X-Men 97 episode 9: Easter eggs, ending explained, and what's next

X-Men 97 episode 9 delivers a penultimate chapter packed with callbacks to the original animated series, comic book lore, and a cliffhanger that fundamentally changes the story moving forward. The episode reveals crucial details about Bastion's origins, reunites the team for a desperate final stand, and ends with a moment that could reshape the entire series.

Professor X Returns and the Burden of Leadership

The episode opens with Professor X finally back on Earth after crash-landing last week. His addition to the opening credits was a subtle hint that paid off this week. However, the crash has left him unable to walk, and he'll need his wheelchair for the remainder of the episode. This vulnerability adds a layer to his character as the team looks to him for leadership despite his physical limitations.

Back at the mansion, Magneto has been left in charge, and the team isn't happy about it. Scott and Jean wanted a life away from the X-Men, but Scott realizes that fate always pulls them back in. This sets up interesting character dynamics for the seasons to come, particularly for Cyclops' arc as a leader.

Bastion's Dark Origin Story

The episode reveals that Bastion's hatred of mutants runs deeper than previously known. He's a technopath, someone who can interact with all machines, and this ability manifested as a child when he heard voices in his head from increasingly prevalent technology. His mother slammed the door on Professor X when he tried to recruit young Bastion as a child.

What makes this particularly compelling is the origin of Bastion himself. His programming was created when Nimrod, sent back in time to assassinate Professor X, was reassembled by Wolverine's adamantium skeleton. This is a significant departure from the comics, where Nimrod was reborn as a human. Here, Bastion's hatred is rooted in Nimrod's original programming, making his villainy deeply personal and psychologically grounded.

Team Divisions and Familiar Faces

Cyclops divides the team into blue and gold groups, a concept introduced in the comics during the 1990s. One team goes after Bastion while another pursues Magneto. The episode features multiple costume callbacks, including Sunspot in his comic-accurate outfit and Rogue wearing Gambit's jacket, symbolizing her moving past her grief over his apparent death.

Several returning characters appear, including President Kelly, who's had his stance on mutant rights transformed after his encounter with Master Mold. The Magneto Protocols are mentioned, setting up the tension between human and mutant relations that will likely define the finale.

The Battle and Shocking Conclusion

The battle sequences showcase some of the show's best action choreography. Magneto sits atop a sentinel throne as the X-Men fight both the Sentinels and each other. Sinister makes an appearance, though it's later revealed to be Morph in disguise. The episode builds tension through smaller character moments, like Cable fighting Jean and Jubilee being caught in the crossfire.

The episode's final moment is the most shocking of all. After the X-Men manage to remove Magneto's helmet, Xavier tries to use his psychic powers on him. Scott refuses to let it happen, leading to a desperate struggle. When Wolverine stabs Xavier in the back to stop him, it's a direct reference to the iconic panel from X-Men 25, one of the most memorable moments in X-Men comic history. This moment sets up the emergence of Onslaught, the combined consciousness of Professor X and Magneto's darkest aspects.

What's Coming Next

Onslaught was a major villain from the 1990s comics, first appearing in X-Men 53. He's a vastly powerful being that emerged from Professor X's mind after absorbing Magneto's darkest impulses. The show may simplify his origin, but his appearance teases a significant threat for the finale.

There's also speculation about connections to the upcoming Deadpool and Wolverine film. Some theories suggest that Wolverine may have reversed House of X's mutant extinction event, potentially causing a rupture in the Marvel Universe that brings the animated series into live-action continuity. While this remains speculative, the costume similarities and the involvement of the TVA in that film make it worth considering.

With Bastion's arrogance fully on display, Magneto's desperation, and Xavier's darkest impulses about to break free, the finale has enormous potential. The penultimate episode has set up multiple storylines that could lead into future seasons, including hints at Messiah Complex and the introduction of Hope Summers as a mutant savior figure.