Rogue, Gambit, and the Episode 5 Ending

Warning: Spoilers and potential outrage and mind shattering.

Alright, after many movies and shows that haven’t exactly been sub-par, but more so not living up to the expectation, Marvel has returned with what’s considered the best show of 2024. I feel so torn right now, not only because of the most recent episode of X-Men ‘97, but also because it’s moving up the ranks and might potential be my favorite Marvel show, dropping Loki to #2. And trust me, that’s saying something.

The fact of the matter is, everyone’s watching it. Like I mean everyone. You don’t have to be a Marvel fan to love and appreciate this show; the story is amazing, but also, you really just had to have been a kid in the 80s. I know, I’m not really qualified to say that, since I’m NOT from the 80s, but everyone I know is. Now adults are returning to a new X-Men series, with all these memories flooding back to them. I first watched the 1992 show when I was 5 years old. No, I didn’t watch it IN 1992, I just watched that amazing show around the 2010s. My dad always tells me the stories of him waking up early for the saturday morning cartoons, which were live and not streamed which we know have the luxury of doing. Whenever he missed it, he always got sad since he would have to wait until the next week and essentially “watch” the former episode during the “previously on” section. Anyways, just to hype you up, LeBron James is also watching this show, so hop on guys. 😁

Where can I watch the new X-MEN 97 animated series?? I loved it back in the days.

— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 20, 2024

Alright excuse me but what gives Marvel the right to tear me into pieces and leave me shattered for an entire week?!! I have not been able to cope with the pain of the most recent episode, even messaging my dad at 1 am texting, “the latest x-men episode 😭😭😭” I am not okay right now.

First of all, I going to be breaking down the whole weird threesome with Gambit, Rogue and Magneto, as well as a few tidbits from the comics. In a separate article I’ll discuss the easter eggs and the future of this series (so excited to get started on that, so many spoilers flowing through my brain, might explode 🤯).

Rogue’s Dilemma

Rogue, in this show, is annoying me. She is my favorite X-Men because of her wicked powers, and also guys she technically has three powers, so yeah. But her decision making skills are so poor especially in this episode, and obviously it advances the storyline, and OBVIOUSLY I wouldn’t change that arch. But still. Annoying to witness.

Magneto is old. very, very very old. He’s practically as old as a single-celled organism. And he’s as useful as a singular amoeba. (hint hint he’s not very helpful.) I’m not sure how he got twisted with Rogue, but I don’t like it one bit. He’s practically old enough to be her great-grandfather, and we know from the ‘92 show that he grew up during World War II. Rogue is at most 30, given her appearance and history with the X-Men. Writers have said their goal is to keep her at around 20, but I’m not buying it. Magneto is at least 60, and personally I don’t even want to think about that age gap.

Magneto also has a history for evil and he’s just really ugly. 🤢 No offense, but someone had to say it. Rogue’s design has always been so cool. I love her jacket, and it adds a fun atmosphere to her character. Also her hair is stellar. Like her hair is really, really good. Not sure how she manages to keep it that way, so perfect and in place given her constant action, but I’ll just chalk it up to movie magic and leave it there 😉.

For some odd and very convenient reason, Rogue can touch Magneto without hurting him. I believe the logic was his magnetic powers serve as a shield, keeping her absorption powers from reaching him. I still don’t think this is logical, but oh well. If we recall “Savage land, Savage Heart Parts 1 & 2” from the ‘92 show, Rogue fights Sauron and her powers clash with his powers of absorption, canceling each other out. This makes sense, since they have the same ability. Magneto’s exception is honestly random, and I can tell it was just for the advancement of the plot.

Because of Magneto’s tolerance, she gravitates toward him. She otherwise, possesses no emotional feelings for him, unlike that of the awesome character Gambit. Her fellow teammate and her evolved and developed throughout the show, forming a bond based off of each one another’s character. Gambit and Rogue can’t touch, so she for some very dumb reason felt conflicted.

I am so superbly against Rogue’s actions these past few episodes, since she ignored something meaningful for something superficial.

The Plight of Gambit

Gambit, like Rogue, is another awesome character. Anyone out there who has watched the ‘82 show knows what I’m taking about. Gambit is my dad’s absolute favorite character (with Wolverine second) and it’s no wonder why. His character design was also very unique and original. (I say “was” for a very specific and sad reason ladies and gentlemen 😭) Exploding playing cards? Rad trench coat? Oh yeah. Personally, characters who love cards have so many potential catch phrases and witty things they could say. One of my personal requests is for Gambit to say, “I’ve got one last ace up my sleeve,” and then proceed to literally pull and ace from his sleeve and charge it. Cliché I know, I know, but it’s one of my biggest requests. Of course, this may never be possible after episode 5’s TRAGIC ENDING!! WHY ROGUE WHY 😭😭😭

His back story is also very creative. Straight outta Louisiana, right off the bayou. My dad loves his accent, and has very badly tried to replicate it. I don’t want to yap anymore than I already have, so I leave you to watch “X-Ternally Yours,” or episode 6, season 2 of the OG show. In a nutshell, he’s a thief who served a cosmic being and constantly fought with a group of assassins. It’s actually quite morbid. But very fascinating.

Anyways, Gambit constantly talks about how he’s a scoundrel, and couldn’t ever take the next steps with Rogue. Personally, I can’t believe that. Like Nightcrawler so cleverly put it, his poker face was fading away, upon seeing Gambit solemnly staring at Rogue from a far. I don’t blame him for the tortured poet act; Rogue’s a player bro. Shockingly, this would be expected of Gambit, but never does he pull any stunts in any of the shows. Even while Rogue can’t remain loyal, he does. Rogue has run off with mortal Cody and Magneto before, while complaining Gambit is just a ladies’ man with no faith. Umm excuse me ma’am but please look in the mirror. Rogue will still be my favorite X-Men, but that doesn’t mean I will always agree with her decisions. Especially not when it costs her the second greatest X-Men. And NO I don’t mean Magneto, let that be clear. You don’t have to be an omega-level mutant to be awesome.

So to effectively sum everything up, Rogue should have forgotten Magneto. The reason why I appreciate Rogue and Gambit so much is because they have a very pure connection, that doesn’t need physical touch to be meaningful. As Gambit says tearfully, (both me and him 😭) “Some things are deeper than skin, chere” …Episode 5 of ‘97. THAT BROKE ME. Especially since Gambit was also crying as he said that 😭. Magneto and Rogue never meant anything. The greatest example I can give is “Sanctuary Parts 1 & 2,” when Professor X is giving Magneto’s eulogy for his supposed death. After, Rogue asks Beast if it’s cruel that she isn’t thinking of Magneto, and instead Gambit who is still on the asteroid Magneto colonized. Of course this weird union between Rogue and Magneto is specific to the ‘87 show, since no other Rogneto(??) exists is the original ‘82 show. Didn’t make sense then, doesn’t make sense now. If only Rogue had made the right choice, she could’ve made Gambit’s last few minutes worthwhile. But I have hope he’ll come back…next article is coming out RIGHT AFTER this one, so keep an eye out for all those juicy spoilers and easter eggs.

I hope everyone has mentally recovered from this episode, and has time to strengthen themselves in time for next Wednesday’s episode. I have a bad feeling the next episode will just be Storm and Forge and they’ll keep the suspense up for ANOTHER week. Not that Storm and Forge aren’t amazing, it’s just I have theories I need confirmed!!!

Alright thanks for reading, and I’ll see you all very soon!!