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This article contains spoilers for X-Men ‘97 episode 7
The world ofX-Men ‘97is still reeling from the brutal attack on Genosha. While every mutant feels the pain of all those lives being lost, none can compare to Rogue, who takes center stage in the latest episode, titled “Bright Eyes.”
X-Men ‘97episode 7 sometimes feels like it’s doing a little too much, jumping from one story to the next and barely leaving any breathing room, but like the episodes before it, “Bright Eyes” displays a mature and nuanced level of storytelling that has elevated the source material and madeX-Men ‘97one of the must-watch series of the year.
What happens in X-Men ‘97 Episode 7?
X-Men ‘97episode 7 opens with Gambit’s funeral, a somber affair that sees the X-Men team, as well as a few faces from Gambit’s past, all paying their respects to the fallen hero. Nightcrawler presides over the event, providing a fitting eulogy that encompasses all of the best parts of Gambit’s personality. The glowing description of Gambit’s courage and potential makesthe unproduced Gambit movieeven more of a tragedy.
Charley Feldman and JB Ballard
Directed By
Emi-Emmett Yonemura
However, one member of the team is not present: Rogue. While Jubilee is understandably upset about her not being there, it turns out that Rogue is firmly in the “anger” stage of grieving, as she blasts through the desert toward a secret military facility. Here, Rogue confronts none other than General Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross (soon to appear in live-action played byHarrison Ford inCaptain America: Brave New World). She interrogates him about Henry Gyrich, who was previously seen in prison back inX-Men ‘97episode 1. Ross informs her that Gyrich is not there.
Back at X Mansion, Cyclops receives bad news from the president: the UN will not be committing any more aid to the relief efforts in Genosha. With no one left to help them out, the team decides to head to the ravaged nation themselves.
Rogue arrives at her next stop, a snowy cabin housing Captain America himself. Here, she demands more information about Gyrich, and while Cap is reluctant to help, he does offer Rogue some helpful information. Gyrich had been transferred out of prison and kept at the cabin by an organization known only as OZT, but he had already been moved to a new location in Mexico. Cap refuses to help Rogue further, citing the touchy optics of Captain America showing up south of the border.
In Genosha, the relief efforts continue. Roberto and Jubilee discuss their different points of view on living openly as a mutant. However, Roberto agrees to tell his mother the truth. Meanwhile, Beast and the reporter fromX-Men ‘97episode 5share a conversation about tolerance, and what it really means. Beast is dismayed at the reporter’s reaction to mutant rioting, mirroring Cyclops’s frustration from episode 5.
In Mexico, Rogue tracks down Gyrich and touches him, experiencing a vision of future enemies the team will have to face. Later on, the team discovers Emma Frost has survived the attack, manifesting her diamond skin power for the first time. The team also receives a call from Bolivar Trask, who reveals Mister Sinister’s connection to the Genosha attack, and offers to reveal everything to the team in Madripoor (a locale that also made a live-action debut inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldierepisode 3).
Elsewhere, Roberto and Jubilee speak with Roberto’s mother, where he reveals he is a mutant. Roberto’s mother shows understanding, which helps Roberto feel better. However, this is short-lived, as Roberto’s mother essentially tells him that he must still keep his powers a secret.
In Mexico, Rogue is found by Nightcrawler, who offers her comfort over the deaths of Magneto and Gambit (both of which showed thatX-Men ‘97has real stakes). The rest of the team joins them and they make their way to Madripoor to uncover the truth. Gyrich, who is recovering from the confrontation with Rogue, is killed by an unknown assailant.
How does X-Men ‘97 Episode 7 end?
The X-Men face their newest threat: prime sentinels
In Madripoor, the team discovers a hidden lab in the UN legion filled with advanced cybernetic models. Beast points out that this type of technology should not be possible. The team finds Trask standing on the ledge of the building. He reveals that OZT was born out of the old Sentinel program, and that Sinister is developing a new kind of Sentinel. Trask tries to jump, but is caught by Rogue, who ultimately lets him drop.
In a huge twist, the team is attacked by Trask, who has been revived as some kind of human sentinel. Trask proves to be too much for the team, and they are almost entirely taken out before Cable arrives to help. Here, Cyclops finally realizes the truth: thatCable is actually his son, Nathan Summers. Cable reveals that Sinister is actually working for someone much worse, andX-Men ‘97finally reveals its ultimate villain.
X-Men ‘97’s real villain is actually Bastion
Mister Sinister meets with Bastion, who is the true architect behind everything. While Sinister disagrees with how Bastion is doing things, Bastion promises that his plan will be the one to finally vanquish the X-Men once and for all. Bastion also reveals that he has learned Charles Xavier is still alive.
Bastion quick facts
In the episode’s final beat, Bastion enters an abandoned barber shop. In an episode filled with big reveals, the most important comes here: Magneto is still alive. He is being held captive with a power-suppressing collar. It’s not clear what Bastion has planned for the X-Men’s new leader, but it will be revealed in the show’s final episodes.
X-Men ‘97is available to stream on Disney Plus.
X-Men ‘97
The animated X-Men team returns in the Disney Plus reboot, X-Men ‘97. With Professor X gone, Cyclops, Wolverine, Jean Grey, and the rest of the mutants find themselves under the leadership of Magneto and facing a new threat. X-Men ‘97 is the first project under the newly created Marvel Animation banner.
