The X-Men are back and are better than ever. X-Men ’97 has proven to many that the X-Men are more than just another superhero team.

A continuation of the 90’s X-Men Saturday morning cartoon, X-Men ’97 has a more adult-orientated direction.

X-Men ’97 was able to do the impossible. It continues the story of the old show whilst making the new show watchable, and does not require any viewing of the original 90’s show.

“Gods abandon those that believe in them. Mutants do not”

Image credit: Marvel Animation

An important change for ’97 was shifting from thirteen to sixteen, twenty-minute episodes, to ten, thirty to forty-minute episodes.

The smaller number of episodes and longer runtime allowed ’97 to tell a more focused story and allows the characters to grow.

The show builds on the world established in the 90’s show and takes the story in a very interesting directions that remain true to the continuity of the original.

The story follows the X-Men attempting to find their place in the world without Professor X. Instead the team are guided by the once-evil, Magneto.

Moving away from the serialised story telling of the original series, X-Men ’97 follows the steps of recent Marvel shows. Each episode leads into the next, building to an unforgettable finale.

The biggest change in X-Men ’97 is its focus on the central characters, over a wider narrative for most of its run.

Almost every X-Men gets their change to shine. Storm and Rogue have episodes almost solely dedicated to their own stories.

The writing helps to elevate the characters and transform them into more than just one note good guys and bad guys, like they were in the original show.

Some characters that benefit heavily from the new writing are; Magneto, Gambit and Rogue. To name a few.

Magneto and Gambit are easily the highlights of the show. Both are almost mirrors of one another and their relationship with Rogue only makes this more complicated.

That’s not even only love triangle. Scott Summers, Jean Grey and someone else are entangled in a complicated relationship that’s incredibly engrossing to watch.

The focus on drama and relationships helps to create realistic characters and establish connection to the audience.

“Blood is blood. Family is a choice”

Image credit: Marvel Animation

X-Men ’97 isn’t just a wonderfully written and acted show. The animation is gorgeous, and at times jaw dropping.

From large scale explosions, to a floating dance sequence. The animators put in the work and it’s amazing to see.

The action and fight sequences given special attention. There are multiple one-take fight scenes and fights that play out like a coreographed dance.

Episode five is when everything previously mentioned, truly comes into play. The turning point of the season, the episode proves that ’97 isn’t for younger audiences.

Of course, there are light-hearted moments and comedy, primarily through the shape-shifting mutant Morph. However, these moments don’t overstay their welcome.

The three part finale, “Tolerance is Extinction”, is a non-stop thrill ride of jaw dropping action and tear jerking character moments that will have the audience screaming.

The entire show is filled with surprises and twists that are often pulled from the comics, but not in the same order they occur in the source material.

The show does fall into the MCU trappings of frequent cameos and post credit scenes. However, these issues aren’t a problem as the cameos serve a purpose to further the danger of the big bad of the season.

The score is also incredible. Done by the Newton Brothers, they remix the iconic original theme and most of their score is wholly original. On par with the work Henry Jackman did on X-Men: First Class.

Showrunner, Beau DeMayo, had a clear love for the X-Men and everything to do with them. His work is one of the biggest reason this show is as good as it is.

One of the common complaints about X-Men ’97 is that it doesn’t give enough time to arguably the most prolific mutant, Wolverine.

Taking Wolverine out of the lime light has allowed the writers to spend more time on under developed characters, like Nightcrawler, Rogue and Gambit.

“Remember it.”

Image credit: Marvel Animation

X-Men ’97 is easily the best show Marvel has put out in a long time. It’s heart warming and heart breaking all at the same time.

It’s great to see the wider X-Men get the respect they deserve, the entire audience opinion on Cyclops has also shifted. Finally he is a genuine character that isn’t just a boy scout.

At times, the show criticises other depictions of the X-Men, but never goes out of it’s way to slander them.

The X-Men are back and I cannot wait to see what is to come for Marvels greatest family.

Featured image credit: Marvel Animation