The Mutant Ages

Latest Episodes:

Episode 44 - "The Fate Of The Phoenix," X-Men: The Animated Series Feb 12, 2019

Show notes

Maddy recorded and edited this episode on her laptop while she was out of town, so her recording quality isn't as good as it should be, but you know what else wasn't as good as it should be? This episode of X-Men: The Animated Series! Xavier is on his worst behavior (as usual), but the rest of the X-Men are all acting pretty self-absorbed, too. All except for Beast and Storm, the only ones who get a believable and touching moment in this episode. The conclusion of the Dark Phoenix Saga is apparently that Jean Grey can be saved through the power of friendship. But does anyone even seem like they *like* each other in this episode? Not really! Oh well... X-Men Spotlight: Not Professor Xavier. Never Professor Xavier. E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 43 - "Dark Phoenix," X-Men: The Animated Series Jan 22, 2019

Show notes

Technically this episode is titled "The Dark Phoenix Part 3 - Dark Phoenix," but you get it. This episode is about the Dark Phoenix, duh! It's also about Wolverine and Cyclops finding solace in each others' arms, and Xavier trying to convince them both that it would be a good idea to kill Jean Grey. Meanwhile, Gambit is horny, and Rogue has to clean up after everybody else's mess. It's another X-Men: The Animated Series classic episode that switches wildly between hilarious hi-jinks and super-dark sadness. Hooray! X-Men Spotlight: Jean Grey! The retcons, the resurrections, and the romances. E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 42 - "The Dark Phoenix: Part 2 - The Inner Circle," X-Men: The Animated Series Jan 08, 2019

Show notes

Ryan and Maddy revisit what turns out to be the first episode of X-Men: The Animated Series that Ryan ever saw as a youngster. It's not a bad place to start! We've got the debut of Jean Grey's new mega-goth Dark Phoenix outfit, some fun side-eyeing from Emma, and a power struggle between Shaw and Mastermind that probably wasn't supposed to be sexual but nonetheless is. Or at least, we say it is, because this is The Mutant Ages. Did you miss us? X-Men Spotlight: Mastermind, master of illusions and supposed fakery! E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 41 - "The Dark Phoenix: Part 1 - Dazzled," X-Men: The Animated Series Dec 18, 2018

Show notes

Ryan and Maddy watch Dazzler's first official appearance in X-Men: The Animated Series, and we are "Dazzled" by how weird her characterization is. This episode is nonetheless a fun watch that also introduces the Hellfire Club (without using a naughty word like "hell" in the process) and a much more faithful adaptation of Emma Frost, everyone's queen. Jean Grey gets tossed from man to man, and the Phoenix teaches her how to stand up for herself, but only a little bit. We can't quite remember where this is all going to go, but it's a strong start to the Dark Phoenix saga. X-Men Spotlight: DAZZLER! This episode doesn't tell the viewers much about her, so we'll do it. E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 40 - "Obsession," X-Men: The Animated Series Dec 04, 2018

Show notes

Maddy and Ryan were long overdue for a silly and nonsensical episode of X-Men: The Animated Series, so here is "Obsession" to answer the call. In this episode, we see the return of Warren Worthington, a.k.a. Archangel, and his melodramatic monologues about Apocalypse, who also makes his less-than-popular return. We side with Cyclops and Wolverine, who think this whole thing is stupid. Meanwhile, the B-plot of this episode is Beast falling in love with an artificial intelligence that inhabits Apocalypse's spaceship, but like all of Beast's other romances, it's doomed to end in tragedy. This episode doesn't make any sense, by the way. X-Men Spotlight: The Ship, a.k.a. Cable's cube (!!!!!!!) E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 39 - "Savage Land, Strange Heart, Part 2," X-Men: The Animated Series Nov 20, 2018

Show notes

Before diving back into their analysis of the third season of X-Men: The Animated Series, Maddy and Ryan take a moment to discuss Stan Lee's legacy in the wake of his death. Maddy also finally got a copy of the oral history of X-Men: The Animated Series, so she shares some brief tidbits about the show's beginnings. Going along with the positive theme, "Savage Land, Strange Heart Part 2" happens to be a wonderful episode about Storm and Rogue's mutually supportive love affair. Sauron is also gay, but in a sad way. Everybody learns an important lesson about staying true to themselves, even the parts that they don't like very much, and also there's a huge rock guy at the end. And some energy volcanoes? Okay, that part didn't make sense. X-Men Spotlight: Garokk, the huge rock guy himself! E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 38 - "Savage Land, Strange Heart, Part 1," X-Men: The Animated Series Nov 06, 2018

Show notes

At long last, Ryan and Maddy have returned to pick up where we left off with X-Men: The Animated Series. It's... back to the Savage Land? We thought we were done with this, but apparently not. Mr. Sinister isn't even here, and instead, Sauron is. There's plenty of good stuff that makes up for that, like the fact that Rogue and Storm get to be gayer for each other than ever before, and Wolverine and Ka-Zar get the romantic reunion they deserve. Plus, Jubilee realizes that pterodactyls can be exciting when you're beating them up, and Beast is still quoting Shakespeare. X-Men, we missed you!! X-Men Spotlight: Sauron, the mega-manly and not at all insecure pterodactyl! E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 37 - "Phoenix Saga, Part 5: Child Of Light," X-Men: The Animated Series Oct 09, 2018

Show notes

The Phoenix Saga had been going so well, but X-Men: The Animated Series was long overdue for a dud episode. Maddy and Ryan watched "Child of Light," and it was a bad trip. The X-Men, the Starjammers, and Lilandra had to find a way to kill time until the Phoenix regenerated and was able to defeat D'Ken, because heck if they could manage to do it themselves. Meanwhile, we're still wondering how the X-Men went from being a metaphor for human rights to... fighting aliens in outer space? But that's fine! X-Men Spotlight: D'Ken, but... ughhhhh, sorry, we didn't actually care enough to do a real spotlight on him. We already told you everything you need to know about the guy, okay? We use the extra time this week to take Ryan on another date with Wolverine (it's been a while) and delve deep into our official unofficial "What's going on with the MCU" segment. Enjoy! E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 36 - "Phoenix Saga, Part 4: The Starjammers," X-Men: The Animated Series Sep 25, 2018

Show notes

X-Men: The Animated Series' ongoing adaptation on The Phoenix Saga is still good, but Part 4 started to get a bit confusing with the introduction of 600 more characters, most notably the Han Solo-alike Corsair. Ryan and Maddy make more Star Wars comparisons in both the episode recap and the politics section. We also go off on a tangent about whether Corsair and Cyclops' familial bond is a bit creepy, and also, whether Xavier is creepy to Jean. Speaking of Xavier, we have a particularly long reader mail section this week, a chunk of which gets devoted to the various defenses of Xavier. We're sorry, Xavier fans who listen to our show! We still love you. X-Men Spotlight: Corsair, who is NOT Star-Lord. E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

Episode 35 - "Phoenix Saga, Part 3: Cry of the Banshee," X-Men: The Animated Series Sep 11, 2018

Show notes

Which came first: Princess Lilandra Neramani or Princess Leia Organa? These two space ladies have a lot in common, and they also got created around the exact same time. Ryan and Maddy learned a lot about '70s sci-fi history after watching this episode of X-Men: The Animated Series, which introduces tons of other new elements, including: - Banshee's super-powered scream (and also the great new ship of Banshee/Wolverine) - Banshee's bro Black Tom Cassidy and his big wooden stick (and the Juggernaut/Black Tom Cassidy ship) - Gladiator and his big red gloves (which Erik the Red can't help but crave). This episode is pretty gay. Or maybe it's just us? We never know. X-Men Spotlight: Banshee! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! E-mail us at themutantages@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at TheMutantAges, MIDImyers and RyanPagella

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