The Stuff of Villains is a captivating episode that delves into the complexities of the Brotherhood of Mutants, offering a fresh perspective on their motivations and actions. The episode begins with the Brotherhood members reeling from their expulsion from school, struggling to find their place in a world that often rejects them. Wanda, also known as the Scarlet Witch, is on a mission to locate her father, Magneto, and enlists the help of Caliban and her brother Quicksilver. This episode explores the thin line between heroism and villainy as the Brotherhood members are faced with choices that could redefine their roles.

One of the most intriguing aspects of The Stuff of Villains is the way it portrays the Brotherhood members flirting with the idea of heroism. Despite their often antagonistic actions, this episode provides glimpses of their potential for good. The rescue operation for Quicksilver, led by the Brotherhood, highlights their loyalty and willingness to step up when needed. It’s a powerful reminder that even those labelled as villains have the capacity for heroic deeds, and their motivations are often more complex than they appear. This duality is a recurring theme in the X-Men universe, where the line between hero and villain is often blurred.

In the broader X-Men comic book lore, several members of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants have crossed over to join the X-Men. Characters like Rogue, who initially fought against the X-Men, eventually found redemption and became a crucial member of the team. Similarly, Scarlet Witch has had her moments of heroism, showcasing the potential for change and growth in even the most unlikely characters. This episode of X-Men: Evolution reflects these themes by presenting the Brotherhood members in a more nuanced light, challenging the viewer’s perceptions and underscoring the importance of empathy and understanding.

Wanda meets Caliban in an alley and asks him to find Magneto. Caliban tells her he can’t help because Magneto is too advanced for him to locate. Wanda decides to find her brother Pietro instead. Meanwhile, the New Mutants clear debris from the wrecked Institute, and the Brotherhood of Mutants clean their house.

Wanda tracks down Pietro and causes chaos in a diner to get him to reveal Magneto’s location. Pietro claims he doesn’t know, so Wanda decides to turn him over to the cops to lure Magneto out. At school, Principal Kelly expels the Brotherhood, and Lance accuses him of using them to get to the Xavier kids. Lance leaves and encounters Gambit, who tells him to round up the Brotherhood.

Rogue and Kitty find themselves on a mission to follow Gambit. At the Brotherhood house, Gambit takes Toad hostage and forces Lance and Fred to listen to him. He tells them they need to prove themselves by freeing Quicksilver. Rogue and Kitty follow the Brotherhood to a cliff overlooking a mountain highway, where they ambush a military convoy transporting Pietro.

Blob pushes Pietro’s truck over the edge, but Kitty phases through and saves him just in time. Wanda watches from a distance, angry. The Brotherhood escapes, and Rogue and Kitty are caught by military officers. Major Kyle tells them not everyone hates mutants and lets them go.

Back at the Brotherhood house, Gambit tells the boys they need new leadership and that Quicksilver will be the new leader. Pietro asserts his authority, backed by Magneto’s protection. At the Institute, Xavier tells Kitty and Rogue they can’t deal with every problem and gives them detention for skipping school.

Caliban makes another animated appearance here, after previously appearing on screen in X-Men, most notably in The Fifth Horseman. He’s again a member of the Morlock, as he is in the comics, first appearing in Uncanny X-Men #148. He’s also appeared on the big screen, played by Stephen Merchant in Logan and Tómas Lemarquis in X-Men: Apocalypse.

Rogue and Gambit, just like their comic book counterparts, flirt at first sight.

One of the soldiers asks Rogue if she’s “with them”, referring to the Brotherhood. In the comics and X-Men, it’s this version of the Brotherhood she’s originally a part of.

When Evan has difficulty retracting his bones, it’s a sign of a larger problem, which will be addressed in X-Treme Measures.

Rogue and Kitty’s pursuit of the Brotherhood, phasing through vehicle after vehicle, is a particular highlight of the episode.

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