Warning: this review contains full spoilers for X-Men ‘97: Season 1, Episode 9!
We’ve reached the penultimate chapter of X-Men ‘97’s first season, and things are looking especially bleak for our heroes. Thousands are dead following Magneto’s latest attack, the planet itself is dying, and the X-Men are divided just when the world needs them the most. The stakes are high leading into the finale, and Episode 9 makes the most of that with an action-packed and tense new storyline.
As much as “Tolerance Is Extinction” is a melding of the comic book arcs “Operation: Zero Tolerance” and “E Is for Extinction,” the second chapter pivots to adapting 1993’s “Fatal Attractions.” As in the comic, Magneto has renewed his war on humanity, and he seeks to sway the X-Men to his cause. Tragically, if not surprisingly, he finds a pair of new recruits in Rogue and Sunspot. Sunspot’s heel turn is a little too rushed, building solely on his mother’s rejection of his mutant nature in Episode 8. With X-Men ’97 moving at such breakneck speed from week to week, there’s inevitably always some element that could use a little more breathing room.
However, Rogue’s betrayal of the team is a great continuation of her season-long arc. She rejected Magneto in Episode 5, but having suffered a profound loss since then, she’s all too willing to throw her lot in with him now. Even more so than with her decision to kill Trask in Episode 7, it’s hard to see how Rogue can simply settle back into being an X-Man after this.
This episode is equally a strong showcase for Magneto himself. He’s back to being a full-blown villain in a way we haven’t really seen since Season 1 of the original series, but understandably so. He gave Xavier’s dream an honest go, and what did it get him? This episode deftly seizes on the tragedy of Magneto’s downfall and makes his position all too understandable. There’s a real sense of tragedy to the fact that his attempt at reform ended so badly, and that the bonds of friendship between Xavier and Magneto seem so irrevocably severed now. We also see a drastically different side of Xavier here, one that’s willing to breach all ethical boundaries surrounding his powers in service of the greater good – “Tolerance Is Extinction – Part 2” provides some strong clues as to the identity of Season 2’s main villain.
Wolverine has largely taken a back seat this season, and for good reason, but it seems that’s not going to last. This week’s episode culminates in two big developments for the character, first with him delivering what seems to be the killing blow against Magneto and then (again drawing on “Fatal Attractions”) having the adamantium ripped from his bones. We can probably expect Logan to undergo a Lifedeath-style quest of his own in Season 2, hopefully with a renewed focus on exploring his mysterious past and connections to Japan. Again, it’s great to see the writers laying the foundation for the next season even as they wrap up the current one.
Thankfully, it’s not all doom and gloom in Episode 9. It’s great having Storm back in the picture, and she brings a much-needed sense of optimism to what is otherwise a bleak installment of the series. Once again, Alison Sealy-Smith is the MVP of the voice cast, making the most of Storm’s powerful, inspirational monologue and highlighting Ororo’s sisterly bond with Jean.
This episode certainly doesn’t disappoint on the action front, either. There’s a fun nod to the ’90s-era comics with the introduction of the Blue and Gold teams, and both battle sequences deliver a nonstop barrage of dynamic imagery. The Sentinel battle is especially satisfying, between Morph Hulking out and Beast literally giving a hand to his robot enemies. The Jean vs. Sinister fight also stands out, as it’s always nice to see Jean truly cut loose rather than scream and faint after lifting things.
It’s also worth pointing out how nice it is to see the X-Men sporting different costumes for a change. They might as well rename the series X-Men ’80, with the way so many characters have reverted to the classic Chris Claremont/John Byrne aesthetic. While I don’t necessarily want to see all these costume changes become permanent, it would be nice if the series continues digging deeper into the vast wardrobes these characters have built up over the years. And kudos for the dig at the live-action X-Men movies and their black leather costumes.
