X-Men '97 Season 2 Episode 7 Review: Nightcrawler, Exodus and Colossus Steal the Show

I think a lot of X-Men fans have been waiting for this episode, I am sorry this review is so late!

As great as X-Men '97 has been, Colossus has never really gotten the spotlight he deserves. The original animated series barely scratched the surface with him, so seeing Episode 7 finally give him a meaningful story was something I've been waiting for. If Nightcrawler can become one of the breakout stars of this revival, then Colossus absolutely deserves his moment too.

The episode opens by showing us where Colossus and his sister Illyana were during the Genosha massacre. I'm not going to lie, I was disappointed to see Illyana killed off so quickly. I needed more time with Magik. She's a character with so much untapped potential, and I would've loved to see more of her. That said, her death gives Colossus a believable reason to walk away from Xavier's dream and join the Acolytes, just like he did in the comics.

That decision sets up one of the most interesting conflicts we've seen all season. The Acolytes, led by Exodus, kidnap Graydon Creed, and the new X-Corp team has to step in before they execute him. What I really enjoyed here is that the episode isn't just about superheroes punching each other. It's about different ideologies and different ways of fighting for mutantkind.

This is exactly why I was looking forward to  the X-Corp storyline. It gives us another perspective instead of repeating the same Xavier School formula every episode. Honestly, I just wish this season had a few more episodes because I'd love to spend more time with both teams before everything inevitably shifts toward Apocalypse, I don't want it to feel rushed

And let's be honest, with only two episodes left, that's exactly where we're headed. One of my favorite parts of the episode was watching Nightcrawler and Exodus debate their beliefs. Both characters make strong arguments, and for a while you honestly don't know which direction Colossus is going to lean.

When Exodus finally decides to execute Graydon Creed, I really thought Nightcrawler had managed to reach Colossus. Instead, the episode pulls the rug out from under you, making that final reveal land even harder.

This was easily Colossus' best episode in the series. (Original series included).

Not because he had the biggest action scenes, but because we finally got to understand who he is as a person. His compassion has always been one of his defining traits, and this episode does a fantastic job exploring that.

Seeing him return to Xavier's side by the end of the episode was incredibly satisfying, and now I'm even more excited to see him interact with Wolverine and Nightcrawler and others as the series keeps going. I also have to give a shoutout to Bishop and Polaris and I honestly hate shipping people but this just works for me! Those two are becoming one of my favorite pairings and this is only their second episode together.  Their personalities bounce off each other really well, and every scene they're in is entertaining.

Then there's that ending. X-Force discovers what's left of Apocalypse in Greece, and now I have even more questions than answers. Is Gambit simply one of Apocalypse's Horsemen, or has Apocalypse somehow taken him over completely? 

Overall, Strange Land, Savage Heart may not have been the action-heavy episode some fans were expecting, but I actually appreciated that. It slowed things down just enough to give Colossus the character development he's deserved for years while continuing to build the political tension between the different mutant factions.

It also made great use of Exodus, continued developing Bishop and Polaris, and reminded us why Nightcrawler remains one of the emotional hearts of this series.

There really isn't a dull moment in X-Men '97 and with only two episodes left, I have a feeling things are about to get absolutely insane. I HOPE!

What did you think?

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