X-Men '97 Episode 5 Has Marvel Fans All Saying The Same Thing

To call Episode 5 of “X-Men ’97” intense would be an understatement. Much of the titular team travels to the mutant nation of Genosha, where Magneto (Matthew Waterson) is considered to preside over it. What could’ve been a momentous occasion, however, quickly turns dire. A group of mutant-killing Sentinels emerges and blindsides the populace, seemingly resulting in the deaths of such notable names as Madelyne Pryor (Jennifer Hale), Gambit (A.J. LoCascio), and even Magneto himself. It’s a tragic installment, and Beau DeMayo’s thorough explanation of it makes it clear just how well he knows these characters, their world, and the fanbase’s connection to it all.

On X, DeMayo explained that “Remember It” is a pivotal episode in “X-Men: The Animated Series” and “X-Men ’97” lore, describing it as a bridge between the nostalgic past and the more dangerous, uncertain present. “Like many of us who grew up on the OG cartoon, the X-Men have now been hit hard by the realities of an adult and unsafe world,” he wrote, comparing the Genosha attack to such traumatic historical events as 9/11 or the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting. In the wake of it, the X-Men will find themselves at a crossroads, having to decide who they’ll be going forward and how they’ll adjust to this new, frightening era — just as kids of the 1990s have had to come to terms with the era they’ve become adults in.

It’ll be interesting to see what the future holds for the heroes and villains of “X-Men ’97” beyond “Remember It” as the program’s premiere season continues. It’ll also be intriguing to see if anything comes of Episode 5’s secret “What If…?” cameo, which has the potential to change everything.