X Men ‘97
X Men ‘97 is streaming on Disney Plus at the time of writing. Rated TV-PG.
STORY: B
The story tries to be exciting, fun, and socially conscious all at once. It succeeds on all fronts.
As they reel from Dr. Xavier’s death, a new leader for the X Men must emerge. Who can they trust? And how will they keep both humans and mutants safe from newly found high-tech weaponry?
PEOPLE: B
The fast paced show finds moments to slow down long enough to let us really to get to know its many characters.
They’ve always been fascinating. The X Men’s powers alone make us interested. But we also get the chance to know a handful of them very well. That elevates the show from fun to phenomenal.
FILM NERD STUFF: B+
The editing and blocking combine to weave a bouncy, retro vibe.
X Men ‘97 leans heavily into its 90s-ness. That could have made it feel hokey,
It feels confident instead, as if it were plucked from comic books’ golden age and teleported directly to the Disney Plus platform.
MUTANTS! THEY’RE JUST LIKE US! (Elective Class): A
The story’s subtext still packs a punch.
Roberto De Costa hides his powers from his parents, fearing they won’t accept him for who he is. Jean Grey worries her baby won’t be safe in a world so hostile toward mutants. Storm suffers an injury that makes her wonder what part of society she really belongs to.
This fictional world marginalizes mutants. Our world marginalizes countless groups of people for countless reasons: who they love, the god they love, the color of their skin, or just for being “different”. Sadly, many of them carry the same fears and need to act the same way that Roberto, Jean, and Storm do.
The story (at least after the first two episodes) speaks clearly and compassionately to these groups. It may not provide any answers, but I’m not sure it’s fair to expect them from a show like this. But perhaps it can be a spotlight. If we see injustice on the screen, there’s a better chance we’ll see it in our world.
FINAL COMMENTS:
X Men ‘97 is a fast, fun roller coaster of a ride. MCU heads will love it, but you don’t need to know any X Men history to enjoy the show. This is definitely a show I would recommend to all.