Marvel Animation’s X-Men ’97 Season 2 streams new episodes weekly on Disney+ starting July 1, 2026.
Synopsis
The second season of the American animated television series X-Men ’97 is based on the Marvel Comics superhero team X-Men. The series is a revival of X-Men: The Animated Series (1992–1997), continuing the story of the X-Men. In the season, the X-Men are scattered throughout time—from Ancient Egypt to the far future—and must find their way back to the 1990s to stop Apocalypse. It is produced by Marvel Studios Animation, with Beau DeMayo as head writer and Jake Castorena as supervising director.
Review
Prepare to sing along to the best theme song around, because X-Men ’97 is back with its fourth—and incredibly juicy—episode. It’s a story of the past, present, and future colliding, and each timeline is equally in peril. It’s some good stuff.
Last week’s three-episode launch saw the X-Men scramble in an effort to stop Apocalypse, both in the past and the present, from becoming the god-like killer he is. However, the plot thickens in Episode 4 as new issues arise, and the X-Men find themselves up against an unbeatable circumstance: destiny. That impossible situation raises one of the episode’s biggest questions, and Rogue makes a compelling point: if they’re truly in the past, then everything they do in the here and now could reshape the future, including Remy’s fate. But can they really undo what’s already been written?
While the team wrestles with fate, one thing remains constant: Magneto will always find a way to get the X-Men into trouble, regardless of where—or when—they find themselves. However, in this episode, oh boy, does he have an arc. After destroying the X-Men’s route home, they’re forced to forge a new path, one packed with twists, turns, and devastating loss. Yet it’s not just his actions that make him stand out. Magneto gets a moment that reminds you exactly why he’s one of Marvel’s greatest characters. It’s powerful, emotional, and so utterly epic that it genuinely brings a tear to your eye.
The undertones in his relationship with Charles add another layer of complexity, making every interaction between them feel deeply meaningful. They’re truly the O.G. “will they, won’t they?” if you think about it. That emotional thread continues throughout the episode. Their relationship is remarkably tender, and one particular scene beautifully reinforces the idea that every yin needs its yang. Just when it seems like they’ve finally found a moment of solace, the show pulls the rug out from under both them and the audience. It’s emotionally devastating and leaves you feeling completely hollow.
Of course, Magneto isn’t the only force driving the tension. Apocalypse more than lives up to his reputation as a terrifying villain. He delivers a moment that is dark, shocking, and destined to go down as one of the series’ most unforgettable scenes. I particularly enjoyed how the show seems to understand that his design can come across as a little cheesy, so it goes above and beyond to present him as a genuine threat—someone to fear. And it’s working.
What makes all of this even more fascinating is the episode’s exploration of destiny. No matter what the X-Men do, they seem to be at the mercy of fate. In some cases, what they believe they’re changing may simply be the way events were always meant to unfold.
That theme is reinforced by the episode’s larger mythology. We also witness the dawn of Apocalypse alongside the appearance of a Celestial. It’s thrilling to see how heavily Apocalypse’s origins draw inspiration from the Celestials and the wider cosmic mythology of Marvel. As the episode delves further into his origins, watching Apocalypse’s transformation into the imposing, monstrous figure fans know is both unsettling and captivating.
The emotional weight of everything that comes before culminates in a beautifully restrained finale. There’s no music—just devastating dialogue. As the screen slowly fades to black, the episode lingers on the silence for longer than you expect, making the emotional gut punch hit even harder.
Verdict
Overall, X-Men ’97 continues to prove that animation is one of the most powerful mediums for epic storytelling. It’s emotionally devastating while maintaining an iron grip on its audience. You simply can’t look away, even if you wanted to. And just when you think it’s over, the episode ends with a post-credits scene that sets up what’s to come in spectacular fashion, leaving you desperate for the next chapter.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
