Beyond Evolution

Episode Eight - Spykecam

Aired: February 10, 2001

Stars: Spyke, Rogue, Shadowcat, Sabretooth, Wolverine

Appears: Storm, Cyclops, Xavier, Jean Grey

Cameos: Nightcrawler

Guests: Jason

First Appearance(s) of: Jason

Written by: Christy Marx and Randy Littlejohn

Summary

Spyke gets an assignment to document teen life events with a digicam. He tapes Kitty and Rogue in the school hallway. Kitty's flirting (or gushing more like) with a guy (Jason) who tells them about the school play "Dracula". When he leaves Rogue tells her she's pathetic. Kitty tells her that at least she's got a shot at being in the play. Rogue catches Spyke taping them and threatens him if he tapes her again. Both Kitty and Rogue decide to try out for the play and walk off in a huff.

Sabertooth shows up outside of the school and follows Evan. He knocks Evan off of his skateboard and while Evan is out of it he watches the tape and finds out the location of the school. Spyke comes to and finds his digicam on the ground. Toad shows up doing stunts trying to get Evan to film him. Evan just tells him to take a hike.

Next morning when Spyke wakes up he stretches and sends spikes flying about the room. Storm comes in to get him for breakfast and asks about the camera. She tells him that they're going to have to take a look at his film before he hands it in, to make sure there's no X-Men footage. He says no problem.

Jean catches him taping her and slams the door in his face, flinging him into the wall. He goes out onto the grounds to film Cyke and Wolverine training. Wolverine saves him from getting his head sliced off and then erases the footage he just filmed. He checks the tape and finds a message from Sabertooth. Evan asks who that was and just then Sabertooth rips open the front gates of the school.

The rest of the X-Men come running. Wolverine tries to keep them out of it but Storm tells him it's no place for his personal wars. Through a combined effort they send Sabertooth packing on his way again. Wolverine chases after him, but loses him in the woods. He talks to Xavier about Sabertooth coming after him and that he'll probably try baiting Wolverine away from the school. Xavier realizes this means he'll try to take one of the students, and that they're all in danger now.

Spyke overhears this and wants to fix it. He runs into Kit and Rogue arguing about rehearsing for the play. He asks them to help. As they leave the school on a moped/scooter Sabertooth follows them. Wolverine catches Scott leaving and tells them that everyone has to stay on school grounds until Sabertooth is caught. He finds out the the others left and goes after them.

Evan is taping Kitty and Rogue dancing in the woods. Rogue is pretty stiff and Evan suggests that she use her power to snatch some of Kitty's moves. Kitty agrees to try it and they touch, then they start dancing together. Sabertooth barrels onto the scene and yanks up Evan. He pops his spikes and Sabertooth flings him into Rogue. He goes after Kitty, but she phases and he flies right through her. She turns to check on Rogue and Evan and he jumps up behind her, smacks her into a tree. As he's about to pick her up Rogue comes to and calls him away from Kit.

She tries to touch him, but he's holding her arms out and she can't reach him. Wolverine arrives and Sabertooth drops Rogue as he's tackled by Logan. Rogue pops him from behind and lays him out. She grows fur all over, her hair gets longer, and fangs and claws pop out. Logan yells at them for planning such a stupid stunt and tells them they're all grounded. Kit and Rogue ask what'll happen to Sabertooth now.

They drop Sabertooth off in the snow (Alaska maybe?) and Xavier wipes his mind. They show Spyke's "film" at the end about the X-Men being his new family. Each of the X-Men are shown in some "candid" shots and the last shots are of Kit and Rogue both dancing in the school play together and Spyke dedicating it to his new family.

Summary written by Denaill for her site -

Quotes

Rogue: Just when I thought you could not possibly get more pathetic.
Kitty: At least I've got a hope of getting cast. Unlike you.
Rogue: Think about it. I was made for this play. (catches Spyke filming them) Hey! What are you playin' at Porcupine? I better not see my face on that tape or they're gonna be calling you Spyke-less.

Wolverine: (To Spyke after saving him from flying discs) What do you think you're doing here bub? Those things could've taken your empty head right off.

Xavier: Logan, I thought you had prevented Sabertooth from following you here!
Wolverine: I did last time Charles, but this time he had help.

Logan: He's all mine.
Storm: No! This is not the place for your private war!

Scott: Just headin' out for a burger.
Logan: No ya ain't bub. Until I nail that hairball, none of ya are to leave the premises.
Scott: Awww, man.
Logan: Don't even start!

Evan: Come on Rogue, get with the program. Shake that thing.
Rogue: Hey, she's got her moves, I got mine.
Kitty: Yeah girl, you gotta go with it. Y'know, you're like a walkin' zombie or something.
Evan: Hey, listen Rogue, how 'bout you shed those gloves and give K-girl a tap.
Kit and Rogue: What? No way!
Evan: Listen to me. Just enough to rip Kitty's moves.
Rogue: It might work. Just concentrate on 'em.
Kitty: Okay, but you better not lay me out.
Kit and Rogue: (they touch> Whoa!
Rogue: That was like, pretty icksome! Aw, am I talking like her?

Evan: (Sabertooth grabs him) We've been expecting you. (Evan pops his spikes) You gotta be sharp if you're gonna mess with the Spyke.
Sabertooth: (drops Spyke goes after Kitty) Then I'll take you!
Kitty: (Kitty phases Creed flies through) Right. I'm so sure!
(Sabertooth knocks Kitty into a tree, goes after her again)
Rogue: Back off ugly!
Wolverine: Pickin' on kids Creed? Big mistake!
Sabertooth: Yeah, Why?
Logan: Cause it really ticks me off!

Rogue touches Sabertooth and grows fur all over, her hair gets longer, and fangs and claws pop out.
Rogue: Awww... and I just shaved my legs last night!
Logan: Nice. The finishing touch. You planned this didn't you Porcupine?
Evan: A little bit... yeah.
Logan: Well don't do it again. You could have all been killed. (to Kitty) And don't give me them puppy dog eyes half-pint. You're grounded and so are the rest of you!
Evan: For how long?
Logan: (sighs) I don't know, till She-Wolf there gets a haircut anyway.

Quick Review

Grade: 7

This has to be one of my favorite episodes so far. Lots of action, another Wolverine/Sabertooth fight and finally Rogue as an X-Man. Spyke is even starting to grow on me. Without all of the "attitude" that they showed him with in his first episode he's a much better character. Love the use of Rogue's powers. Evolution Rogue has control of her power. Maybe not total control, but then again she's still young.

This episode also made me realize why I like Evolution so much, little to no angst. I think that this is really what's brought down the comics so badly over the years. All of the whining and angst. I never really liked the comics Rogue because she was the front runner of the whining about how tough it is to have powers and be a mutant. No such problem with any of the Evolution characters.