Summary
X-Men ‘97has been a hit with fans, earning widespread praise for its nostalgic charm and engaging storytelling. However, not every episode landed equally well. One installment, in particular, emerged as a weak link, leaving many viewers disappointed and sparking a few concerns about the season’s consistency.
X-Men ‘97was met with glowing reviews and largely won over fans, but not every episode hit the mark. One particularepisode from Season 1, Episode 4, drew criticism and is now at the center of controversy. Former showrunner Beau DeMayo has recently added fuel to the conversation, taking to social media to voice his frustrations, claiming the episode felt “off” because Marvel allegedly “took it away” from his creative team. This revelation has sparked further fan debate, reigniting discussions about creative control behind the scenes.
Beau DeMayo, the creator and head writer of the widely praisedX-Men ‘97, recently took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to address fan concerns aboutepisode 4, “Motendo / Lifedeath – Part 1.” DeMayo revealed that the episode felt “off” because his original concept was scrapped by the show’s co-executive producer, who “hated” the idea. He explained that the episode was initially intended to delve deeper into Storm and Forge’s relationship. However, according to DeMayo, the co-executive producer"stole the episode away and gave it to an editor onWhat Ifto redo it to her vision, which coincidentally eviscerated about 1/3 of Storm’s story and split Ep4 into two separate pieces."
DeMayo’s sentiments remain unverified, but it might explain why many fans felt the episode was rushed. According to DeMayo, the episode was originally intended to stay true to the “Lifedeath” storyline from the X-Men comics, featuring a deeper exploration of Storm and Forge’s romance. It was supposed to begin with Forge caring for a weakened Storm, mirroring a key comic book moment, and lead to a more developed buildup to Storm’s clash with the demonic Adversary. However, DeMayo shared on X that significant portions were cut by the editor, including the iconic opening scene, dismissing his concerns as “comic collector talk.” Instead, Episode 4, titled “Motendo: Lifedeath - Part 1”,focused on a standalone Jubilee adventure and a rushed subplot between Storm and Forge, with their romantic arc feeling forced. The introduction of Storm’s Adversary, a bird-like creature, was equally rushed, appearing near the end with little context or explanation.
DeMayo further opened up about the production struggles ofMotendo / Lifedeath – Part 1, revealing a significant hurdle in casting. DeMayo shared that he reached out toYellowstonestar Gil Birminghamto play Forge but faced resistance due to Birmingham’s past experience with Marvel Studios. After his role was cut from another Marvel film without any prior notice, the actor was hesitant to return to the MCU. However, DeMayo managed to convince him to reconsider by assuring him that such disrespect wouldn’t happen again and promising a multi-season character arc. After a productive two-hour meeting, Birmingham agreed to join, much to Marvel’s dismay, as DeMayo succeeded in mending a fractured relationship. The writer proudly shared the achievement, noting he kept his promise, albeit just barely.
Parts of Forge’s storyline with Storm were cut during editing, leaving uncertainty about Birmingham’s return after his role was altered once again. While DeMayo had started working onX-Men ‘97season two, he wasfired in March 2024amid allegations of misconduct, including sexual harassment. DeMayo has since denied the accusations, taking to X to express his frustration with Marvel Studios. Will Forge and Storm’s story get the spotlight it deserves in the coming seasons?
