Why there should be X-Men '97 season 2? Exploring reasons that support the series' renewal

After the exciting ending, it looks like X-Men '97 season 2 is going to get even crazier. Focusing on the titular team in a fight for Earth against Magneto and Bastion, we find our beloved X-Men in an even more troublesome situation at the end of season 1 that effectively sets up what's to come when the show returns for its next outing.

A second season for X-Men '97 was already confirmed in July 2022 during Marvel's animation panel at San Diego Comic Com, and with the ending yesterday, it looks like the show is going to delve deeper into time travel, more while also featuring the villain Apocalypse who has been teased to be the big bad going forward.

Not to mention with unfinished storylines still left, we desperately need a season 2.

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X-Men '97 season 2 is needed as storylines have already been set up

One of the biggest reasons that X-Men '97 season 2 is needed is because of the setup at the end of season 1. The ending to season 1 saw Bastion be defeated and Charles Xavier use his powers to stop Magneto. However, it also saw Asteroid M heading to Earth, set to destroy the planet.

With Magneto snapping out of Xavier's powers, he was able to stop Asteroid M from hitting Earth. However, it exploded when it was returned to the surface and the fate of the X-Men was left unknown.

It was revealed later in the episode that the explosion sent the X-Men through different periods in time with Magneto, Charles Xavier, Rogue, Beast, and Nightcrawler ending up in 3000 BC where they end up meeting a young Apocalypse. Meanwhile, Scott Summers and Jean Grey end up in 3060 AD where they end up meeting Clan Askani and are given a chance to raise young baby Nathan Summers.

With a time travel plot being set up, it looks like X-Men '97 season 2 will focus on our favorite mutants trying to get back to the time they all belong to.

Not to mention, the post-credits scene also sees Apocalypse in the present, mourning the loss of mutants in Genosa and also teasing Gambit's return as one of his Horsemen.

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X-Men '97 season 2 is also needed as there are unfinished storylines

While new set ups are made, there are many unfinished storylines left as well. X-Men '97 episode 9 saw Adamantium be ripped off from Wolverine's body by Magneto. While it might have looked like the finale would have explained whether Logan survived the attack or not - the mutant doesn't get much time to shine here.

Given that the other X-Men went through in different periods of time, it wasn't explained what happened to Wolverine following Asteroid M's explosion.

At the same time, we also don't know where Storm and Morph and thus X-Men '97 season 2 is also needed to explain exactly where these mutants are and what happened to them.

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When does X-Men '97 season 2 come out?

There currently isn't a release date for X-Men '97 season 2, but the second outing is already in development. Prior to being fired from the show, The Hollywood Reporter had confirmed that Beau DeMayo had already completed writing duties on the second season and also had plans for a third season.

Talking to Entertainment Weekly in March, producer Brad Winderbaum also confirmed that he had seen animatics for the upcoming season. He said:

"I've now seen versions of animatics for the entire second season. Obviously, when you're in that stage, there's a lot of work to do. It's editorial, but it's also still iterative because there's still story to be worked out when you put it on its feet in that way."

You can currently check out X-Men '97 on Disney+.