This week’s episode of X-Men ’97, “Bright Eyes”, was wild! The journey in this episode pushed the boundaries in what I was expecting from this show, and I loved it.

The episode opened with the funeral of Gambit, and it was sad. The conversations at the funeral between Jubilee, Wolverine, and Beast were excellent. It’s wild to think that this is just a continuation of the ridiculous kids cartoons of the ’90s.

Let’s skip to the end. The reveal that Bastion is behind everything is a fun twist. He’s a villain that I know literally nothing about, so it’ll be fun to learn all about him. And, OF COURSE, Magneto did survive. Never thought he was gone.

I really love everything that they’re doing with Cyclops and Jean Grey. This story is wild and engaging, and I’m really into it. Cable’s line to Jean that “You’re not her.” was intense and, obviously, true. Despite everything, he knows that Madelyne Pryor is his mother, not Jean.

Let’s talk about Rogue. She’s sad. She’s angry.

She killed a guy.

Look, I don’t care that he was already more dead, machine man than living, human man at that point. Rogue didn’t know that. And she liked him.

I was shocked. I was basically Nightcrawler in that scene. I also get it. She’s going through it right now after the death of Gambit. She’s struggling to keep it together, and it’s in full display.

Also, how cool was that Captain America appearance?

The final the episodes of the season will be telling one long story. I can’t wait to see how this season ends.