As the season begins it picks up exactly where the last one left off: Mystique is facing the puzzled X-Men, having been in the disguise of Charles Xavier for an unknown amount of time. This places the entire team at a cross roads – until the authorities arrive and attempt to take them into custody. As the mutant scattered, they’re first cornered by SHIELD and then set off to rescue their captive comrades.
There’s a feeling of mutant solidarity, despite the temper tantrums at the episode’s opening. Even the intro feels darker, with added appearances from the New Mutants, the villains and Beast gets his own shot. The music feels edgier. These kids aren’t kids anymore. They have to grow up early – the world now hates and fears them.
It instantly creates a new dynamic. The Brotherhood and the X-Men together, trying to free their friends and family from human experiment, all while human beings like Trask lurk in the shadows. It feels like a new start, a new pilot.
The show has completely changed. How do you go home again? All of the students are now separated, the mansion is in ruins and, perhaps the most crucial issue needs addressing: Xavier is still missing, as is Magneto…
After the exposure of mutants, the X-Men and Brotherhood face off against each other and the authorities. Mystique blocks Jean‘s attempt to probe her mind for Professor Xavier‘s location. The group is interrupted by police, leading to a chaotic escape. The New Mutants follow Ray into the sewers for safety, while the Brotherhood and X-Men regroup at a lookout.
Nick Fury arrives and provides information on where their captured teammates are being held. Mystique takes charge and orders the teams to split up. Wanda and Todd head to New York to confirm Magneto‘s fate, while the others go to Area 51 to rescue their friends.
In Area 51, Mystique disables the fence sensors, allowing the team to break in. They face numerous obstacles, including motion sensors and security troops. Despite the challenges, they manage to free their captured teammates. Cyclops traps Mystique inside, demanding Xavier’s location, but ultimately leaves her behind as the team escapes.
Back at the Brotherhood house, tensions rise as they deal with the aftermath. The X-Men, now fugitives, discuss their new reality and the need to teach the world that they are the good guys before it’s too late.
This episode introduces a new, slightly longer and darker, version of the theme tune, with more focus on the extended cast. Beast has been given his own title card.
In the comics, Xavier was once held in the Hulkbuster Base – deep in the Nevada desert – in Onslaught: Epilogue.
Caliban, though unnamed here, is a Morlock. The character of Ray, aka Berserker, who leads the New Mutants down to the Morlock tunnels was original a Morlock in the comics themselves. He died during the Mutant Massacre.
Toad’s attraction/obsession with the Scarlet Witch goes way back to their initial appearances as part of Magneto’s Brotherhood of Evil Mutants in X-Men #4.
X-Cess Minutiae 
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