X-Men '97 'Danger.exe' Review: Polaris Arc and Classic Comic Homages Make for a Strong Episode

X-Men '97 'Danger.exe' Review: Polaris Arc and Classic Comic Homages Make for a Strong Episode

At what point does Disney need to change the name of this series? X-Men '97 is really starting to lean into the early 2000s era of the comics with Episode 6, and honestly, I'm here for it. When the result is the show drawing from all-time classics like Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's New X-Men and Joss Whedon and John Cassaday's Astonishing X-Men, who are we to complain?

After the misstep that was Episode 5, "Danger.exe" bounces right back. This isn't just a surface-level nostalgia grab, either. The writers are taking the core emotional beats of those seminal runs and mapping them onto the show's existing characters in ways that feel natural, not forced.

One of the main draws here is that we finally get to see the Xavier Institute treated as what it actually is—a school for young mutants. That's something the original series and '97 always glossed over, probably because it wasn't a priority for the comics back in 1992. It's great to see the show making up for lost time, introducing a new influx of youngsters pulled from various eras of the X-lore. Naturally, that includes Quentin Quire sporting his trademark "Magneto Was Right" shirt. Fingers crossed for a "Riot at Xavier's" adaptation down the road.

The Prodigal Polaris

Continuing from the foundation laid in Episode 2, this chapter delivers a strong, focused character arc for Polaris. She makes her full break from X-Factor and tries to find her place in a world that fears her becoming the spitting image of her late father. Carolina Ravassa is absolutely killing it in the role.

She slides neatly into Kitty Pryde's "prodigal daughter" role from Astonishing X-Men, and the episode fleshes out her relationship with Professor Xavier in satisfying fashion. There's a complaint to be made that the series has enough characters in its ensemble cast already without inducting another X-Man, but when the results are this enjoyable, does it really matter?

Speaking of Xavier, this episode thrives in exploring the fallout of his tragic ordeal in Egypt and the death of his beloved Magnus. That all dovetails nicely into the introduction of Danger, as one of Xavier's most powerful tools becomes sentient and goes rogue. It's interesting that the episode shies away from the darker aspects of the Xavier/Danger backstory from the comics—where the Professor knew she had become sentient and kept her enslaved anyway. I don't know that such a reveal was needed here, so it's probably just as well the writers didn't go down that road. Xavier has enough blood on his hands as it is.

A Bold New Status Quo

"Danger.exe" culminates in a terrific battle sequence in the ruins of Genosha, one that again showcases just how strong the animation is in this series. And though Danger herself seems to be a one-and-done villain, there is some significant fallout. Xavier finds a way to honor his old friend by reclaiming the ruins of Genosha for mutantkind and spearheading X-Corp (there's that New X-Men influence again).

I'm enjoying how much the series is taking advantage of the fraught political climate post-Operation: Zero Tolerance. If the X-Men can't exist on American shores any longer, they'll just plant their flag somewhere else. So it seems the new status quo going forward is one where we have one group of X-Men operating as teachers at the Institute and another carrying out missions from Genosha. Sort of a Blue Team/Gold Team divide. It's an intriguing new setup, though there's the eternal concern about whether the series is taking on too much at once. At some point, X-Men '97 really needs to grow beyond these limited 9-10 episode seasons.

Finally, we get a big tease on the Apocalypse front, as we see the mutant tyrant make good on his promise to resurrect Gambit. It's a cool scene, particularly with how it transforms Gambit's imagery from playing cards to tarot cards. I can't wait to see how the series handles the big Death reveal.

"Danger.exe" is a confident rebound that reminds you why this show is so special. It respects the past but isn't afraid to evolve, proving there's room for more than just '90s nostalgia here.