The Mutant Ages

"hoMe" may not be a five-star episode of The Gifted, but with so many bangers in season 2, we can forgive it. We learn that Evangeline co-founded the Mutant Underground with Erg, the leader of the Morlocks, but then screwed him over. Despite that, she still blackmails him into joining her (along with the rest of our Mutant Underground hold-outs) for a "last stand," although it's not entirely clear that that entails. We'll never get to find out, because it fails, but in the process, Erg and John have a "last stand" of their own and it leads to Blink finally dumping John (long overdue) and joining the Morlocks (also long overdue). Meanwhile, Reed Strucker becomes fascinated by the music box that has his daughter hypnotized, and his daughter and wife go fight some cops and possibly get Uncle Danny killed. Remember Uncle Danny, the lawyer? He's back for some reason. Next episode: "teMpted," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"meMento" is not only an all-time great episode of The Gifted, it's one of Maddy and Ryan's all-time favorite episodes of TV, period. Every single character's storyline comes to a head in some way. Lauren Strucker gets enchanted by the music box that's passed down through her family for generations, and it seems to be kicking off her villain era. Meanwhile, Lorna is questioning the Inner Circle's true motivations now that Reeva Payne has enlisted a trio of serial killers to perform a mysterious mission. And when Lorna reaches out to Marcos, their relationship naturally gets rekindled. With John bedridden and wounded once again, Blink is questioning whether she can stay with someone so self-destructive. Most striking of all is Jace Turner's storyline, in which he decides to stand up for his Purifier cop friend who shoots an innocent mutant child. Jace's mental health takes a real dive after that one. Next episode: "hoMe," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy and Ryan are in full form for this week's episode of the Mutant Ages, so we hope you're ready for an ADHD roller coaster. Regardless, this week's episode of The Gifted was not exactly an A+ but it wasn't bad by any means. John has been kidnapped by the Purifiers, which means the remaining Mutant Underground members have to get Lorna and Andy's help because they need some serious firepower to overtake a human militia with an organized compound full of guns. Reed and Caitlin are thrilled to have their son back... until they see what he's become, and what Lauren has been warning them about for *months* now. Next episode: "meMento," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy and Ryan open the listener mailbag to answer questions about The Gifted and Lauren's coming-out story, various video games featuring the X-Men, and more. The second half of this episode is The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book episode in which the team visits the Land of Cloakys, and that's why you're really here, you just don't know it yet. Next episode: "eneMy of My eneMy," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Justice for Twist! Ryan and Maddy review "gaMe changer," yet another great episode for The Gifted's second season. The Hellfire Club has apprehended Rebecca and locked her up in a spinning cube, but when Andy tries to rescue her, it doesn't end well. The rest of the Strucker family figures out that the kindly doctor helping them actually has Moira/Dr. Sasaki vibes, which is never a good thing. Clarice and John are still arguing over what's left of the Mutant Underground, and Marcos is the depressed third wheel, although the three of them still manage to figure out the Hellfire Club's next move even if they don't manage to stop it. And what is that next move? Taking out the power source for every mutant collar in America. A very poorly guarded power source. Next episode: Listener mail!! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Magneto is the most important part of "the dreaM," despite that he never actually shows up in person on The Gifted. This is another amazing episode and this time it's focused on Lorna and her personal journey towards accepting that she's her father's daughter, and that her own daughter Dawn is not going to be safe as Lorna and the rest of the Hellfire Club continue with their violent uprising against a bigoted human supremacist government. Rebecca, AKA Twist, runs away from the Hellfire Club and leaves a trail of destruction in her wake, although when John and Clarice find her, Rebecca actually does decide to help them, suggesting that she's not all bad. Reed Strucker, meanwhile, has decided to work with a woman who bears a striking similarity to Moira MacTaggert, and we all know that's not a good thing. Next episode: "gaMe changer," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

In "no Mercy," the Hellfire Club is ready to perform their bank heist, but it wouldn't be a heist episode if something didn't go wrong. Maddy and Ryan feel like Lorna could have opened this safe herself, but it's Rebecca's job, and Rebecca doesn't just want to steal money from Creed Financial. She wants to steal... human lives. Meanwhile, Reed Strucker is still suffering from mutant denialism, and Jace Turner makes the tough decision to go on TV with a not-quite-William Stryker type character and become the face of the Purifiers. Next episode: "the dreaM," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

The Gifted season two keeps on hitting home runs with "iMprint," an episode focused on the Cuckoos and their backstory. Unlike so many other X-Men adaptations, this one closely aligns with the characters' portrayal in the original comics by clarifying the girls are clones and introducing the other two of the five main Cuckoos. Their heartbreaking backstory of growing up in a lab and being tortured by their human captors clearly influences the way they act today, and it's what ends up driving a wedge (and eventually a renewed alliance) between Esme and Lorna in this episode. We've also learned what the Inner Circle has planned: stealing from Graydon Creed (or at least someone with his last name), who is an anti-mutant financial magnate in this universe. Meanwhile, the Strucker family is still falling apart, and Caitlin still can't let go of her denial about it, plus Jace Turner falls even further into the black hole of far-right radicalization with the Purifiers. Next episode: "no Mercy," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

The Gifted season two continues its strong pace with "afterMath," which Maddy and Ryan end up rating 4/5 instead of a perfect score but still did enjoy quite a bit. Blink helps the newly escaped mutants who were wrongly imprisoned in a mental asylum find a new home with the Morlocks, and Marcos makes friends (kind of) with one of the escapees named Glow, who isn't from the comics and has a weirdly optimistic attitude. Meanwhile, Andy is getting to know Rebecca, the one mental asylum escapee that the Inner Circle decided to take in, and she seems fun... but also maybe not fun so much as scary. Next week's episode: "iMprint," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy and Ryan get to watch yet another fantastic episode of The Gifted with "outMatched," in which our former Mutant Underground characters are indeed outmatched when it comes to the machinations of the Hellfire Club. Lorna, Andy, and their new friends are breaking into a mental institution that only houses mutants and has been drugging them and torturing them, and their former friends are just trying to keep up with whatever that plan even is. Reed Strucker has decided to down anti-anxiety medication at a steady clip to keep his mutant powers at bay, which obviously doesn't work. Caitlin Strucker goes full torture mode on a mutant drug addict in order to get the information she wants about Andy. And it's all for nothing in the end, because when Lauren finally comes face to face with Andy, he's anything but willing to come back home. Next episode: "afterMath," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

The Gifted season 2 keeps on delivering banger episode after banger episode. In "coMplications," Reed Strucker's powers manifest in front of his daughter Lauren, who can't believe he's still keeping secrets from the rest of the family. Jace Turner is still obsessed with hunting down mutants and he's destroying every other aspect of his life in favor of continuing to chase that high. Polaris' baby is sick and only Marcos can save her, which means the Hellfire Club has to go get him and let him meet his child for the first time... and, if they have anything to say about it, the last time. But Marcos has no intention of abandoning his child the way his own father abandoned him. Meanwhile, Blink and John are exploring the Morlock tunnels, and Blink realizes she might have more affinity with the Morlocks than the remaining Underground members. Next episode: "outMatched," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Ryan and Maddy are still loving The Gifted, with season 2 delivering yet another great episode in "unMoored." This episode is brought to us by League of Legends, which Andy is playing every night he spends in the Hellfire Club mansion, apparently. But he's keeping his teenage angst secret when it comes to missing his family and especially his sister, and Reeva Payge isn't going to stand for that, since it's interfering with Andy using his powers. Esme Cuckoo and Lorna do their best to protect Andy in their own ways, but at the end of the day, Andy has to admit what's really going on or else Reeva's going to cut him loose (fatally). Meanwhile, the rest of the Strucker family is in a state of complete emotional turmoil and it's fascinating to watch them fall apart. This show is legitimately well-written now! Next episode: "coMplications," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Ryan and Maddy invite Todd and Ry T back on the show for another reading of a Christmas-themed X-Men comic. This time it's Uncanny X-Men #165 (2009), a surprisingly plot-heavy comic that gets into Laura Kinney's backstory and introduction to the X-Men, plus a side story about Gambit getting back his eyesight (after losing his sight in a battle that wasn't even that interesting, according to Maddy who is writing this description and just looked up the old comic where it happens). After we finish reading the X-Men comic together, Ryan presents us all with a Mystery Comic that none of us could have predicted in advance. DONATE to our Trevor Project holiday fundraiser: https://give.thetrevorproject.org/team/625011 Next episode: "unMoored," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella (plus, FoxHarper and SCnightblade). If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Ryan and Maddy watched the first episode of The Gifted's second season and immediately discover why people prefer season two. Everything is better, most importantly the writing; we already liked the actors, and now they finally have something great to work with. The Mutant Underground has become far more ragtag, working out of a secret room in a hospital and rescuing mutants from the SWAT-team like presence that Sentinel Services has become. Lauren has to teach her parents how to move on from the fact that Andy abandoned all of them. And meanwhile, Lorna and Andy have forged a friendship in the bowels of the Hellfire Club, where Lorna is afraid to deliver her baby but must do so nonetheless. It's a gripping episode with great moments for every character, and we kinda can't believe this is the same show. Next episode: The Mutant Ages 2024 Christmas Special!!!! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Ryan, Maddy, and Todd watch the second half of Deadpool (2016) and realize they probably didn't need to divide this episode into two parts because there isn't that much to say about the second half of Deadpool (2016). Wade Wilson's arch nemesis Francis kidnaps his ex-girlfriend Vanessa for some reason. Deadpool, Colossus, and Negasonic Teenage Warhead team up to save Vanessa and destroy a helicarrier in the process. Why is there a helicarrier? We can't actually explain anything that happens at the end of this movie, and it's not funny enough to justify itself, either. Next episode: The Gifted season 2???? E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy, Ryan, and Todd convene to analyze the first half of Deadpool (2016), which we probably didn't need to divide into two parts because it turns out this movie is really simple. Also, most of these jokes do not hold up! Bounty hunter Wade Wilson meets a hottie named Vanessa, finds out he has cancer, dumps her so she doesn't have to watch him die, then participates in an experimental treatment program that gives him superpowers but also makes his entire body look like shit and gains him a super-powered nemesis named Francis. More in Part 2, such as Blind Al, the best part of the movie! We didn't exactly have a great time watching this, but compared to some of the Fox films we've watched lately, it does at least have a coherent plot that's easily summarized. Next episode: Deadpool (2016), Part 2 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy and Ryan do a miniature listener mail that is mostly just a return to The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book, because we didn't have that many emails to read this time around. We answer questions about how to fix The Gifted (the question everybody wants to know the answer to) and how we would go about writing Bobby's coming-out story on X-Men '97 if it were up to us. Next episode: Deadpool Part 1 (the first half of the movie) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy and Ryan finally reached the season 1 finale of The Gifted, titled "X-Roads," and it's not bad. Finally, there's a plot on this show! Lorna breaks with the rest of the Mutant Underground by deciding to resort to violence in respond to Dr. Krieger's evil plan, which then leads to a larger shake-up at the episode's conclusion. Andy and Lauren also end up resorting to violence once Jace Turner discovers the Mutant Underground's hideout. Took him long enough, since it turns out that place wasn't very well hidden after all ... Next episode: Listener mail! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

The Gifted aired its finale in two parts, and this is the first half. Unfortunately it's also the more boring half; we'll get to the real action in the next episode. In "eXtraction," Thunderbird, Eclipse, Blink, Lorna and the Cuckoos work together to break into Humanity Today, an anti-mutant conference that Dr. Campbell (or as we always call him, Dr. Krieger) is attending alongside anti-mutant bigot Senator Montez. But that plotline doesn't come to a head until the last five minutes of the episode. Up until then, this is a meandering episode about the Strucker family trying to reconnect with Reed's mom to save her from getting waylaid by Sentinel Services. This plotline goes nowhere and this episode didn't need to exist. Dang it, The Gifted, why are you like this? Next episode: "X-Roads," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

With a title like "3 X 1," you'd think this episode of The Gifted would be all about the Cuckoos, but mostly this episode is about the Struckers deciding to leave the Mutant Underground only to return once again by the time the episode ends. Why does Reed Strucker love to walk in circles? We do still get to see some fun moments with Esme and her sisters, and we get a little bit of new information about the Hellfire Club and its motivations, but overall this episode could stand to have quite a bit more plot in it. This is also the episode that introduces the plot point that Polaris has bipolar disorder, so Ryan and Maddy do some deep dives into their own diagnoses and the various diagnoses of the X-Men in discussing that. Next episode: "eXtraction," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy, Ryan, and Todd read the five-issue comic book series "X-Terminators" and loved it. We go over the major plot beats and outline all the reasons why it's great and everyone should read it. Namely that it's four women being hilarious hot messes who love each other and love ribbing on each other. They get into some hot water with Dazzler's shitty ex-boyfriend and then bomb their way out of it. Next episode: "3 X 1," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

"eXploited" is by far the best episode of The Gifted yet, with Esme Cuckoo's machinations on full display and tons of other great scenes in the mix. Blink, Dreamer, and the Strucker kids are in captivity at Trask Laboratories, and the torture has begun. The Strucker parents track down Jace Turner and try to convince him he's doing the wrong thing, and it actually works ... but unfortunately, Esme's plan runs in conflict with that. Next episode: We're taking a brief break from The Gifted to do a special episode about the comic series "X-Terminators" (2022). Feel free to read it along with us! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy and Ryan watch one of the best episodes of The Gifted in a long time, in which Esme Cuckoo continues to keep the plot moving along and gets the Mutant Underground on board with breaking in to Dr. Campbell's lab to rescue her family members (the other Cuckoos, not that any of the characters on the show know that). We also talk about Deadpool & Wolverine quite a bit, since Maddy had seen it by this point. There are various other goofy off-topic diversions along the way (idk why we were particularly distractible this week). Next episode: "eXploited," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Finally, it's an episode of The Gifted that is pretty much okay. Not amazing, but okay! Esme Cuckoo is here at last for an anti-climactic entrance that does not foreshadow how significant her role is going to end up being, but Maddy and Ryan are very glad to see her nonetheless. Reed Strucker tracks down his estranged father and finds out some family secrets, such as the fact that he has a repressed version of the X-Gene. Also sorry to say we have to talk about some Nazi twins in the Strucker lineage who may or may not have engaged in incest and if that grosses you out, this might not be the episode for you, because, well, the show really seems to be implying that's happening. Next episode: We're figuring it out tbh! We might combine multiple episodes of The Gifted in future coverage because the plot moves pretty slowly. E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy and Ryan watched an episode of The Gifted together live on the air and review it as they go, because that was a lot more fun than trying to do it any other way. In "eXtreme measures," Reed Strucker finds out that his daughter's new boyfriend Wes used to be a thief in order to survive on the streets, and that's a problem for some reason. Jace Turner continues participating in Sentinel Services' program to brainwash mutants and turn them into slave soldiers, but it seems like he has mixed feelings about it. Marcos lies to Lorna about rekindling his crime drama with Carmen. Blink has the best plotline in the episode, as we finally get to learn more about her backstory prior to the events of this show. Next episode: "threat of eXtinction," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy and Ryan invite Todd onto the show for a debrief about X-Men '97 and a massive mailbag from listeners with questions about X-Men '97. If we could rewrite the show, what would we have done? Why didn't Morph get a real arc? And where was Storm? All of this and more on a super-long listener mail episode that (sadly) doesn't even contain The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book at the end. Given we spent 2.5 hours answering mail, though, that's probably for the best. Next episode: The Gifted? Who knows!! We're taking the rest of June off. Happy Pride month to us and you. E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy and Ryan settle in for the somewhat anticlimactic ending to X-Men '97, featuring a confusing death scene for Bastion and a lot of leftover questions about what exactly was going on. Magneto's earth-destroying plan from "Part 2" remains unexplained, although his storyline with Xavier is the strongest (and creepiest) part of this finale. The best part of the episode is its ending, which sets up a promising start for season two, although we aren't sure how excited to feel given the whirlwind of season one. If only this show weren't in such a rush and spent more time on its characters' motivations, because the character drama was always its strongest element. Next episode: We're not sure! Either a wrap-up episode or Listener Mail depending on what we feel up for doing next. E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy and Ryan analyze "Tolerance Is Extinction Part 2," in which Magneto has some truly epic monologues, but a plan that makes no sense. What did Magneto do to planet Earth, exactly, in "Part 1" of this trilogy? Whatever it is, it's going to cause the world to end in 12 hours, unless Magneto reverses course. He's chosen to return to Asteroid M, but he doesn't seem to care that much about convincing all of the rest of mutantkind to join him in creating a new nation, and instead seems fine with letting both mutants and humans die on a destroyed planet. Would Magneto really do that? Maddy and Ryan say hell no. By the way, the rest of this episode is about fighting Bastion and Mr. Sinister, but that stuff doesn't make any sense either, which is a bit odd since those two were supposed to be the Big Bads this season. Next week's episode: "Tolerance Is Extinction Part 3," X-Men '97 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

The first episode in X-Men '97's three-part finale has its ups and downs. The ups: Bastion's Prime Sentinels are here and they're straight out of a horror movie, evocative and cool. Trish Tilby is one of them! Kurt Wagner is also here and he's got three swords (one for his tail). The downs: Storm still isn't back yet, Rogue is asleep (for some reason?), and Jubilee isn't acting like herself. Bastion's Prime Sentinels are a metaphor for radicalization but it's not clear how the process actually works (are people opting in to the procedure? then why didn't Trask know he was one?). And why is Mister Sinister here at all? And, wait, why are Baron Zemo and Doctor Doom here? This show is moving so fast, and even when we slow down and take notes on every single line and plot point, it still doesn't quite make sense... but hey, it's not over yet! Next week's episode: "Tolerance Is Extinction Part 2," X-Men '97 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

X-Men '97 gets back on track again with "Bright Eyes," an incredible episode about Rogue having a well-deserved mental breakdown in the wake of "Remember It." We get some actual closure in the form of Gambit's funeral and the various characters' reactions to it, then Rogue wrecking shop at a military base and then at Gyrich's mysterious holding facility. The big reveal, which came as a relief but not necessarily a surprise to us, is that Bastion is the one pulling the strings — and Mr. Sinister is just coming along for the ride, except he's being a predictably judgmental bitch about it all. We can't wait to see whatever his ulterior motive turns out to be. (In this episode, we talk about the X-Men: Zero Tolerance trade paperback, which is worth reading for background and is comprised of Generation X #27, X-Force #67–69, X-Men #65–70, Wolverine #115–118, Cable #45–47, and X-Man #30.) X-Men Spotlight: Bastion Next week's episode: "Tolerance Is Extinction Part 1," X-Men '97 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Ryan and Maddy were expecting "Lifedeath Part 2" to fit what its title suggests, but instead, this isn't so much an episode about Storm and Forge as it is an episode about Lilandra and Xavier. Our least favorite Professor is considering whether he should return to Earth or erase all of his memories of it so he can get married to Lilandra, and we all know which one he'll choose, even before he gets a vision of what happened to Genosha. The Storm/Forge storyline is wonderful, but there's not enough of it. What's with the pacing on this show??? X-Men Spotlights: The Adversary and Deathbird Next week's episode: "Bright Eyes," X-Men '97 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Now more than ever, Ryan and Maddy are warning all of you about spoilers in this week's review of X-Men '97. You really need to see "Remember It" for yourself in order to understand why, but be warned that it's an absolutely devastating watch, especially when it comes to the queer metaphor in the mutants' story. This is an episode about Genosha, and if you've read the comics, you have some idea of what the means, but the X-Men '97 rendition merges multiple comic book storylines into a heartbreaking masterpiece. X-Men Spotlight: Trish Tilby Next week's episode: "Lifedeath Part 2," X-Men '97 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Ryan and Maddy have hit the first episode of X-Men '97 that they don't completely adore, and it's got a lot to do with the representation of Mojo in this episode. But also, as the world's number one Jubilee fan, Ryan has a lot of thoughts on the writing of Jubilee in this episode and not all of them are positive. We're both not sure what to make of the speedy rendition of Lifedeath that happens in the last couple minutes of this episode. We'll just have to wait for "Lifedeath Part 2" in order to find out where that plotline's heading... X-Men Spotlight: Sunspot AKA Roberto de Costa The X2 blooper reel (this is actually a relevant link to the episode lol): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Ghbo8DIyY Next week's episode: "Remember It," X-Men '97 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Madelyne Pryor has quite the complicated backstory in Marvel Comics, and it's fascinating to see how X-Men '97 chose to shorten and adapt her story. A lot of the changes really work, but the whole episode moves so damn fast that Maddy and Ryan can only conclude that this should have been a two-parter. The Goblin Queen deserved more time to cook!! Perhaps the real star of this episode is Morph, whose relationship with Wolverine has gotten very emotionally confusing for seemingly both of them. Wow! X-Men Spotlight: Madelyne Pryor Next week's episode: "Motendo/Lifedeath Part 1" X-Men '97 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy and Ryan convene for the double-header premiere episodes of X-Men '97, which just may be the best-ever X-Men adaptation in our lifetimes, as well as the emotional pinnacle of this podcast's run up to this point. We analyze every single frame and line of dialogue in both episodes, and perhaps the only problem with that is for some reason we called X-Cutioner by the wrong name (X-Terminator) about half the time. We were just too excited and/or distracted by the fact that Wolverine and Morph are canonically banging on this show. And have you seen that photo of Xavier and Magneto cuddling??? We aren't over it, or really anything else that happens on this episode. X-Men spotlights (yes, plural!): Valerie Cooper and X-Cutioner Next week's episode: "Fire Made Flesh," X-Men '97 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Next week, the Mutant Ages will pivot to X-Men '97 and go back to weekly episodes, but until then, Ryan and Maddy have one more (terrible) episode of The Gifted to recap and review. Is this episode as bad as they say it is? Or are they just impatient to get to X-Men '97? Why not both! In this episode, Blink quits the team (good), Dreamer tries to seduce John (bad), and Reed Strucker has lost his wedding ring (sad). We'll check back in on this crew many weeks from now, and we aren't looking forward to it. X-Men spotlight: John Proudstar, a.k.a. Thunderbird Next week's episode: "To Me, My X-Men" and "Mutant Liberation Begins," X-Men '97 (mega-recap of both premiere eps) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Ryan and Maddy return to The Gifted for an episode in which the characters literally walk in circles. To be fair to Reed Strucker, there is an actual plan involved in doing this, and it does work, but is it interesting to watch? Not really. There are some great moments in this episode, though, such as when Blink finally confronts Dreamer over the brainwashing routine. Next episode: "got your siX," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy, Ryan, Todd, Katie, and the other Ryan (Truman) convene to hyper-analyze the X-Men '97 trailer, shot by shot. Why is Magneto addressing the UN? Who is the bun in Jean's oven? Is that even really Jean Grey, or is it Madelyne Pryor? We have so many questions, and we can't wait for March 20th. Next episode: "boXed in," The Gifted, for real this time lol E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy and Ryan respond to questions from listeners and get off-topic even more often than usual, with discussion ranging from their cosplay/convention memories to Ryan's fanfiction.net account and a very real-sounding list of episode synopses for X-Men '97. In the second half of the episode, The Mutant Ages: The Comic Book has become The Mutant Ages: The Manga. Next episode: "boXed in," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Ryan and Maddy struggle through "eXit strategy," the fourth episode of The Gifted, which features a prison break that results in Lorna (and Reed) finally rejoining the Mutant Underground. You'd think that would make us happy, and Emma Dumont does get some incredible moments as Lorna, but other than that this episode is a total slog. Blink's character has been completely reduced to "woman who has a crush on John," and John suddenly has a new backstory with the mutant Pulse who can disarm electronics and mutant powers. Marcos briefly revisits his former life as a lackey for a drug ring, which is another side-plot that feels like wasted time. Amy Acker and Emma Dumont are still the best actors on this show, but all the dialogue sounds identical and boring, so it's hard to feel anything other than sorry for the performers doing their best with this material. After recording this, we decided we needed a break, so we'll open up the mailbag. Next episode: Listener mail! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy, Ryan, and Todd convened in person (!!) to watch an episode of 1960s television that has lived in infamy for Chris Claremont and all X-Men fans. The show is called The Avengers (but not *those* Avengers), and the episode is called "A Touch of Brimstone" because it's about the Hellfire Club. We discuss the incomparable Emma Peel, the inspiration for Emma Frost, as well as all of the other unexpected inspirations in this episode. Next episode: "eXit strategy," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy and Ryan are only on the third-ever episode of The Gifted, and already Maddy is worried that the show has run out of ideas. Not good! Polaris is still in prison; Caitlin is still a privileged white lady who doesn't understand bigotry against mutants (or anybody else, probably). Emma Dumont and Amy Acker are still putting in their best performances, but the writing isn't always there to back them up. Worst of all, Blink's got a new storyline as of this episode and it already sucks ass. It's enough to inspire us to take a little break from The Gifted for our next episode and watch something a lot more fun... Next episode: "A Touch of Brimstone," The Avengers E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy and Ryan find that the second episode of The Gifted is almost as good as the pilot, with the exception of some superfluous interrogation scenes between Jace Turner and Reed Strucker. This TV show remains a showcase of Amy Acker and Emma Dumont's acting prowess, and it's nice to see both of them getting their chances to shine. We know this show goes off the rails at some point, but for now, it's still thrilling. Next episode: "eXodus," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

After a little break to reset, Maddy and Ryan return to a biweekly release schedule and debut their review of The Gifted pilot episode, "eXposed." Emma Dumont and Amy Acker win one trillion acting awards from us for their performances here, but they're not alone -- this is a strong pilot episode! Ryan remembers The Gifted going off the rails at some point, but much like Wolverine and the X-Men, this series opens strong. Next episode: "rX," The Gifted (S01E02) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Back in 1978, Magneto appeared in animated form on The New Fantastic Four, an animated series by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Maddy and Ryan brought Ryan Truman (a.k.a. Ry T) on the show to dissect the hilarious corniness of "The Menace of Magneto," in which one of our favorite mutants is depicted as a total buffoon. We also discuss the rights issues surrounding Fantastic Four at the time, which led to the creation of H.E.R.B.I.E. the robot in place of the Human Torch on this show. We hate H.E.R.B.I.E., and seemingly so do Sue and Ben. Next week's episode: "eXposed," The Gifted E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Back in 2006, animation students at the DAVE School partnered with an X-Men line of toys called Minimates, and this 3D-animated film was the result. It's got the official Marvel Comics license, alongside the toys, so it's official enough to qualify for our purposes. Plus it's pretty fun! It's also only 8 minutes, but don't worry, Ryan and Maddy can always easily talk for over an hour to one another. Next week's episode: A SURPRISE!!! E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy, Ryan, and Todd wrestle the second half of Logan (2017). Maddy finally confronts her nemesis, X-24, while Ryan continues to question why this version of Logan doesn't match up with any other we've seen. Todd, meanwhile, regrets having watched this film. But we did it! We did it... Next week's episode: X-Men: Darktide (2006) E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy, Ryan, and Todd struggle through the first half of Logan (2017). We might be the only Marvel-themed podcast hosts ever to dislike this movie? We do shout out a lot of things that we like, such as the performances (especially Dafne Keen), the fact that Logan and Caliban are definitely married, and the unsettling design of Xavier's psychic seizures, but overall, this movie is a slog and we can barely deal. Next week's episode: Logan (2017), Part 2 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy and Ryan played through another "choose your own adventure" tape cassette for the 2-XL robot (start with last week's episode if you want to know what that is!) and, once again, we got very different storylines. This time, Maddy got a good story, and Ryan got a boring, nonsensical one. Maddy gets excited that "Ghosts That Haunt Us" includes Mystique's love of Destiny as canon (more or less), whereas Ryan is confused by pretty much everything that happened in his version of the story ... up until he circles back with a bonus bit of audio after he replaying the tape and getting a slightly better outcome. Next week's episode: Logan (2017), part 1 E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy and Ryan play an official X-Men "choose your own adventure" style audiobook, originally released on a tape cassette for a robot toy called the 2-XL. The robot could skip to different parts of the story depending on inputs, although we played the web browser version on 2xlbot.com. "X-Men: Deadly Games" is a hell of a ride; somehow we both ended up with pitch-perfect plotlines for our preferences. Next week's episode: "X-Men: Ghosts That Haunt Us" for the Tiger 2-XL bot E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!

Maddy, Todd, Ry P and Ry T (the two Ryans!!) draft their ultimate X-Men teams in a competitive format, despite how nice all of them want to be towards one another's choices. Whose team will be strongest? And wait, why is Cloaky here? Next week's episode: The 2-XL X-Men adventure cassettes E-mail us your feedback at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on social media at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella. If you like what you hear, please consider supporting us via patreon.com/themutantages. Thanks!