‘X-Men ’97’ Season 2 Episode 7 Review: A Unique Courtroom Drama in the Jungle

‘X-Men ’97‘ continues to explore a range of tones, and its seventh episode of season two, titled “Strange Land, Savage Heart,” pushes that boundary further than previous episodes. The storyline transports the team to the Savage Land, where Magneto’s absence creates an opportunity for the Acolytes, now under Exodus’s leadership, to assert their influence. This episode arrives at a time when the season has been weaving multiple narratives involving Genosha, X-Corp, and the pursuit of Apocalypse, opting to slow the pace rather than rush ahead.

The premise resembles a bottle episode, as Graydon Creed is captured and brought before an Acolyte tribunal. This trial juxtaposes Nightcrawler’s faith in redemption against Exodus’s belief that mercy is a luxury that dead mutants can no longer afford. It’s a bold choice for a superhero cartoon to dedicate so much time to dialogue instead of action, and it largely succeeds because the show has established enough rapport with its characters, making their debates feel as engaging as their battles.

The episode truly shines with Colossus. Piotr has often felt like background scenery, a strong figure without much depth, but here his grief over Illyana becomes the emotional core of the episode. His struggle with the Acolytes and his contemplation of whether gentleness has run its course deliver a powerful emotional punch that the writers have clearly aimed to achieve. His return to the Institute at the episode’s conclusion carries significant weight, showcasing the best character development he has received since the series began.

However, the episode does have its flaws that prevent it from reaching greatness. Illyana’s death, which opens the episode, doesn’t receive the attention it deserves, serving primarily as a catalyst for another character’s arc rather than being treated as a significant loss. The pacing also falters, shifting between the trial, a jungle skirmish featuring Bishop and Polaris, and a concluding hint about Apocalypse’s fate in Greece, leaving none of these threads fully explored. This episode feels more like it is servicing the overarching season narrative than telling a complete story on its own.

Nonetheless, it is commendable for a cartoon to allow its heroes to experience discomfort rather than providing them with a straightforward victory. Exodus is not portrayed as a typical villain; instead, he is depicted as someone who genuinely believes that coexistence has failed. Nightcrawler’s response is one of stubborn hope rather than a definitive rebuttal. Neither side emerges victorious, and this refusal to neatly resolve the conflict reflects a level of maturity that the franchise has sought for years without always achieving it. The final scene, featuring Cable and the X-Force standing over Apocalypse’s remains, with a significant card left behind, sets the stage for a second half of the season that feels unexpectedly unpredictable.

Overall, this episode sacrifices momentum for introspection and largely benefits from it. The character development with Colossus alone justifies the narrative detour, even if the show occasionally seems sidetracked by its supporting cast, detracting from the central grief introduced at the start. I found myself contemplating Piotr’s choices long after the credits rolled, which is more than I can say for many of the action-driven episodes this season has presented. This episode earns 8 out of 10, a strong hour slightly hindered by an underutilized death and a script that juggles too many plotlines.

Did Colossus’s arc resonate with you as it did with me, or did the trial subplot feel overly extended? Share your thoughts in the comments.