Marvel's Mightiest Mutants have returned to screens in a major way but fans might be disappointed by this particular update. X-Men '97 has made its long-awaited comeback on Disney Plus after two years, with the second season arriving with an incredible three-episode premiere. To say that it set the stage for the rest of the season would be an understatement.
Not only were fans treated to an extended look at where the X-Men have ended up after the shocking events of the season 1 finale, they also got a pretty clear picture of where this season is going to take Charles Xavier's band of superheroes. And, understandably so, attention has now turned to the next installment. That's where the disappointing news comes in.
X-Men '97 season 2 episode 4 takes the show back to weekly releases
X-Men '97 season 2 episode 4, titled, "Rise of Apocalypse - Part II", will premiere on Disney Plus on Wednesday, July 8, at 3:00 a.m. ET, 12:00 a.m. PT, 1:00 a.m. CT, and 2:00 a.m. MT. It's also the only episode that will release next week, taking the series back to its weekly release format that it had throughout the first season.
While the second season premiered with three episodes, the show will now return to releasing just one episode a week throughout the remainder of its run - which will take it up to August. And that's definitely the silver lining here because, while less weekly adventures with the X-Men doesn't sound too fun to anyone who enjoyed the three episodes that were released with the launch of season 2, a lengthier run does. Had it remained with three weekly episodes, it would have finished its run within three weeks.
While the first season of X-Men '97 released two episodes as part of its double-premiere, the triple-premiere is much more in line with Prime Video's release strategy - which has become increasingly popular over the years, particularly for animated favorites like Invincible. This model - a three-episode premiere and subsequent weekly episodes - allows fans to enjoy the best of both worlds in an industry torn between binge-watching and weekly releases. And it helps to ensure that the premieres perform better in general due to the sheer mass of episodes, while ensuring that the show remains in the public consciousness for weeks as well.
The other silver lining here is that this particular episode will undoubtedly be a major one in and of itself, so one might well be more than enough for fans. Better yet, we're all lucky that it's "Rise of Apocalypse - Part II" and not "Part I", which was the third of this week's episodes. And leaving fans on a cliffhanger may well be a great way to ensure that they tune back in next week, but to feature a "Part I" as a standalone likely wouldn't have sat too well with them either.
So, there you have it: The X-Men are back and, after a surprise bingeable three-episode premiere, X-Men '97 will now revert to weekly episodic releases. And just like that, it's the '90s and we're all watching X-Men: The Animated Series on a weekly basis all over again!
X-Men '97 arrives with new episodes on Disney Plus every Wednesday.
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