'X-Men '97' Episode 5 Takeaway: Magneto and Gambit's brutal death raises heartbreaking question
Contains spoilers for 'X-Men '97'
GENOSHA: 'X-Men '97' Episode 5 aired on Wednesday, April 10, on Disney+ and shook its viewers to the core as the Wild Sentinel launched a devastating attack on Genosha, leaving countless mutants and Morlocks dead.
This unexpected assault shattered the fragile peace between mutants and humans, just as Genosha was about to be accepted into the UN. Despite a warning from Cable (Chris Potter), the assault caught everyone off guard, resulting in the deaths of prominent X-Men characters in a brutal and emotionally charged event.
Now, we are left wondering if the slain mutants will stay dead. While Nightcrawler's (Adrian Hough) apparent death was quickly reversed due to grave injuries, the same can't be said for other casualties. With two iconic X-Men characters among the fallen, the stakes have never been higher for the beloved series.
In a shocking turn of events, 'X-Men '97' episode 5 witnessed the deaths of two major characters: Magneto, the new team leader, and fan favorite Gambit. Their demise in the episode's climax seems permanent, leaving fans reeling.
While there's a slim possibility that one of them might survive, the outlook appears grim for the other.
Magneto dies a hero in 'X-Men '97' Episode 5
In the climax of 'X-Men '97' Episode 5, a group of Morlocks, including Tommy and Leech, find themselves in grave danger from the Wild Sentinel.
Just as they face certain doom, Magneto steps in, triggering the Sentinel's "Omega-level threat warning" (Just like the one we saw for Storm in the previous episodes) and creating a shield to protect them.
Despite efforts from Rogue and Gambit to assist, Magneto chooses to imprison them in metal to ensure their safety. Tragically, Magneto is ultimately overwhelmed by the Sentinel's attack, seemingly sacrificing himself alongside the Morlocks he aimed to save.
Gambit makes a heroic sacrifice, leading to his death
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, 'X-Men '97' Episode 5 not only claims the life of one of Rogue's love interests but also takes the other away from her.
Driven by rage over Magneto and the Morlocks' deaths, Gambit launches a daring solo assault against the Wild Sentinel. True to his risky nature, Gambit gambles with fate, but tragically, he is fatally wounded when the Sentinel stabs him through the side.
Despite his impending death, Gambit channels his powers to supercharge the giant robot, ultimately destroying it. As the dust settles, Rogue is left to mourn over Gambit's lifeless body.
Will Magneto and Gambit return in 'X-Men '97'?
In the world of comic books and their adaptations, death is often temporary, subject to the writers' whims. Marvel Comics has seen numerous characters meet their fate, only to return later.
Did you hear about Deadpool? He once took out the entire Marvel Universe, including every Marvel hero. Even the Hulk got in on it, ripping Deadpool in two halves before meeting his own end.
Magneto, for example, has died multiple times in the comics, yet always managed to come back, as seen in his recent resurrection in January 2024 after a prolonged absence during the 'Fall Of X' storyline in 2023. Being an Omega-level mutant, his return seems plausible, though the specifics remain uncertain.
Gambit's situation is trickier. Throughout his comic history, he's rarely faced permanent death. However, in 2022's 'Knights of X #3', he met his end while battling Merlyn in Otherworld.
Although Otherworld allowed for his resurrection, it was understood that he would undergo significant changes. Yet, the X-Men defied the norms of Otherworld resurrections and restored Gambit to his former self. While comic lore often justifies resurrections, Gambit's death in 'X-Men '97' poses a more challenging scenario.
Unlike his death in Otherworld, Gambit perished in battle in the real world, leaving fewer loopholes for his return. Unless there's time travel involved, it looks like Gambit's fate is final. This is in stark contrast to the uncertain future of Magneto's death.
5 episodes of 'X-Men '97' are streaming now on Disney+