X-Men '97 episode 9 review - the end is the beginning is the end

The latest episode of X-Men '97, "Tolerance Is Extinction, Pt. 2", just dropped and it’s a wild ride that will have you reaching for your anxiety meds. If you thought the tension was thick in Part 1...

This week's episode picks up right where Part 1 left us - terrified of our neighbors and expecting them to turn into Human Sentinels at any given moment. We see the aftermath of Magneto's magnetic rage against the entire planet - the population enters a countdown to an extinction event as he destroys all magnetic fields in our planet. I hate to say this, but I think he's pretty justified in his actions at this point.

Let’s get straight to the meaty parts of this week's episode, shall we? But before we do, SPOILER WARNING FOR THOSE NOT CAUGHT UP WITH THE SHOW - READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

First, there’s the mind-boggling twist with Cable. Just when you think things can’t get more intense, Mister Sinister takes control of Cable’s mind and makes him attack Jean. Poor Jean tries to bring him back with memories of his mom, but no dice. This only makes Cable go harder and leads to a heart-stopping moment where Jean gives a teary telepathic farewell to Scott before everything turns to read and we don't see or hear from Jean for the rest of the episode. Are Jean and Cable goners? Or did Cable just kill Jean? Why does Scott seem so calm about it when he tells Professor Xavier that the "Gold Team needs more time" instead of telling him what he saw? Guess we’ll have to wait for the season finale to find out.

The team dynamics are also top-notch. Splitting into two groups, the X-Men are stretched thin, racing against time to stop Bastion and his tech-terror. The stakes? Oh, you know - only the whole fate of mutantkind and, well, the entire Earth.

Then there's the climax of the ongoing battle between Magneto's extreme methods and the X-Men’s ideals. This episode really dives deep into the whole "ends justify the means" debate. Magneto’s not just a villain because he's edgy - he’s a villain with a cause, tempting even the likes of Roberto and Rogue to his side - two mutants who seem to be the most sensitive about being mutants and how their existence impacts the ones they love. It’s all about that thin line between fighting against oppression and becoming the oppressor, and I for one think Magneto is slightly justified when it comes to trying to put humanity on the extinct species list. Is he right? Probably not. Is it sweet justice for everything mutants have been put through? I most certainly think so.

With Magneto being back in business, it's clear he's been pushed way past his limit. He's not playing around. In a showdown that will have you on the edge of your seat, he goes full-on beast mode on Wolverine. I mean, he literally rips our favorite adamantium-clad hero from the inside - extracting the metal in what looks like the most painful way, ever. This is actually a scene straight from the comics, in which Wolverine does get his adamantium ripped out of him in the same violent way, but is able to use his healing powers thanks to Jean giving him a hand in keeping his body together. But, in this episode, Jean isn't there. So... *exasperated gesturing towards the screen* I suppose we shall find out next week.

The episode does get browny points for including a cameo of the Avengers I happen to embody - the Hulk. Morph changing into him and yelling "MORPH SMASH!" was pretty entertaining. Also, Storm making a comeback only to get shot back down by Sentinels was a smidge eye-roll inducing. She's an Omega-level mutant! Treat her like it, damn it!

Overall, "Tolerance Is Extinction, Pt. 2" delivers everything you love about X-Men: high stakes, intense emotions, and moral dilemmas that don’t have easy answers. The show keeps on going hard, not pulling any punches and keeping us all in suspense as this cliffhanger will undoubtedly live in our brains rent-free until we see the conclusion of the first season next week.

So, make sure your anxiety meds are within reach because this episode doesn't hold back, in what seems to be true X-Men '97 fashion. And with the finale just around the corner, who knows what’s going to happen?