X-Men ’97 (2024) Season 2 is giving us a deeper look at the tragedy that befell Gambit and Rogue in Season 1 following Gambit’s death. As Rogue mourns, Gambit has returned as the Horseman of Death, but their love also reminds us of the limitations they already had through touch.
For many fans who grew up on the cartoons and movies, we know that Rogue’s powers involve energy absorption through touch. But when it comes to her relationship with Gambit, it’s always caused problems. But can they actually touch? The answer to this, in typical comic book fashion, is much more complicated than you’d think.
Can Gambit and Rogue Touch in ‘X-Men ‘97’?
X-Men: The Animated Series (1992-1997) saw the relationship of Gambit and Rogue teased through its many seasons. They would often flirt as Gambit would put on his charm and Rogue would give him just enough rope to keep him interested. It was a fun back-and-forth, but because it was a children’s show designed to sell toys, character arcs were hard to expand on.
With X-Men ’97, we were able to see the string on their “situationship” as Gambit and Rogue did have feelings for one another, but she knew with her powers she could never be close to him. There was no room for any form of intimacy, and Rogue wanted better for the person she loved. That’s why she turned to Magneto, because his powers allowed her to touch him.
It was too late for Rogue to realize her love for Gambit was stronger, as he sacrificed himself when the Sentinels attacked Genosha. It also showed that her fear could no longer hold her back and that her powers would always be a barrier between them that they would have to work out.
Did Gambit and Rogue Ever Touch in the Comics?
X-Men: The Animated Series borrowed solely from the comic runs to tell fun stories that could get you interested in the books as well. At that time, Rogue couldn’t touch Gambit, and it was a severe point of contention between them. But once that series ended and the comics continued, that began to change.
In modern runs, Rogue has finally gotten a handle on her abilities to the point that she could finally touch the people she cares about, and with that, she threw all her worries away and married Gambit. They endured thick and thin in the comics and never lost sight of one another, and have had an even more successful relationship than Scott Summers and Jean Grey.
Why we love Rogue and Gambit is why we love any type of romance. It’s strong and endures through the good and bad times, and seeing Rogue control her abilities felt like a long overdue reward. With that, it also sets viewers up for the possibility of a similar surprise in X-Men ’97 should the series continue to grow and evolve with each passing season.
Can Animated Rogue Ever Fully Control Her Powers?
As of now, we know that a version of Gambit is back as the Horseman of Death and Rogue has finally rejoined her family in the X-Men. But even with hope that Gambit could rejoin the ranks and be free of Apocalypse’s hold, there’s still a question of whether their happily ever after would happen in animation as well.
Considering X-Men ’97 has already adapted storylines from Grant Morrison’s New X-Men run, which was set in the 2000s, there’s no reason to think the timeline couldn’t still be moved up in other ways. Rogue has yet to have an episode that focuses on the impact of her powers, and this could be a great chance to see her mutation evolve further to control them completely.
If Gambit survives and rejoins the team, that would leave the two of them enough time to figure things out, and Rogue to hopefully feel whole enough for her powers to change too. Then, we could get another happy romance that reaches a tear-jerking conclusion as they get married and we see Mr. and Mrs. X on the small screen. In the decades of X-Men, few romances leave a mark on fans, but in the case of Rogue and Gambit, whether or not they can touch, they’ve impacted fans everywhere.
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The X-Men, a band of mutants who use their uncanny gifts to protect a world that hates and fears them, are challenged like never before, forced to face a dangerous and unexpected new future.
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