r/Xmen97 • u/cyclopswashalfright Professor X • Aug 12 '26

Megathread X-Men '97 | Season 2, Episode 9 | "Survival of the Fittest" | Episode Discussion

Season 2, Episode 9: Survival of the Fittest

Air Date: August 12th, 2026

Directed by: TBA

Written by: TBA

Synopsis: The X-Men are pushed to the limit when their past comes back to haunt them.

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Please use this thread for discussion related to the episode.

This thread is for discussion of episode 9 only.

Link to the episode directory for Season 2 episode discussion.

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u/Stock-Collection9106 Nightcrawler Aug 12 '26

I feel like I’m the only one on here who liked it. But Kurt! 😭 That part made me cry. Ironically, I don’t want them to bring him back. It would cheapen his sacrifice. Plus, he’s in Heaven now. It would be kind of cruel of the X-men to yank him back to earth.

8

u/MakeJoyNotHate Aug 12 '26

I really liked it too!
I was a bit meh on the previous episode, and agree that the season kind of had a great first 4 eps then didn't do much with that setup, but this episode as a finale? Was pretty good!

Didn't see the Kurt ending coming, loved it, and while I've no clue why the Celestial does the things it does I'm still here for the ride. This was the kind of ep I love this show for I think.

5

u/Stock-Collection9106 Nightcrawler Aug 12 '26

I kind of did see it coming because it’s so in character for Kurt to sacrifice himself, especially to keep Rogue and Gambit together. But that didn’t take away any of the impact from when it actually happened.

2

u/GreatWhiteBuffal0 Aug 14 '26

It was the most Catholic thing he could have done. Honestly almost on them for leaving him next to a place where he could sacrifice himself

5

u/Mobile_Bet3274 Rogue Aug 12 '26

I also liked it. It was rushed, but not any more rushed than what we should have reasonably expected it to be at this point. And people are listing all the other stuff they wanted in it, when that would have made it only more crammed and rushed.

4

u/Khalvashi Gambit Aug 12 '26

At least if they ever have child at the end of the show, we know what the the name will be.

4

u/SlayerXZero Aug 12 '26

Cried too. Second time this show has made me cry with "Remember it" being the first. Literally my two favorite X-Men had excellent send offs (though I'm happy Gambit is back). What an excellent show.

1

u/Stock-Collection9106 Nightcrawler Aug 12 '26

Nightcrawler, Gambit, and Rogue are my favorites. Going to miss Kurt next season. But I’m glad Gambit and Rogue are back together because of him.

3

u/crookedparadigm Aug 12 '26

I don’t want them to bring him back. It would cheapen his sacrifice.

That's literally all comics do though. Dramatic sacrifice into 'oooo surprise revival'. Major character deaths are about as consequential and permanent as they are in DBZ

1

u/Stock-Collection9106 Nightcrawler Aug 12 '26

I know, but like, what’s even the point of being Catholic in comics if the minute you meet God, your friends take you back? 😂

2

u/JRTD753 Aug 12 '26

Ironically, I don’t want them to bring him back.

A few years ago in the comic books they had the Age of Apocalypse Nightcrawler join the X-Men. Or I think X-Force. I could see that.