode so geared toward this more aggressive brand of mutant super-team.

It’s also satisfying to see X-Factor utilized so well in this episode. It makes sense to bring them in as the government-sanctioned answer to the X-Men and X-Force, especially as we see how quickly they become pawns of an administration not overly sympathetic to mutant rights. Polaris (Carolina Ravossa) is definitely the standout character here, as she gets a small but vital character arc over the course of Episode 2.