If you want science fiction that respects its own premise, X-Men '97 is available in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus right now. The 2-season run is exactly the right length for what it is doing. With 774 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. The cast keeps the human element front and centre even when the concepts get ambitious. Put it on tonight on Disney Plus and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, X-Men '97 is worth clearing space for. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry X-Men '97 through its more ambitious moments. The X-Men, a band of mutants who use their uncanny gifts to protect a world that hates and fears them, are challenged like never before, forced to face a dangerous and unexpected new future. The series ran for 2 seasons (2024–2026), building a story that gave its audience time to invest properly. What separates X-Men '97 from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. It sustains a level of quality that very few manage to hold onto all the way through.

Viewers burned by ambitious sci-fi that could not sustain its premise should give X-Men '97 a chance. The tonal similarities to The Gifted are real, though X-Men '97 carves out its own identity quickly. The complete run is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. The cast keeps the material from tipping into self-parody. Satisfying on multiple levels.

X-Men '97 is currently airing new episodes — so there's no better time to catch up before the story moves forward. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.