Featured Characters:

• X-Men
  • Magneto (Erik Magnus Lehnsherr) (Joins)
  • Cyclops (Scott Summers)
  • Jean Grey
  • Wolverine (Logan)
  • Beast (Dr. Hank McCoy)
  • Storm (Ororo Munroe) (Leaves)
  • Bishop
  • Gambit (Remy LeBeau)
  • Rogue
  • Jubilee (Jubilation Lee)
  • Morph (Impersonates Lady Deathstrike, Colossus, Psylocke, and Sabretooth)

Supporting Characters:

• Morlocks
  • Callisto
  • Leech
  • Ape (Cameo)
  • Erg (Cameo)
  • Tommy (Cameo)
• Nathan Summers (First full appearance)

Antagonists:

• Friends of Humanity
  • X-Cutioner (Carl Denti) (First appearance as X-Cutioner)
• United Nations
  • Dr. Valerie Cooper
• Sentinels (Vision or hallucination)

Other Characters:

• Trish Tilby
• X-Men
  • Professor X (Charles Xavier) (Photo)
  • Iceman (Bobby Drake) (Photo)
  • Angel (Warren Worthington III) (Photo)
• WHiH (Only on screen as a static image or video record)
• Henry Gyrinch (Mentioned)
• Phoenix Force (Mentioned)
• Apocalypse (Mentioned)
• Jean Grey
• Bastion (Cameo)

Races and Species:

• Humans
• Mutants
• Sentinels (Vision or hallucination)
• Dogs

Locations:

• Earth-92131
  • United States of America
    • New York
      • New York City
        • Brooklyn
          • Coney Island
        • Manhattan
          • Morlock Tunnels
          • United Nations Headquarters
      • Westchester County
        • X-Mansion
          • War Room
  • Genosha (Only on screen as a static image or video record)
  • Asteroid M (Mentioned)
  • Muir Island (Mentioned)
  • Blue Area of the Moon (Mentioned)

Items:

• Ruby-Quartz Sunglasses
• Inhibitor Collar
• Sentinel Blaster
• Gambit's Staff
• X-Uniforms
  • Cyclops' Visor
• Magneto's Helmet
• Neutralizer (First appearance)

Vehicles:

• Wolverine's Jeep

When Magneto is forced by the U.N. to stand trial, a group of anti-mutant rioters test his resolve. The episode opens with a FC news crew showing the Coney Island Ferris Wheel being evacuated with a lone firefighter trying to save the last civilian then falling when the Ferris Wheel collapsed. The falling wheel and the car the two people were caught in mid air by Magneto, who set the car on the ground gently while returning the wheel to standing upright. The news reporter reacts in surprise to see Magneto, as the one who saved the day. Back in the mansion, watching the news footage Cyclops wearily asks Jean if Professor Xavier had not trusted him enough and thus left Magneto in charge. Jean, holding her pregnant stomach counters by wondering if Xavier had intended it as a favor to them. The news continues with a reporter claiming reports are coming in from all over the world of Magneto saving people. Valerie Cooper is seen watching the news and in another building the news is playing in the background as Carl Denti connects a mutant inhibitor collar to another device resembling a gun.

Later, in the Morlock Tunnels, four Morlocks sit on their knees, inhibitor collars around their necks as armed Friends of Humanity, surround them. Callisto speaks criticizing the humans for invading their sewer home, the only thing the Morlocks have. When Leech begs not to be hurt several pipes in the sewers begin to move strapping the Friends of Humanity to the sewer walls while the voice of Magneto taunts them. Magneto frees the Morlocks and tells Leech that the young boy will never have to be afraid again.

In the X-Men's war room, the X-Men discuss Xavier's choice of leaving his estate to Magneto, Beast and Storm suggest Xavier's intentions were good, Bishop stating he had never before seen a timeline where Magneto lead the X-Men and Gambit wonders if they could perhaps try to change the past to reverse the choice. Rogue speaks up remarking that many of the X-Men have had crime filled pasts and they should give Magneto a second shot, as the professor would have. Magneto enters the war room at that moment declaring he has paid to have the Morlocks sent to Genosha, lamenting the fact no one had thought to do it before. Magneto tells the other X-Men that he left the Friends of Humanity alive in the sewers, a fact he states shows his devotion to following Xavier's dream and leading the X-Men as the Professor would have wanted.

Cyclops asks Jean to read Magneto's mind to check his "real plans", she rejects the idea. A confused Cyclops states that she had recently done the same with Henry Gyrich, while Jean retorts that looking for information from the mind was different that scanning for someone's intentions, which can change minute to minute. Angry, Cyclops states then she should read his mind that often, stating that he he will no longer be leaving the mansion as he wants to keep an eye on Magneto. Magneto states that he does not wish to cause discord but states that he will not prove himself to the X-Men and that the team must simply trust him, as Xavier wanted. While packing Jean finds her old Marvel Girl costume and reflects that she last wore it while fighting the Shi'ar on the blue side of the moon. She speaks to Storm reflecting how Cyclops has always been there for her and the two women discuss the idea that Cyclops may no longer wish to leave the X-Men with Magneto at the mansion. Jean then confides to Storm her fears that if her son is born a mutant he will face persecution for it and Storm reflects on how she had often wondered what it would be like to be human, and though it was a tempting dream, she loved the family she had found in the X-Men.

In Xavier's old office, Magneto stands holding his old helmet when Rogue enters, ignoring Magneto stating he wished to be alone. Magneto reflects on how when he used to be friends with Charles there was a dormant telepathic connection between them and so when they parted ways he began wearing the helmet to keep his mind safe.^[1] Rogue observes that despite how hard Magneto fought to stay away from Xavier's dream he was now at the mansion, fighting for his dream. Magneto tells Rogue that he feels indebted to Xavier, since his old friend's sacrifice had improved human and mutant relationships. He wonders aloud if the X-Men are right not to trust him, given his past, Rogue reminds him of her own criminal past, and tells him she earned the X-Men's trust trough actions, not demands. Adopting a somber expression Magneto steps closer to Rogue taking her gloved hand in bother of hers and stating sadly he had feared she would try to avoid being alone with him. Magneto tries to remove one of Rogue's gloves but she pulls her arm away stepping back from Magneto. The new leader of the X-Men wonders aloud if the X-Men would still trust Rogue if they knew about the shared history between Rogue and himself, Rogue retorts that the events he referenced happened long ago and should stay between them.

Three United Nations helicopters land in front of the mansion, with the X-Men hurrying outside to meet them. Soldiers emerge from the helicopters aiming guns at the X-Men and Valerie Cooper walks between the line of soldiers saying they came to arrest Magneto. She warns Magneto not to try and resist as the soldiers guns were resistant to Magneto's powers. Magneto instead takes control of the three helicopters activating their rotors and having them hover around the soldiers. Valerie, unphased tells Magneto he is to be put on trial at the United Nations Headquarters for "crimes against humanity". After being assured that he will be trusted by the U.N. should the trial find him innocent Magneto willing allows himself to be arrested, to the surprise of the X-Men around him. Magento is collared, placed in hand manacles and loaded into a helicopter sharing a final look with Rogue as the doors were closed. The next day, Wolverine sits on a couch in the mansion watching the trial of Magneto when Jean enters asking for news. Wolverine explains that Valerie has been listing every crime of Magneto's from "here to Asteroid M" while an angry crowd gathers outside the United Nations, protesting the trial. To Jean's surprise Wolverine states that Cyclops is at the U.N. with the other X-Men and Jean states she had not been told he would be going. As protesters stand outside the gates of the U.N. Denti sits in a van donning his X-Cutioner outfit and wielding the gun like weapon he had connected to a collar earlier. Denti states that humantiy would make Magneto pay that day and tells another Friend of Humanity to keep everyone busy as he will only have one shot.

Magneto is given his turn to speak at his trial, he recounts his past and how he had first been hunted for being Jewish, then later for being a mutant. He observes that people who are different are often persecuted for how they are born. Magneto states that while the judges seek justice what is needed instead, is healing. A judge states that words will not heal human's who have been hurt by Magneto but is countered by Magneto that mutants also need healing. He mentions that humanity has tried to bring about the extermination of mutants through the Sentinel Program and the use of inhibitor collars, and that he, Magneto, has only ever tried to avenge mutants.

Guards in the U.N. courtroom get reports that protestors have stormed the building, wanting to go after both Magneto and the human judges. Smirking Magneto remarks to the judges that by following the laws they have now become targeted by their own race. Cyclops orders Storm to stay in the courtroom to protect Magneto and the judges while the rest of the X-Men go out to help the U.N. guards deescalate the protestors.

Back at the Mansion Wolverine prepares to go help the others at the U.N. but is approached by Jean, who has gone into labor. Wolverine begins recklessly driving Jean to the hospital, while Jean uses her powers to clear away obstacles, until a contraction hits and she accidently rips the roof off of Wolverine's jeep.

The Friends of Humanity and X-Cutioner breach the U.N. lobby and engage in a fight with the X-Men, using Sentinel technology to blast their way into the courtroom. Cyclops receives a telepathic message from Jean informing him of her being in labor. Storm orders Rogue to take Scott to the hospital then takes command of the U.N. soldiers demanding the release Magneto, which they do. Cyclops soon arrives at the hospital but a doctor is refusing to help with Jean's labor because of the threat of Jean's powers. Cyclops then asks Rogue to use her powers to learn how to deliver a baby from the doctor's memories. Rogue is initially hesitant, worried about harming the child should she accidentally make skin contact with him. Jean and Cyclops state that they trust her, Rogue absorbs the doctor's memories and orders two nurses into action.

Back in the courtroom Magneto and Storm combine their powers to create an electric barricade that keeps the protestor's and Friends of Humanity away from the judges and themselves. X-Cutioner enters the chamber and aims his special weapon at Magneto, he fires, but Storm seeing what was about to happen moves between the weapon and Magneto, being shot by its beam in the process. She falls to the ground injured, angry, Magneto uses his powers to take hold of X-Cutioner, capturing the man before he could flee. Storm becomes aware that her powers are gone and begins to weep at the loss of them. Valerie tells Magneto that this had not been intended, but an incensed Magneto calls her a liar and claims that the loss of Storm's powers, the helplessness the woman now felt, was what the U.N. wanted for all mutants. Enraged Magneto uses his powers and lifts the podium that the three judges and Valerie had been sitting at, taking them, and X-Cutioner up out of the building and into the sky.

Magneto carries the four humans above the clouds and into the the upper atmosphere, crying as he does so. He remarks how he could kill X-Cutioner with a step and that in times past he would have killed all of the humans present because of the attack on Storm, but that he was changed. Looking down on the continent below them Magento tells them that he just saved their lives and how he was entrusted with Xavier's dream, a dream which was to unite all humans to a common future and not reduce the vast world to one of petty fights. Magneto tells the judges that he is trying to do better and asks that they not try to make him fail them.

At the hospital Rogue successfully delivered Jean's baby, Jean and Cyclops look down upon their new son and decide to name him Nathan Charles Summers while Wolverine looks on from the doorway.

A news report states that the U.N. gave Magneto a pardon for his part in saving them and, in an effort to unite humans and mutants, are going to begin the process of admitting the mutant nation of Genosha into the U.N. In his lab, Beast analyzes a sample and informs a horrified Storm that the gun that took away her powers seems to have done so permanently. Distraught Storm goes to her room and looks upon her white uniform a scar on it from where the beam struck her, she is startled by a flash of lightning outside her window.

Jean finds a note on Storm's bed, the note states the Storm no longer feels connected to the X-Men and thus has decided to leave. Cyclops is seen looking happily upon his son who coo's happily from a crib. While gazing at a picture of a younger version of himself and Xavier, Magneto is approached by Rogue. Silently the woman takes off one of her gloves and reaches for Magneto's face, she hesitates and instead reaches for his bare hand, he takes he hand in both of his, showing he can touch her without having his powers drained. The pair stand together holding hands and looking into each other's eyes. Morph is seen bringing snacks to Wolverine and when the shapeshifter transforms into Sabertooth the pair begin a friendly spar. Later Rogue is watched by Gambit as she walks out of a room, one hand not wearing a glove. Seeing her Gambit drops a Queen of Hearts playing card to the ground, a hurt expression on his face. Storm is seen boarding a bus alone.

Jean reads Storm's farewell letter to the X-Men all of whom listen sadly. Cyclops begins to blame himself, Bishop claims it wasn't his fault, while Magneto tells the room at large that the X-Men will respect Storm's decision to leave. Gambit angrily states that the power draining weapon was intended for Magneto, so it was Magneto who should leave. Morph speaks up stating they believes Storm will be back home soon. At their words the doorbell rings and Morph eagerly rushes to open it, expecting Storm. Instead a weakened woman who looks identical to Jean falls into Morph's arms claiming to need the X-Men. Cyclops looks from the baby Nathan in his arms to the woman in Morph's arms confused, while the Jean we have seen all episode stand behind Cyclops, looking angry.

• X-Men '97 continues to change the opening from episode to episode. The order now being Magneto, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Storm, Wolverine, Morph, Rogue, Beast, Gambit, Jubilee, and Bishop.
• Magneto gets a title card.

• Magneto's helmet is established to have been made to repel Xavier's telepathy, which wasn't true in the original show's continuity (Xavier used his telepathy on a helmeted Erik during X-Men: The Animated Series' fourth episode), as the concept for such would originate from the 2000 X-Men film and be adapted into comic canon afterwards. While presumably a retcon to match the comics following suit, it's possible he only altered his helmet to repel Xavier's telepathy after the fact.

• Uncanny X-Men #200
• Uncanny X-Men #185