'X-Men '97' Season 2 Ending, Explained
X-Men '97 (2024) Season 2 was a massive return for one of Marvel Animation's best shows yet. It featured the return and growing threat of Apocalypse as the X-Men try to rebuild their lives after all that was lost between both seasons.
The events of the season so far, including the death of Magneto, the rise of Apocalypse, government overreach, and time travel, reached a fever pitch in its finale. With Gambit back but harboring the spirit of Apocalypse, it pits the X-Men against friends and sets up an unforgettable and heartbreaking sacrifice we are still trying to learn to live with.
The X-Men Face Longtime Friends To Save Gambit
After the previous episode, when the X-Men pulled Gambit's spirit from Apocalypse's control, they kept his body safe as they tried to figure out a way to separate him from the evil mutant. But not long after, X-Force and X-Factor appeared after joining forces to stop Apocalypse. But this meant killing Gambit, something Cable was willing to do.
This led to a battle between the three teams, with the X-Men doing everything they could to keep Gambit safe. We got great moments like Cable fighting his parents and Wolverine being immune to Psylocke's psychic blade, but the best part was seeing Gambit return to help his team.
These battles happen more than once in the comics, as they show how often the mutants will fight against one another. However, this battle has consequences that span beyond their personal feelings. Ultimately, it adds incredible stakes to the battle that match the entertainment value of seeing these powers in action.
An Old Reunion Leads To A Tragic Deal
Rogue, Beast, and Nightcrawler return to Ship, a sentient Celestial ship that was first introduced in X-Men: The Animated Series (1992-1997) and formed a close bond with Beast. As the three reunite, they find the portal Apocalypse went into that transformed him, knowing that anyone who goes in doesn't come out without a sacrifice.
To save Gambit, Rogue goes in and meets a Celestial, Eson the Searcher, asking for the power to stop Apocalypse. Reluctant at first, the Celestial eventually agrees, after destroying her crystal from the last episode, giving Rogue a powerful new outfit and strength, but also tells her that to save Gambit, she will have to sacrifice her life in the process.
Cable Makes A Mistake, And Rogue Saves The Day
As Rogue flies to save the man she loves, saying her goodbyes to her brother, Nightcrawler, Cable reaches Gambit and shoots him point-blank. But rather than stopping the mutant, he awakens Apocalypse and makes Gambit stronger than ever. Knowing he failed, he and the other X-teams try their best to stop him.
Just as all hope seems lost and Apocalypse mocks Professor X, Rogue appears, powered by the Celestial energy, and traps Apocalypse in a crystal. She gives Cable words of comfort, freeing him from his lifelong purpose, and reunites with Gambit, kissing him for the first time without consequence.
A Major Sacrifice Leads To A Hopeful And Dangerous Future
As Rogue's powers fade, signaling her death, she realizes she's still there and feels fine. It's only when she sees Beast that she realizes Nightcrawler traded her place with his, sacrificing himself to ensure his sister and the world have a happy ending.
We have seen Nightcrawler be nothing but a selfless beacon of hope throughout X-Men '97, and to see him do something so brave is both admirable and heartbreaking. He died with the hope that the future would be brighter now that mutants have seen what good things come from working together. His faith kept his spirit alive, and his family kept his memory alive.
Nightcrawler has died in the comics during the Second Coming storyline, and considering we haven't seen a body, he could very well return, especially if X-Men '97 adapts the storyline and sees him finding his way back to Earth from heaven.
But as the after-credits show Mystique assassinating Val Cooper and threatening the government, we know that while Nightcrawler has inspired the X-Men, there are still enemies out there. As a result, Season 3 of X-Men '97 will likely be another race against time even more harrowing than the finale of Season 2.
