X-Men '97's seventh episode of season two, "Strange Land, Savage Heart," dedicates significant runtime to exploring the characters of Colossus and Nightcrawler, a move likely to please fans who felt the former was underserved in the original series. The episode begins by revealing the whereabouts of Colossus and his sister Illyana on the day Genosha was destroyed. While Illyana's abrupt death is noted as disappointing, it serves as a catalyst for Colossus to abandon Xavier's dream and align with the Acolytes, mirroring events from the '90s comics.
This shift sets up a new conflict for the X-Corp team. Exodus and his Acolytes have kidnapped Graydon Creed, a figure described as a "scumbag bigot," prompting the X-Men to intervene. The series continues to leverage its established political landscape, showcasing the distinct role of X-Corp alongside the traditional X-Men. The narrative eschews a simple physical confrontation between X-Corp and the Acolytes, opting instead for a philosophical and ideological debate, fitting for an episode centered on Nightcrawler and Colossus. While Bishop and Polaris engage in some action in the Savage Land, the core of the episode focuses on a war of words.
The trial sequence effectively presents opposing viewpoints from Exodus and Nightcrawler. The episode concludes with Exodus preemptively executing Creed, and a revelation that Nightcrawler's plea for mercy for Colossus was unsuccessful. Despite the current lack of focus on Illyana, the episode deeply explores Colossus's character, culminating in his decision to rejoin the Xavier Institute. The potential for a compelling friendship dynamic between Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Wolverine is highlighted.
Furthermore, "Strange Land, Savage Heart" concludes with a glimpse into the upcoming season finale. X-Force discovers the remnants of Apocalypse in Greece, raising questions about Gambit's role, particularly whether he is a mere Horseman or has become Apocalypse's new host. The title of the subsequent episode, "The Dead Man's Hand," suggests this mystery will be resolved shortly.
In a prior episode, "Danger.exe," X-Men '97 demonstrated a return to form after a misstep in episode five. This episode drew inspiration from 2000s X-Men comics, moving beyond '90s nostalgia and effectively developing Polaris's character arc. It also depicted Professor Xavier grappling with Magneto's death, leading to a new status quo with significant future potential.