History WesternAnimation / XMen97

* MakeWayForTheNewVillains: To show how powerful Bastion is, his introduction features him [[spoiler:killing Peter Gyrich, turning Bolivar Trask into a [[CyberneticsEatYourSoul cybernetic weapon]] and kidnapping Magneto.]]

** In episode 6, [[spoiler:Magneto and Gambit are removed from the cast list due to their deaths]], Nightcrawler joins the cast, [[spoiler:and also replaces Gambit in the mid-credits shot of the X-Men running across the screen in front of the title]]. Nimrod being created, then fighting Bishop, Storm and Wolverine, the X-Men fighting the Imperial Guard, and Xavier and Lilandra's romance.

** Bishop has been promoted as a proper member of the titular team in this series, rather than merely being a guest character.

** The complex relationship situation surrounding [[spoiler:Scott Summers, Jean Grey, and Madelyne Pryor is much more streamlined/simplified. In the comics, Jean (seemingly) died and Scott met and fell for Madelyne, an apparently unconnected woman who looked very much like Jean and was eventually revealed to be a clone created by Sinister to dupe Scott. In this show, Mr. Sinister swapped Jean and Madelyne at an unknown point in time with the latter believing that she was the real Jean until the truth was revealed.]]

* AmbiguousSituation: The series opens after a noticeable TimeSkip after the original show, leaving a few open questions about everything that happened in the interim. As yet, we haven't been told exactly what led to Bishop returning to the present day and joining the X-Men permanently, or why Morph's appearance is so drastically different. It's also implied that Illyana Rasputin unlocked her magical powers at some point (Morph is seen transforming into Magik in the third episode, complete with Russian accent), but none of the details have yet been revealed.

* DarkerAndEdgier: While still an animated work and still part of the continuity started with ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'', the series leans heavier on the elder viewers who were fans of the original series, allowing for blood, light cursing, [[spoiler:and even widespread death in the assault on Genosha,]] something that Saban and Fox Kids would have never done with the original series.

* UnexplainedRecovery: And both involve characters from the original's sister series, ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'':
** The aforementioned ContinuityNod with the ''Daily Bugle'' has an article written by Eddie Brock, so at some point, Venom managed to escape from the Dark Dimension and, despite being fired by J. Jonah Jameson ''twice'' and later attacking the man, managed to get rehired ''yet again''.
** [[spoiler:ComicBook/CaptainAmerica in ''Spider-Man'' was depicted as trapped in a matter/antimatter vortex to stop the Red Skull, getting out twice (first to stop the Red Skull and Electro, and again, thanks to the events of the "Secret Wars" three-parter), only to go back in both times. "Bright Eyes sees Steve out again for good and implied to have hooked up with the Avengers.]]

** [[spoiler:In "Bright Eyes", Rogue and Nightcrawler confirm that they are adopted brother and sister. They also share this relationship in the comics, where Kurt is the son of Mystique, who also adopted and raised Rogue after she ran away from her abusive father.]]

* ContinuityCameo: The Watcher from ''WesternAnimation/WhatIf2021'' makes a brief cameo in the sky in "Remember It", where he continues his watch over the Marvel Multiverse.

* TimeSkip: At least a year has passed between "Graduation Day," the last episode of the original series, and the premiere of this one. This gives enough time for several developments. [[spoiler:Jean to become heavily pregnant and Bishop to join the team; Morph to resume active duty and become more comfortable with their featureless base form; Rogue implicitly having a secret relationship with Magneto.]]

* BackportedDevelopment: The show, even given its SequelSeries status, doesn't shy away from stuff introduced since the original series ended, including the ComicBook/HellfireGala and one of Mojo's mock title ards in "Motendo" featuring Darwin from ''ComicBook/XMenDeadlyGenesis'', a comic that came out nearly a decade after the original show ended, with later episodes including cameos and appearances by the likes of Pixie, Glob Herman, Sammy Pare, Nature Girl, and [[spoiler:Cyclops and Havok's brother Vulcan, the last of whom was also introduced in ''Deadly Genesis'']].

* PromotedToOpeningTitles: Morph and Bishop are added to the opening title sequence, complete with their own title cards alongside the rest of the X-Men. Magneto gets his title card in the second episode, replacing the departed Professor X.

** [[spoiler: Appears to be the case with Nightcrawler as well. While in the original series he only made a couple of appearances, "LifeDeath Part 2" makes him a part of the opening sequence, meaning he's now a member of the X-Men.]]

* DarkerAndEdgier: While still an animated work and still part of the continuity started with ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'', the series leans heavier on the elder viewers who were fans of the original series, allowing for blood, light cursing, [[spoiler: and even widespread death in the assault on Genosha,]] something that Saban and Fox Kids would have never done with the original series.

** [[spoiler: Bastion was hinted at in previous episodes leading up to episode 7's reveal -- he's seen at a table with Val Cooper and other soldiers in episode 2, he's on a photo with Dr. Adler and Forge in episode 4 and he's seen walking on an upper floor that Magneto notices in episode 5]].

** [[spoiler: Storm loses her powers shortly after she adopts her mohawk look in the comics. She sports a mohawk in '97 and loses her powers in the second episode.]]
** [[spoiler: Regarding the above, Storm losing her powers due to taking a shot meant for Magneto, is not unlike what happened to Mystique in ''Film/XMenTheLastStand''.]]
** [[spoiler: In "Lifedeath - Part 2", Xavier refers to all living beings as "children of the atom", the original descriptor for the X-Men, as well as the subtitle of [[VideoGame/XMenChildrenOfTheAtom Capcom's licensed fighting game]].]]

* SmashToBlack: Episode 5, "Remember it" has Rogue [[spoiler: cradle the lifeless body of Gambit after his HeroicSacrifice]]. We don't get to see her last actions as the screen goes black for her last line.
---> '''Rogue''': [[spoiler: I can't feel you]]
* SolemnEndingTheme: The ending of episode 5, "[[Recap/XMen97S1E05RememberIt Remember It]]" is a sad version of the opening theme after the [[spoiler: genocide the Tri-Sentinel inflicts upon Genosha]] and even moreso [[spoiler: the deaths of not one, but two main characters. As both Magneto and Gambit die in their attempt to take down the manhunting machine]].

* WhamShot: During the midseason trailer, War, we see [[spoiler: a ''very'' familiar [[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica shield]] slam into the ground after being thrown.]]
* WolverinePublicity: Actually averted. Despite a lot of media being heavily focused on Wolverine (with the first post-Fox purchase animated work, LEGO Avengers: Code Red, featuring Wolverine), the cartoon actually puts the Canadian on the backburner for the most part, letting his teammates shine instead.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Unlike the original series where it was always Cyclops who voiced the "Previously on ''X-Men''" bit, this time it's a different character each episode, and it usually indicates which character will be the main focus.

* MidSeasonTwist: Episode 5 features [[spoiler:a violent surprise Sentinel attack on Genosha. By the episode's end, Gambit, Magneto and the Morlocks have seemingly perished, with other character's fates left unclear.]]

* ItAlwaysRainsAtFunerals: In the trailer, it is visibly raining as a coffin is lowered into its grave.

** The fourth episode has Rogue doing her pre-fight intro and her diving kick in ''VideoGame/XMenVsStreetFighter'' and ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom2''.

** [[spoiler: In "Lifedeath - Part 2", Xavier refers to all living beings as "children of the atom", the original descriptor for the X-Men.]]

* AmbiguousSituation: The series opens after a noticeable TimeSkip after the original show, leaving a few open questions about everything that happened in the interim. As yet, we haven't been told exactly what led to Bishop returning to the present day and joining the X-Men permanently. It's also implied that Illyana Rasputin unlocked her magical powers at some point (Morph is seen transforming into Magik in the third episode, complete with Russian accent), but none of the details have yet been revealed.