This article contains spoilers for X-Men ‘97 Episode 8
Summary
X-Men ‘97begins its epic three-part finale with plenty of style and action in episode 8, “Tolerance is Extinction - Part 1.” WhileX-Men ‘97episode 8 spends much of its first half providing exposition and putting all of the pieces in place, it ultimately ends with some big questions for the final two episodes, and leaves everything in a very uncertain place.
Previously, the show used its final act to introduce viewers to Bastion, a villain who is apparently even more dangerous than Mister Sinister, but for the uninitiated, was totally shrouded in mystery.X-Men ‘97episode 8 wisely takes the time to explain just who this new threat is, but still raises more questions for anyone who is not steeped in X-Men lore.
What happens in X-Men ‘97 Episode 8?
“Tolerance is Extinction - Part 1"starts things off fairly slowly, with Cyclops reckoning with the fact thatCable is the grown-up version of his son, Nathan Summers. He feels guilt over sending him into a dangerous future, and wishes that he could have learned how to be abetter father from Professor X.
Tolerance is Extinction - Part 1
Beau DeMayo and Anthony Sellitti
Directed By
Chase Conley
Later, Cable lays out Bastion’s plan to the team: the villain plans to use the Genosha attack to drive thecreation of his Prime Sentinels, which are created by infecting humans with the techno-organic virusMister Sinisterused to infect baby Nathan back inX-Men ‘97episode 3. His ultimate goal is to create anentirely new species.As Cable points out, the future is a bright utopia for anyone except mutants, who are either killed or enslaved. Cable reveals the location of one of Bastion’s facilities, leading to disagreement over how to approach it between him and Cyclops. The team also sees a news report that revealsCharles Xavier is still alive, therefore revealing the truth to the world.
I hope that I’m not too late - Charles Xavier (X-Men ‘97 Episode 8)
It is also during this meeting thatX-Men ‘97episode 8sneakily ties itself to the larger MCU. Cable explains how no matter what he does, he is always pulled away from the Genosha attack and unable to prevent it. Beast mentions that the"Mystics of Kamar-Taj speak of absolute points. Events that occur across all timelines.“Absolute points, or something similar to them, have been mentioned elsewhere in the MCU (sometimes in relation to the sacred timeline), suggesting that all of the events seen in this series could eventually be tied into the wider universe.
Meanwhile, Jubilee and Roberto are still staying with Roberto’s mother, who is planning to hold a benefit for the victims in Genosha. Much in the vein of her attitude shown in the previous episode, she cares more about milking donors than actually helping mutants. She also takes a potshot at the X-Men, leading Jubilee and Roberto to some much-needed"retail therapy.”
X-Men ‘97episode 8 also reveals that Rogue has been sidelined bylast week’s Prime Sentinel attack. While she recovers, Nightcrawler and Jean Grey watch over her and discuss how sometimes,“family is a choice.”
Elsewhere, it is revealed that Cooper had at least a small part in what happened in Genosha, but she feels immense guilt over it. Magneto refuses to acknowledge her. At X Mansion,Beast is visited by Trish Tilby, the reporter from previous episodes.
Cable, Cyclops, and Jean Grey head to a town called Harmony to find Bastion’s facility, only to realize that it is actually his childhood home, whereBastion’s mother is still living.Jean peers into Bastion’s pastto learn that his father wasinfected by future sentinel technology(involving classic villain Nimrod). Bastion is, therefore, thedescendent of all Sentinels, and seems to be able to communicate with technology (a power hinted at in the previous episode).
Bastion reveals his ultimate plan,Operation Zero Tolerance, to Cooper (after a meeting featuring a couple of fun Marvel cameos). He is using human volunteers as test subjects to become Prime Sentinels, essentially fueling his experiments with resentment toward mutants. He then sends his sentinels back out into the world with no memory of their time with him, leaving them as ticking timebombs waiting to attack. Bastion’s rationalizations about what he is doing sound very close to explanations used in the real world for scaremongering about immigration, once again highlighting just how muchX-Men ‘97is pulling from the real world for its stories.
How Does X-Men ‘97 Episode 8 end?
The prime Sentinels awaken and begin their attack
It doesn’t take long for thePrime Sentinelsto jump into action, with hundreds of them coming to life across the world and beginning their attack. This includes Bastion’s own mother, whose transformationevokes an Evil Dead-esque sense of body horror. Jubilee and Roberto are attacked at the mall, and even Tilby herself is a sentinel, waking up and attacking Beast.
The final half ofX-Men ‘97is essentially one long action sequence, and its presentation is a masterclass in cross-cutting. Cyclops, Cable, and Jean Grey face off against a hoard of Sentinels who attack them in the Blackbird before the trio escapes in a Porsche. All three use their powers to attack the Sentinels and make their escape.
Let’s show these toasters why you don’t screw with Summers! - Cyclops
Back at X Mansion, Nightcrawler and Wolverine fight off another group of attackers, with Nightcrawler wielding swords and Wolverine slicing and dicing with his adamantium claws. Despite all of their efforts, the mansion is practically destroyed and surrounded by even more Sentinels.
Roberto and Jubilee manage to temporarily escape, withRoberto using his Sunspot powersin full for the first time (there’s even a funny moment where Jubilee tries to use her powers to fly, only to fall before being caught by Roberto, who can fly). The pair land inRoberto’s mother’s fundraiser, and in one of the more heartbreaking moments of the episode, she turns her son and Jubilee over to the Sentinels chasing them.
Magneto lets loose and Xavier returns (plus Marvel cameos)
Cooper frees Magneto, much to Bastion’s disappointment. In a demonstration of just how powerful he can be, Magneto flies himself to Earth’s magnetic pole and unleashes aworldwide magnetic pulse, disabling all electronics, including all of the Prime Sentinels. Here, the episode throws in a few more fun cameos as characters react to the massive magnetic surge.
Every Marvel cameo in X-Men ‘97 Episode 8:
Finally, while everything has settled down at X Mansion a probe crash lands, revealing Charles Xavier. In the final moments ofX-Men ‘97episode 8, Xavier calls out to his X-Men, hinting at the team reuniting and facing a more familiar threat in Magneto.
X-Men ‘97is available to stream on Disney Plus.
X-Men ‘97
The animated X-Men team returns in the Disney Plus reboot, X-Men ‘97. With Professor X gone, Cyclops, Wolverine, Jean Grey, and the rest of the mutants find themselves under the leadership of Magneto and facing a new threat. X-Men ‘97 is the first project under the newly created Marvel Animation banner.
