X-Men '97 Episode 1 Continues A Huge Series Mistake – But Marvel Fans Fixed It

One particularly entertaining fan theory about the X-Men not knowing — or rather, acknowledging — Angel is about pettiness and romantic triangles, something they’re known for thanks to Cyclops (Ray Chase), Jean Grey (Jennifer Hale), and Wolverine (Cal Dodd). “Perhaps in this version, the original X-Men love triangle (Scott-Jean-Warren) was resolved in a far more messy manner than in the comics, leading to extremely hard feelings all around, to the point where Scott won’t even call Warren by his first name anymore,” u/Unhappy_Attention41 wrote.

Whether you prefer the Angel situation to be due to mind control, personal grudges, or simply a production error, there’s no denying that it’s extremely confusing — even if you did watch “X-Men: The Animated Series” before “X-Men ’97.” On the one hand, the fact that the new show continues the story so faithfully is a good thing, especially since “X-Men: The Animated Series” paved the way for the Marvel Cinematic Universe with its crossovers, guest stars, and ambitious story arcs.

On the other hand, its apparent adherence to the original’s errors — at least when it comes to Angel — could lead to confusion in a show that already boasts an extremely convoluted storyline. Even in the live-action movies, the entire “X-Men” timeline is a handful. Consider how a second Jean Grey arrives in “X-Men ’97” Episode 2, potentially changing everything, and it’s easy to see how the animated version may be even tougher to keep tabs on — with or without accidental continuity errors.