Jonathan Dobres

Season 5 was produced quickly and cheaply, and it shows. As a kid, I’d stopped watching regularly after season 3, and never saw much of the later seasons. I certainly never saw season 5. I’d heard the complaints about the season’s bad animation and overall lower quality, but still, I wasn’t quite prepared for just how bad some episodes look, or how lackluster the stories would be.

Most of the season’s stories lack the kinds of details or thoughtfulness that once made X-Men a must-watch show. Case in point here is the series finale, “Graduation Day”, which compares poorly with the season 1 finale, “The Final Decision”. Season 1’s finale deftly blended comic book action with character beats, while also paying off the season’s story arcs (Senator Robert Kelly becomes a mutant ally and releases Beast from jail, Cyclops proposes to Jean, etc.). Season 5’s ending, in contrast, sets up a worldwide mutant rebellion that it promptly abandons so that Xavier can bid a teary farewell to his students before jetting off with his space girlfriend.

It’s emblematic of the season as a whole. Once-vibrant characters become thin sketches of their former selves, often literally (again, I cannot emphasize enough how bad the show looks). Much of the season just feels like unremarkable Saturday morning slop. It’s hard to give out best/worst awards for a season that is so mid. This will be a quick one.

Worst Episode

“Jubilee’s Fairytale Theatre”, obviously. An episode that turns the show on its head should have been fun. It’s Jubilee reimagining the X-Men in a fantasy setting, so why not fantasize? Why not have her exaggerate everybody’s personalities? Why not throw Storm in there as a literal weather witch? Why not, you know, try? Instead, we get a half hour of nothing. It’s my shortest review for a reason.

Dishonorable mentions for every other season 5 episode that I don’t call out in the Bests.

Best Episode

It’s got to be “The Phalanx Covenant”. Scary villain, epic scope, tightly written, and chock full of the little details that make X-Men great. And how often does Beast get the spotlight? As I said in the review, there’s a parallel universe where this was expanded into a solid MCU movie. It’s not just the show’s last unequivocally good story, it’s possibly one of the series’s best.

Honorable mention for “Old Soldiers”. Wolverine’s final solo episode is a fun WWII-era brawl.

Worst Hero

Everyone is so absent or bland that no one truly earns a “worst”, but let’s say Jean Grey, who remains dedicated to her hobby of barely existing after season 3’s Phoenix Sagas. Her husband isn’t far behind.

Best Hero

Another tough call, but I’m going to give it to Beast just because he’s so good in “The Phalanx Covenant”. Across ten episodes, no one else really stands out at all.

Worst Villain

Suddenly trying to make Cameron Hodge a thing, five season in. Also, a dishonorable mention for Arkon and his stupid outfit.

Best Villain

Probably the Phalanx just for their sheer effectiveness. They’re the only villain this season that felt like a real threat.

Most Improved

Category not applicable. Season 5 improves on nothing.