X-Men: The Animated Series (TV Series) Lotus and the Steel (1996) User Reviews

It Moved Me.

[kevinhockmarketing · 10/10 · 9 January 2020]

I love this series as a whole, but this episode really struck all the right chords for me this time around. Wolverine's backstory can get overplayed at times, but I really identified with his journey this time. The resolution before the final showdown was so powerful, especially for a cartoon. But, that's nothing new for this monumental show.

continue to be astonished...

[A_Different_Drummer · 9/10 · 6 May 2014]

... at how good this "out-dated" series was. This episode is a gem. Wolverine is coming apart at the seams (again) so he exiles himself to a monastery in Japan looking for solitude -- and finds (duh) trouble. The irony, the irony of ironies, that almost two decades later the Marvel machine (and indeed it has become a machine, more interested in quantity than quality) would have been better served to use this storyline instead of Wolverine Origins or "The Wolverine," the two late-entry live action tales where Wolvy flies solo. How on earth could they have messed these films up when Hugh Jackman was playing the lead role? And why in the current decade (this penned in 2014) have superhero movies become all about action and 3D effects, instead of the humanity which grounded stories like this one...?

Great Wolverine character development

[constainfederico · 9/10 · 12 April 2024]

"Lotus and the Steel" episode of X-Men delivers a poignant exploration of complex themes with remarkable finesse, especially for a children's cartoon. The portrayal of Wolverine grappling with a lack of purpose and the weight of his traumatic past, compounded by the uncertainty of his memories due to brainwashing, is masterfully done. The episode delves into his struggle with anger issues, feeling empty inside, and the search for motivation, offering a profound narrative that resonates with viewers of all ages. Through compelling storytelling and nuanced character development, X-Men tackles tough topics with sensitivity and depth, making "Lotus and the Steel" a standout episode in the series.