X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending sets the stage for the three-part season 1 finale, revealing plenty about the show’s heroes, villains, and conflicts.
Warning! This article contains spoilers for X-Men ’97 episode 7.
X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending was filled with major moments, action sequences, and reveals that will lead the show into its season 1 finale. After the ending of X-Men ’97 episode 6, the return of Charles Xavier seemed to inspire hope that the X-Men would recover from the devastating attack on Genosha. However, X-Men ’97 episode 7 focused squarely on the titular team as they picked up the pieces of X-Men ’97 episode 5’s character deaths, from the rage and fury of Rogue to the aid of Genosha provided by Cyclops and the team.
With only the three-episode finale left of X-Men ’97 season 1, it seems more likely than ever that the central conflicts of the show will spill over into the story of X-Men ’97 season 2. This is supported by X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending, which provided several reveals, including a new villain for the team to fight. Despite Mister Sinister being implied to be the mastermind behind the Genosha attack, X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending reveals the villain has an ally who may prove to be more dangerous than any other foe the mutant team has faced thus far.
X-Men ’97 Episode 7’s Ending Revealed A Major New Season 1 Villain
Mister Sinister has been joined by another villain in X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending
However, Bastion had no memory of his former life and was raised as a human. Eventually, Bastion’s inherent anti-mutant directives took over, forcing him into the life of villainy he had lived as Sebastion Gilberti. While this backstory is certainly extensive and could be simplified for X-Men ’97, one thing is clear: Bastion is season 1’s primary villain alongside Mister Sinsiter.
The three-part finale of X-Men ’97 season 1 could explore Bastion’s backstory, setting up his reasoning for wanting to destroy the X-Men.
X-Men ’97’s Episode 7’s Prime Sentinels Explained
Bastion’s plan to eradicate the X-Men centers around beings known as Prime Sentinels.
After finding Trask in X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending, Rogue seemingly kills him by dropping him from a roof in Madripoor. However, Trask returns as a robotic Prime Sentinel, a new creation of Bastion designed to wipe out mutants. These Prime Sentinels are taken directly from Marvel Comics as an evolution of the Sentinels that have long plagued the X-Men. In X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending, the Prime Sentinels are depicted in a similar way.
As pointed out by Jean Grey, Trask’s mind is almost imprisoned within the Prime Sentinel. In Marvel Comics, Prime Sentinels are a combination of humans and Sentinels that are activated by nanotech implants. This essentially makes the humans that host Prime Sentinels sleeper agents, able to be activated at will to eradicate mutants. As X-Men ’97 episode 7 makes clear, Bolivar Trask is one of these Prime Sentinels and is activated by Bastion to defeat the X-Men.
X-Men ’97 Episode 7 Reveals Magneto is Alive & Imprisoned By Bastion
Magneto survived the attack on Genosha, with X-Men ’97 episode 7 hinting at his dark future.
As has long been theorized after X-Men ’97 episode 5, X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending confirmed that Magneto survived the attack on Genosha. This reveal is not a happy one, however, with the show also revealing that Magneto is in the custody of Bastion. In X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending, Bastion is shown speaking to the captured Magneto, who is bound by a power-dampening collar and other restraints. This begs the question of what Bastion plans for Magneto, with X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending hinting at the answer.
Bastion is shown shaving Magneto while explaining that heat allows human skin to soften. Bastion states that this is easier for him once he has to “get to work,” meaning his transformation of humans into the sleeper agent Prime Sentinels. This scene could hint that Bastion wishes to transform Magneto into a Prime Sentinel, combining the immense powers of the robotic beings with the Omega-level mutant abilities of the master of magnetism. In achieving this, Magneto would likely return to the X-Men without knowledge of his implant until it is activated, reverting him to an unwitting villain of the team.
X-Men ’97 Episode 7’s Ending Makes Cable A More Important Character
Cable’s opposition to Bastion seems to pin him as a vital part of X-Men ’97’s season 1 finale.
After his appearances in X-Men ’97 episodes 2 and 5, many have been wondering when Cable would become a more vital part of season 1’s story. X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending seems to provide this answer, with Cable arriving to defeat the Prime Sentinel of Bolivar Trask and warning the team of Bastion’s involvement. Cable mentions that, unless the X-Men defeat Bastion, there will not be much of a future worth living in. This hints that X-Men ’97’s Cable is aware of Bastion and that he will help the X-Men fight the villain in season 1’s finale.
X-Men ’97 Episode 7 Hints Professor X’s Return May Not Be So Positive
Charles Xavier’s X-Men ’97 return could be used as a weapon against the team.
Bastion’s reveal in X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending brought the threat of Prime Sentinels with it, while also introducing another way the villain could harm the X-Men. Bastion is shown telling Mister Sinister that he managed to repair a satellite that enables communication with the Shi’ar. Using this satellite, Bastion learned that Professor X was still alive, with Sinister noting that he thought the former leader of the X-Men was killed by Henry Gyrich. Despite Charles’ impending return to Earth being positive for the X-Men, Bastion hints he can use this as a way to attack the team further.
In X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending, Bastion mentions that the X-Men have been selling the world a very big lie about Xavier’s death. This hints that Bastion will expose that Charles is alive, which could adversely affect human perception of the X-Men. After all, Xavier’s apparent death caused humans to sympathize with the mutant cause. If Bastion reveals that Xavier is alive and positions the latter’s apparent death as a lie told by the X-Men, this sympathy will quickly turn to anger, resentment, and more hate that could make the X-Men’s dream much more difficult to accomplish.
Did Those X-Men Die In X-Men ’97 Episode 7’s Ending?
X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending could have presented even more death for the team.
X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending saw the team battling against a Prime Sentinel, which could have spelled the end for several characters. Mutants such as Rogue, Morph, Wolverine, Jean Grey, and Beast were all defeated by the Prime Sentinel. With the villain stating “mutant neutralized” after defeating each member of the team, many will wonder whether those X-Men were killed in X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending.
Note: All three episodes of X-Men ’97 season 1’s finale – “Tolerance is Extinction” – will air on Disney+ on May 1.
However, this is unlikely. After the many deaths of X-Men ’97 episode 5’s massacre, it is difficult to imagine the show killing more main characters with such disregard. One possibility, however, is that the Prime Sentinel can strip mutants of their powers. This would give a reason for Forge and Storm to team up with the team and restore their abilities for one final push against Sinister and Bastion. How the various X-Men will be affected after X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending remains to be seen, setting up a tantalizing clash between the team and their new adversary.
