X-Men The Animated Series: What to watch before and after X-Men ’97

With the upcoming X-Men ’97 sequel series I’ve been watching the original cartoon and thought it’d be a good idea to put together a list of episodes to watch before the new cartoon comes out, or after you’ve watched ’97. Which sounds simple enough, but then when thinking about what I’d recommend and hitting that wall of “well this episode is connected to these previous episodes, so maybe watch them first” and it all snowballing. So instead of a simple “Top 5” list I’ve broken it down into basic bare bones episodes to watch, and then an expansive list broken down by characters. So if you want a quick easy or want a catch-up for a specific character then this should help.

If you’re new to the show and want to watch here’s what I’d recommend, start at episode 1 and see if you like it, if you do then continue watching. Sounds obvious given todays media, but back then shows were a lot more episodic and had less ongoing stories. It did have some ongoing plot elements, at least in early seasons. The later seasons also had episodes shuffled around a lot in the airing, so online guides can vary what episode takes place in what season, even the Disney+ playlist. So that was probably a factor in why seasons 1 and 2 were a bit more tightly connected, but the creators decided not to continue with that for the latter seasons; given some episodes were aired years after they were originally supposed to. For the sake of this post I will be referring to the Disney+ episode order, since that’s the mostly likely place for folks to watch the show from.

Warning, there will be some spoilers for the show.

Young Justice Re(af)Watch Season 2 Episode 20 Endgame

Now that season 3 is on its way it’s the best time to rewatch the show, preferably on the DC Universe streaming service if you’re in America as that helps support the show directly and hopefully get us more than just season 3. This Re(af)Watch series is not quite a review, more of an opinion piece about each episode as I rewatch them. Covering all 46 episodes of the show’s first 2 seasons, and maybe more. Continuing on with season 2 episode 20 Endgame

Written by: Kevin Hopps
Directed by: Doug Murphy

Episode synopsis: The Justice League get declared innocent at their Rimbor trial, thanks to the evidence gathered by the Team and some dubious negotiating by Conner and M’gann. Meanwhile the rest of the Team are confronting Black Beetle on the Reach mothership. Beetle is defeated but he has already implemented their plan for Earth’s destruction. Twenty bombs set to disrupt Earth’s magnetic field and doom the planet. With some assistance by Lex Luthor they devise a counter measure and with the entire Team and League’s help they stop all the bombs. All but one. Flash, Impulse, and Kid Flash race against it, draining it of it’s energy, but Kid Flash is not fast enough, taking the energy into himself, and he “ceases.” Vandal Savage takes the War World to Rimbor and declares Earth off limits to alien invaders. The Team mourns for Wally, as Impulse takes on the Kid Flash mantle in his honour and Artemis returns as a hero but as Tigress this time. For all they’ve accomplished the Team now operates out of the Watchtower side-by-side with the League. And on the planet Apokolips Vandal Savage meets with his partner from the very beginning of the series, Darkseid.

Young Justice Re(af)Watch Season 2 Episode 19 Summit

Now that season 3 is on its way it’s the best time to rewatch the show, preferably on the DC Universe streaming service if you’re in America as that helps support the show directly and hopefully get us more than just season 3. This Re(af)Watch series is not quite a review, more of an opinion piece about each episode as I rewatch them. Covering all 46 episodes of the show’s first 2 seasons, and maybe more. Continuing on with season 2 episode 19 Summit

Written by: Greg Weisman
Directed by: Tim Divar

Episode synopsis: The Light and the Reach have a summit to discuss the currently failing invasion of Earth, and their partnership. It does not go well and during a more heated moment Ra’s Al Ghul notices Tigress’ glamour charm necklace and rips it off exposing her as Artemis and Kaldur as a traitor. They are both shot by Deathstroke, but Kaldur gets the last laugh as he plays a holo-recording exposing The Light’s manipulations of the Reach. Breaking their alliance. But their deaths were just a ruse and Deathstroke was really Miss Martian in disguise, with the Team ready to strike and attempt to capture them all. Vandal Savage and Black Beetle manage to get away, with Vandal stealing the War World and heading off into space, while Black Beetle plans on destroying the Earth to cover the Reach’s tracks.

Young Justice Re(af)Watch Season 2 Episode 18 Intervention

Now that season 3 is on its way it’s the best time to rewatch the show, preferably on the DC Universe streaming service if you’re in America as that helps support the show directly and hopefully get us more than just season 3. This Re(af)Watch series is not quite a review, more of an opinion piece about each episode as I rewatch them. Covering all 46 episodes of the show’s first 2 seasons, and maybe more. Continuing on with season 2 episode 18 Intervention

Written by: Peter David
Directed by: Mel Zwyer

Episode synopsis: Blue Beetle is out saving Metropolis from Superman level threats, and doing Reach PR work as he’s still under their control. The Team plan on changing that as they attack him and Rocket and Zatanna manage to contain him. Taking him to the Bialyan temple they found back in Beneath they use its magic’s to take the Scarab Off-Mode, just as it did to make the Scarab go Off-Mode the first time. And thanks to the Reach sending in Green Beetle to try and assist Blue the Team now have two Beetles Off-Mode and free of the Reach. Oh and M’gann and La’gaan broke up on the long Bioship ride from Atlantis to Blüdhaven.

Young Justice Re(af)Watch Season 2 Episode 17 The Hunt

Now that season 3 is on its way it’s the best time to rewatch the show, preferably on the DC Universe streaming service if you’re in America as that helps support the show directly and hopefully get us more than just season 3. This Re(af)Watch series is not quite a review, more of an opinion piece about each episode as I rewatch them. Covering all 46 episodes of the show’s first 2 seasons, and maybe more. Continuing on with season 2 episode 17 The Hunt

Written by: Brandon Vietti
Directed by: Doug Murphy

Episode synopsis: With the Justice League guarding the Crystal Control Room on the War World the Reach can’t use the Crystal Key they stole to take control of the War World. Arsenal is still on the loose in the War World and on the run from Reach soldiers, with his ammo diminishing. Lex Luthor sends in his new team of Runaways to rescue the captured members of the Team being held by the Reach on War World, with the aid of a Father Box and a Boom Tube. The Runaways manage to find the Team, but Black Beetle stands in their way. Before they’re all wiped out Arsenal comes to their aid and sets Mongul lose on Black Beetle while they free the Team and escape. But Deathstroke has already used the distraction to steal the Crystal Key from the Reach. Nightwing removes Arsenal from the Team for nearly getting them killed at least twice, but the Runaways only see him as the guy who saved their lives so they take him with them as they Boom Tube out. Back at their base Lex reveals that they were just a distraction to get the Key and they blow up the Father Box and go on without him.

Young Justice Re(af)Watch Season 2 Episode 16 Complications

Now that season 3 is on its way it’s the best time to rewatch the show, preferably on the DC Universe streaming service if you’re in America as that helps support the show directly and hopefully get us more than just season 3. This Re(af)Watch series is not quite a review, more of an opinion piece about each episode as I rewatch them. Covering all 46 episodes of the show’s first 2 seasons, and maybe more. Continuing on with season 2 episode 16 Complications

Written by: Kevin Hopps
Directed by: Tim Divar

Episode synopsis: Cheshire and Sportsmaster attack Black Manta’s sub as a fully healed Kaldur and Artemis plan how to let Miss Martian escape, thankfully it works out well for both parties as before Cheshire can kill Kaldur they let them in on the secret. Knowing Tigress is Artemis stops the revenge mission, and they aid in keeping Kaldur and Tigress’ secret along with helping Miss Martian. Meanwhile Blue Beetle spins a tale of a Boom Tube opening up and taking the Team on the War World. Nightwing investigates and find many many holes in his story, but it’s too late as the Reach Ambassador has already unveiled Blue Beetle to the world as the “hero who single handedly stopped the War World,” and outed Jaime’s identity.

Young Justice Re(af)Watch Season 2 Episode 15 War

Now that season 3 is on its way it’s the best time to rewatch the show, preferably on the DC Universe streaming service if you’re in America as that helps support the show directly and hopefully get us more than just season 3. This Re(af)Watch series is not quite a review, more of an opinion piece about each episode as I rewatch them. Covering all 46 episodes of the show’s first 2 seasons, and maybe more. Continuing on with season 2 episode 15 War

Written by: Jon Weisman
Directed by: Mel Zwyer

Episode synopsis: While the Justice League are on trial on Rimbor the alien tyrant Mongul hears of the Reach invasion of Earth and decides to take matters into his own hands, by going off to destroy the planet. His War World causes devastation without firing a shot just by being near Earth, but when the shooting starts the League hold off War World’s weaponry while the Team head inside to stop it. The Reach, wanting to protect their “investment” and seeing no other options, send their own fleet to help, revealing them to Earth. The Team stops Mongul, but as they are all celebrating Blue Beetle takes them all down, with the exception of Arsenal who escapes. The War World and the Team becomes property of the Reach.

Young Justice Re(af)Watch Season 2 Episode 14 Runaways

Now that season 3 is on its way it’s the best time to rewatch the show, preferably on the DC Universe streaming service if you’re in America as that helps support the show directly and hopefully get us more than just season 3. This Re(af)Watch series is not quite a review, more of an opinion piece about each episode as I rewatch them. Covering all 46 episodes of the show’s first 2 seasons, and maybe more. Continuing on with season 2 episode 14 Runaways

Written by: Kevin Hopps
Directed by: Doug Murphy

Episode synopsis: At Star labs they are testing the Reach Meta-Gene experiment survivors, Tye, Sam,Virgil, Ed and Neut (formerly Neutron), and effectively keeping them prisoners. They decide they’ve had enough of it and break out, except for Neut who sounds the alarm. Nightwing sends Blue Beetle after them since Tye is his friend, hoping he can talk them into coming back. Instead he convinces them to come with him to meet with Green Beetle saying Green might be able to do to them what Green did to him. Unlucky for Blue Star Labs gets attacked by Red Volcano and he’s ordered to go help Star Labs, and the Runaways rush back to help save Ed’s father. They manage to save everyone but Blue’s callous disregard for their lives and the innocent civilians makes them run from him too. As they come back to square one again without a clue what to do Lex Luthor shows up with an offer to help. And at the end it reveals that Blue Beetle is On-Mode, turned by Green last episode, and working for the Reach.

Young Justice Re(af)Watch Season 2 Episode 13 The Fix

Now that season 3 is on its way it’s the best time to rewatch the show, preferably on the DC Universe streaming service if you’re in America as that helps support the show directly and hopefully get us more than just season 3. This Re(af)Watch series is not quite a review, more of an opinion piece about each episode as I rewatch them. Covering all 46 episodes of the show’s first 2 seasons, and maybe more. Continuing on with season 2 episode 13 The Fix

Written by: Greg Weisman
Directed by: Tim Divar

Episode synopsis: With Psimon about to enter Kaldur’s mind and Black Manta going to send someone to kill Miss Martian, Artemis drugs Psimon and blames it on Miss Martian’s psychic tampering, and saying only Miss Martian can undo it. So he sends Artemis and Deathstroke to kidnap Miss Martian, and they do, leaving a broken legged Lagoon Boy in their wake. Meanwhile Green Beetle tells the Team the Reach’s plans for their new energy drink, which will make the human race sedate and addicted to it over generations, while also tracking the Meta-Gene. Back on the Manta ship Miss Martian and Artemis enter Kaldur’s mind to try and fix it, but Miss Martian’s feeling too guilty over her actions and is nearly killed by Kaldur’s mind. Artemis has to save both her and Kaldur at the same time. Nightwing has to tell Lagoon Boy and Superboy about Kaldur and Artemis’ undercover mission. And Blue Beetle convinces Green to try and fix his Scarab so he’s in control of it, and at the end he declares it’s worked, he’s got control.

Young Justice Re(af)Watch Season 2 Episode 12 True Colors

Now that season 3 is on its way it’s the best time to rewatch the show, preferably on the DC Universe streaming service if you’re in America as that helps support the show directly and hopefully get us more than just season 3. This Re(af)Watch series is not quite a review, more of an opinion piece about each episode as I rewatch them. Covering all 46 episodes of the show’s first 2 seasons, and maybe more. Continuing on with season 2 episode 12 True Colors

Written by: Paul Giacoppo
Directed by: Mel Zwyer

Episode synopsis: The Atom and Bumblebee fail to extract Blue Beetle’s Scarab from inside his body. The Reach have partnered with Lexcorp to open a new farm in Smallville to make Reach enhanced produce, so Nightwing sends Alpha Squad to investigate, with Arsenal joining them. They find the Reach putting a special additive into their crops and steal a sample. With things going well on the way out Arsenal plants a bomb to destroy the place, attracting the attention of Black Beetle. The squad are nearly toast until they are saved by Green Beetle, the Blue Beetle of Mars. He claims to have taken control of his Scarab, and offers to do that for Jaime. Meanwhile, Sportsmaster has made his challenge to take Kaldur’s life in recompense for Kaldur killing Artemis without his permission. They decline and call in his replacement, Deathstroke, sending Sportsmaster running. Vandal Savage promises Black Manta they will fix what Miss Martian has done to Kaldur, with Psimon planning on going into his mind and putting it back together one memory at a time.