Today's episode of X-Men '97 was nothing short of devastating. In "Remember It," a giant Sentinel and its army lays waste to Genosha, killing countless mutants and destroying what was once a paradise.
There are a couple of high-profile victims (you can read our full recap here), but right before the massacre begins, a surprise character makes a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo appearance.
As fireworks go off above Genosha, Uatu the Watcher can be spotted watching the festivities from afar. He's taken fans on multiple trips through the Multiverse in What If...? season 1 and season 2, and previously showed up for an episode of I Am Groot.
Clearly, Genosha's destruction was an important enough moment in this reality for Uatu to decide he needed to witness the horror to come. Jeffrey Wright doesn't reprise the role because this is a non-speaking part, but it's a significant moment which ties X-Men '97 to the wider MCU.
Recently, there have been rumours that Storm will make an appearance in What If...? season 3 and we now can't help but wonder whether it will be this revival's version of the character. After all, The Watcher has a history of assembling Variants from across the Multiverse to fight the battles he's vowed not to interfere in.
"There are infinite possibilities with this series within the MCU. I'm open to all of it," Wright previously said of his role as The Watcher. "One thing I think we're realizing with Marvel and Kevin Feige's leadership is that these are broad, broad canvasses they're painting on. I don't even try to anticipate, so I'm just open to all of it - as The Watcher would be."
Take a closer look at The Watcher's X-Men '97 cameo below.
In our review of the show's first three episodes last month, we wrapped up by saying, "A triumphant return for X-Men: The Animated Series, X-Men '97 is an eXtraordinary epic which, while a little overreliant on nostalgia, should satisfy fans of the original show and serve as an eXcellent entry poin
X-Men '97 revisits the iconic era of the 1990s as The X-Men, a band of mutants who use their uncanny gifts to protect a world that hates and fears them, are challenged like never before, forced to face a dangerous and unexpected new future.
The first five episodes of X-Men '97 are now streaming on Disney+ with new instalments following weekly.