X-Men ’97 episode 6 followed on from episode 5’s cliffhanger, continuing the story of two key mutants that culminated in an exciting ending.

Warning! This article contains spoilers for X-Men ’97 episode 6.

X-Men ’97 episode 6’s ending promises a thrilling conclusion to season 1, by focusing on two major mutants that will surprise and excite audiences. Given what transpired in X-Men ’97 episode 5’s tragic ending, many were curious how episode 6 would pick up the pieces. As was hinted by X-Men ’97 episode 6’s title, “Lifedeath – Part 2,” the story instead switched to the continued efforts of Ororo Munroe/Storm. The many deaths of X-Men ’97 episode 5 took somewhat of a backseat in favor of Storm attempting to recover her mutant abilities.

In X-Men ’97 episode 2, Storm was shot by a power-dampening bullet by the X-Cutioner, leading her on a quest to meet Forge. X-Men ’97 episode 4 detailed Forge and Storm’s burgeoning romance, failed attempts to restore the latter’s power and the emergence of a demonic villain known as The Adversary. Many assumed this storyline would continue into the remainder of season 1 and even X-Men ’97 season 2’s story. However, X-Men ’97 episode 6’s ending delivered big on Storm’s story and included the return of another crucial mutant that promises an exciting culmination to season 1.

Professor X Is Alive? X-Men ’97 Episode 6’s Twist Explained

The esteemed leader of the X-Men returns for the first time since the finale of The Animated Series.

In a shocking turn of events, X-Men ’97 episode 6 confirms that Charles Xavier/Professor X is alive. While his death was never outright confirmed in X-Men: The Animated Series, the fact that Professor X has been missing from X-Men ’97 led many to believe he was gone for good. That said, X-Men ’97 episode 6 confirmed that Professor X is alive and well, living a relatively peaceful life with the Shi’ar people. This tracks with the ending of X-Men: The Animated Series, in which Professor X was taken into space by Lilandra, empress of the Shi’ar.

As revealed in X-Men ’97 episode 6’s ending, the medical treatment promised by Lilandra worked to restore Charles to his former glory. Charles was even shown walking, aided by a set of robotic legs crafted via the Shi’ar’s advanced technology. After this twist reveal, another was presented, though fans of Marvel Comics will not be overly surprised. This reveal pertains to Charles’ love life, as it is revealed that he and Lilandra are to be married.

The Shi’ar Power Struggle Explained – Why Deathbird Wanted The Throne

Lilandra and Xavier’s betrothal did not go over well with all of the Shi’ar people.

Despite the joyous announcement of Lilandra that she and Xavier are to be married, the news was not received lightly by all Shi’ar people. The most notable of the doubters is Deathbird, Lilandra’s sister. Deathbird reveals that she does not trust Charles or his intentions with Lilandra. Deathbird despises the people of Earth and sees them as lesser beings than the Shi’ar, voicing her displeasure over a potential alliance with humans via Xavier.

Deathbird demands that Charles purge his memories of Earth and the X-Men to prove his loyalty to Shi’ar’s empress; only then will he be permitted to marry into the royal family.

This leads Deathbird to challenge Xavier’s right to marry Lilandra. Deathbird demands that Charles purge his memories of Earth and the X-Men to prove his loyalty to Shi’ar’s empress; only then will he be permitted to marry into the royal family. Initially, Charles is reluctant to undergo such a monumental change, though agrees out of love for Lilandra. That said, Charles hesitates during the challenge when he is asked to forget the X-Men, causing Deathbird to attempt a coup. Charles then uses his psychic powers to infiltrate the minds of those present and do what he does best: teach.

What Was Professor X’s Vision About In X-Men ’97 Episode 6’s Ending?

Professor X’s lesson takes a dark turn as he is warned of episode 5’s tragic proceedings.

Initially, Charles Xavier’s lesson begins to change the minds of the Shi’ar somewhat. Charles explains that their barbaric, tyrannical ways are not the only method to securing an empire and that coexistence – no matter how messy it may be – can also work. However, the lesson quickly takes a grim turn as Charles receives a psychic vision warning him of the attack on Genosha in X-Men ’97 episode 6’s ending.

The globe in the corner of Charles’ psychic classroom bursts into flame, while the students before him devolve into skeletons. The pain Charles feels is only heightened in X-Men ’97 episode 6’s ending after this when a giant figure of Gambit appears before turning into a skeleton like the others. As alluded to, this vision was Charles’ own psychic abilities warning him of what has transpired on Earth. Charles quickly realizes what he initially saw as the good-natured gala in which his children – the X-Men – were dancing, drinking, and spreading love has spiraled into darkness, death, and destruction.

The lack of a Magneto skeleton hints that he may still be alive after X-Men ’97 episode 5’s ending, linking to popular theories.

X-Men ’97 Episode 6’s Ending Restores The Team’s Leader

Xavier will finally return to Earth and galvanize the X-Men against their rising threats.

After being shaken out of his vision, Charles tells Lilandra that he has to return to Earth. Despite his abandonment of the Shi’ar promising to prove Deathbird’s sentiments correct, Charles’ vision shakes him into action. Rather than hide out in another galaxy, Charles realizes that the X-Men need his help once more. He tells Lilandra that it is time to return to his X-Men in X-Men ’97 episode 6’s ending, prompting the return of the titular team’s leader for the remainder of season 1.

How Storm Recovered Her Powers In X-Men ’97 Episode 6’s Ending

Storm’s story saw her Omega-level powers returned via a clash with The Adversary.

On the other side of X-Men ’97 episode 6’s story was Storm, who struggled to save Forge’s life after the latter was bitten and infected by The Adversary. Storm is sent into a nearby cave to retrieve a cactus, the juice of which will heal Forge’s wounds. Unfortunately for Storm, The Adversary haunts her every step in X-Men ’97 episode 6’s ending.

While The Adversary seems like a villain in X-Men ’97, the demonic being is actually the catalyst needed to return Storm’s powers. The Adversary turns out to be a manifestation of Storm’s fears and doubts, stemming from the conversation with Jean earlier in X-Men ’97 season 1. In X-Men ’97 episode 2, Storm tells Jean that she sometimes wonders what it would be like to be human and calls the possibility a “tempting daydream.” In X-Men ’97 episode 6’s ending, The Adversary says these words to Storm.

This helps Storm realize that her powers being lost was not solely due to the X-Cutioner’s weapon, but also a mental block caused by her own lie that being human could be tempting. Storm states that she believed this lie, before truly embracing her powers and reigniting her mutant abilities. Therefore, X-Men ’97 episode 6’s ending reveals that Forge’s attempts to remove the X-Cutioner’s curse on Storm succeeded in episode 4 and that it was only Storm’s recognition of her reality that could restore her Omega-level powers completely.

The return of Storm’s powers leads to a flight sequence that mimics other superhero stories such as Man of Steel.

What Was The Adversary In X-Men ’97?

The Adversary has slightly different origins in X-Men ’97 than it does in the comics.

While X-Men ’97 episode 6’s ending confirms that The Adversary was a manifestation of Storm and Forge’s combined fears and doubts, it confirms a major change from the villain in Marvel Comics. In the comics, The Adversary stemmed from Forge’s Cheyenne roots. In the comics, Forge is trained in Cheyenne magic by a shaman called Naze. Beings like The Adversary are mortal enemies of the Cheyenne shaman and are simply malevolent beings who wish to destroy the universe.

In the comics, The Adversary’s battle with Storm is brought about by Forge and Naze’s magic powers and is defeated in a much more long-winded, complex way that involves the X-Men sacrificing themselves only to be reborn later. Given this story, it becomes clear that X-Men ’97 took a much different route with The Adversary. Instead, The Adversary is a dark manifestation, one that is defeated when Storm accepts her role as a powerful mutant and an X-Man.

New episodes of X-Men ’97 release every Wednesday on Disney+.

X-Men ’97 Episode 6’s Ending Confirmed The Villain Behind The Genosha Attack

X-Men ’97 finally confirms or debunks the endless theories about episode 5’s villain.

After X-Men ’97 episode 5’s ending, theories ran rampant about who was behind the attack on Genosha. From major X-Men villains like Apocalypse, Bastion, and Cassandra Nova to recurring X-Men ’97 antagonists like Henry Gyrich and Bolivar Trask, the perpetrator behind Genosha’s massacre has been the subject of much speculation. In X-Men ’97 episode 6’s ending, the villain behind the attack is revealed as none other than Mister Sinister.

Sinister was a recurring villain of X-Men: The Animated Series and appeared in X-Men ’97 episode 3 as the orchestrator behind Madelyne Pryor’s creation, Nathan Summers’ abduction, and the techno-organic virus that saw the son of Madelyne and Scott taken into the future to become Cable. As X-Men ’97 episode 6’s ending confirms, Sinister’s plans did not stop there. Sinister continues his vendetta against the X-Men by manipulating Bolivar Trask into activating Master Mold and attacking Genosha, something Sinister promises is only the prologue to a bigger plan in X-Men ’97.