In order to help a depressive Beast out of his slump, Kitty arranges a field trip to a national park with the younger X-Men (Spyke, Sunspot, Wolfsbane, Iceman). However, hunters catch Beast, thinking him to be Bigfoot.
Tropes included:
- Bigfoot, Sasquatch, and Yeti: What Beast is mistaken for. One of the scientists even shows off a plaster mold of a footprint as a reference.
- Book Ends: "It's very interesting...but it's hardly proof."
- City Mouse: Evan has assorted troubles in the woods, including poison ivy.
- Friend to All Living Things: The head scientist sees the supposed Bigfoot as a miracle of nature and wants it properly taken care of.
- I Am What I Am: Beast hears "We are who we are" from Kitty and then repeats it at the end of the episode.
- I Just Want to Be Normal: Beast's complaint at the start of the episode. He can't even go outside most of the time, and he has rage issues that'd make interacting with others in disguise difficult. While he enjoys being out in nature, he also resists it because it reminds him he's no longer part of normal society.
- It Can Think: The head scientist is amazed when Beast starts talking to him. He agrees to help Beast upon realizing he's sentient.
- Lampshade Hanging: Xavier points out he could make Beast a holo-watch like Kurt's. Beast isn't interested because it's still technically hiding and because his anger issues could easily get out of control.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Beast is regretful that his late-night excursion nearly got people hurt and threatened the other mutants with exposure.
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Kitty suggested the field trip to help cheer Beast up. It ultimately leads to Beast being hunted and stuck in a cage.
- Obligatory Joke: Clearly, having the guys who capture Beast comment that they "got the real McCoy" was just too good to pass up.
- Shout-Out: When one of the hunters shows another a whistle, he says to go to a particular store and "ask for Mulder." The first notes of the X-Files theme are played right after this exchange.
- Totally Not a Werewolf: Beast is mistaken for Bigfoot and Rahne is mistaken for a werewolf (?) when the students confront the hunters.
- Wrong Genre Savvy: Unaware of mutants, the scientists and hunters think they've got a real Bigfoot on their hands.
- You Can Talk?: This happens when Hank is mistaken for Bigfoot and captured. It's particularly funny because Hank is known for his eloquence and habit of quoting Shakespeare.
- You Have to Believe Me!: The hunters' attempt to tell the other scientists about Beast talking and the mutant kids' powers.
