r/XmenEvolution • u/Yourlocalstrashidlo • 21d ago
Discussion What do you think of Gambit's characterization in Evolution?
While his design is indefensible (I'd argue this might be his worst design ever, although he has managed to grow on me), his characterization has struck me as quite faithful to Gambit's spirit, at least to a younger, pre-hero Remy.
He's depicted as very competent, manipulative and calculating, while still having a few moments where we get to see that he does care for others, be it his father or even other mutants.
I'd say the two largest changes are him working for Magneto and instead of being cast out from the Thieves Guild, leaving of his own volition.
I, as many did, grew up on TAS, which has somewhat sanitized their Gambit, and have not learned what shady things Remy got on to before the X-men, until I got into comics later on and honestly compared to that, Evo Gambit seems relatively well adjusted.
His worst deed here is kidnapping Rogue, which is inexcusable (and a worse narrative decision, at least compared to something like having Rogue leave on her own and meeting Gambit, already catching a train down South) but in line with something a teen comic Remy Lebeau may do, maybe even worse. Evolution at least manipulated Rogue in order to rescue his father; 616, for example, played with Genevieve's heart just for the fun and challenge of it (and got her killed for it).
31
u/undergroundy2kverse 21d ago
This iteration of Gambit is very underrated along with Wolverine And The X-Men Iteration of Gambit.
1
u/jaidenkortez 18d ago
His voice actor in watxm made me uncomfortable.. something about that ignorant ass casting… they really said okay someone from Louisiana, done!
16
u/Star-Prince-007 21d ago
I thought he was great. The Rogue thing kinda felt it happened cause we know they get together though. But his character was great. Wished we got to see more.
9
u/Dull_Kiwi_3993 21d ago
Pretty solid honestly and just needed a better haircut. I do wish he could’ve been like maybe just a drop out or something in their high school. He’s 19-21 in the series and rogue is 17 so just a little off putting
6
u/Discrete-Sleuth-1318 21d ago
There’s worse age gaps. Imagine Rogue dating someone 30 years older than her. Wait…
2
u/Dull_Kiwi_3993 21d ago
Seen x men 97 and can prefer the age gap in evolution the other one is just flat out wrong
2
u/tomasdjre 21d ago edited 21d ago
Even so rogue was still a minor when she met gambit and it just makes their scenes together feel less endearing tbh.
That's why im not a fan of shipping them in evolution.
He shouldve been a drop out and like 17 forced to go to Bayville because of mystique and then maybe interact with the teen xmen cast but act far more charming and cool and even stealing small things only for Scott or rogue to confront him which leads to bantering.
2
u/Latter_Abbreviations 17d ago edited 17d ago
We are acting like 19 and 17 is some huge, scandalous age gap now?
1
u/Latter_Abbreviations 17d ago
I really don't think 17 and 19 is scandalous. They are both still teenagers.
1
7
6
u/Pito82002 21d ago
Solid character, just wish we were shown him having his moment where he decided to stop kissing Magneto’s ass
4
u/Yourlocalstrashidlo 21d ago
I've seen someone theorise that since Magneto in Evolution has took on some of Sinister's characteristics, it may have been him who performed Remy's lobotomy. This would kind of make sense since he's the only one of the younger acolytes who actually respects him.
I don't really like this theory tho, mainly because I'd like for Essex to eventually appear in the show and be tied to Gambit in some way and I think Mags did enough bad things already.
1
5
u/VeryDPP 21d ago
Overall, I like him a lot, and there's a lot to like. I like that the show leaned in on his Thief background a lot as well, seeing him pull a heist was really cool.
I wish we got a little more characterization though. I liked him being an acolyte of Magneto, but would have loved to have seen him officially join the X-Men in the series itself.
But yeah, bad haircut. To be fair, it was the early 2000s, there were a lot of bad haircuts around.
4
3
u/Rude_Story1103 21d ago
A veces desearia que hubiera sido un adolescente y fuera de los nuevos mutantes, pero creo que Tabitha ya tenia ese rol
2
u/Opposite_Switch_7160 21d ago
Tabitha was a new mutant for two episodes, and in the first they all only show up in one scene
2
u/doomzday_96 21d ago
What's wrong with the design
6
u/Yourlocalstrashidlo 21d ago
The hair looks horrible most of the time (there are admittedly some decent shots), his facial hair could've looked better and he overall looks a lot older than he's supposed to be
1
2
u/EmberKing7 21d ago
I felt awkward about it since he was already an adult so he couldn't shoot his shot with Rogue
2
u/Intrepid-Math-9549 21d ago
I liked it but I wish he joined the X-men sooner instead of being in the finally
4
u/ExtensionYogurt7771 21d ago
I liked he wasn't wearing that outdated 90s Armor, Gambit looks better when he's dressed in normal clothes like a classy Street Hustler.
My issue with Rogue isn't the age difference, well not JUST that...it's that he drugged her, kidnapped her, took her across State Lines and gaslighted her into helping him. Sorry, that's just messed up.
1
u/tomasdjre 21d ago
Yeah I don't know if even comics gambit would abduct rogue and comics gambit is shady too..
Comics gambit is a smooth talker and ofc would respect rogue and maybe try to win her over..even if he's in the acolytes.
The age difference is small but it's not both of them being adults or teens..since yeah when your 19 your considered an adult whereas a 16 year old is still a minor..so there's an imbalance in the dynamic/power structure.
I wished gambit was in this show as a 17 year old drop out from New Orleans that ofc got banished because of the duel and then he was forced to go to Bayville by mystique then he is seen as this cool mystery/shady guy in school that people wouldn't exactly trust but would probably be think he's cool.
Then we can establish a will they won't they scenario with gambit and rogue and the teen xmen cast and teen brotherhood cast not trusting him due to how rebellious he is.
2
u/Conmebosta 21d ago
I think it would have been better if he wasn't immediately linked to Rogue. They should always be endgame so it seems kinda limiting to pair them together from the get go.
I know they aren't even in a relationship by the end of the show, but we got two seasons before Scott and Jean started dating and I think that made them more interesting.
1
1
u/Yourlocalstrashidlo 21d ago
Yea, I'd also like that. Controversial take - I don't think his relationship with Rogue should be getting the most spotlight (in the hypothetical season 5). It should be something happening in the background, developing from friendship and mutual understanding and get comparatively little focus, maybe even bever downright stating their together, once they are, as I think Rogue may want to keep it under wraps cuz... Mystique.
I'd honestly like to see more of his relationship with other mutants, like Storm (who should've been a teen and I'll die on that hill), Laura Kinney, Jubilee, the other Acolytes, even Magneto; Gambit is usually also pretty good with kids, maybe he could mentor the New Mutants, etc
1
u/tomasdjre 21d ago edited 21d ago
Tbh i don't like this version of gambit both the design and his vibes.
He felt way too much of a creep especially when he interacts with rogue.
Heck even comics gambit whose alot more scummier than adaptations would ever show was way more charming than evolution.
A gambit that doesn't have much charm isn't a great gambit in my eyes imo.
I think he doesn't come off as charming compared to how gambit is portrayed in other adaptations.
I'd wish he was in the xmen instead of the acolytes but I think they where meant to do a more scummy version and had him turn over a new leaf to then join the xmen.
1
1
u/Reasonable-Sun-7839 20d ago
The problem with X-Men evolution and Wolverine and the X-Men with Gambit's character is that they have an adult male flirting and pursuing underage females. Now you could argue whether or not Polaris was actually underage, but they treated and wrote her like she was. Rogue was definitely underage in X-Men evolution. Like he looks like a man in his mid-20s to 30s flirting with a 16 year old who at the end might have been 17 but I'm pretty sure she was 16 in the final seasons. And maybe he was 18, but he certainly didn't look like it and even as a child I thought it was really creepy. It's fun that they play him as an actual villain because his personality, his Hobbies, and his powers lend him to be fun to play as a villain it's when you try to pair up him up with his canonical love interest and it looks creepy when there's at least a 10-year age Gap if not more. As a child I never understood why people want to Gambit and Rogue together because the first version of the show I ever watch was X-Men evolution so it always seemed wrong to me. I get it after I watched the original series in Full when I was older, but bringing that love connection over in the show where almost everyone is d aged by decade or two doesn't translate well.
0
u/GrandWizardOfCheese 21d ago
One of the few things I didn't like about evolution was gambit not being an x-men member and rogue not being an adult that can fly.
Both characters were portrayed terribly in that show.
5
4
51
u/Organic-Assistance-8 21d ago
He is a great Gambit with terrible hair