X-Men: Evolution: My Top 10 Favorite Episodes

   The X-Men are personally my favorite superhero characters of all time, and for me, the animated 2000 TV series “X-Men Evolution” is the show that started everything. This is the show that made me a fan, it’s also where my love for both comic books and superheroes really took shape, and I was never the same after growing up with it. Now, obviously they're plenty other comic related material that I’m fond of, but none of them ever seemed to hold a candle to this team. Focusing more on themes of prejudice and acceptance always took the X-Men just one step beyond other superheroes. Also, in this particular show, the X-Men felt the most human, unlike other renditions of the team, where they’re displayed as colorful hero’s that saved the world from super villains. While “X-Men Evolution” has its high-stake action and spectacles, it also felt a little more grounded, and focused on the team as common everyday people who are just trying to find their place in the world. Despite some really mixed-humor, this show made my favorite team of heroes far more relatable and identifiable than any other incarnation. Honestly, it’s one of the few animated TV shows that I still enjoy watching as an adult, and it’s about time I celebrate by looking back at the best of what one of my favorite Superhero shows had to offer. Here are my personal top 10 favorite episodes of “X-Men Evolution”.

#10 “African Storm” (Season 2: Ep. 21) 

    While Storm has always been an iconic X-Men character, she regrettably never amounted to anything more than a supporting role in this series. Thus, “African Storm” has always stood out for me, as it’s the only episode in which she’s in the spot-light. In this creepy venture, we discover that Storm once used her powers to aid a small African tribe that was suffering from a drought, and in turn was worshiped by the natives like a Goddess. Her actions in turn expelled a witch-doctor called The Hungan from their tribe, and now in present day, he seeks his vengeance by placing a curse on Storm, and harnessing her powers for his own gain. This episode in my opinion has some of the best atmosphere and creepy visuals of the series. It wasn’t too often that a Saturday morning cartoon spooked me, but I distinctly remember this one getting under my skin, with some effectively quiet moments. The Hungan and his clan made for very unique enemies for our heroes to battle, and the episode also gave Storm’s nephew Spike a good arc, in which he learns to be there for his family when they need him most. In short, this episode was hauntingly atmospheric, developed Storm’s backstory, and stood out as a unique entry in the series.           

#9 “Mainstream” (Season 3: Ep. 33) 

     One of my favorite aspects of this show is that it begins with mutants under wraps, and no-one in the public really knew of their existence, unlike other X-Men shows and movies, in which people know of them from the start. Because of this, we get to see the excitement of their massive secret exposed to the world, people looking at our heroes differently from before, and in the end, the X-Men’s greatest challenge is fighting for acceptance. In the season three episode “Mainstream”, we see our young heroes try to attend a public school under the condition that they don’t use their powers. As they soon discover, fitting in with humans is far more challenging then facing your typical super-villain of the week. They can’t join a sports team without being blamed for cheating, former friends won’t stand by them anymore, and local bullies are eager to start a fight. It’s not an episode about saving the world or fighting the ultimate evil, it’s just these characters fighting for acceptance in a very skeptical world, and that’s when this show is at its most poignant. Themes of prejudice have always been a staple for the legacy of X-Men, and I think this episode really hits the moral subtext of these characters home. The climax of this episode revolves around a speech delivered by X-Men member Jean Grey to a public auditorium, which thankfully conveys just the right points without ever being melodramatic.  

#8 “Ascension” (Season 4: Ep. 50-51) 

    Now, the bulk of “X-Men Evolution” was watching our heroes face more grounded human trials, but it also wasn’t without it’s epic superhero spectacles. In a daring move, the big superhero showdowns were utilized sparingly in this series, and as such, they’d feel more like big events. The two-part series finale from season four titled “Ascension” was most definitely an event. This was the grand, end-all showdown with the most lethal villain of the series … the accent mutant Apocalypse. After two seasons of build-up, this was the massive Apocalypse battle which we've been waiting for, with the fate of the world at stake ... and it delivers the goods. The X-Men team-up with former enemies, they split-up into multiple groups to fight in separate parts of the world that are under siege, and it makes everything feel grander as a result. There’s just enough emotional ties between characters to balance out the large-scale battles, including Jean Gray reaching out to a brainwashed Professor X, and Rogue, the girl who’s always shut herself out from the world ultimately being the one who saves it. Apocalypse made for a very exciting villain, and it was great that the show didn’t over rely on him. Instead, it kept his appearances to a minimum until this epic finale, which I fond the most effective. The highlight of this episode by far is the closing epilogue, in which Professor X looks into the future, and see’s what’s to become of his students, as well as  what potential obstacles lie ahead for them. It was an emotional, action-packed, and all around satisfying conclusion to a great series.      

#7 “Self Possessed” (Season 3: Ep. 38) 

   One of my favorite aspects about X-Men in general is that, as kids, we think having superpowers is the coolest thing ever, but this team always illustrated their abilities as both an asset and a handicap. Rogue especially has always been the most tragic victim of her own powers, as her abilities to absorbs memories or other mutant powers made it impossible to get close to anyone. As if her powers didn’t cause enough problems, we also learn in the season three episode “Self Possessed”, that every memory and life force she’s ever absorbed stays in her head ... and now it’s getting a little too crowded in her mind. After a tense encounter with Mystique, Rogue learns the horrifying truth ... that she is in-fact the daughter of the X-Men’s greatest enemy, and after accidently absorbing her powers, all the personalities of everyone she’s touched begins taking control of her body. It’s an effectively dramatic episode, watching Rogue get torn apart from the inside, but it also features some of the shows best action, as it features Rouge utilizing multiple powers at once. This episode also features one of Wolverines most heroic moments, as he’s the one who reaches out to Rogue and pull's her back out. For a twenty-minuet episode, this one packs a lot, sets the stage for a darker road ahead, and the experience permanently changes Rogues character from this point on. Definitely one of the darker episodes, and one well worth checking out if you’re a Rogue fan.    

   

#6 “Operation Rebirth” (Season 2: Ep. 24) 

     Much like Storm, Wolverine was also a side character, and didn’t always get stand-alone episodes, which always made it feel like a special event whenever he did. “Operation Rebirth” stands as one of his best, as well as an episode that breaks away from its familiar formula. This episode marks the first appearance from Nick Furry of Shield, who becomes a reoccurring character throughout the shows run. After touching base with Wolverine, we discover that Magneto, along with Sabretooth, have stolen a top-secret devise from a shield base, but to what end is unknown. What’s more is that the devise triggers memories of Wolverines past, way back when he fought in World War 2 alongside none other then Captain America. This is the only crossover episode with another famous Marvel superhero, and it’s excellent, despite only seeing Captain America in flashbacks. It’s great to see the early roots of Wolverine before he got his claws. It’s equally satisfying to see him work with another classic superhero from under the Marvel banner, and it even develops a connection our clawed hero has with Magneto, which was very subtle, but effective. This is also one of Wolverines most emotional episodes, as we see him lamenting the loss of a friend. It’s just a really mature episode, with great action, and it’s a cool change of pace to see a hand full of the younger team members go on a mission with Wolverine. 

#5 “Under Lock and Key” (Season 3: Ep. 39) 

    Following after the events of the season two episode titled “Mindbender”, we discover that the team’s newest foe named Mesmero is stealing sacred relics in an effort to awaken the dreaded Apocalypse from his slumber. This episode is a riveting progression of what would become the final story arc of the series, and there’s a riveting sense of looming dread that’s just building to Apocalypse’s arrival. This episode also marks the point where Magneto and his Acolytes become mutual enemies of Mesmero, and his malevolent master. However, the big reason this episode ranks so high on my list is because it’s the only episode from any X-Man cartoon to bring together Cyclops, Angle, The Beast, Ice Man and Jean Grey for one action packed venture. We long time comic fans know these five as the very first original X-Man created by Stan Lee himself, and it’s such a treat to see them together in one epic throw-down against both the Acolytes, and a monstrous spider creature summoned by Mesmero. There’s even a subtle in-joke provided by Ice-Man that they’re “definitely the cool team”, and it also features an unforgettable group shot of the five walking together just before the battle.    

#4 – “The Stuff of Heroes” (Season 3: Ep. 32) 

     Still fresh after the catastrophic events of the season two finale, our heroes are on the run from the military, the world has been driven into a state of panic after the discovery of mutants, and Professor X is missing. This episode features so many highlights that break away from the typical status quo of the series. It’s riveting to see them on the run from the military, and it leads to some thrilling action. However, as the title colorfully suggests, this is the episode where the X-Men display their first sign of heroism to the nation, by rescuing a small town from their strongest foe ... the Juggernaut! This leads to one of the highest stake battles of the series, as the team need to conquer their most unstoppable adversary without the aid of Professor X. It’s a riveting battle, with our hero’s utilizing their powers in distinctively creative ways. The tension is high, and on a side note, the music score during this battle is absolutely electrifying. In the end, Juggernaut meets his demise, the X-Men prove themselves heroes to the core, the president makes an impassioned speech about this being a time of change, and our team finally discover where Professor X had been held the whole time. It was all around an important game changer for the direction of the series, and it really show-cases that our young X-Men have grown so much, as both heroes and as individuals, sense their early days.      

#3 “The Cauldron” (Season 1: Ep. 12-13) 

    Of the many foes that have challenged the X-Men, Magneto will always stand out as their greatest adversary, not because he’s the evilest, but because he’s far more compelling, and aims to persuade his enemies to join him in what he views as a noble cause. Throughout season one, Magneto was kept in the shadows, while his first lieutenant Mystique was the one regularly battling our heroes out in the field. Then during the epic season one finale titled “The Cauldron”, Magneto finally makes himself known, by challenging the X-Men to a full-on battle against his Brotherhood, to determine who belongs on his sanctuary base called Asteroid M. As his mutant war wages on several playing fields, Cyclopes has an emotional reunion with his little brother, who’s been presumed dead for years. There’s a very effective flashback in which we see Cyclopes origins, how he and his brother escaped a plain crash, and the tragic loss of his parents, which also marked a rare, and daring death sequence for he series. As the two brother’s bond, Cyclopes is unaware that he’s also being manipulated by Magneto to join his cause against the humans. Soon, Cyclopes himself finds reason in Magnetos goals, and betrays his team. This epic two-parter has all the good stuff, larger scale action, top notch animation, and at the center is the emotional struggle between a broken family trying to find where their allegiance lies. Magneto of course has always been one of my all-time favorite villains, and this is the episode in which he shines the most, as a manipulative father figure who’s winning over our heroes to his sinister goals. What’s more is that Magneto views his actions as the right course in order to deal with the storm that lies ahead. While season one was the shows weakest, “The Cauldron” remains one of the best episodes, and a superior season finale compared to most of them.  

     

#2 “X-23” (Season 3: Ep. 41) 

    Of the many things “X-Men Evolution” got right, in my opinion, the shows absolute best achievement was creating a completely original character who had never before been featured in the comics, but has gone on to become a fan favorite. In the case of this episode, Wolverine discovers that he has a clone, a younger female clone that was actually the twenty third attempt at replicating him. Yes, before she got her own comics, or graced the silver screen in the 2017 movie “Logan”, X-23 made her very first appearance in this series, and sense has always stuck with me as one of my all-time favorite X-Men characters. Her premier episode simply titled “X-23” highlights this series at it’s most emotional, as it doesn’t feature any villains for our heroes to fight, and instead focuses on the traumatic backstory of this character, and how she longs to find someone to call family. Initially, all she wanted was to kill Wolverine, as she blamed him for, well … coming into existence, but then gradually discovers that he’s the very father figure she needed. The final showdown between Wolverine and X-23 is my favorite battle of the whole show, as it’s both an awesome action set-piece, with lots of destruction and a great layout, but it’s also got the heaviest emotional stakes of any fight in the series. The voice acting during this climax is equally strong, especially from Andrea Libman as the voice of X-23, who only has a hand-full of lines, yet conveys so much raw emotion through the performance. Needless to say, I instantly became a fan of this character, and I couldn’t even express in words how happy I was to see her finally make an appearance in a live-action movie.   

With 52 episodes total, there’s several other great episodes I regrettably didn’t include, so here are some very quick Honorable Mentions … 

“Cajun Spice” (Season 4)

“The HeX Factor” (Season 2)

“Uprising” (Season 4)

“Sins of the Son” (Season 4)

“Dark Horizon” (Season 3)

"Grim Reminder" (Season 1)

#1 “Day of Reckoning” (Season 2: Ep. 29-30) 

    Throughout the second season, several little pieces were put into play, which would all come together in one explosive finale, and as you’d expect from the title, this is when everything goes to hell for our heroes. After two previous seasons of playing it safe, this finale was the moment where shit got real, the threats felt more intense, and events began to feel epic. This was the event that exposed the X-Men and mutants in general to the public, Magneto’s plans of domination are taken to threatening new height’s, the giant Sentinel robots are unleashed to wipe out all mutants, and Mystique finally unleashes her vengeance by kidnapping Professor X, posing as him, and aims to kill all our hero’s from within. We also get our first showdown with Magneto’s new team called The Acolytes, which marked my personal introduction to the characters of Gambit and Colossus. The final battle with the X-Men battling the giant Sentinel robot is one of the shows best action highlights, and the cliffhanger was one of the most effective I ever experienced in a Saturday morning cartoon. The mansion is destroyed, the X-Men are scattered, some are imprisoned, three of their greatest foes are bearing down on them, the whole nation is likewise hunting them down, and Professor X is hidden somewhere secret. It’s a powerhouse season finale, it marked a significant turning point in the show where nothing was the same again, and it set the stage for bigger things to come.

    Aside from us fans that grew up with the series back when it first premiered in the early 2000’s, “X-Men Evolution” may fly under the radar for some comic book fans, or new fans discovering the X-Men. Personally, I say that if you’re a fan of any sort, I highly recommend checking this series out. Over the years, it’s still held up as my personal favorite animated X-Men series, as the characters all felt the most real, and there was a fine balance between large superhero spectacles, and subtle human trials. It was a great way to be introduced to so many of my favorite hero’s, and it still remains a nostalgic gem to look back on. If your unfamiliar with the show, I hope my list might have peaked your interest and given you a good place to start. Maybe it won’t be regarded as an animated classic, but it’s still a meaningful series from my child hood, and it’s the show that shaped me into the comic book/ superhero fan I am today.

Thanks for reading my retrospective on "X-Men Evolution" ... and continue to enjoy whatever TV shows, animated or otherwise, that you Love!