Marvel Entertainment has shown audiences decades of stories that show how heroism can come in all shapes and sizes. However, one avenue that is still hit or miss is its romance. While the franchise has captured the essence of certain couples like Tony Stark and Pepper Potts or Peter Parker and MJ, other romances tend to fall flat. A great example of this is Bruce Banner and Betty Ross, who separate to keep one another safe, but Bruce never returns to her. That being said, while not all romances have worked on the big or small screen, one shines above all others: Gambit and Rogue from X-Men: The Animated Series.
X-Men: The Animated Series covers some of the team's most iconic storylines, including the "Dark Phoenix Saga." In that time, audiences get acquainted with many characters as they build relationships with their teammates. For example, fans begin to understand why Logan is always the loner and outsider with each filler episode. In contrast, through Jean and Scott, viewers are shown love between two people that literally transcends time and space. But Gambit and Rogue represent the most realistic relationship that is not only entertaining but highly relatable.
Gambit is a mutant who grew up in Louisiana and was a thief before he was a hero. On the other hand, Rogue is a scrappy southern belle who isn't afraid to speak her mind or put someone in their place. When the two meet, there's instant chemistry, and rather than tell a traditional love story, X-Men: The Animated Series instead opts to focus more on a flirtatious relationship. This is best shown by the competitive banter the two have.
What makes the duo even more unique is directly tied to their abilities. Gambit's powers allow him to charge any item he touches with kinetic energy. Once charged, these objects tend to blow up. Rogue, however, can fly and has super strength. But those powers were ones she stole from Carol Danvers. Her true mutant ability is to take the essence or abilities of anyone her skin touches. Prolonged contact can even lead to death. So there's a natural tension by pairing Gambit and Rogue because one person blows up anything he touches while the other could potentially have a kiss of death.
Personality-wise, they are two sides of the same coin. Gambit is sneaky while simultaneously sophisticated, even though his personality is crass. In contrast, Rogue is a firecracker with a kind heart. Though they are both from the south, the two don't always see eye to eye. At the same time, Gambit's charm rubs off on Rogue in the same way that her kindness rubs off on him. Through their differences, the two find qualities in themselves they never thought they had. This is best shown throughout the series, where Gambit always makes a point to protect younger teammates like Jubilee. On the other hand, Rogue becomes more adept at flirtation with Gambit in ways that even surprise him.
Although the two never get married in X-Men: The Animated Series, their relationship is the most consistent and burns the hottest from first to last. Rogue and Gambit consistently push each other to be better even while arguing in a way that has helped them endure for decades. It's a pairing that is never seen in live-action films and, sadly, hinders both characters, who never reach their full potential. Romantic pairings may still need work in Marvel's many properties, but if they are analyzed and layered as deeply as Gambit and Rogue, future couplings could be a source of entertainment that never falls flat.