The following contains spoilers for Immortal X-Men #6, now on sale from Marvel Comics.

From Emma Frost to Captain America, almost everyone who has faced the new Celestial Judge has received a thumbs down, with a few notable exceptions. Of the X-Men's Quiet Council, however, only one member has received a thumbs up: Kate Pryde. While there is no surefire way of knowing exactly why the former Shadowcat gained the approval of the Celestial, the veteran X-Man has a unique history that may offer something of an explanation.

The Progenitor's judgment of Emma Frost focused on the many mutants under her protection who she failed to save, suggesting that the criteria is based on past actions (or inaction). In this respect, Kate's history is nearly spotless. Unlike fellow Quiet Council members such as Sebastian Shaw, Frost or even Charles Xavier himself, Pryde's story has been one of unquestionable heroism. Whether as the leader of the Marauders or a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Kitty has proven to be willing to do the right thing regardless of the cost. During the X-Men's time on Breakworld, Pryde sacrificed herself to save the world, volunteering to be fused with the metal bullet aimed at Earth in order to phase it through the planet. However, after her recent murder at the hands of Sebastian Shaw, she took brutal revenge alongside Emma Frost after being resurrected. This alone, however, was apparently not enough to condemn the mutant hero .

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Her recent turn to violence aside, there is much less blood on her hands than any other member of Krakoa's governing body. Sebastian Shaw, Minister Sinister, Mystique, Destiny, Exodus and Emma Frost have all spent much of their lives as villains who were not above resorting to murder to achieve their ends. While ostensibly a hero (and the founder of the X-Men), Professor X has a history of abusing his power through manipulation and lies. Colossus once turned on his teammates, and Storm has been known to resort to questionable decisions and heavy-handed tactics during her tenure as leader of the mutant team. These two, along with fellow X-Man Nightcrawler, are all waiting to be judged and their heroic actions may or may not be enough to save them.

However, heroism is clearly not the only criteria for passing judgment. One of Marvel's most iconic heroes, Captain America, received a negative judgment. Seemingly the requirements also include a person's ability to live according to their beliefs, as Steve Roger's negative judgment came after the Progenitor criticized his inability to help create a better country. While Kitty's goals are not as easily defined as Captain America's, she has always lived according to her own beliefs, regardless of the cost. Even though she has occasionally acted in ways that were somewhat less than heroic, it's always been clear that she believed in the justice of what she was doing.

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Kitty Pryde leads the X-Men

The Progenitor also seems to value the ability to judge one's own actions. When considering Phastos and Makkari, the Celestial gives Phastos a pass based on his clear-eyed analysis of his own actions. Similarly, Kro's judgment is swayed by a speech justifying his ongoing war against the Celestials, one which reaffirms his commitment to his cause.

While Kitty has made mistakes in the past, she has consistently atoned for her mistakes. Even when the harm caused was accidental or the result of brainwashing, she has consistently gone out of her way to make amends for her actions. Due to this, her conscience is clear and unburdened by guilt. The Progenitor seems to be judging whether people live authentically despite their mistakes, and at this Kate Pryde excels.