Pilot (X-Men)

"**Pilot**" is the first episode of the Fox superhero drama series *X-Men*. It was directed by Bryan Singer and written by Joss Whedon. The episode focuses on the arrival of Bobby Drake at the Xavier Institute, and the recruitment of Scott Summers and Jean Grey into the X-Men. In addition, John Allerdyce discovers his abilities.

## Synopsis

Charles Xavier is a powerful mutant, an evolved human with special abilities. Xavier runs a school to help young people contorl their abilities, while also preparing them to integrate with society. The X-Men are a special team of older mutants Xavier leads to stop threats to the world. High school seniors Scott Summer and Jean Grey are recruited by the team, while freshman Bobby Drake is found by Xavier and brought to the school, where he befriends Kitty Pryde and Kurt Wagner. Meanwhile, John Allerdyce discovers his pyrokinetic abilities late into his adolescence, and Xavier and a mysterious foe fight for John.

## Plot

In Long Island, New York City, 14-year-old Bobby Drake runs through a street, being chased by a group of citizens. When they corner him and prepare to seemingly kill him, Bobby waves his hand, shooting ice all around him, and forcing them back. At the Xavier Mansion, Charles Xavier, using Cerebro, detects Bobby's trouble. Suddenly, Logan/Wolverine and Ororo Munroe/Storm appear in front of Bobby and scare the mob away. Bobby thanks them and they take him away. A bystander witnesses this from an alleyway, but his eyes turn yellow.

At the Mansion, Bobby discovers there are many more "mutants" like him. Xavier reveals he turned his family home into a school for young mutants, preparing them by teaching them to control their abilities and, once they complete junior high, sending them to North Salem High School. Bobby, due to hiding his powers for so long, has missed out on the training he could have had, and becomes a student at North Salem, alongside fellow freshmen Kitty Pryde, who can walk through walls, and Kurt Wagner, a German teleporter. Seniors Scott Summers and Jean Grey prepare the three students for blending in. Logan and Storm are congratulated by Xavier for saving Bobby, and he reveals Scott and Jean will be the X-Men's newest members.

John Allerdyce, a young teenager develops his abilities late, discovering he can control and manipulate fire. He uses this to impress girls at his school. When he meets Bobby, he hides this ability but the two make an easy friendship. Scott is seen to have feelings for Jean, but she is dating the football team's quarterback, Brick Dunham.

## Cast

#### **Starring**

* Stanley Tucci as Charles Xavier/Professor X
* Tyler Hoechlin as Scott Summers/Cyclops
* Italia Ricci as Jean Grey
* Justin Theroux as Logan/Wolverine
* Keegan Allen as Bobby Drake
* Elizabeth Olsen as Kitty Pryde
* Adam DiMarco as Kurt Wagner
* Kyle Chandler as Hank McCoy/Beast
* Angela Bassett as Ororo Munroe/Storm

#### **Guest starring**

* Katee Sackhoff as Raven Darkholme/Mystique
* Josh Segarra as John Allerdyce/Pyro

## Reception

### **Ratings**

The episode was seen by an audience of 15.91 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched series premieres of the season. It's demo rating of 6.6 did make it the highest-rated series premiere, beating the likes of *Heroes* and *Brothers and Sisters*.

### **Critical reception**

The pilot received a favorable response, with many calling it the best interpretation of the X-Men since *X-Men: The Animated Series*. IGN gave the episode a 7/10, calling it "exciting" and "fun", and saying it had "great potential", despite criticizing some of the visual effects and comic departures. *The A.V. Club* graded the pilot an "A-", praising the cast, specifically Tucci and Bassett. The tease to Magneto at the end was met with acclaim.