‘X-Men ‘97’ Episode Eight Recap: “Tolerance Is Extinction – Part 1”

Warning: the following article contains spoilers for episode eight of X-Men ’97.

Here we are. The final episode of X-Men ‘97 is upon us and will be split into three parts, released this week and the following two weeks, culminating on May 15. The show has so far been incredible, deftly mixing potent social commentary with striking superheroic images, fantastically animated and acted, and character arcs that anyone can attach themselves to. It’s the best television series of the year so far, and the first part of the final episode, titled Tolerance is Extinction, is no different from what came before, if not better. 

After the last episode, Bright Eyes, revealed the real antagonist behind the attack on Genosha, Tolerance is Extinction – Part 1 begins with the United Nations showing to the world that not only is Professor Charles Xavier (Ross Marquand) alive, but was also poised to lead the Shi’ar with Lilandra (Morla Gorrondonna). This incites an anti-mutant protest outside Xavier’s school because the population now believes the X-Men lied about Xavier’s death when they themselves did not know that the professor faked his own demise to be with the Shi’ar. 

Inside the school, Cable (Chris Potter) tells the X-Men that he has been trying to change the outcome of the Genosha battle for some time but is always pulled back from that timeline every time he attempts. Beast (George Buza) deduced to Nathan that this is what the Kamar-Taj scholars called an “absolute point” in time and no matter the changes you make to the event, what ultimately occurs can never be modified from all timelines. 

Regardless of what you think of its canonicity to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s clear that the show is part of the larger Multiverse, which Marvel introduced well in the first season of Loki and What If…? The series expands upon key concepts on the Multiverse Saga without ever breaking continuity from what they’ve established in these properties, showing a close connection to each title, whether they are set in the 616 timeline or beyond.

Cable also tells them that Bastion (Theo James) plans to use his human/sentinel hybrids to launch a 300-year war, leading to mutants being enslaved by humans inside a utopia he has been meticulously creating. Cyclops (Ray Chase), Jean (Jennifer Hale), and Cable travel to Bastion’s childhood home and, through Jean’s psychic powers, find out that he was born a hybrid between human and mutant after his father was infected with a part of Nimrod, a sentinel who has been corrupting Bastion’s mind as he enacts his plan in motion. 

After the trio is attacked by Bastion’s mother, revealed to be a human/mutant hybrid, they find out that the whole town has been controlled by Bastion, and a mutant/human war is on the cusp of breaking out. Meanwhile, Bastion discusses with…Doctor Doom (Ross Marquand) and Zemo (Rama Vallury) are revealed to be members of OPERATION ZERO TOLERANCE (OZT!!!) How wild is it that Doctor Doom’s first Marvel Studios appearance would be in an animated series? It makes perfect sense, but it was the most unexpected appearance of the whole thing, with me thinking it would stick to Captain America and characters who already appeared in The Animated Series. 

I never expected Doom – or Spider-Man (the character appears through a voiceless cameo) – to briefly show up in this episode, ESPECIALLY in the first part of the finale. Usually, Marvel reserves cameos for the final act of its series, but they’ve completely subverted expectations here with appearances from major characters that never feel egregious but continue to enhance the story and the world the X-Men inhabit. It honestly feels like a dream that Marvel can now use all the characters they want, without restrictions, in any of the titles they deem necessary. X-Men ‘97 has showcased that potential far better than any current Multiverse-related project, though this can change when Deadpool & Wolverine eventually releases.

Doom and Zemo tell Bastion they’re concerned with the idea of turning humans into Prime Sentinels, but Bastion thinks it’s the only way to eliminate Mutants and create his utopia. Meanwhile, Mister Sinister (Christopher Britton) tells Dr. Cooper (Catherine Disher) that he plays to betray Bastion once the time is right, but the doctor eventually has a change of heart and frees Magneto (Matthew Waterson) from Bastion’s shackles. When this happens, he creates a strong electromagnetic pulse that immediately deactivates all Prime Sentinels. 

With this, the episode ends with the realization that Magneto has caused a war against Bastion, with Xavier crash-landing in the school, calling upon his X-Men to return. Already, this arc has positioned itself as one of the greatest we’ll ever see in X-Men history, and I’m sure it’ll get even wilder and far more emotionally impactful in the penultimate episodes, where the X-Men fight for not only the survival of mutants but of the human race who they always long to protect, regardless of their misunderstanding of mutants. 

The eighth episode of X-Men ‘97 is now available to stream on Disney+.