X-Men: The Animated Series’ Greatest Episode Turns 21: Why ‘Reunion’ Still Resonates

X-Men: The Animated Series delivered many great episodes, but the very best remains the pinnacle of Marvel entertainment. Many episodes of the show are celebrated – from the emotional “The Phoenix Saga” to the action-packed “One Man’s Worth.” However, there’s one installment that has stood the test of time better than the rest.

When X-Men: TAS debuted in 1992, it immediately cemented itself as one of the most beloved superhero cartoons of all time. For five seasons, X-Men: TAS brought the colorful world of Marvel’s mutants to life. It translated decades of comic book history into a Saturday morning phenomenon.

Released 21 years ago, its greatest episode encapsulates everything that made X-Men: The Animated Series so special. It boasts larger-than-life villains, complicated dynamics between heroes, and a climactic showdown. More interestingly, its impact can be felt today in the MCU’s X-Men ’97.

“Reunion” Is The Greatest Episode Of X-Men: The Animated Series

Season 2 of X-Men: The Animated Series was filled with high-stakes stories. However, its finale, “Reunion” Parts 1 and 2, stands out as the series’ crown jewel. Airing in late 1994, “Reunion” brought together the entire core cast of X-Men for an unforgettable battle in the Savage Land, where dinosaurs roam and mutant powers mysteriously fail.

The plot centers on Mister Sinister and the Nasty Boys, who have captured Professor Xavier and Magneto, drawing the X-Men into a trap to harvest their genetic material and create a new race of mutants under his control. Meanwhile, Wolverine, Jean Grey and Cyclops track down Morph. However, they find him still under Sinister’s control, leading to Jean’s capture.

What makes “Reunion” so compelling is how it intertwines personal stakes with blockbuster spectacle. Every character gets a moment to shine, whether it’s Wolverine hacking through prehistoric jungles or Cyclops leading a desperate rescue mission. The tropical setting adds an adventurous twist to the usual city-bound conflicts, and the power-loss gimmick forces the team to rely on raw skill, ingenuity, and sheer willpower.

Why “Reunion” Is Better Than Every Other Episode Of X-Men TAS

While X-Men: The Animated Series had many standout arcs, “Reunion” surpasses them because it brings together everything audiences love about the show in one explosive package. The secret weapon is Mister Sinister, who serves as the perfect villain for this kind of grand finale. Voiced with chilling authority by Christopher Britton, Sinister is calculating, manipulative, and theatrically sinister in a way that makes him endlessly watchable.

Siniser’s scheme is vast yet personal, targeting the DNA of the X-Men to rewrite the world in his own image – a quintessentially comic book idea brought to life with eerie flair. The episode also offered the rare treat of seeing Magneto and Professor Xavier forced to work together. Longtime ideological opposites, Magneto is quick to defend his old friend and assure Sinister that Xavier would be avenged.

Their uneasy alliance provides some of the show’s sharpest dialogue, showing mutual respect beneath years of conflict. It’s an early example of the “enemy mine” trope done right, and it gives their eventual escape a triumphant resonance. Then there’s the climactic battle itself, a glorious, chaotic free-for-all that still ranks among the show’s most ambitious action set pieces.

“Reunion” also features some iconic dialogue, including Magneto’s retort to Sinister (“I’ve heard the name and frankly, I’m not impressed”) and the now-iconic “The name’s Gambit, remember it!” Few other episodes ever matched this blend of character-driven drama and pure spectacle, which is why “Reunion” remains a high-water mark decades later.

How “Reunion” Fits Into The MCU’s X-Men ’97

With the release of X-Men ‘97, Marvel has revived the beloved animated series, while imbuing classic episodes with much greater significance. The new series continues directly from where X-Men: The Animated Series left off, and several threads from “Reunion” meaningfully influence its storylines. Primarily, “Reunion” offers one possibility for when Jean Grey was swapped for her clone Madelyn Pryor.

In “Reunion,” Sinister kidnaps Jean and takes her aboard his ship. He could have made the switch here, with Madelyn Pryor subsequently appearing in the Savage Land Citadel. Alternatively, this could have been where Sinister extracted the DNA to clone Jean, with the actual switch happening later – many point to Sinister throwing Jean into a portal in season 4’s “Beyond Good and Evil: Part 1.”

By retroactively tying Madelyne’s origins to this pivotal episode, the show could recontextualize “Reunion” as the moment Sinister set his long game into motion. Sinister himself was a central villain in X-Men ’97 season 1, making “Reunion” essential viewing to understand his tactics and obsessions. The way he manipulates genetics and plays mind games in “Reunion” directly foreshadows his more elaborate machinations.

Magneto’s role in “Reunion” also aligns neatly with where X-Men ‘97 has taken him. Having become the X-Men’s reluctant leader after Xavier’s apparent death, Magneto’s history of cooperating with the team under duress in “Reunion” adds layers to his current position. His uneasy teamwork with Xavier in the Savage Land foreshadows his ability to lead the X-Men despite past enmities.

Finally, “Reunion” also features a brief but impactful return of Morph, whose faked death in the first season haunted the team. His involvement connects to the way X-Men ‘97 has reintroduced him as a troubled but loyal ally, showing that the seeds of his redemption arc were planted much earlier. Morph’s essential characterization of a hero manipulated and tormented into evil deeds is established in “Reunion.”

In these ways, “Reunion” acts as a foundational touchstone for X-Men ‘97. It combines Sinister’s ambition, Magneto’s reluctant heroism, and Morph’s return into a single storyline that feels like a blueprint for the new show’s overarching narrative. Revisiting “Reunion” not only showcases X-Men: The Animated Series at its finest but also deepens the experience of Marvel’s animated revival.