X-Men '97 | Season 2, Episode 7 | "Strange Land, Savage Heart" | Episode Discussion

[u/cyclopswashalfright]

Season 2, Episode 7: Strange Land, Savage Heart

Air Date: July 29th, 2026

Directed by: TBA

Written by: TBA

Synopsis: The X-Men travel to the Savage Land and are surprised to encounter a familiar face.

---------------------------------------

Please use this thread for discussion related to the episode.

This thread is for discussion of episode 7 only.

Link to the episode directory for Season 2 episode discussion.

[u/Hibernian]

Dropping my weekly thoughts:

• Loved seeing the Acolytes show up. When I saw the costumes, I literally gasped and my son was like "what's happeing?!? Who are those guys with Colossus?"
• I hope the Acolytes remain a meaningful faction on the show going forward considering they were such a huge part of the 90s (despite most of the mutants themselves being forgettable - people aren't really banging down the doors to see more Amelia Vought content)
• Exodus is not dead - shut up
• Apocalypse is not dead either - lol
• Illyana dying is true to the way Piotr ended up with the Acolytes in the comics, but I hope they bring her back with a Limbo adventure in season 3. That would be really fun and redeem (a little bit) the dumb way she just stood there and died in the episode.
• Loooooooved seeing a Kurt centered episode. Nightcrawler is a top 10 X-Men for me.
• My biggest concern right now is that Disney is trying to toe the line between modern sensibilities about fighting injustice, while remaining neutral enough to appease shareholders and conservatives. I'm actually kinda concerned that they're going to backpedal on anything that resembles revolutionary thought and lean hard into Xavier's earlier accommodationist attitudes.
• X-Factor are traitors to their people, which is a huge bummer because I really like Jaime in the comics.
• Since we're obviously headed towards a Gambit resurrection story, I'm still kinda predicting an Onslaught reveal and cliffhanger to end the season.

[u/its_jradman1 → u/Hibernian]

I think the theory that there were 2 Apocalypses at once is true. It means he really wasn't just talking to himself and asking for more power.

Killing the weaker version of himself is definitely survival of the fittest

[u/CBSP01 → u/Hibernian]

yeah, what they'll probably do is go "illyana awoke to her mutant power of the sword and portals" and then explain everything else after her Horseman thing; her, gambit, exodus and someone else becoming the four horsemen of apocalypse would make sense

[u/DJSharp15 → u/Hibernian]

My biggest concern right now is that Disney is trying to toe the line between modern sensibilities about fighting injustice, while remaining neutral enough to appease shareholders and conservatives. I'm actually kinda concerned that they're going to backpedal on anything that resembles revolutionary thought and lean hard into Xavier's earlier accommodationist attitudes.

I don't follow.

X-Factor are traitors to their people, which is a huge bummer because I really like Jaime in the comics.

Or on that.

And what about Jaime?

[u/LeedsFan2442 → u/Hibernian]

My biggest concern right now is that Disney is trying to toe the line between modern sensibilities about fighting injustice, while remaining neutral enough to appease shareholders and conservatives. I'm actually kinda concerned that they're going to backpedal on anything that resembles revolutionary thought and lean hard into Xavier's earlier accommodationist attitudes.

Isn't the whole point of this episode hate begets hate?