Top 10 X Men The Animated Series Episodes
Great episodes introduced by the best theme song of the 90s! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be looking at the most celebrated and groundbreaking episodes of the original “X-Men: The Animated Series.” Beware, there will be mutant-sized spoilers ahead!
Transcript
00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:03 Tell Cyclops I made him a convertible.
00:07 Welcome to WatchMojo.
00:09 And today, we'll be looking at the most celebrated
00:12 and groundbreaking episodes of the original X-Men
00:15 the animated series.
00:17 Beware, there will be mutant-sized spoilers ahead.
00:21 The crystal shall be buried forever.
00:25 Number 10, Night of the Sentinels, part one.
00:28 It's quite fitting that one of the best episodes of X-Men
00:31 the animated series is the program's first ever.
00:34 The story focused on teenage foster child Jubilee
00:37 as she runs away from home to evade the mutant control
00:40 agency.
00:41 Why is this happening to me?
00:43 I used to be a normal kid. It's not my fault.
00:47 After a terrorizing attack from a Sentinel at a shopping mall,
00:50 Jubilee is not only saved by a group of uncanny superheroes,
00:54 but is taken in by them.
00:56 It's then that we are introduced to Professor X and his school
00:59 for gifted youngsters.
01:01 This is Professor Xavier's school for the gifted.
01:04 Gifted, huh?
01:06 I get you.
01:07 That's a nice way of saying mutants, weirdos, like me,
01:12 like all of us.
01:14 From iconic characters on display to an epic theme song,
01:18 the action-packed pilot truly was
01:20 everything comic book fans were looking for in a cartoon
01:23 adaptation for their beloved X-Men.
01:25 [MUSIC PLAYING]
01:27 Of course, the best was yet to come.
01:34 Number nine, Till Death Do Us Part, part one.
01:37 Much like the series premiere, the first episode of season two
01:40 also made quite the impact.
01:42 That's because it featured the wedding
01:44 of fan-favorite characters Scott Summers, Cyclops,
01:47 and Jean Grey.
01:48 Do you, Scott Summers, take this woman
01:51 to be your lawfully wedded wife?
01:53 I do.
01:54 But that's not the only reason this episode stands out.
01:57 It's also the first complete appearance
01:59 of X-Men baddie Mr. Sinister.
02:02 Enjoy your revenge, Morph.
02:05 I know I am.
02:07 And when anti-mutant sentiment's at a fever pitch,
02:10 we get up-close looks at some of the show's political figures,
02:14 President Robert Kelly and controversial mutant
02:16 cynic Graydon Creed.
02:18 You were elected to protect us from mutants.
02:21 [SCREAMING]
02:22 Mutant lovers.
02:24 [SCREAMING]
02:26 Add in the return of the presumed dead Morph,
02:28 and you've got one heck of a way to kick
02:30 off the show's second season.
02:32 Why did they leave me to die?
02:34 Number eight, One Man's Worth, part one.
02:37 Nobody does time travel like the X-Men.
02:40 What the heck is that?
02:43 We're too late.
02:44 In this season four episode, One Man's Worth, part one,
02:47 kicked off a wildly compelling story
02:49 that presented plenty of new dynamics for our heroes.
02:52 Inspired by the Age of Apocalypse comic book event,
02:54 the episode begins in an alternate timeline
02:57 where Professor X is deceased.
02:58 And the X-Men are led by the vengeful Magneto.
03:01 [SCREAMING]
03:03 Look.
03:06 Enter time travelers Bishop and Shard to prevent
03:09 Professor Xavier's execution.
03:11 I can't believe it.
03:12 All of this destruction, all of this misery
03:15 is due to the absence of one man.
03:18 One of the most important men in history.
03:21 What proceeds is nothing short of classic X-Men fear.
03:24 Along with familiar themes around prejudice and salvation,
03:27 this episode showed that X-Men the animated series
03:29 was not afraid to tackle incredibly
03:31 ambitious story arcs.
03:33 [SCREAMING]
03:35 No.
03:37 Number seven, The Cure.
03:39 If you're looking for the most riveting episode of X-Men
03:42 the animated series, you perhaps don't need to look any further
03:45 than season one's ninth episode.
03:47 I always thought you had a soft spot for that Cajun.
03:51 About as soft as you, fathead.
03:53 You gonna shut up or am I gonna have to help you?
03:56 This emotionally wrought tale centers
03:58 around Rogue and her tragic inability
03:59 to touch anyone due to her powers.
04:01 We quickly learn that not all mutants
04:03 see their powers as a gift.
04:05 But some mutants might welcome the chance to become normal.
04:09 Yeah, who?
04:11 Seeking out a cure for the mutant X-Gene,
04:13 our southern bell hero eventually
04:15 comes to embrace who she is, despite the excruciating
04:18 loneliness her power brings.
04:20 I am my powers.
04:22 And the good they can do for my friends
04:24 and for the whole world, I reckon maybe I
04:27 can live with that after all.
04:29 It's a surprisingly powerful journey
04:30 and is also an example of how X-Men the animated series often
04:34 tackled storylines better than the X-Men feature films did.
04:37 Yes, we're looking at you, X-Men the last stand.
04:41 Number six, Nightcrawler.
04:43 X-Men the animated series was beloved,
04:45 in part for its excellent character introductions.
04:48 Magneto, I presume?
04:49 And in this episode, we are giving a fitting introduction
04:52 to the standout X-Men character, Nightcrawler.
04:56 Heartless fools.
04:57 They know not what they do.
05:00 While on vacation in a Provincio German village,
05:02 Ro, Gambit, and Wolverine encounter the kind-hearted,
05:05 demonic-looking monk.
05:07 There, you are safe now.
05:11 Please, you do not understand.
05:13 From there, the story expertly unravels themes around morality
05:16 and self-acceptance.
05:18 You see, Nightcrawler is discriminated against because
05:21 of his appearance and must come to terms
05:23 with the societal biases sent his way.
05:25 My appearance does not make it easy.
05:28 Don't it make you crazy?
05:30 It did once.
05:31 It's yet another instance of animated program
05:33 tackling complex issues with poignancy.
05:36 Plus, the visual of tough guy Wolverine praying
05:38 at a cathedral is extra touching.
05:40 You turned away, and you comforted me.
05:43 I will trust and will not be afraid.
05:46 Number five, Time Fugitives, part two.
05:49 It's highly likely that X-Men, the animated series,
05:52 is one of the main reasons why '90s kids grew up
05:55 loving the character Cable.
05:56 This season two story arc marked Cable's first appearance
05:59 in the series.
06:00 I can't help apocalypse.
06:03 The logic is mathematically simple.
06:06 Millions must die in the past so that future billions
06:09 may be born.
06:10 And like other episodes, Time Fugitives
06:13 adapted a popular comic book storyline, Legacy Virus.
06:16 Bishop is correct.
06:18 The virus was genetically engineered.
06:20 It doesn't appear to be lethal now,
06:23 but it is dangerously unstable.
06:25 The two episodes tell pitted time travelers Bishop and Cable
06:28 against one another in some time traveling one upmanship.
06:32 I got a job to do, and I can't let you do it.
06:36 Yep, the series goes all sci-fi in this episode
06:39 and delivers a wildly entertaining viewing
06:42 experience in the process.
06:43 It also displays just how good the show
06:46 is at combining intricate storylines
06:48 with challenging social commentary.
06:50 Did we mention how badass Cable is?
06:53 We have the cure now, apocalypse.
06:56 Your virus is useless.
06:58 [GUNSHOTS]
07:00 [SCREAMING]
07:03 Number four, The Phoenix Saga, part five, Child of Light.
07:07 The Phoenix Saga is a classic storyline
07:10 from the X-Men comics that has been adapted many times over.
07:14 And while none of the big screen retellings
07:16 managed to capture the epic spirit of the fiery tale--
07:19 When I lose control, things happen, bad things.
07:26 --the consensus is that X-Men, the animated series, nailed it.
07:30 In season three's climactic Child of Light,
07:33 we are treated to Jean Grey's ultimate transformation
07:36 into the Phoenix.
07:36 There's also a pretty intense battle with the Imperial Guard.
07:40 In the end, the series captured the essence of the saga
07:43 with plenty of stellar visuals and emotionally
07:46 stirring moments.
07:47 Crystals shall be buried forever.
07:49 Jean's internal conflict was on full display
07:58 and was the gravity of the story.
08:00 I never thought I'd say it, Logan,
08:02 but there's nothing we can do.
08:05 Number three, The Final Decision.
08:07 It can't be stressed just how great X-Men, the animated series,
08:10 was straight out the game.
08:11 And its first season finale did not disappoint.
08:14 The episode is jammed with unforgettable moments
08:17 like the X-Men teaming up with Magneto to stop the Sentinels
08:20 and Scott and Jean getting engaged.
08:22 Jean, I've been wondering.
08:24 Yes?
08:25 I've been wondering, will you marry me?
08:27 Cyclops.
08:28 The most badass sequence, however, belongs to Wolverine.
08:31 Battling a group of Sentinels in a pitch black cavern
08:34 of sorts, the fight is illuminated only
08:37 by the giant robot's laser blast.
08:39 [GRUNTING]
08:44 And in a fitting bookend to the series premiere,
08:47 we get Jubilee joining the fight with invigorated passion.
08:50 I'm not a kid anymore.
08:53 It really was the perfect button for the first season's
08:55 storyline.
08:56 We must not forget that mutants are human beings.
09:01 We must be careful that in controlling
09:03 mutants who abuse their powers, we
09:06 do not oppress those who would use their powers
09:09 for the good of all humanity.
09:11 Number two, the Dark Phoenix Saga, part four,
09:14 Fate of the Phoenix.
09:15 X-Men the animated series took its time
09:17 with the Jean Grey story, and in doing so,
09:20 delivered two remarkable multi-episode Phoenix sagas.
09:23 This late season three episode was the incredible,
09:27 not to mention heartbreaking, conclusion.
09:29 [MUSIC PLAYING]
09:37 Jean's tragic fate is played out faithfully
09:40 to the events in the comics.
09:41 It expertly captured all the key ingredients
09:43 needed to tell the story.
09:44 It was ultimately about Jean's sacrifice
09:47 in overcoming corruption, all while fighting
09:49 constant inner turmoil.
09:51 Jean, you're not evil.
09:53 And when the dust settled, the heart trending episode
09:56 gave way to one of the most breathtaking endings
09:59 of any TV show ever.
10:01 My time here has ended.
10:04 I must depart.
10:05 Taking notes, movie studios.
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10:26 Number one, Days of Future Past, part one.
10:29 Remember what we said about X-Men, the animated series
10:32 adapting classic storylines with ease?
10:34 Well, this is yet another example.
10:37 It also happens to be the finest episode
10:39 of the show's original run.
10:41 I'm getting a jumble of images.
10:45 Dark, frightening.
10:48 Introducing Bishop, the story becomes a riveting time travel
10:51 journey where alternate timelines and dystopian futures
10:54 are on full display.
10:56 Must be getting rusty.
10:57 I'll say.
10:59 Track him!
11:00 In fact, the show seemingly weaves
11:10 these alternate past and present worlds
11:12 all while keeping the action going
11:14 with some dynamic sequences.
11:15 And with different character motivations fully explored,
11:18 the essence of the X-Men shines bright.
11:21 It all boils down to the best offering
11:23 from the iconic animated series.
11:25 And that's saying something, bub.
11:27 Then I want you to tell me one thing.
11:31 Which one of us is the assassin?
11:33 Which episode of X-Men, the animated series,
11:36 made you a fan?
11:37 Did we miss any standout stories?
11:39 Share your picks in the comments down below.
11:41 The key is to reach the subconscious mind.
11:44 The subjects must be repeatedly exposed
11:46 to a simulation of extreme emotional trauma.
11:49 Did you enjoy this video?
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11:58 [MUSIC PLAYING]
12:02 [MUSIC PLAYING]
12:05 (upbeat music)
12:07 (upbeat music)