Episode #34 - The Stuff Of Villains
Original Airdate October 5th, 2002

The Brotherhood are offered a chance to join Magneto's group after getting kicked out of school. The only problem is they have to pass one small test... free Pterio, their former friend who turned on them in the first place!

Credits
Written By: Adam Beecham
Directed By: Gary Graham
Music Composed By: William Anderson
Guest Starring: Alessandro Juliani as Gambit and Kelly Sheridan as Scarlet Witch.

Review: With the seasons constantly moving storyline of the how people are reacting to mutants, we’re taken back a step here and shown what The Brotherhood are now doing after the events of Mainstream.

Whilst the episode is weaker than the string before it, it’s still adds a lot of depth to the Brotherhood and really flesh’s out one of the series’ most interesting characters – the ragin’ Cajun himself, Gambit. I love this version of Gambit; it’s easily the best he’s ever been presented. Not having him join the group was a masterstroke, as Gambit works best when’s shrouded with mystery, not fighting evil and such. Everything about Gambit works here, a great voice (no cheesy Frenchman here), his dialogue and a brilliant, revamped design that greatly improves upon his rather weird design in Day Of Reckoning. I don’t think Gambit works without the overcoat or the black and red eyes. Also, someone finally realised that bright, shrieking pink doesn’t work on Gambit. But big, silver boots certainly do!

The main bulk of the episode is a little lower than the quality I was used to by now. I thought Ptiero’s arrest was utterly daft, and he was essentially arrested because someone attacked him. I did enjoy Rogue and Kitty’s attempts to follow the Brotherhood and stop them, but the rest of it seemed a little off. It all had a purpose of course, but still, a little weak for my liking.

Having Quicksilver as the team’s leader did leave great potential for future episodes though, and in essence, that didn’t disappoint too much.