Growing up in the late ’80s to mid ’90s, cartoons were the best. Cartoons really hit their prime during that time as well. Whether it was G.I. Joe, ThunderCats, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Duck Tales or Mighty Max, cartoons were as important to me as video games. One of my favorite cartoon shows was X-Men: The Animated Series. It just recently turned 25 years old. Wow. How time flies. Since Avengers: Infinity War came out recently and I just reviewed Marvel Super Heroes: War of the Gems, I can’t think of a better time to share my favorite episode from the X-Men Animated Series than now. It touches on some pretty deep topics that you just didn’t see being broached back in the day. It flew over my head as a kid but when I saw this episode later in my 20’s, it completely resonated with me. Let’s see… it’s got:
- Faith
- The danger of being ignorant
- Don’t judge a book by its cover
- Accepting others who are different from us
- Man’s struggle with whether or not there is a greater power
Originally aired nearly 23 years ago on May 13, 1995, RVGFanatic proudly presents…
“Destroy the demon! Shoot it now!”
“I know, she say. Let’s take a trip, she say. It’d be fun, she say. Huh! Some fun.”
“After what we’ve been through lately, I figured we could use some time off.”
“This is sitting around drinking hot cocoa and getting funny looks from rich folk.”
“Come on, a demon? You must be kidding!”
“I heard it on the train. The whole town thinks they’ve been under attack by some dark creature for months. Must be some local yokel superstition.”
“TELL ME MORE.”
“I’ll make it up to you. We’ll fly to Monte Carlo. We eat nice, lie on the beach…”
“Where are you going?”
“Demon hunting. Interested?”
“WHAT hunting?”
“Gambit a demon hunter? I’m gona regret this aren’t I?”
“A couple more miles. Why? You quitting, Gam?”
“What, and spoil Gumbo’s fun?”
*giggles* “You sure you don’t want help?”
“Man doesn’t break a sweat against Apocalypse or Magneto. So WHAT nails him? A pine tree. Wait… OH CRAP.”
“Please, do not worry. This is home to twenty members of our order. We minister to many ski accident victims.”
“Gambit will hurt a while. But he’ll be okay.”
“Brother Reinhard. Please show our guests to the visitor accommodations.”
“Brother, is it wise to have strangers around at this terrible time? They’re not the usual travelers!”
“Those in need are always welcome, Brother Reinhard. Please have faith in our mission.”
“Yeah. Therefore, would you be kind enough to accept something more appropriate to wear during your stay?”
“Don’t wanna make the natives restless…”
“You should take care where you walk. Some doors on the upper levels open into thin air. The abbey was heavily damaged during the war.”
“So, Johann, besides praying and ministering, what do you boys do all day?”
“Our mission is to give shelter and comfort to all travelers. And, of course, to offer a place to renew one’s relationship with the Lord.”
“Being close to Heaven didn’t help us this afternoon, Father.”
“Are you sure, sir? Have you lost your faith? What is it that you seek?”
“Action. F’rinstance, I hear ya got a demon hanging around here.”
“You mean down in the town, in Neuherzl. Yes. An odd rumor, isn’t it? Personally, I have never myself met a demon…”
Hey! What are you doing?”
*Rogue gasps*
“Please! You do not understand!”
“No! You mustn’t!”
“WHY SHOULDN’T I?!”
“Brother in the ecclesiastical sense — a member of our monastery.”
“I’m sorry I startled you, Fräulein. I did not know you could fly.”
“It’s okay. I didn’t know you could do whatever that was you did.”
“Teleportation. I think of a place I’d rather be, look to it, and I am there.”
“Gambit rather be in Monte Carlo. Think you can work that out?”
“But, aren’t you the demon we heard about?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes. Like yourselves, I am a mutant. But unlike most mutants, my condition was obvious from the moment I was born.”
“The villagers drove my mother away… for bearing such a freak.”
“I never even knew her name. She could be anyone, really…”
“Instead I was found by a family of traveling performers. I became Nightcrawler, the star attraction of their little circus. For their freakish world, I was perfect!”
“But when the spotlight went out, I was still an outcast. Shunned and hated.”
“No, he’s right. Though all people are flawed and all struggle with the capacity for sin, none likes to be reminded of our shared human weakness. My appearance does not make it easy.”
“It did once. But then I found peace by devoting my life to God. He directed me to this place, where they value the character of my heart, not my appearance.”
God gave up on us a long time ago!”
“No, my friend. God does not give up on any of His children, be it human or mutant. He is there for us in our times of joy, and to help us when we are in pain… if we let Him.”
“Don’t give me that easy answer garbage! I’ve tried! Don’t ya think I want that!! I don’t need a sermon from some circus boy preacher.”
“I’m sorry. I did not mean to upset him.”
“Fine. Now Gambit got a question. If you’re not the guy who tried to put me out for good, who was?”
“All people of Neuherzl! I can no longer allow such sacrilege! The beast you seek is there! In the monastery!”
“Are you mad? Those are men of God!”
It must be destroyed!”
“We are alike, you and I, angry at the world, and ourselves. My pain drove me to seek God. Yours drove you away.”
What kind of God would let men do THIS to me?”
“Our ability to understand God’s purpose is limited, but we take comfort in the fact His love is limitless.”
I understand this better than most.”
“Yet despite it all, people of every faith believe there is a God who loves them.”
“Would it hurt so much to see the world through different eyes?”
“Brother! There is a mob headed up the road from Neuherzl. They must have discovered you are here.”
Tell me, preacher, what’s God’s purpose in that?”
“Neuherzl is isolated. The people know nothing about mutants. Perhaps I am here to help open their hearts. I must leave so no one will be hurt.”
What’s wrong — lose your faith?”
“Remember, Logan. Those people aren’t bad. They’re just scared. Be careful.”
“Careful? Fifty against two?!”
Don’t you know Gambit’s ready for anything?”
“Course, chére. Soon as the room stop spinning.”
They want to hurt us! Kill them!”
Now back off!”
Tell us where your monster is hiding!”
“Get him downstairs!”
“I will surrender. It is the only way to prevent anyone else getting hurt.”
“DEFILER!!”
… Why do you pause? I have betrayed you!”
… Not mine!“
I have sinned! What have I done?”
Your presence here was a great blessing.”
Look at this place! We blew it!“
“I disagree. Brother Reinhard understands his tragic mistake and has repented.”
“The townspeople no longer look at me with fear in their hearts.”
All are reasons to be thankful.”
“The foundation God has built in our hearts can never be ruined.”
“I don’t know. Those quiet little monks were starting to grow on me.”
“Face it, chére, those monks kid themselves. We on our own in this world. Life is random. Deal you a full house, or a busted flush.”
“I will give thanks to you, oh Lord. For though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, and you comforted me. I will trust and not be afraid.”
CLOSING THOUGHTS
I love how this episode centers around Logan’s struggle with faith in something larger than himself. TV shows back in the ’90s rarely touched upon such issues, much less cartoons. Nightcrawler’s pure faith, if not admirable and inspirational, is certainly understandable. Len Uhley, who wrote this landmark episode, didn’t shove religion down the viewer’s throat. Instead, he presented it in a way that more or less left it up to the individual to decipher. It didn’t beat you over the head but the message was just strong enough to make you think about things that perhaps may be outside of one’s comfort zone. Very few cartoon episodes have ever made me reflect on my own life and views as much as Nightcrawler did. Is there really a God who exists and cares for us all? Can we find true peace from God’s word? That’s up to each individual person. Nightcrawler did a great job of broaching the subject. Personally, I’m a believer. I became a Christian at 25 back in 2009. I got into it pretty hardcore, but I’m pretty casual nowadays with my faith. It’s more of a private thing these days for me, and that’s how I like to keep it.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t share my favorite faith-related story. Several summers ago, I organized a volunteering gig with some friends of mine. It was a foot washing and feeding event for the homeless. It was a humbling experience. I’ll never forget the first man whose feet I washed. He told me right off the bat, pardon the pun, that his name is Bruce Wayne and that he’s THE Batman. Naturally, part of me thought he was crazy. But as the foot washing went on, “Bruce” shared childhood stories of his father with me, his 29 years in the truck driving business, and shared his dreams growing up. Didn’t take long for me to realize he’s just like anyone else. At the end he thanked me for the foot washing and left.
Not three minutes later, he walked back in to show me his identification card. SON OF A BITCH. Sure enough, there it was, clear as day. Name: BRUCE WAYNE. He wasn’t kidding, he really was Bruce Wayne. He gave me a grin and I returned the gesture as we nodded before he walked out. Later I spoke with the coordinator and she explained to me Bruce is a regular and how his Batman persona is his own personal way of coping with being homeless. Wow. It’s a little bit deeper than just “Oh, this dude’s a crazy homeless guy.” The experience reminded me not to be so quick judging others. Walk a mile in their shoes — or wash their feet — before you decide what their story is.
Len Uhley reflects fondly on his Nightcrawler episode here.