10 X-Men Animated Episodes That Outshine The Movies

Many fans consider the X-Men: The Animated Series to be a superior adaptation of the comic books compared to most of the X-Men movies. While not every episode is a winner, the series as a whole is very strong and defined the X-Men for a whole generation of viewers.

Even with the success of several popular X-Men films in the 2000s and 2010s, X-Men: The Animated Series continued to be considered the best version of the story for many fans. Revisiting the series now shows that this isn’t just because of fond memories. Many episodes still feel fresh and actually capture the spirit of the original comic books even better than the films do.

Considering its strongest episodes, X-Men ’97—as a continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series—has several episodes that are better than many of the 14 X-Men films.

Time Fugitives: Part 1

“Time Fugitives: Part 1” is a standout episode of X-Men: The Animated Series. What really sets it apart from the X-Men movies, though, is its unique storyline. This two-part episode features Cable traveling back in time to confront Bishop, a fellow mutant with the power of time travel, who is trying to prevent a future illness that would erase Cable’s existence.

This episode centers on Bishop’s efforts to halt a deadly plague targeting mutants – a storyline not previously explored in the X-Men films. While Bishop and the X-Men fight for the greater good, the situation becomes complicated when Cable learns he must assist Apocalypse, the source of the plague, in order to protect his own future. This difficult choice perfectly suits Cable’s complex personality.

Time Fugitives: Part 2

The story continues in “Time Fugitives: Part 2,” which opens with a conflict between Cable and Bishop, who is supported by the X-Men. Eventually, Cable convinces Wolverine to assist him, and the episode focuses on untangling the problems caused by different timelines and a dangerous plague.

Using Wolverine’s healing ability for Cable provides a satisfying conclusion to the plague story, and it also lets Bishop achieve his mission and save the future. By revisiting familiar time-travel themes from the X-Men comics, adding the unpredictable element of Cable, iconic villains like Apocalypse, and introducing the unique idea of “Time Fugitives” – something the films never explored – this storyline feels special and stands out.

One Man’s Worth: Part 2

While “One Man’s Worth” doesn’t follow a famous comic book arc like the Phoenix Saga or Days of Future Past, it’s still one of the best episodes of X-Men: The Animated Series – a show that many fans consider superior to any X-Men film.

Okay, so this episode throws us right into a classic X-Men storyline – time travel, specifically Bishop trying to prevent the devastating Age of Apocalypse. But it’s not just action; the show really leans into what makes the X-Men so compelling: those big themes of prejudice and political struggle. What struck me most was how powerfully it tackles racism, both against people and mutants, and honestly, it still feels incredibly relevant and is handled with a surprising level of maturity. It’s not just a superhero story; it’s a story about something, and it does it really well.

What truly makes “One Man’s Worth” so effective is its emotional depth. The characters and their relationships feel remarkably authentic. Even though the story revolves around saving the world, it’s the small, heartfelt moments that make it better than any X-Men film.

The Final Decision

The first season of X-Men: The Animated Series ends with “The Final Decision,” an episode where Magneto and Professor X join forces to take down Master Mold and his Sentinels. As the first big screen adaptation of the X-Men comics, this episode feels particularly important and impactful.

For the first time, viewers get to see Magneto reluctantly team up with his rivals, Master Mold put his world domination plans into action, and the Sentinels act as a major threat to mutants. This all feels especially important, made even more so by the fact that it’s the last episode of the first season.

Despite the fact that Master Mold has never appeared in an X-Men film and the Sentinels weren’t a major focus in X-Men: Days of Future Past, the story arc known as “The Final Decision” is considered a more faithful adaptation of the source material than any of the X-Men movies.

The Phoenix Saga

Fans of the X-Men know the movies haven’t done justice to the famous Phoenix Saga, failing to adapt it well in both X-Men: The Last Stand and Dark Phoenix. Because of this, the animated series’ take on the story, “The Phoenix Saga,” is considered far superior to any movie version.

The five-episode adaptation of “The Phoenix Saga” gave the story the time it needed to fully develop. This allowed viewers to really understand Jean Grey’s connection to the Phoenix Force, and to see important details from the original comic books, like the M’Kraan Crystal, brought to life.

Let’s be honest, the X-Men films have consistently struggled with truly great storylines, and the reactions to The Last Stand and Dark Phoenix really highlight that. Both movies felt rushed, trying to do way too much in too little time. The Last Stand took major liberties with the source material and didn’t give the Phoenix Saga the treatment it deserved, while Dark Phoenix, though closer to the comics, just felt… poorly made. Neither film really captured the emotional weight and complexity of that important arc, and it’s a shame, because the potential was definitely there.

The Dark Phoenix

“The Dark Phoenix Saga” followed closely after the “Phoenix Saga” episode of X-Men: The Animated Series. Both stories are based on the comic book arc where the powerful Phoenix Force negatively influences Jean Grey. However, “The Dark Phoenix Saga” stays much truer to the original comic book story than any of the X-Men films.

The X-Men: The Animated Series faithfully adapts many iconic parts of the Dark Phoenix saga from the comics. This includes Jean Grey’s decline, her involvement with the Hellfire Club, the rise of the Dark Phoenix, and the massive loss of life it causes. The series also features the Shi’ar empire and the dramatic trial by combat that ultimately determines the fate of both Jean and the Dark Phoenix.

Despite both X-Men: The Last Stand and Dark Phoenix trying to tell Jean Grey’s story with the Phoenix Force, they didn’t really use the source material well. If you’re looking for a faithful adaptation of these strong comic book storylines, X-Men: The Animated Series is a far better choice than any of the X-Men movies.

Tolerance Is Extinction: Part 2

The X-Men ’97 episode, “Tolerance Is Extinction: Part 2,” is arguably better than any X-Men film. The series skillfully continued the story and characters from the original X-Men: The Animated Series, while making it relevant for today’s audiences. This episode, in particular, provided a fantastic and satisfying conclusion to the first season of X-Men ’97.

The second part of “Tolerance Is Extinction” really ramps up the excitement as the X-Men are divided by Xavier’s return, with some siding with Magneto. The resulting fight against both Bastion and Magneto is thrilling, featuring fantastic action and animation, all while staying true to the important moral questions at the heart of X-Men ’97.

The X-Men movies haven’t featured a villain as compelling as Bastion, and they haven’t explored the conflict between Xavier and Magneto as effectively as X-Men ’97. That’s why “Tolerance Is Extinction” isn’t just a standout episode of the show—it’s better than any X-Men movie ever made.

Tolerance Is Extinction: Part 3

The third part of “Tolerance Is Extinction” brings everything to a great conclusion, resolving the plotlines and suspense from the previous episode. The mental battle between Xavier and Magneto is a highlight, perfectly capturing their complex relationship – their history as brothers, Magneto’s painful past, and the underlying affection they still share.

What truly sets X-Men ’97 apart is that it’s more than just a typical superhero action series – something you can’t often say about X-Men movies, which tend to prioritize exciting, comic book-style action. The storyline with Bastion comes to a satisfying conclusion, and the way X-Men ’97 sets up the character of Apocalypse for season 2 feels like a much more faithful adaptation than the 2016 film, X-Men: Apocalypse.

Mutant Liberation Begins

The second episode of X-Men ’97 is when many viewers understood just how good this continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series could be. It smartly focuses on Magneto’s role as a leader, giving us a more nuanced and compelling portrayal of the character than most X-Men films have achieved.

Magneto’s speech at the end of the episode, after Storm loses her powers, is considered one of the most powerful and well-written moments in the entire X-Men franchise – even better than anything in the movies. It’s not just fitting for the story, but it also speaks to a universal struggle: what it takes to prove one’s worth, especially for those facing discrimination and prejudice today.

The strength of X-Men is clear, but X-Men: The Animated Series surpasses even the best films featuring the Marvel team, acting as a true continuation of its spirit.

Remember It

The standout episode of the X-Men: The Animated Series continuation, X-Men ’97, is undoubtedly “Remember It.” The episode’s first half is particularly powerful, featuring memorable lines from Magneto—like “Yet so many nations allow their leaders to be terrorists”—and scenes that truly capture the complex moral and thematic heart of the X-Men series.

The latter part of the episode delivers a powerful, thrilling, and intense assault on Genosha. Gambit’s sacrifice, which gives the episode its name, is incredibly moving, and Rogue’s response is equally impactful. “Remember It” represents the absolute best of both X-Men ’97 and X-Men: The Animated Series, making it far superior to any X-Men film.

2025-10-30 02:32