X-Men: Evolution | A Critical Retrospective

This video essay is my attempt at a nuanced assessment of the highly entertaining Marvel cartoon 'X-Men: Evolution', trying to figure out precisely what this show accomplished and what it didn't. My criticisms come from a place of appreciation - I'm not at all trying to hate on what was an interesting and timely series!
Links:
TVTropes on High School AUs: tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
J.K. Rowling is a TERF: theblemish.com/2019/12/j-k-ro...
X-Men Films as Gay Rights Parables: www.theatlantic.com/entertain...
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction - What Was Evolution?
1:41 High School 101
4:58 2000s Flashback - School Reboots, Dialogue, and Soundtrack
7:16 Adaptation 101
9:49 Sociology 101 - Or, the Missing X-Factor
12:00 Missed Opportunities?
13:09 Conclusion - Evolution in Retrospect
#marvel #xmen #mutants

[@PillarofGarbage]

It’s easy to be relentlessly positive, and it’s even easier to be overly cynical or negative. It’s harder, I think, to be truly fair and nuanced. That’s what I’ve tried to be here - so while this isn’t 14 minutes of unrestricted praise, I hope it’s a good watch anyway :) Edit: I should also say - there’s some interesting points and counterpoints being made re: the points of the video in this comments section, so make sure to have a scroll!

[@avilalanceandrewt.7894]

“It’s easier to be relentlessly positive, and it’s even easier to be overly cynical or negative. It’s harder, I think to be truly fair and nuanced.” Yo can I borrow this quote? It kinda speaks to me on how we need to handle ourselves. Sorry for being off topic

[@carlinc.christensen3478]

Love your videos and you out look on some great older shows!! Keep up the good work!!

[@jessegartung294]

Can you review Wolverine and the X-men next?

[@johnwillsea6600]

No offense but while you may look up to LGBTQ community it destroys the whole concept of families, and us confusion to ones who are just now going through puberty I had many friends who liked their friends and we're pushed into thinking it was love by those trying to make LGBTQ communities prominent. Only to realize years down the line that no it wasn't love but friendship and it's ruined their futures as no one trusts them of either gender to be alone with them in a work environment, in one case a friend caught an STD from it and in others it just threw them off course for educations and set them years behind in knowing what they want in a women. . . . .Sorry but I genuinely think these topics should be kept away from children's shows though adult shows where people have found and know themselves I don't think will cause as many issues. Again sorry for this rant but this is how I have seen this stuff play out around me and I didn't speak up before but now I know a little better . . . . Anyway please let me know your thoughts, thanks for the video, and have a wonderful day

[@PillarofGarbage]

@@johnwillsea6600 no, also ratio

[@r.pizzamonkey7379]

I really like this story's version of wolverine. No stupid Jean Grey love triangle, no Yukio/Silver Samarai, just a cranky 100 year old man with a heart of gold.

[@MTV2O2O]

Hold on, Silver Samurai’s a cool character tho

[@r.pizzamonkey7379]

@@MTV2O2O He's got cool visual design I just hate Logan doing "muh honor" americanized samurai bullshit.

[@darky1595]

@@r.pizzamonkey7379 I agree with you about wolverine, I hope they change him to be like this in the comics too, but silver summrai has a potential to be a good character, just change him to be like shredder.

[@benjacarrasco9447]

@MTV 2020 And yukio and mariko even more.

[@lonebattledroid4474]

I also loved the story with him and X-23

[@smargio]

I do think that this show is the best we have ever seen Scott. I think that separating his, Jean's and Logan's ages to have a love triangle not be an option is great. It lets allows for all three characters to be people rather than "stick in the mud and angry growl man don't like each other because they both like the same cardboard cutout." Jean could have still been improved in this show but she didn't feel like "powerful lady is stuck between the advances of two men."

[@ianthibeault404]

While I agree with you whole heartedly on that point I feel it must also be pointed out it didn't stop Ultimate Marvel. Man did they hit some insanely dark lows.

[@smargio]

@@ianthibeault404 Yeah. It got real gross.

[@fortcastellan1730]

Yeah, I really enjoyed how this show actually gave Cyclops a chance to shine. Lotta great character moments for him. And some bitter rivalries. His enmity with Mystique was....surprisingly intense. And Blind Alley....I can't say enough good things about the episode Blind Alley.

[@mythking541]

The thing with that though was they set Jean up to be the next antagonist, as Professor X had his vision of her becoming Phoenix, which was suppose to be their next season. The spiritual successor to that plot became Wolverine and the X-Men, where they set up the reverse (have Jean Grey become Phoenix, loosely, then set up for the awakening of Apocalypse).

[@DDevospartan]

I agree here, this is the closest we ever got to the Leader Cyclops can be, Season 2 and 3 really allowed him to shine, S4 was kinna weird and he disappears a little there if I remember correctly but not without having given us great scenes of what the leader of the X-men should be.

[@RomLoneWolf23]

I will say this in favor of Evolution, it had one of the best portrayals of Cyclops in ANY media.

[@Ninja07Keaton]

Yep.....RIP Kirby Morrow.

[@marciedresel7051]

HE’S DEAD?!

[@Ninja07Keaton]

@@marciedresel7051 Yes. He passed away last year.

[@juliankanzuki2013]

the show did a lot of the characters some jsutice, Rogue aswell has never been done better than here imo. Also some of the adult characters are well done and overlooked in this, mainly Wolverine and Storm.

[@jbcatz5]

It’s not hard to beat his Fox film portrayal, where his character boiled down to being a Jean simp or conditioned out of most of the runtime. Seriously, in Dark Phoenix there is nothing to his character that doesn’t have anything to do with Jean. Apocalypse is his best Fox film showing. Being a TV show helps his character enormously because it’s a medium more condusive to character development.

[@alexandrefrauches132]

I disagree about evolution not having anything the MCU could adapt or take inspiration. Actually it has alot of things: 1) The concept of the X-men being teenagers not only allows the movies to show their growth as the franchise expand and progress, but makes mutation work as metaphor for natural changes in human body. 2) Having some x-men (ex: Beast or Storm) working as teachers and mentors for the young members would give the X-men movie a very super hero/ School drama style to it, very similar to My Hero Academy, Harry Potter or Sky High. 3) Magneto working as master manipulator in the shadows or the Apocalipse arc are good ways for them to build up those villains, making them feel like threats. 4) Wolverine actually being the soldier who rescued Magneto from the concentration camps could be a great detail to add in their backstory in the MCU, maybe even resulting in a very touching scene where Magneto saves Logan's life, telling to consider this the thanks from a kid he saved in Poland (plus the flashback could have a Captain America cameo). 5) The idea that mutants live among human and Xavier use his powers to keep them hidden could be how they introduce the mutants in the MCU, with the first x-men movie having the heroes starting at first acting in the shadows, without people knowing about them, but, after a incident, they realize that they cannot keep doing this forever and so, after saving the city from some villain (in my opinion the villain should be Krakoa), the x-men could reveal themselves to the world as mutants, showing people that not all of them are evil and can use their powers to protect the innocents.

[@PillarofGarbage]

I agree with most of these! Though I do feel it’s worth noting that most predate Evolution.

[@CrusaderLegacy]

I also like the genuine buildup and setup for Apocalypse. The idea of a greater evil possibly returning and trying to stop it was really interesting to me!

[@spyone4828]

Regarding point 1, this is in fact how the comic started: the X-Men were teenagers attending a special school that also taught them to control their powers and trained them to use them in helpful ways. Then the characters aged-out of that setting, and the next wave of characters were adults who already had experience with their powers. Sadly for the franchise, most of the most iconic X-Men came in that second wave (Wolverine, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Rogue, Storm). Kitty Pride actually came in as a character who wasn't allowed to join the team because she was so much younger than everyone else (about the age of a high school freshman). The New Mutants were an attempt to reuse the original premise: Xavier takes on another batch of teen students, and the X-Men are their mentors and teachers when they aren't off saving the world. And for a while the New Mutants had a really interesting premise: the students were trying to keep their powers secret from [i]one of the students at the school[/i]. Doug Ramsey had a mutant gift for learning languages, and since this was deemed to not have potential in superheroic combat he wasn't told that he was a mutant, or that he was attending a school for mutants. (I started reading New Mutants right at the end of that: an alien ship crashes in the yard while the adults are away, so they have to tell Doug that he's a mutant because they need him to talk to the alien.) There was also some social tension because ... most of the New Mutants were actually older than Kitty Pryde, but Kitty wasn't part of their classes. She was part of the X-Men even if she was supposed to always sit on the bench and never get in the game, and some of the NM were jealous.

[@secretsofphoenix]

I love this idea it’s almost entirely perfect and the Magneto and Logan thing would be really cool and allow for good character moments between them! (But I do think that they shouldn’t make Magneto that old so that we could at least have Magneto be related to Wanda like how the 90’s show had Magneto’s wife become scared and afraid of him in which she runs away giving her children away to Wanda and Pietro’s uncle and aunt just like in the 90’s cartoon that would be great)

[@alexandrefrauches132]

@@CrusaderLegacy Same, specially considering that in X-men TAS, despite been a amazing series, it really screwed up Apocalypse introduction. Only in his following apperances he became a powerfull enemy. In evolution, right from the start it's clear that he is a real threat and when wakes up the entire world would be at stake.

[@MTV2O2O]

There’s a lot in this show I like and don’t like, but one of my favorite characters in the show is Cyclops, they actually portrayed him as more than just a foil to Wolverine, and gave him character development besides just crying over Jean Grey.

[@user-kl1mn3rr1t]

The actor was really good. RIP Kirby Morrow 😔

[@chrisosborn6401]

Except Scott and Jean looking like they are in their 30s was a huge distraction. If your going to put them in high school, then age down their character models.

[@PillarofGarbage]

I agree wholeheartedly!

[@austinkersey2445]

@@user-kl1mn3rr1t Shit, I didn't even know he passed. Welp, there goes my happiness for the day. It's also a shame, because he was my favorite Scott. And, I do agree about him. I also love Kurt in this series. He isn't as angsty as in other series, but I like him in this anyway. The guy deserves at least one timeline where he gets to be happy. I mean, he got a girlfriend that doesn't care if he's a mutant. That's more than what he typically gets. He's also adorable as all hell. And, Brad Swaile is a win. I honestly like most of the characters and their performances. Their all great, even if the writing can get a little muddy at times. It's probably my personal favorite of the television and film adaptations barring the 90s series.

[@elijahhollis1957]

@@chrisosborn6401 I seriously disagree with this. They didn't look 30 at all. Definitely a little older than the other kids, but they are supposed to be seniors in high school, and the oldest besides Storm and Logan

[@elizabethgriggs322]

The most interesting part of X-Men Evo was how it portrayed the Brotherhood. They were always antagonists rather than villains, had nearly as much screen time examining their home life and relationships as the X-Men, and showed how most of the kids in it were kids who had been lead astray by poverty, family trauma, bullying, etc.

[@crossfusion1233]

This might sound odd, but personally I think this is the best LOOKING X-Men show. I don't just mean animation quality, though it still holds up pretty well. I'm talking about design wise, particularly in the costumes. As much as I love the 90's cartoon and the costumes are so iconic, they are very much of the times. With Evolution all the costume look unique and cool without clearly looking like it came from a certain era. Now the normal clothes do, but that's kind of unavoidable, given the setting. I think adapting some of Evolution's costumes would work nicely in the MCU. I just hope we get a more accurate Mystique, with a skull belt and ACTUAL CLOTHES!

[@bronzegoddess209]

100% agree

[@giosbizarreart9048]

Nah i love evolution and think it’s the best xmen show but it’s designs are pretty mid to bad except for a few characters. Wolverine and the xmen and the 90s show blow this one out the way easily

[@10tailedbijuu]

@@giosbizarreart9048 both of you suffer from nostalgia.

[@DonniedrakoE]

This man really is trying to revive everyone’s nostalgia for the old marvel shows. I will admit though that this is most underrated of the x men shows. I felt like it really captured what the x men were all really about and showed as a giant origin story for what they’ll accomplish later.

[@TheTrexOfficial]

I agree. Well stated

[@Silvern7552]

I just think, that kinda unlike a lot of other super hero shows, especially animated, there is really not a bad option when looking at x-men all the shows that have come out that are animated have been pretty solid. Gifted was kinda a mixed bag from what I remember, though I didn't watch that too much as I was busy when it came out.

[@Seasonal-Shadow_4674]

@@Silvern7552 Do you guys think X-Men TAS from the 90’s hold up well as a good show?

[@giosbizarreart9048]

@@Seasonal-Shadow_4674yes imo it holds up better than even spiderman TAS. I watched both recently and dropped spiderman TAS due to the dragged out and not too interesting plots, i might pick it back up someday tho it wasn’t bad just not as good as it was hyped up to be. xmen on the other hand tho was a super fun show with good serialized storytelling for the time

[@Seasonal-Shadow_4674]

@@giosbizarreart9048 what made it so good and how does it hold up?

[@michaelturner2806]

One thing I appreciated this show for was the diversity in showing powers used. The 90s X-Men cartoon, for all its groundbreaking, usually had side characters just shooting a beam of light from their hand, no matter what the power did. Avalanche here is a good example, it shows a mental/physical struggle, accompanied by a distinct sound cue.

[@roanpartridge9239]

One of my favourite things about Evolution is that everyone had a sound cue. Every characters powers had their own unique sound effects attached to them, with a couple music themes sprinkled in too

[@Step43099]

Can I just say, one of my favorite scenes is from the Rogue episode Self Possessed, the ending scene with Logan just sitting talking to an unconscious Rogue while holding her hand waiting for her to wake up

[@joshholland8564]

It also shows how terrifying Rogue is

[@iroseart3369]

I do think goth girl Rogue could return in the mcu honestly as an "E-Girl" lol. There was something very honest about the depiction of evolution Rogue that really resonated with me in a way that no other iteration had. Her being depressed and immensely insecure about her powers made sense to me, because the inability to touch people without hurting them is a depressing trait that would make me very lonely and guarded too. While yes the Fox films Rogue was also a pretty sad character, what separtaes evolution Rogue and Fox Films Rogue is the aesthetic that's associated with the character as well as the fact that Evolution's Rogue doesn't pull any punches showcasing how unlimited her powers really are....whereas Fox Rogue was the opposite, she was immensely nerfed. Evolution Rogue having a goth aesthetic compliments her complex insecurities and depression, and the fact that her powers aren't restrained adds a lot of charm and authenticity to the character.

[@PillarofGarbage]

Lmao, e-girl rogue could actually work

[@marocat4749]

Ha, i think you could have underworld gambit easy too. As lovable antihero rogue. Sorry i ship them. And thaat could bring them together .

[@XombieLejon66]

Flying brick Rogue who calls you "shugah" will always be best Rogue to me.

[@ShadowSonic2]

Rogue doesn't need the Ms Marvel powers to be cool and kick ass, this show showed that.

[@LadyAhro]

​@@PillarofGarbageHeck, in the current goth Revival we're living through, adding a curly haired southern goth Rogue would still be pure gold.

[@hydranoid2009]

Honestly my favorite character in this show was Toad and the brotherhood by extension. I liked how this show fleshed them out a bit as more than just villain of the week baddies, but more people just like the X Men that happened to slip through the cracks and let their bad habits dictate their lives. Like Toad thought Cyclops was a stand up guy and might have actually been an X man had he not been groomed by Mystique and gotten into an argument with Kurt

[@PillarofGarbage]

This is a good point - Evolution did humanise the Brotherhood very well. Maybe this is what the MCU takes from Evolution?

[@hydranoid2009]

@@PillarofGarbage Yeah I'd say that's most likely. I'd also like to see them embrace the foil dynamic Toad served to Nightcrawler in that show. Both mutants with unnatural looks they can't control, one is embraced by a tight knit group and finds solace in their faith while the other is universally tormented and despised and has nothing to cope with but their own self deprecation

[@KichiMiangra]

No lies here, I think the only episode of X-men EVO I didn't like was the first episode because of just how... Weird Professor X treated Toad. Like... he is a lot carefuller in recruiting other characters after Toad but Todd's first encounter with the X-men was not a good one. On top of that: "while the other is universally tormented and despised and has nothing to cope with but their own self deprecation" This is actually briefly covered in an issue of the X-men EVO comic that ran for 9 issues back in the day. Todd share's the spotlight with Jean in the issue covering how she joined Xavier's institute. The main highlight is Jean dealing with not being able to block out reading people's thoughts but a B plot going on that involves Todd Trying to befriend some other students over basketball, using his mutant skills to play and get shit all over for it, and then by the end of the issue he took control of the school bus and crashed it as a murder/suicide attempt. Jean manages to focus her powers to save him and even then after reading his thoughts for a second he thinks "Why couldn't you just leave me there...?" Showing a sad look into Todd's mindset over how bullying, discrimination for what you are, and loneliness can breed some very heavy lows.

[@hydranoid2009]

@@KichiMiangra Yikes. Certainly sounds like an interesting read

[@noctisluciscaelum211]

@@PillarofGarbage I actually hope the Mcu does take notes from evolution cause made so many characters hero and villian relatable and badass.

[@lucariomew365]

Honestly, I'm glad they moved away from the HS setting as the show started going on. The plots started delving into more series themes and the new characters were pretty cool. Also, the entire Apocalypse arc (which has since been edited together as a movie by a fan on KZbin) still stands as the beat build up to the character I've ever seen. I wish that the team was allowed to continue with their original plans.

[@ejmn078]

Heeey, do you still have the link of the movie regarding the Apocalypse episode?

[@lucariomew365]

@@ejmn078 Unfortunately not, at least not for the fan movie that compiled the episodes into a 2hr movie. It looks like Disney-Marvel finally had KZbin took it down this year after ignoring it for 8 years.

[@KTChamberlain]

For me Scott McNeil's gruff voice fits Wolverine/Logan to a tee. For once it's nice to NOT see Wolverine hitting on Jean Grey, whether or not she's a teenager in X-Men: Evolution. And honestly, I think this is the first and only time Cyclops wasn't portrayed as an insufferable asshole, and it's made even better by Kirby Morrow's voice acting.

[@soccer4207]

Sure, this series had its' fair share of flaws. But if there's one thing I really liked about it, it's how Wolverine was portrayed as the gruff mentor. He just fits that role so well and they make his connections with the students interesting.

[@DiarrheaIsUnbreakable]

I prefer this show over Wolverine and the X Men. Not only because of nostalgia, but how they handled the characters. It wasn’t just about wolverine, but the X Men.

[@ostyne5523]

I liked their uniforms- each one different from the other, possibly for the purpose of showing the students' diverse personalities ( I kinda liked Kitty's hairstyle, and tried to copy it! Also, according to one website, Rogue's uniform and civilian clothing colour is supposed to represent the sin of envy- fitting for someone who can absorb others' powers and life-essence!)! 😐

[@ostyne5523]

Also, I liked Texan goth Rogue!🙂

[@LordCornshoe]

Absolutely. Wolverine and the X-Men was terrible at handling and balancing its characters. I also hated that the only way they could make Wolverine look like a viable leader and steward of the team was to make Cyclops looks bad.

[@jruss9851]

Nah

[@mike_datzmag1c21]

Always liked Wolverine and the X-Men, from Voice actors, designs(except Apocalypse at the end..but sure it’d have change) and a lot of the fav arcs included in this season…which could be seen as bad but show seemed like it didn’t know about a season 2. Woulda love to see Apocalypse and Cable’s appearance

[@nuttbutt8358]

Of all my love for this show, one thing I wish was as appreciated as x 23 was the interpretation of Jean grey. No Phoenix, no wolverine love triangle, just her. Phoenix actually did come up through legion later on, and I would be interested in how they would do dark Phoenix, but hell rogue practically went through a “dark Phoenix saga”, so I don’t miss it.

[@alexandrefrauches132]

X-men TAS may be the best adaptation of X-men, but Evolution is one my favorite animated series as well my introduction to the X-men and their world. I admit that I was little bother at first by the High School setting, however, the series developed, specially after season 2 finale, I start to understant the reason for these school setting: It shows the x-men actually trying to create a interaction with the humans. In the comics, despite being a group created to promote Peace between humans and mutants, the x-men rarely try anything new to allow mutants and humans to interact and learn from each other, beside saving the world (ex: they could allow humans to study in the Xavier school; they could have non mutants as members). In Evolution, they aren’t just super heroes who stay in the Xavier School and just go out to save the world. They also have normal lifes as teenagers with human friends. When they reveal themselves to the world and start dealing with prejuice, they aren’t just being reject by random civilians but also people who they know from school, making the themes about discrimination much more realistic and impactful.

[@Gabe600]

you have a point about the X-Men should interact more with humans but let them going to Xavier school is a really bad idea, unless they're superheroes and people they know and can trust you're asking to be spied on, sabotaged and suffer terrorist attacks and also the school is attacked and destroyed all the time and members of the X-Men and other mutants that live there die in these attacks and if a human student died it would be the X-Men's fault.

[@Gabe600]

but again the X-Men are popular and have been around for a long time and a lot of writers have worked with them so I would be surprised if they ever had a phase where regular people could attend.

[@alexandrefrauches132]

@@Gabe600 That's true, but they could still find other ways to allow more interaction between humans and mutants, maybe have a special day where humans can visit the Xavier school or vice versa, allowing the people to see that mutants are not a threat and can coexist in peace with them. Also, they been spied, suffer sabotage or attacks happens in their school regardless of they having non mutant students or not. Their presence in school wouldn't change much (plus like any professional the x-men cleary wouldn't take any student. They would check his and his parents file before accepting him or ger in the Xavier school).

[@Gabe600]

@@alexandrefrauches132 Yeah you are right

[@jbcatz5]

It does speak more to that fear and rejection, when people start questioning everything about the mutants they used to be close friends with, dated, because they now know they’re mutants. The principal revoking Jean’s athletics awards because he can’t prove she didn’t use her powers and it takes the X-Men going into a combat situation without using their powers for them to be allowed back at school. Spyke was disqualified from the skateboarding competition for being a mutant even when he pointed out his powers didn’t give him an advantage and had entered because he enjoyed skateboarding since before breaking out as a mutant.

[@MeLeoMiller]

One thing this show did that seems pretty rare in Xmen shows and movies is showing the xaxier school as a functioning place. You saw them have lessons, living together, study for school, it really felt like an actual place.

[@kriitikko]

90s X-Men the Animated Series will always be my favorite depiction of the X-Men, but Evolution has lots of stuff I like too. Such as: - NO PHOENIX! Jean Grey just allowed to be awesome on her own. I doubt we'll ever see this again. - No Wolverine/Jean/Cyclops drama. Thank God. - Best depictions of Mystique and the Brotherhood. Toad was my favorite. I also have a soft spot for goth Scarlet Witch. - They don't feel the need to remind us of Magneto's backstory every episode. This is probably due to show being aimed for children, but I can't beging to tell how annoying it got how Fox movies always had to tell his backstory again, as if we forgot. Not to mention it started to feel like a "get out of jail" free card for Magneto, as if because he went through this horrific thing now he faces no consequences for his actions. - Sentinels for once were actually intimidating. Overall I much more enjoyed this series than "Wolverine and the X-Men", in which most of X-Men are just playing second fiddle to Wolverine, who is a pretty overrated character imo. Also, I never watched "Iron Man: Armored Adventures" when it came out so I have no nostalgia for it, but I did watch it last year and it was actually pretty good.

[@darky1595]

I did like Phoenix Storyline, how ever I Agree with you about the cringy wolverine and Jean Grey relationship, making wolverine look like a father in the xmen is much better.

[@juliankanzuki2013]

I love the fact that they gave Wanda her X-men evoloution outfit at the end of Age of Ultron.

[@DavidMartinez-ce3lp]

I agree with you on Magneto. I don't need to hear his origin story again, and his trauma doesn't excuse his behavior.

[@lightheart5]

@@DavidMartinez-ce3lp Not everyone is going to know how to deal with people born with superpowers.

[@marocat4749]

The love triangl with tony, the mandarin and pepper is surprisingly great and works as conflict for the mandarin too. And I like tony more as irrsponsible jerk, if he is an actual teenager. Great show. And the relationship o him and rowdy is great. The show really does adopt the whole thing and makes them way more likable even. Good show. An th humor. XD And its still dramatic. It shoulsnt work as well as it does. Yeah toad and th rothrhood are great, like with the hindsight its just dadder that those delinquents and oucasts that have rason to, are teenager. And teenager and hte whole determint the future it was rally hartbreaking when lance when blamied for doing the right thing leaves himself after not having to , thats genuinly tragic, because he i just a tenager and has low selfworth, and grows lot thrigh that, but still, he dosnt think he deserves it, does not deserve to be seen as heroic and not the bad guy, :( I think th show did really well ue the fact that this are teenager and teenager can e th worst as sometimes grey character stories. like lancesstory is literally a classic bad boy romance story an they douse it well for lance and his self image.

[@najbgaj]

This may be a minor thing, but I LOVE Magma’s character and development in this show. I was so bummed to see how underused and lackluster she is in the comics compared to this version tbh.

[@SuperSilver316]

I dug the opening theme! Show did get better over time, I liked the later seasons with Apocalypse! Also they gave us Laura!!! Pls pls talk about Wolverine and the X-Men, my favorite take on the mutants by far!!

[@nopenopington2880]

Man I always wondered why the second season wasn't on Netflix.

[@remylebeuX1]

I always liked that they hid the whole mutant thing at first, it absolutely lets the show work as a metaphor when their cover is blown in season 3. It changes it from a metaphor on differences everyone can see to one of how people react to finding out you're different like ones faith or sexuality and seeing who stays by you. I just wish they had shown some of the other kids staying friends with the x-kids, kind of a point on who your real friends are

[@rodrigomateodelgadodelacru8154]

I love how this channel is analizing relatively old shows and giving them attention the nostalgia hits me hard and the content is of great quality

[@kylepop4371]

My favourite part of this show was the characterisation of Rogue. I really think Rogue having the Ms Marvel default powers in the comics is such a hinderance on her actual original powers and this show did a great job at making her strong, smart and useful with her powers without actually giving her permanent super strength. Not to mention her being the loner outcast fit so well

[@coletrain583]

I also liked the loner looking for love part when it came to her relationship with Cyclops.

[@ShadowSonic2]

@@coletrain583 So basically....they gave her Logan's role in the usual Logan/Scott/Jean triangle?

[@coletrain583]

@@ShadowSonic2 Yeah basically, it’s just more unique and emotional, just adding to Rogue’s tragic situation with her having the same feelings for the guy who happens to also like the girl she wishes to be.

[@ShadowSonic2]

@@coletrain583 And somehow it never was as insufferable as the Logan/Jean/Scott one ever was...mainly because this triangle actually helped Rogue open up as a character to others. The platonic nature of her friendship with Scott was well done.

[@coletrain583]

@@ShadowSonic2 In many ways, the chemistry was better as a result.

[@angularbubble3532]

I would like to know your take on the Mistique, Rogue and Nightcrawler family arc

[@rayhaanfuller]

I loved it

[@davidpayne697]

I found it fascinating and moving. One of my favourite parts. Especially their VAs who nailed it imo

[@Neethan3247]

This show needs to come back. Despite having an ending, it was rushed and there were much greater plans but the plug had been pulled. As for the show being High School based, it's an EXTREMELY ambitious X-Men show and the high school stuff was meant to be temporary. It was a slow burn and the world building was executed better than two other X-Men shows. When you finish Season 1 and you make it to Season 3, you'll know what I mean. Seriously, we needed more seasons. God damn. P.s Not looking forward to how the MCU handles X-Men.

[@DiarrheaIsUnbreakable]

Fun Fact: The showrunners ship Scott and Rogue. Had they gotten another season, they would've done the Phoenix saga where after Jean's death, Scott and Rogue would have gotten together.

[@PillarofGarbage]

I feel the existing seasons definitely hint at this! And a Scott/Jean/Rogue triangle is better than a Scott/Jean/Wolverine one any day!

[@Noveler00]

I think using Kitty Pride as an example of dated dialog isn't good choice. She was a valley girl archetype which has a particular speech pattern and vocabulary, and not a good example of the general populous.

[@PillarofGarbage]

That’s a fair point, and perhaps I should have used another example, but I do think that the particular instance of that trope we see in Kitty is a lot less relevant today than it was 20 years ago - but maybe that’s just me :)

[@Noveler00]

@@PillarofGarbage agreed. That archetype is just terrible no matter where it is used.

[@remyraymay]

I’m still mad at the fact that the show got canceled before they introduced Emma Frost. When I heard she was going to be in the next season & be part of the team after the fact I was so upset 😭

[@danneltheflannel]

It ran for 4 seasons, and I think it had something to do with WB shutting down their cartoons on channel 22 and everything moving to CW 11 iirc.

[@Replica_Rabbit]

They didn't make Scott and Jean into lame characters, I couldn't take them seriously in the 90's X-Men. Anyway, I remember X-Men: Evolution way more than the 90's show. The sentinels wasn't lame robots that fall apart from a touch I feel the other plus side of Evolution is the characters grow up and are teaching the newer mutants in later seasons

[@certifiedfanboy]

I remember watching the show as a kid and made me love the characters especially Wolverine since he was the stand out. I recently watched the show during the summer and it holds up mostly well, sure there's some outdated stuff but the characters carried the show and it was cool seeing them trying to fit in, learning how to use their powers and tackling themes that were rare during that era of television. Also one final thing Evolution Beast>>>>>>>>comic Beast

[@garretschinkel2740]

I do recall in Season 3, the episode called Mainstream, Jean gives a speech that was one of the hardest LGBTQ metaphors ever. She said “Most of you have children, and you love them for who they are, not for what they can or can’t do. There is a chance that one of them will be a mutant. You will love them anyway, but people will hate them, and people will want to hurt them. You will hope for the day where your child can live in a safe world. Well that world must begin now, by allowing mutants to attend public school.” It especially applies to today too, with Florida’s recent bill restrictions on queer people and education in school.

[@caldw615]

I think this version of Nightcrawler in particular is very queer coded. There's so much in the story about him having to hide who he is and worrying people will assume the worst in him because of his appearance. You could definately read into it as to that of a bisexual person who still feels the need to hide that aspect of themselves because people stereotype them as being unfaithful or secretly "just gay/straight".

[@emperorjoker9240]

Disagree wholeheartedly on your point about Kurt. That was his literal character arc, The fact that he needed to gizmo to look normal and hated how he actually looked. He even fell in love with a girl but hated that she would never except him because of how he looked(she did later on after she found out).

[@Tony-fq5bn]

1st season was kinda slow, but the show really started taking off when Scarlet Witch was introduced, and that great plot twist where we find out Mystique has been impersonating Xavier. 2nd season to finish the show was great

[@SamWickens]

One unique element of XM:E I liked was Spike's development from cocky young skater kid to so mutated that he couldn't even go to the normal school and essentially becoming homeless (joining the Morlocks) because of it. And being the only black non-teacher even gives him a slightly higher chance of being used in future adaptations for the sake of representation.

[@marocat4749]

Honestly he wasnt bad bt needed something, but the mutation and taking over storms morlock part really made him a great character. An make that morlocks work too.

[@kayseesnyder9268]

This show is what made me fall in love with X-Men when I was a little kid. I rewatch it all of the time as an adult and it's still makes me so happy.

[@tiago9977]

13:29 I would love to see Disney take inspiration from this show when they introduce Cyclops, Jean and Wolverine to the MCU tbh. I absolutely loved their personalities & dynamics in the show, i.e.: * Cyclops - a great leader * Jean - a fierce peace maker * Wolverine - a teacher w/ his own adventures. I'm also glad they avoided: - the love triangle between them - the rivalry between Scott & Logan - the Dark Phoenix storyline

[@ShadowSonic2]

They WERE going to do Dark Phoenix, but at least here they built up Jean enough for us to care

[@nuttbutt8358]

Wolverine in general, I have to say, is great in this show. I do actually think his VA is THE wolverine, I hear it when I imagine his voice. Cyclops as well, though it doesn’t always fit the middle aged man he is in the comics now, through both this show and Ninjago has been ingrained in me. Rest In Peace Kirby morrow.

[@orinanime]

Agreed with your assessment. Especially about Scott McNeil as Wolverine. Though I also love Cal Dodd. Steve Blum is okay. And yeah. RIP Kirby. Sad stuff.

[@OtakuJuanma2]

Kitty Pride was one of my earliest TV crushes xD

[@Crxsseyed1]

I honestly loved evolution, I like the idea how the younger characters get more screentime, aka kitty, nightcrawler, spike, rogue, and the brotherhood, I also like the little relationships throughout it, like how kitty and nightcrawler seemed close early on, then there’s the idea that some characters are fleshed out

[@CometStar100]

To me this was one of the best animated super hero TV series ever. I do not get why no one really talks about this show but this show is so underrated.

[@roger632]

I loved when Nightcrawler said: "The chicks dig the fuzzy dude!" I think he said that in the first or second season. But it's been stuck in my head for some reason, I think it's his accent lol.

[@uravityuraraka1327]

That might be season 1 when he gets stuck in the mini dimension! I think its the argument when Scott and him fight over being serious???? (Let me know if im wrong, lol)

[@smallandstressed2364]

My dad used this show to introduce me to the x-men franchise, so it holds a special place in my heart. I think it’s easy for the show (or any shows with a child demographic) to not worry about everything making sense.

[@claymathewselevator8121]

This show was my introduction to X-Men as well

[@knight4today]

Something you missed, being so young, is that the show’s feel (and Kitty Pride in particular) are based on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Hence the music choices and her sounding like a nineties cheerleader.

[@scorpio7232]

Heck, Rogue and Kitty dancing is ripped straight from Buffy. There's another replicated scene from The Craft in the Wild Side episode. Google it it for a comparison.

[@kharikhy-ree2242]

As many have said in the comments I believe "Scott" more than "Cyclops" got to be explored, and it was needed for people to understand his drive later as the leader of the X-Men. "Rogue" in my opinion received some of the best artistic character development. Her character design being "goth/emo" was a perfect choice for her teen power's; longing for community friendship and love but struggling with connection and communication. To be touched, not merely as in physical but to be emotionally received/vulnerable around those who love her. Nightcrawler/Kurt worked for me. He reminded me of many Biracial people's experience, particularly "White-Passing" African-Americans who in the 40s-2000's would deny being Black or try to stay hidden in White Spaces so the could hide from racial prejudice. Many Mulatto children often had been abandoned by one parent or both because they feared persecution. As he was abandoned by Mystique(Someone who thrived and survived by White Passing and Code-Switching tactics or false cultural Assimilation aka Shape-shifting). That "wristwatch" Kurt used, was no different than a "flat-iron" many Biracial-Light skin or Biracial-Fair skin people used to hide their kinky coils or curls, which could reveal they were also Black. Cyclops, Rogue, Kurt, and Mystique's emotional motivations we're showcased the best. Though not a canon character "Spike" and other Morlocks had great purpose in Evolution as an antonym to being "White-Passing" and lacking the ability to "Code-Switch" forcing them to flee to a niche safe community, because society would never accept them do to the "One drop rule". Which many Darker skin or Urban Black people faced. Colorism, Texurism, Feauturism were the unique conversations they told, which is brilliant. It's one thing to be Black, it's another to be Dark-Skin, with a Full Nose, Full Lips, Kinky Coily 4C hair, and having a noticeable Urban accent or dialect.

[@sergioruiz733]

While I felt the first season was kinda slow, I really liked the interweaving arcs and character introductions in season 2 with my personal favourites from reading 90s X-Force comics like Cannonball and Boom Boom and even cameos from Nick Fury and Captain America. Plus my god I loved this version of the Scarlett Witch and the finale of season 2 introducing, Gambit, Colossus, Pyro was awesome. Season 3 was awesome cause it made the mutants exposed and known to the public which was an interesting shift from the high school to the institute and involved more superhero antics that I enjoy. Season 4 though with Apocalypse was amazing and I really enjoyed the buildup in those episodes. Overall it felt like they took Ultimate X-men toned down the creepier aspects and edginess and made a really nice mashup of both 616 and 1610 Universes. I really really enjoyed this as a kid. Plus X-23 wouldn't exist without this show.

[@goodfellabadguy257]

After season 1, this show is great. It's the best Cyclops, and covered the Rogue/Mystique/Nightcrawler relationship the best I've seen. Gambit, Avalanche, Bobby, Boom Boom also all had excellent characterizations. And I can't forget about X-Men softball in the Under Lock & Key episode

[@Me-wx1mt]

one thing I love about this show is the suit designs. Even wolverine's weird orange suit looks cool imo

[@owensanfordstuff]

A show made in the early 2000s feels like it was made in the early 2000s? No way😂

[@connorharnage6697]

This is without a doubt my favorite X-Men cartoon. I watched it as kid and rewatched it on Disney+. Call it Nostalgia but to me, these are THE X-Men to me. Sure it didn't say much but I think the best shows can only be helped with an underlying message, not hurt. I also love the idea of Nightcrawler being Mystique's son. It adds a new dynamic that I enjoyed. In fact I enjoyed the dynamics between all of them. Spyke and Quicksilver's rivalry, Logan and Kitty's almost familial relationship and Avalanche's relationship with Kitty are all amazing for me and are often what I look to when writing my own characters. I hope this video does well just to see any other takes you might have on the show. I'd love to hear you thoughts on Havoc's arc or a video on Apocalypse

[@claymathewselevator8121]

This cartoon was my introduction to the X-men as well

[@dantecrottogini529]

I loved Rogue in this series. Nightcrawler and Kitty were lots of fun too and i always liked Spike, he was pretty cool. Also this series did Apocalypse really well imo

[@Nymeria64]

I always liked Evolution because it introduced so many characters while also focusing on each a fair amount of time

[@jakesimpson3373]

This show’s versions of Storm, Cyclops, and Logan are all some of my favorite versions of those characters

[@mandalorianhunter1]

I grew up with this show before fully watching 90's X-Men years later. I loved these characters and respect them more now then ever. I think this is my favorite version of Wolverine because he isn't a asshole to Scott or creeping on Jean a lot. He is a true mentor, more level headed and willing to understand others. Also he isn't over saturated or shown as the "main" character a lot.

[@irinamatzko5706]

I would love to hear about wolverine in the X-Men and armored adventures. I would like to hear your perspective on the 10 rings within the armored adventures and the new Shang Chi movie.

[@Gabe600]

The Mandarin from Armored Adventures is my favorite version of the character although to be fair I didn't see much of him in the Iron Man comics I read, but I still have a comic where Malekith starts to reunite the rings and Tony built a cold iron armor specifically to fight dark elves to stop him and unlike the many times he builds a armor to fight someone specific this time he won.

[@themilkman5004]

It’s around the season 2 finale and season 3 where the show begins to hit its stride. Where the established status quo is blown away and can’t be mind wiped. Everyone on campus is treated differently, the institute is trashed by other students, Jean’s awards are taken away because they assumed she cheated. Bully character Duncan becomes a bigot. By late season 3 Bayview is completely phased out and begins to show more of the x-men that people are familiar with. I felt if the show was able to continue they would grow to the X-men we are more familiar with. Especially with Grant Morrison’s new x men as possible inspiration

[@PillarofGarbage]

It would have been interesting to see more of this transition. But at least Wolverine and the X-Men gives us a look at a Morrison-inspired team!

[@TheDanishGuyReviews]

I grew up with the Danish dub, which doesn't have the German accent for Kurt, but does have the characters say their names over the theme song. Both of which I think made this version better. Kurt's original voice was actually a dealbreaker for me when trying to watch the English version. Which sucks, he's my favourite character in this. Also, fun fact, Danish dub Wolverine is also Danish dub Piccolo from DBZ.

[@milanorosco]

You really get to vouch for these characters and grow to see yourself in them. The movies fight against mutant stigma and other X-Men villains but in this show you REALLY get to see their journey as mutants and teenagers. It humanizes them to have feelings and opinions on how they navigate through a mutant-hating world while also juggling the nuances in their community (seeing the perspectives of the Brotherhood + Acolytes and how they approach mutant freedom). This was a really good show and I wish they continued with it! Wolverine & the X-Men wasn’t a bad show either hahaha

[@KinzokuDrummer]

It might be an unpopular opinion but this was and still is my favorite version of the X-Men in any media period.. Maybe it's just nostalgia but nothing has topped it for me yet

[@kierendale8659]

Man, this show bring back so much nostalgia for me and is probably the reason I like nightcrawler so much

[@TheDanishGuyReviews]

I had a bit of a sweet spot with this and the 90s version: The 90s version on VHS and Evolution running on TV. Good times.

[@claymathewselevator8121]

KidsWB

[@NT-ys3oh]

I personally LOVE that it’s stuck in the early 2000’s! Everything is always stuck in the period it was made and this is a portal into media of the time!

[@jeffco5237]

I really liked the voice and personality of Toad in X-Men Evolution, the voice is always Toad to me now. The Brotherhood was always just on the line of being good with the right encouragement and support. I agree that the Blob should have been used as a metaphor and a missed opportunity.

[@blitzfyre669]

I had already finished Avengers EMH, and started this show a few days ago in order to understand Wolverine and the X-Men. You're basically in my head lmao

[@Theokal3]

For what it's worth it worked for me. That show was my proper introduction to X-Men personally. I *had* seen bits of the 90s show before, but I could never quite get into it - mostly because I was too young to understand it back then and didn't watch tv enough to enjoy serialized stuff. Wolverine was pretty much the only character I remembered back then. Evolution was the point where I actually started familiarizing myself with all characters and getting into X-Men lore properly. By now I obviously know it wasn't a 100% faithful adaptation to the comic, but I still credit it for introducing me to them.

[@findfefito]

All i know is it was fun watching Wanda / Scarlet Witch roasting the whole X Men team alone without even sweating. lol

[@carsonchudley455]

I just started rewatching this series yesterday. Usually I'm prone to nostalgia, but for some reason I don't feel it with this series. Regardless, I'm still enjoying it even more than I did as a kid. Despite some of the issues I have with it, it's still one of my favorite marvel animated series.

[@pokezod7832]

Actually whenever I watch the show I like it, it's the only marvel show I don't ming watching over and over since I think every episode is at least decent, I think many good marvel shows suffer from having some very bad episodes while most episodes are at least great, EMH is my favorite marvel show although some of the episodes there were kinda boring for me, I think that like 90% of the season was at least great and thats super close to being the only 100% great marvel tv show

[@MrHoll87]

I also just recently (like a couple of weeks ago) rewatched this for the first time since it aired and man, regardless of what this show is or isn't or could have been, I flipping love this show so much. I had just watched the 90's X-Men cartoon about a month prior to rewatching Evolution and it was my first time ever seeing the 90's version and I honestly thought it was so good that I wouldn't enjoy Evolution. But to my surprise, I still love Evolution. It's so much fun and I LOVE how they handled Apocalypse compared to the 90's.

[@goodsirbear-7579]

I loved this show and I'm all here for an armored adventures episode

[@mrsb50]

I’m glad to see someone covering this show! I’ll echo what many others have said: the outing of the mutants heading into S3 was when it felt like the show was fully realizing its premise, and it gave a much fairer shake to characters like Cyclops who tend to be seen as sticks in the mud. Those are the highlights for me, but in general, I enjoyed the high school setting-it broadens the mutant metaphor to anyone who feels like they don’t fit in or like they have to hide, especially kids and teenagers. I don’t think it’s a missed opportunity to have properties that fill this role alongside the ones that have the more grand allegory; they all have a role to play. (Not to mention, I think there’s a danger in drawing too much similarity between mutants and specific minority groups when some mutants are physically and uncontrollably dangerous to others because of their abilities, making the fear around mutants at least marginally more understandable than the hatred and persecution of minority groups, who are just normal people trying to live their lives.)

[@David-dz1cb]

Been watching this for the first time lately, and honestly- it's a fantastic ride so far. Really love the setting, powers, solid characters, and creative ways of solving problems. Costumes and general look of the show is fantastic, and the team at WB animation really knocked it outta the park.

[@ShadowSonic2]

And unfortunately, it being a Marvel/WB co production is why it never got a proper release on DVD.

[@David-dz1cb]

@@ShadowSonic2 That is quite sad, I hope it gets a proper release or fifth season one day!

[@Thrasher424]

Dude it’s like you’re going through my head and finding the most nostalgic things to throw back at me. I’m not complaining though this is amazing.

[@willyforyourheart]

Season five really was gonna be their best one, possibly. - Phoenix possibly dying. - Rogue being able to fly and control her powers. - Magneto turning a new leaf. - Colossus and Gambit’s adjustment with the X-Men. - Angel, Havok, Legion and Mirage’s return. - Bishop and Psylocke’s appearance. - Berzerker and Spyke probably returning to the Morlocks, while Boom-Boom returning to the X-Men. I was so invested in this, back then. I just don’t get why they change Avalanche, Leech and Toad’s original name. Amara’s character appearance on the other hand, i’m okay with actually. But dude, they did Rogue’s powers here justice, better than her original trilogy. Probably my biggest critic was when they remove Spyke, they could include Ice Man to the team since he was the original one until producers wanted a diverse cast.

[@fizzypoppeach]

4:10 I would argue the high school setting and the image inducer actually enhance the angst Kurt usually has about his appearance. Especially considering on my rewatch it’s clear to me that this angst is consistent in his character throughout the whole series. I can think of numerous episodes that showcase this. The episode where Rogue is first introduced, he self deprecates over Kitty being freaked out by his appearance. In the season 2 dance episode, when Spyke points out that the image inducer won’t hide the fact he only has three fingers, he IMMEDIATELY panics and considers cancelling his date. Later in that same episode he directly tells his date, a girl who has admitted to knowing about his real form and clearly being chill about it, “you won’t like what you see up close”. In the episode where they go back to school after being exposed as mutants, he keeps his image inducer on the whole time and even just stand on the sidelines as the other students bully his friends, because it might expose him as a mutant. The reason he gives? “Being thought of as normal is the best thing to ever happen to me”. Even later in season 3, Spyke gets on his case for using his image inducer still, claiming that it would be hard for him to walk through the school halls showing his true appearance. And Kurt doesn’t even try to argue. He AGREES with Spyke and just goes “you’re right” before teleporting away. In the episode where Toad steals his image inducer, he is stressed as all hell about the idea of his date’s parents finding out what he really looks like. And when Toad does steal his image inducer, exposing his true appearance, the next time they see each other, Kurt screams “you ruined my life” and IMMEDIATELY starts to attack Toad. Even despite Professor X and Storm reassuring him in the pilot that he’s normal even without the inducer, it honestly read to me and my friend that he would go into self deprecating mode at the drop of a hat. He does it so frequently throughout the series Edit: I did not plan for this comment to be so long sorry lol, I’m just obsessed with Nightcrawler

[@TrippleBPlays]

This is the X-Men show that I really grew up on. It is my favorite X-Men animated series although I still love the 90s animated show too. Wolverine and the X-Men was really good too. But this show had really great character development. I wish it could have a continuation like X-Men '97 one day, but who knows.

[@KingBobaFett434]

Imagine if they made this series the same year Ultimate Spider-Man came out. I think that would be cool and they could have done a crossover with each other.

[@billmcdermott9647]

I think they built up Apocalypse really well. It’s one of things that really stuck with me where Mesmero…enters the chamber and communicates with his unseen master and he’s grimacing in pain as commands are basically downloaded into his mind “Understood (slight bow) I will find them and the world will once again tremble at the presence of ……Apocalypse” Great stuff … it made him feel something beyond what had been seen

[@remynyc149]

The X-men as a concept started with the original characters being high school age. Beast was the oldest and was only 19 in their first appearance

[@joshberninger8355]

Loved this show. Think it’s had the best Apocalypse arc of any of the series or movies. Liked how they slowly built him up over the season too with the gate episodes. Earlier seasons could have been better at parts but we’re still decent but mid way through they found their groove and it was great. Wish we could have seen them do the Phoenix saga.

[@chasecummings1529]

Goth mommy rogue had me in a chokehold ngl😂

[@stardusth2o]

This is not the first Evolution review where the theme song is disliked which I think is crazy because I think the theme song is absolutely killer lmaooo

[@SummerRainer]

I loved this show as a kid, and after watching it again earlier this year I was happy to see it still held up great. Surprised to see some of the takes here. But it's still #1 for me

[@claymathewselevator8121]

I remember watching this show on Saturday mornings on KidsWB

[@R2-DPOO]

Definitely more of a trope based on buffy’s success than Harry Potter.

[@phillipdoyle294]

love the amount of work that went into this video. When I watched this show originally at roughly 8-11 years old its been so long now I can't remember. But I loved the show growing up. I got into comic books both DC and marvel as a result. I didn't know who the original X-men were and so I didn't realize this was a rework with them being children. Even the AU original characters are now kids didn't occur to me back then. The overarching plot with very well made self contained episodes made this show amazing to someone so young. Almost every other show was focused on one off episodes (which I realize now is because they sell better), but watching the X-men week to week and seeing how it built upon was something so amazing that I loved the show. The only other show that i've watched again even now with being older is scooby doo mystery inc and i realize the parallels like the characters in highschool fic, but that makes the show so much better imo. Anyway great vid

[@JuneieBack]

I’ve watched this show once every year since I was 10, so about 12 years now. It’s one of my favorite shows ever, even outside of the superhero genre. I think that I just discovered it at the right time in my life. Nice video! Keep up the good work!

[@FriendlyNeighborhoodGeek99]

Great video! I binged this show for the first time on disney plus a while ago and enjoyed every minute of it. Aslo fun fact the voice actor for magneto is the current voice actor for Kratos from god of war also on a sadder note the voice actor for cyclops, Kirby Morrow passed away sometime ago😥 so it was a bit sad watching the show knowing hes gone

[@PillarofGarbage]

I didn’t know about Kirby Morrow, but that’s a real shame. As I suggested in the video, I think his is the best performance in the entire show :(

[@2010MrIsaac]

The only X-Men show I still catch myself watching as a 30-year-old. ❤ So iconic!

[@leifsilver]

This is a small thing, and kind of strange, but that scene with Fred Dukes in the dump legitimately made me cry as a kid. It just made me so sad. I mean, here’s this kid who comes from a rough home, who is ostracized for how he looks, who can’t control his own strength, and whose only role models in life are legitimate supervillains. He doesn’t have anyone in his life that actually cares about him, and we see him at his lowest point, totally alone and , ultimately, just a scared kid. Even though he wasn’t a very interesting character, that scene has stuck with me for years.

[@CitanulsPumpkin]

Considering there was a lot less high school melodrama in this show than in the 90's SatAM show or Wolverine and the Xmen, yeah. Evolution worked as a show.

[@luisalvarado7866]

I’m realizing now I may have a rare experience because x-men evolution was the first time I ever was exposed to x-men I saw this before anything else which in turn left me really confused with the whole love triangle in the movies

[@StuntmanDanHemi]

This show is definitely a product of it's time, when i was a kid this was the coolest show for me, just because of it's style alone.

[@Noveler00]

I enjoyed this show back in the day, mostly out the grayness they placed a lot of the teen character. They weren't good or evil, just varied degrees of acceptance and mistreatment. Most of that could be seen with the brotherhood boys.

[@vonsowards1297]

I loved this show. At first the high school setting with Mystique as the principal feels super cheesy, but as the show progressed they really made the teenage setting work. Maybe the teenage angle can work for the MCU, but I simply don’t feel that the X-Man belong on the MCU. Maybe in an alternative timeline (which seems likely). The hardest thing for me is the age of Magneto and Xavier. Magneto is such a compelling character being a product of WWII holocaust, but in reality people from the time period are dying off and it is no longer as formidable of a foe if he is a 90+ year old man.

[@PillarofGarbage]

I’ve often thought that about Magneto. I suppose there’s no shortage of genocides/pogroms in the last 60-ish years to choose from, though :(

[@chanceofbliss8175]

With the multi verse they can easily wave that away

[@marocat4749]

@@PillarofGarbage If they make him black, h could be a tulsa survivor (and still jewish,please make him still jewish)

[@chris_kyleartist279]

I don’t think you’re giving it enough credit, it was the second longest running X-Men animation. That’s says a lot itself.

[@deonhoward3763]

Evolution is an early 2000s treasure and I'm happy with it staying that way. It was my first true introduction to X men and to me it's only of the best iterations. Given that the teenage setting has so much potential for drama, it makes me wonder why they weren't always younger in the first place

[@KooriPlays]

Well done! This was a wonderful perspective to a show that I love so much. I even rewatch it from time to time. Your interpretation is very thoughtful and analytic. Again, very well done :)

[@themikx2939]

Loved this show as a kid Nightcrawler became my favorite mutant because of this series