‘X-Men ’97’ Season 2 Release Date, Episodes 1-3 Review and Premiere Highlights
Following up on a surprise hit brings its own set of challenges, and ‘X-Men ’97‘ enters its second season with that expectation. The first season of this Disney Plus revival transformed a cherished nineties cartoon into one of the most discussed animated series in recent times, all while daring to take risks with beloved characters.
This reputation left Season 2 with no room for error. The shocking conclusion of Season 1 left the team fractured across various timelines after a devastating defeat, and the series needed to demonstrate its ability to piece together those fragments while retaining the essence of the original series.
It certainly succeeds. From the very first moments of “Days of Past Future” to the two-part cliffhanger that concludes “Rise of Apocalypse Part I,” this opening stretch masterfully balances grand scope with personal moments, a feat few animated superhero shows even attempt, let alone achieve.
The choice to divide the X-Men into three separate groups—one in ancient Egypt circa 3,000 B.C., another in the present with a new team called X Force, and a third thrown into a bleak future nearly two millennia ahead—could have easily felt like a stretched gimmick. Instead, each timeline is given enough space to develop, allowing it to feel like its own self-contained narrative while trusting the audience to follow all three threads without excessive guidance.
In ancient Egypt, we see Magneto, Xavier, Rogue, Beast, and Nightcrawler interact with a younger version of Apocalypse, and witnessing this group navigate a world devoid of their usual technology and strategies is genuinely thrilling. Magneto, in particular, receives some of the most engaging material of the premiere, as his ongoing quest to embody Xavier’s dream faces new and unforeseen challenges the further back in time he travels.
The future timeline carries significant emotional weight, especially as it explores Cyclops and Jean Grey reconnecting with their son Nathan, now an adult shaped by a world we’ve yet to witness. The tenderness in these scenes is unexpectedly moving, avoiding the pitfall of using a family reunion as mere emotional manipulation.
However, the premiere occasionally struggles with the amount of plot it juggles in a thirty-minute runtime per episode. There were moments in these three episodes where I wished the show would slow down and linger longer on certain scenes, particularly during the political maneuvering in the present timeline, as the pacing sometimes overshadows the emotional beats it aims to deliver.
Nonetheless, the action hits hard whenever it occurs. The animation team has managed to make every blast, claw swipe, and elemental attack feel more impactful than in the previous season, and the show’s commitment to ensuring its violence carries real consequences continues to distinguish it from most superhero television currently airing.
By the time “Rise of Apocalypse Part I” concludes, it’s evident that this show is still operating at the peak of its abilities, understanding that character development and spectacle can coexist harmoniously. I finished these three episodes more eager for what lies ahead than I was at any point during the first season, which is a significant compliment given my admiration for that initial run. My score for this premiere stretch is 9 out of 10, slightly docked only for a pacing that occasionally races ahead, but overall, it’s a confident and rewarding return that long-time fans could only hope for.
Do you agree with this premiere’s reception, or did these first three episodes resonate differently for you? Share your thoughts in the comments.