We've already told you about a couple of big Marvel Universe cameos in today's episode of X-Men '97 (titled "Bright Eyes"), but those were far from the only surprises.
For starters, it's worth pointing out that in the opening moments of this instalment, Gambit is confirmed as being very much dead. There's no coming back for him now short of some sort of time-travel miracle, though Marvel Studios makes up for his demise with plenty of other big returns.
Before we get to those, X-Men '97 has finally revealed its true big bad: Bastion. After he murders Henry Gyrich, we learn he's working in tandem with Mister Sinister (and has promised the villain something or someone in exchange for his help). He's also responsible for creating a new, far more advanced wave of Sentinels.
Originally a mutant-hunting Sentinel in the comics, he gained sentience and became a formidable foe for mutants. Bastion is a fusion of human and Sentinel technology, possessing abilities that include shapeshifting and energy manipulation.
When the X-Men arrive in Madripoor to confront Bolivar Trask, Rogue drops him to his death, only for the villain to immediately return as "Prime Trask." This near-unstoppable Sentinel lays waste to the team before they're saved by Cable.
Thanks to Jean, Scott learns the time-traveller is his son, but there's little time for pleasantries. War is coming.
Bastion, who is voiced by Theo James, has evolved and Trask was just a stepping stone to an even greater weapon. He's also learned that Professor X has taken refuge with the Shi'ar Empire and later visits a dilapidated barber's shop where we see he has a prisoner...Magneto!
The Master of Magnetism is somehow still breathing, and it appears the psychotic villain has big plans for the former villain. Reading between the lines, it seems he plans to bring Magneto under control, likely to use as a weapon against the team the mutant recently led into battle.
That's not the only shock resurrection here, though, because Emma Frost is also revealed to have survived the attack on Genosha. She did so by transforming into her diamond form, a newly discovered superpower which saved her life.
Will she join the X-Men? If so, it would give Marvel Studios the chance to explore some interesting stories moving forward. The heroes more than have their hands full for now, however.
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 seven episodes of X-Men '97 are now streaming on Disney+ with new instalments following weekly.