X-Men: Evolution Features New Mutants for a New Millennium
Wolverine: “Bub, I’ll be honest with ya. In your place, at your age, I’d be doing exactly the same thing.”
X-Men: Evolution “Uprising” (Season 4, Episode 5)
Spyke: “So why are you here?”
Wolverine: “Because I’m not in your place, kid. I’m part of the big picture now. There’s trouble brewin’ all over the world and people are way too tense.”
X-Men: Evolution was a revamp of the X-Men franchise featuring teenage versions of the heroes attending public school, then returning to Xavier’s School For Gifted Youngsters to learn how to control their powers.
The X-Men were recognizable, but updated. Changes included Wolverine becoming a stern mentor and lesser-known mutant Marrow being redesigned into Storm’s nephew Spyke. So what are the top five episodes? Let’s find out. Class is in session.
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#5 Survival of the Fittest
Focus Characters: Cyclops, The Brotherhood, Juggernaut
Cyclops: “Take a break, Wolverine.”
“Survival of the Fittest” (Season 1, Episode 9)
Avalanche: “We’ll take it from here.”
Mystique: “Well… this is unexpected.”
The Brotherhood were the X-Men’s most frequent foes. Avalanche, Toad, Quicksilver, and The Blob were reimagined as delinquents from the wrong side of the tracks working for Mystique. This X-Men: Evolution episode featured a threat that forced them to fight together.
Synopsis: The X-Men attend a survival training camp at the same time as The Brotherhood. Both teams are challenged to climb a mountain without using their powers. Meanwhile, Mystique frees The Juggernaut, who goes on a rampage hunting Professor X, his half-brother. Can the teams find common ground and unite before Juggernaut commits fratricide?
Why This Episode? Survival of the Fittest makes great use of a massive cast. The X-Men and Brotherhood are forced to compete without fighting each other. Inflamed by Cyclops and Avalanche’s rivalry, both sides cheat until news of their endangered mentors reaches them.
Juggernaut is the strongest threat in the show. He smashes Wolverine through the Institute and shrugs off every attack thrown at him. The combined mutant army is focused on removing his psychic-proof helmet to exploit Juggernaut’s weakness to telepathy.
#4 Operation: Rebirth
Focus Characters: Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Rogue
Xavier: “A master race?”
“Operation Rebirth” (Season 2, Episode 11)
Wolverine: “Nah, these were the good guys. They didn’t mean it that way.”
Xavier: They never do, at first. So tell me, was the procedure ever used on anyone?
Wolverine: “Yeah. Steve Rogers.”
X-Men: Evolution was kept separate from the Marvel universe. Occasional references were made, and Nick Fury made a handful of cameos, but this episode exploring Wolverine’s past brought a shield-flinging Avenger into the mix.
Synopsis: Magneto has stolen the technology used to create Captain America and plans to revitalize himself with it. Nick Fury recruits Wolverine to stop him, and Wolverine reluctantly brings Nightcrawler and Rogue as backup while coping with memories of a fateful mission to liberate a World War II concentration camp.
Why This Episode? Operation: Rebirth focuses on characters over action. Wolverine’s relives his old scars in sepia-toned war flashbacks. Captain America has no speaking lines, but his actions speak louder than if he had.
Rogue and Nightcrawler have their own trials. Rogue has to contend with memories stolen from Mystique and keeping her allies focused. Nightcrawler is caught between wisdom and mercy when he finds Magneto on the verge of death and must choose to save or damn him.
#3 X-Men Evolution: Sins of the Son
Focus Characters: Professor X, Shadowcat, Legion
Lucas: “Y’know, Dave, if you’re really ready to end this, there’s only one way. Call him.“
“Sins of the Son”, (Season 4, Episode 4)
Professor X: [answers a phone] “Hello? Charles Xavier.“
David: “Please, I-I need your help, father.”
Later seasons of a TV show are always harder to make. Showrunners hope to keep fans interested by changing settings, introducing new characters, or even swapping genres to avoid becoming stale. This X-Men: Evolution episode blended those ideas with all the subtlety of sweeps week.
Synopsis: Professor X receives a call from a kidnappee named David Haller, who reveals he is Xavier’s son. The X-Men travel to Scotland to search for Haller, squaring off with world-class psychic Lucas and mute child pyrokinetic Ian. But why was David kidnapped and what does Lucas want with Professor X?
Why This Episode?: Sins of the Son is a modern gothic mystery. A charismatic villain in a castle kidnaps the innocent while a mysterious child guides the heroes into danger. The twist ending is obvious in hindsight and X-Men fans will likely predict it early.
The mystery is offset by a comedy of errors. Shadowcat and Nightcrawler are sick with the flu. An unconscious Nightcrawler teleports them in his sleep and Shadowcat must keep her sleeping friend safe until he can bring them home.
#2 Self-Possessed
Focus Characters: Rogue, Mystique, Cyclops
Mystique: “I know I’ve hurt you, but I only posed as your friend so I could be near you.”
“Self-Possessed” (Season 3, Episode 8)
Rogue: “LIAR! I know the truth! You were using me to spy on the X-Men!”
Mystique: “No! It’s not that simple.”
Rouge benefited the most from Evolution’s updates. The flirtatious southern belle became a tough, empathetic goth. Her initial role as a villain segues beautifully into anti-heroics, but this episode showcases the downside to Rogue’s powers on the worst day of her life.
Synopsis: Rogue is depressed after her crush Cyclops starts dating Jean Grey. Her powers fluctuate and she uses previously absorbed powers and memories. Rogue loses control after accidentally touching her best friend Risty, who is a disguised Mystique. Driven berserk and transforming into villains, can the X-Men save Rogue from herself?
Why This Episode? Self-Posessed is ironically named. The episode shows Rogue failing to cope with spiraling emotions and superpower-induced Dissociative Identity Disorder. The pressure builds slowly before exploding into a rampage that more violence can’t stop.
Mystique also plays a large role. She’s been disguising herself as Rogue’s friend for two seasons, both to spy on the X-Men and bond with Rogue. Viewers had already learned Risty’s true identity, but this episode reveals her motivation and changes the context of their past interactions.
#1 X-23
Focus Characters: Wolverine, Nick Fury, X-23
Dr. Risman: “When she was twelve, they put her through the Weapon X process.”
“X-23” (Season 3, Episode 11)
Wolverine: “ENOUGH! She’s a child, not a weapon!”
X-Men Evolution’s showrunners struggled with Wolverine. He was a mature authority figure who kept the students at arm’s length. Their attempts to bridge the generational gap created a fan favorite character.
Synopsis: Several S.H.I.E.L.D. facilities have been attacked by a clawed figure and Nick Fury arrests Wolverine. They find a researcher who reveals that HYDRA created a female clone of Wolverine called X-23. She blames him for her suffering and attacks the X-Mansion to flush him out. Can Wolverine stop his unknown daughter?
Why This Episode?: X-23 is one of the series’ darkest episodes. The titular clone was raised to be an emotionless living weapon. Her humanity shines through as she spies on targets in the mansion before taking down the X-Men.
The revelation shakes Wolverine. He’s outraged by another person being subjected to Weapon X, remembering himself in his daughter’s place. X-23 traumatizes Wolverine with a screaming meltdown when he will only oppose her non-violently.
Fun Fact: X-23 was created for X-Men: Evolution and became popular enough that Marvel introduced her in the comics. You don’t see that very often.
Which Episode of X-Men: Evolution is your favorite? Did we miss a classic? Tell us in the comments.
Jared Bounacos has written for Movie Rewind since 2016.
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