Compare X-Men ’97 Season 2 vs Bass X Machina

Wolverine’s episode was praised for reframing his self-image without changing the core of who the character is.

A major revelation about Bass’s past raises doubts about why he would have expected Confederate soldiers to prevent a war rather than commit a massacre.

Tension is a strong point in the best episodes, with danger, uncertainty, and Apocalypse’s threat keeping viewers on edge.

The heroes are easy to root for, but their likely survival reduces the uncertainty of some confrontations.

Apocalypse is widely praised as complex, threatening, and unusually humanized, but several finale-focused reviews think his payoff weakens that buildup.

Some find the antagonists morally complex, while others see rushed turns, underexplained plans, or a familiar racist villain beneath the apparent complexity.

The finale is one of the most criticized parts of the season, with multiple reviewers calling it messy, rushed, or unable to match the buildup despite strong action and emotion.

The final episodes deliver impressive escalation and exciting action for several viewers. Weaker 3D presentation and insufficient closure make the climax less satisfying for others.

The multi-timeline setup is often praised as surprisingly readable, but critical reviews flag confusing time-travel logic and plotting that becomes harder to follow later.

Several late motivations and connections need more explanation. The compressed convergence of storylines and abrupt ending transitions can be difficult to reconcile.

One reviewer felt the sub-30-minute episodes use their limited runtime efficiently and still cover enough story.

The relatively short installments keep the season approachable, while their roughly half-hour-plus length partly offsets the small episode count.

This is the clearest recurring weakness: many full-season reviews say the back half moves too quickly, skips needed character fallout, or feels overstuffed.

Opinions range from excellent momentum to a slow opening or an overcrowded back half. The most frequent concern is that the short run rushes important developments.

Character work is widely praised, especially for Jubilee, Cyclops, Rogue, Polaris, and Apocalypse, though rushed transitions leave some arcs underexplored.

Bass and Dana gain meaningful depth, and later backstories make the women especially compelling. Repeated arguments, compressed turns, and neglected supporting histories keep several arcs from fully developing.

Unexpected story turns and reversals are generally welcomed, with reviewers enjoying that the season can still surprise knowledgeable fans.

Backstory revelations can make the show markedly more engaging, but the last-minute villain switch feels rushed to some. The heroes’ survival is also somewhat predictable.

Separating timelines into focused episodes is frequently praised for clarity and depth, although some later standalone or filler-like chapters are seen as poorly placed.

The early installments can feel one-note while introducing the setting and characters, delaying the richer material that arrives later.

Reviewers who discuss originality praise the season for feeling fresh rather than merely replaying old successes, even while drawing heavily from classic stories.

The imaginative genre mixture and distinctive cultural identity feel fresh. Familiar Western partnerships and conventional moral resolutions keep parts of the story from feeling equally original.

Emotional beats are a major strength, with grief, family, sacrifice, and loss repeatedly described as heartbreaking, moving, or devastating.

The family stakes, central partnership, and nuanced performances give the spectacle real feeling. Rushed relationships and awkward disclosures sometimes limit how fully those emotions land.

A repeated complaint is that nine episodes are not enough for the number of teams, arcs, and emotional beats the season tries to cover.

Six episodes make for a compact watch but repeatedly feel too few for the number of characters, villain turns, and emotional threads the story introduces.

Several reviewers say episodes fly by or leave them wanting the next installment immediately, giving the season strong watch-more momentum.

The compact season is easy to get through and often leaves viewers wanting more, helped by its momentum and distinctive world.

Visual framing earns praise for comic-book composition and memorable shots, including creative camera work that makes individual frames feel deliberately staged.

Dynamic camera moves and varied angles give the opening train action a lively, cinematic impact.

The season’s melodrama is treated as a feature, with reviewers praising its heightened family conflict, emotion, and classic X-Men soap-opera energy.

The internal conflicts and moral debates give the action substance, and the elegant delivery makes occasional slow patches a relatively small compromise.

Finale reactions are sharply split: some find the ending emotional and moving, while others say the resolution is rushed, underbuilt, or too easy.

Some find a satisfying resolution that leaves room for more adventures. Others want a fuller epilogue, deeper reconciliation, or a less conventional response to the story’s systemic injustice.

The season leans deeply into Apocalypse, X-Force, X-Factor, time travel, and wider mutant mythology, a major draw for reviewers who enjoy dense comic lore.

The supernatural powers and their place in Indigenous communities deepen the frontier’s mythology and expand its possibilities.

The darker violence is generally seen as effective, with reviewers noting brutal or graphic imagery that heightens danger without treating it as empty shock.

The premiere’s bloody gunplay is praised for its stylish presentation, with the approval directed at execution rather than the amount of gore.

Writing receives polarized reactions: many praise the early arcs and emotional construction, while the harshest full-season reviews criticize weak plotting and rushed execution.

Nuanced thematic conversations and meaningful backstories give the show substance. Repetitive exchanges, puzzling motivations, and crowded late plotting make the execution less consistent.

Despite criticisms, reviewers repeatedly express strong interest in Season 3 and want to see where the story goes next.

There is strong interest in more adventures, both to revisit the distinctive world and to give underdeveloped characters and unresolved family issues more room.

Early episodes are often praised for focused momentum, but several reviews call individual chapters rushed or too compressed when major developments pile up quickly.

Individual episodes can feel brisk and energized, but repeated exchanges or the hurried finale leave other viewers less satisfied with the rhythm.

The season’s comedy is generally appreciated as light relief, especially Morph’s quips and Jubilee’s snark, without undercutting the larger stakes.

Dana’s idealism, Etta’s levity, and Henry’s exasperated responses to absurd opponents bring welcome comedy to the darker adventure.

One reviewer specifically applauds the use of BCE as a more inclusive historical label, reacting positively to that small representational choice.

Black and Indigenous perspectives shape the themes and production, with the music and Choctaw dialogue adding especially meaningful cultural texture.

The orchestral score receives strong praise for deepening the drama and evolving familiar themes without losing their identity.

The dynamic score mixes Western rhythms with jazz, hip-hop, and other influences, bringing energy and a distinctive cultural identity to the action.

Reviewers enjoy how the season moves between superhero drama, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and soap opera while still feeling recognizably X-Men.

The show delivers distinctive steampunk-Western pleasures through gunslinging, heroics, and a fresh version of the Bass Reeves legend.

Most reviewers find the season compelling and ambitious, especially its opening arcs, while a smaller but forceful group sees the overall story as messy or badly organized.

The imaginative adventure is often engrossing and emotionally rewarding, especially once its revelations arrive. Familiar early beats and compressed late arcs prevent uniformly strong storytelling.

Action is consistently praised as inventive, fluid, colorful, and exciting, with multiple fights singled out as season highlights even by more critical reviewers.

Kinetic shootouts, mechs, elemental powers, and varied choreography keep the action exciting. Even a more reserved assessment finds the fights cool and consistently engaging.

Animation earns near-universal praise for its fluid action, vibrant presentation, and stronger modern execution, though a few reviewers note inconsistent or weaker dialogue shots.

Detailed environments and expressive combat make Studio Mir’s animation a frequent highlight. A less enthusiastic view finds it solid rather than breathtaking, and the late 3D work divides opinion.

Continuity is a recurring weak spot in the more critical coverage, especially around time-travel logic, past relationships, and convenient character decisions.

The ending’s sudden shift from near-unconsciousness to another adventure feels abrupt and suggests the need for a longer epilogue.

Family, destiny, prejudice, power, survival, redemption, and love give the season unusual thematic weight for superhero animation.

Race, identity, revenge, and the cost of survival give the spectacle substantial ideas to explore. The conclusion’s familiar moral argument is less persuasive for a dissenting viewer.

One review especially praises the chemistry around Xavier and Magneto, calling the interplay between their performers a continuing highlight.

Henry and Gabrielle make an excellent vocal pairing, balancing Bass’s weight with Dana’s youthful energy.

The newer cast additions are welcomed enthusiastically, with Polaris in particular described as feeling immediately at home in the series.

Henry’s casting works because he conveys a believable father and husband beneath the striking voice and action-hero premise.

One review praises the show’s gritty emotional realism, especially the way flawed heroes make choices driven by survival and love.

The Western textures feel tangible and convincing even within a world of exaggerated machinery and elemental powers.

One review likes how the season expands the mutant world through new teams and settings, while still wanting broader connections beyond the X-Men corner.

A vibrant blend of machinery, Western landscapes, and supernatural lore creates an appealing frontier. One criticism questions how its advanced technology fits into the largely unchanged history.

The season’s colors, retro-modern art direction, distinctive locations, and comic-panel energy draw heavy praise, despite a few complaints about isolated designs.

The detailed, distinctive frontier aesthetic is among the most consistently praised strengths. Late 3D sequences are the main exception to the otherwise sharp visual identity.

Distinct locations and richly designed backgrounds help the past, present, and future timelines feel visually separate and give the season its own identity.

Detailed deserts, canyons, forests, frontier architecture, and elaborate machinery make the world vibrant and worth exploring.

One finale review praises the eerie removal of sound during Rogue’s Celestial encounter, using near-silence to make the sequence more unsettling.

Weighty, intricate machine sounds and magical effects make the strange frontier immersive and give the action physical presence.

Reviewers respond strongly to characters such as Morph, Lorna, and the X-Men as a flawed but relatable ensemble rather than idealized heroes.

Dana’s energy and Etta’s personality help the cast stand out, while Bass gains appeal through his flaws and compassion. One assessment still finds him a serviceable but generic lead.

Fans of the first season and longtime X-Men viewers are expected to respond especially well, while one review cautions that the season is not the easiest entry point for newcomers.

The series receives enthusiastic recommendations within adult animation and anime, especially for viewers drawn to its genre fusion.

Voice work is one of the clearest strengths, with repeated praise for the ensemble’s emotional weight and several standout performances.

The voice cast is one of the most consistent strengths, adding warmth, vulnerability, and personality to the ambitious setting.

The returning voice ensemble is repeatedly praised as confident, emotionally committed, and completely at home in the roles.

Henry’s gravitas and emotional weariness anchor the series, while Gabrielle gives Dana sincerity, vulnerability, and lively energy.

Music is repeatedly praised, from needle drops to the returning theme and score, with reviewers saying it strengthens the period feel and action.

The genre-spanning music is a standout, with Monáe’s propulsive theme and well-chosen songs reinforcing the action, atmosphere, and cultural identity.

Guest and newly added performers receive strong praise, with reviewers describing them as an important part of the season’s expanded ensemble.

The supporting voices add vitality and emotional depth, with particular praise for Spencer, Summer, and the meaningful Choctaw-language performances.

Even reviewers with structural complaints still describe the season as fun, exciting, or enjoyable, with action and character moments keeping it engaging.

An energetic, inventive adventure with plenty of spectacle and heart, the series earns consistently favorable reactions even from those with structural complaints.

The late 3D sequences draw criticism for losing the sharp style of the earlier animation and weakening the climax.

Reviewers largely see the revival as justified rather than empty nostalgia, praising how it updates the classic series while still feeling purposeful on its own.

The show treats the horrors of war and scientific experimentation as lasting wounds, giving its action a darker moral weight.

A distinctive frontier mood emerges immediately, with music strengthening the darker tone and making the setting feel vibrant.

Ahni is the clearest candidate for more attention; the brief season gives too little space to her upbringing, powers, and personal history.

Major episode endings are effective hooks, leaving reviewers eager for the next chapter even when the cliffhangers carry mixed emotions.

Dialogue is usually praised for its comic-book conviction, punchy exchanges, and emotional lines, though some repetition and corniness are noted.

The closing credits are worth staying for, pairing attractive presentation with music that includes a soulful season-ending song.

The season often uses its split timelines to give overlooked characters more room, but later reviews repeatedly argue that the huge roster sidelines some core X-Men.

One reviewer criticizes the handling of Psylocke’s identity history, calling the retained presentation uncomfortable in light of the comics’ later reckoning with it.

Comic fans frequently praise the season for honoring classic stories, continuity, and visual ideas while remixing them rather than copying them scene for scene.

The show’s darker material can push against its kid-friendly roots, but reviewers who address suitability still find it workable for a broad audience and say younger viewers are not shut out.

Bass’s efforts to protect his family give the adventure emotional purpose. The late father-daughter reconciliation is less convincing because its deeper wounds remain unresolved.

Revealed backstories give the supporting characters welcome nuance, and showing those histories makes them more engaging than simple exposition.

The season’s links to the wider animated Marvel world and returning X-Men continuity are treated as rewarding rather than distracting in the reviews that discuss them.

Bass and Dana’s unlikely mentor relationship supplies humor, warmth, and a compelling clash of ideals. Its familiar shape and repeated go-home arguments can make the development feel stalled.

Intricate machines, inventive weapons, and Dana’s useful devices are major pleasures. The technology fits naturally into the Western setting while giving the action fresh possibilities.

The story connects personal choices with the lasting effects of collective suffering, making inherited trauma part of its wider discussion of race and morality.

The Western, steampunk, science-fiction, and supernatural elements usually reinforce each other. Many consider the fusion the show’s defining creative achievement.

Bass and his enemies respond to loss in sharply different ways, giving the revenge story a thoughtful contrast between destruction and caring for others.

The opening train-robbery confrontation is a standout introduction, combining gunplay and motion into an exciting set piece.

The Civil War, displacement, and racial hierarchy give the invented frontier meaningful historical weight rather than serving only as decoration.

Choctaw history, language, and complicated loyalties receive meaningful attention. The portrayal resists simple stereotypes and gives Indigenous characters their own perspectives.

The series gives revenge, compromise, and working within an unjust system real moral complexity. Its call to rise above retaliation frustrates a dissenting view that wants a stronger challenge to systemic oppression.

The story stays with some viewers, although a dissenting assessment finds Bass himself less memorable than the supporting characters.

Social commentary on prejudice, oppression, radicalization, and coexistence remains meaningful to several reviewers, though one finale review feels the season drifts away from that relevance.

Choctaw-language dialogue adds cultural meaning without losing emotional force, with Summer and Spencer especially praised for their delivery.

The recurring argument about Dana leaving repeats too often, interrupting momentum and delaying more meaningful growth in the partnership.

Personal losses and family commitments can make the confrontations hit hard. Some threats become implausibly huge, while another view finds the villains’ plans insufficiently developed.

The main quest and side stories often fit together well, and much is accomplished in a short run. Their final convergence can also feel crowded and jarring.

The opening train confrontation grabs attention immediately with stylish, exciting action and a strong sense of movement.

The retro presentation, 1990s tone, music cues, and comic-book styling are repeatedly praised for evoking the era without feeling like a hollow imitation.

The premiere makes a strong first impression as a fun, stylish introduction to the steampunk frontier and its central duo.

The characters’ decisions carry thought-provoking political implications, especially where personal anger meets a history of racial oppression.

One reviewer especially praises the creative, larger-scale use of mutant powers and how the season lets abilities feel more spectacular.

One reviewer dislikes the three-episode premiere, feeling it made the season seem to pass too quickly for an already established show.

Romantic material gets both warmth and frustration: Rogue and Gambit are often praised, while Morph’s unreturned feelings and some relationship choices divide opinion.

Dana’s movement toward accepting her biracial identity brings warmth, insight, and growing confidence to the story.

The final stretch impresses some with enormous machines and grand climactic action. The finale’s city attack nevertheless feels smaller than expected to another viewer.

One reviewer explicitly approves of the absence of forced innuendo, preferring the more restrained approach to sexualized humor.

The show is widely praised for confronting prejudice, exploitation, and historical violence without treating technology as a cure. Its unchanged oppressive system at the end disappoints one assessment.

The machinery does more than decorate the frontier: it raises questions about prejudice, bodily autonomy, progress, and the limits of relying on technology.

The opening credits are a frequent highlight, combining striking animation with an energetic theme that establishes the show’s tone and cultural fusion.

Several full-season reviews describe a noticeable shift after the strong opening, with later episodes feeling uneven or like a different show.

The historical conflicts around racial injustice and anger feel timely, with the fantasy setting opening a conversation about present-day concerns.

Past losses shape both the protagonist and his opponents without producing simple moral answers, adding depth to the struggle over revenge and justice.

Henry’s weary, weighty delivery gives Bass both authority and hidden tenderness. Gabrielle’s lively voice offers an effective contrast without sacrificing emotional depth.

The mature edge generally lands well: reviewers note that darker imagery can get gnarly, but the show still remains accessible to younger viewers without talking down to its older audience.

Richly drawn, beautiful character designs strengthen the visual presentation and help the animated figures feel alive.

The season’s new costumes are enthusiastically received, with one reviewer especially enjoying how the refreshed looks make characters feel older and cooler.

One reviewer appreciates that trailers concentrated on the opening episodes, preserving later-season material rather than giving too much away.

One reviewer says a favorite emotional scene was compelling enough to rewatch whenever it appeared in their social feeds.