X-Men 97 Season Finale Ending Explained: Timeline Twists, Surprising Cameos, and Gambit’s Return

X-Men ’97 concluded its first season with a dramatic finale that aired on Disney+, with episode 10 leaving fans on the edge of their seats. The episode wrapped up several storylines, filled with unexpected cameos, intense action, and emotional moments.

After episode 9, where Magneto clashed with Professor Xavier over Bastion’s plot to destroy mutants, the finale delved deeper into the consequences of these ideological differences. As the X-Men struggled to fight Bastion, Magneto took his path, leaving the team divided.

In the closing moments of the episode, Professor X used his psychic powers in an attempt to stop Magneto, but it was unclear if he succeeded. At the same time, the X-Men had the difficult task of putting an end to Bastion’s plans.

The finale then led to some major twists, and if you haven’t seen it yet, be warned, spoilers are ahead as we break down what happened and what it might mean for X-Men ’97 moving forward.

Cable’s Timeline Jumps

One of the most emotional parts of the series occurred when Cyclops and Madelyne (Jean Grey’s clone) made the painful decision to send their baby, Nathan, into the future with Bishop. Nathan grows up to become Cable, the time-traveling hero, who tries to stop Bastion’s destructive plans.

Toward the end of the finale, the destruction of Magneto’s Asteroid M seems to send the X-Men into various timelines, but it’s unclear whether this was accidental or orchestrated. Jean and Scott end up in the year 3960 A.D., where they meet a young Nathan and an older woman named Mother Askani.

In the comics, Mother Askani is Rachel Summers, Jean and Scott’s daughter. In an earlier episode, Cable explains how Bastion impacts the future, where Rachel plays a key role in a dystopian world where Bastion controls certain mutants.

She eventually becomes the founder of Clan Askani, the group that takes young Nathan under their care. Rachel’s involvement with the Summers family suggests that she’ll play a larger role in the story, possibly in season 2.

Egyptian Timeline

While Jean and Scott reunite in the future, other members of the X-Men — Rogue, Nightcrawler, Beast, Magneto, and Xavier — are transported to ancient Egypt. In this period, they fight some warriors, but they also meet a mysterious figure who introduces himself as En Sabah Nur.

Fans of Marvel comics will recognize this name, as it belongs to Apocalypse. Before becoming the infamous mutant villain in the X-Men’s timeline, En Sabah Nur was a nomadic rebel forced to serve an Egyptian ruler.

With powers of regeneration, he survived multiple deaths and eras and has connections to the Celestials in Marvel’s lore. Apocalypse’s appearance in the past is important because it sets the stage for future events that involve the X-Men in both the 1997 timeline and the year 3960.

X-Men ’97 Post-Credit Scene Sets Up Gambit’s Return

If you stuck around for the post-credits scene, you saw the ruins of present-day Genosha, where a hand reached into the rubble and picked up a tattered Queen of Hearts card. A voice echoed, saying, “So much pain, my children.

So much death.” Though the figure’s face is not shown, it’s clear that this is none other than Apocalypse himself. Apocalypse has a long history with the X-Men in both the comics and Marvel’s animated series, as well as in the live-action films X-Men: Days of Future Past and X-Men: Apocalypse.

The Queen of Hearts card is an important clue, as it belongs to Gambit, also known as Remy. Apocalypse’s appearance and the card suggest that he may be about to resurrect Gambit as one of his Horsemen of Death.

This possibility was teased earlier in the series when Professor X had visions of Gambit transforming into a skeletal agent of death. In the comics, Gambit was once under Apocalypse’s mind control and became the Horseman of Death, fighting against the X-Men.

This storyline seems likely to play out in season 2, where Gambit’s resurrection could have major implications for the team.