With X-Men characters joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, now is a great time to revisit X-Men: The Animated Series. Six specific episodes could offer helpful background for the new film. Avengers: Doomsday is expected to be the biggest Marvel movie in years, and to prepare, you’ll want to watch several previous MCU films and three MCU TV shows before seeing it.
The upcoming film Doomsday will feature a large cast, including several actors from the live-action X-Men movies. Because of this, viewers who are new to the X-Men universe might need to quickly learn about the characters and their complex history. Fortunately, both X-Men: The Animated Series and the new X-Men ’97 series are excellent resources, and watching those six episodes should provide a good introduction to Doomsday.
Night of the Sentinels — Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2
The first episode of X-Men: The Animated Series is a strong start to the show, effectively introducing key characters like Cyclops, Beast, Kitty Pryde, and Wolverine. It also kicks off the story by featuring the Sentinels, who play a significant role in the broader X-Men universe. Although the situation for mutants isn’t fully established at the beginning of Doomsday, the Sentinels are crucial to understanding the X-Men’s world.
The episode “Night of the Sentinels” features the Sentinels, powerful robots designed to hunt mutants, and presents a major challenge for the X-Men. Although the Sentinels have appeared in live-action X-Men films, this episode offers a unique take on them in the animated series. “Night of the Sentinels” also effectively establishes the human fear and prejudice towards mutants, a common theme in X-Men stories.
Enter Magneto — Season 1, Episode 3
Any great X-Men story needs Magneto, and Ian McKellen will be returning to play him in Avengers: Doomsday. Because Magneto and Professor Xavier (played by Patrick Stewart) have such a long and complex relationship, it’s helpful to have some background. Thankfully, the film Enter Magneto does an excellent job of showing how Magneto and Professor X became friends, how they eventually drifted apart, and how Magneto interacts with the X-Men as a whole.
I loved seeing the dynamic between Magneto and the X-Men in X-Men ’97, and the ‘Enter Magneto’ episode really captured their typical relationship. Honestly, we don’t know exactly what to expect in Doomsday, but I have a feeling the core of those characters – and especially their connections – will stay true to what we know and love. After all, nothing is more central to the X-Men universe than the bond between Magneto and Charles!
Days of Future Past — Season 1, Episodes 11 & 12
The ‘Days of Future Past’ storyline is a key event in most X-Men stories, and it’s expected to have some impact on the upcoming ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ arc. This episode introduces the time travel elements the X-Men will explore and depicts a bleak future where mutants have been eliminated. However, instead of Wolverine traveling back in time to prevent this future, as seen in the movie, this animated series features Lucas Bishop taking on that role.
It’s still unknown which version of the X-Men story Avengers: Doomsday will continue. If it follows the timeline established in The Animated Series and X-Men ’97, Bishop’s time travel will likely be key to understanding the X-Men’s motivations. Plus, the story Days of Future Past will also highlight Gambit, who will be portrayed by Channing Tatum in Doomsday.
Nightcrawler — Season 4, Episode 8
Many X-Men members are already well-known. Cyclops, for example, has a complex personal life, but his abilities and leadership role are straightforward – at least, that’s how it will be presented in Doomsday. Nightcrawler, who will be portrayed by Alan Cumming in Doomsday, is a bit more complex.
While Nightcrawler didn’t appear often in X-Men: The Animated Series, the episode dedicated to him in season four is a fantastic way to get to know the character. It clearly explains his powers, the reason for his unique look, and even explores his personal beliefs. After watching that episode, you might just find Nightcrawler becoming your favorite X-Man!
Remember It — X-Men ’97 Season 1, Episode 5
As a huge fan, I was really blown away by the latest episode of X-Men ’97, specifically “Remember It.” It gave us such a great look into Gambit’s history, his connection with Rogue, and a major turning point for his character. If the story continues from where X-Men ’97 left off, understanding Gambit’s sacrifice to destroy the Master Mold is going to be key. Honestly, even if they go in a different direction with the story, I think getting to know Gambit is crucial, because he’s clearly going to be important!
| Confirmed Live-Action X-Men Characters Appearing in Avengers: Doomsday | ||
|---|---|---|
| Actor | Character | Last Seen |
| Kelsey Grammer | Hank McCoy/Beast | The Marvels (2023) |
| Patrick Stewart | Charles Xavier/Professor X | Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) |
| Ian McKellen | Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto | X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) |
| Alan Cumming | Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler | X2 (2003) |
| Rebecca Romijn | Raven Darkhölme/Mystique | X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) |
| James Marsden | Scott Summers/Cyclops | X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) |
| Channing Tatum | Remy LeBeau/Gambit | Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) |
The episode “Remember It” is a fantastic way to learn more about Rogue, who might appear in future episodes of Doomsday. It delves into her connections with both Gambit and Magneto, and it’s a smooth introduction to how her powers work – specifically, that they’re activated through skin contact. Whether you’re a fan of Gambit or Rogue, this episode is worth watching.
Tolerance is Extinction — X-Men ’97 Season 1, Episodes 8, 9, & 10
The final episode of X-Men ’97, titled “Tolerance is Extinction,” will likely be very important for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday series. The season one finale of X-Men ’97 featured major events, like several characters being lost in time, the arrival of Apocalypse, and a suggestion that Gambit is still alive. If Doomsday continues the story started in X-Men ’97, this finale is crucial to understanding what happens next.
Disney’s newest X-Men story, Tolerance is Extinction, currently defines the X-Men’s place within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While future projects might explore different timelines, the final episode of this series hints at exciting villains like Apocalypse and potentially Onslaught. If you’re interested in the X-Men’s history before the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, X-Men: The Animated Series is a great place to start.
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2026-01-02 03:31