The recently released X-Men '97 Episode 5, Remember It, has shocked fans with its intense turn of events after the tragic attack on Genosha. It features several disastrous deaths, including two major X-Men members. But if these things aren’t surprising enough, the real shocker comes when it reveals a startling Marvel’s What If…? cameo, with The Watcher’s appearance.
Warning: Major X-Men ‘97 Episode 5 spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.
X-Men ‘97 proves it isn’t afraid to kill off its major characters. The mutants have suffered big losses following the massacre of Genosha, with Magneto and Gambit being two of the several casualties. These deaths come as a big surprise to many. But as The Watcher, also known as Uatu, oversees the attack unfolds, a tragedy is actually inevitable.
Around the new episode’s 20-minute mark, before the Hellfire Gala begins, an outline of The Watcher can be barely seen as the starlit sky appears. He appears on the far-left side of the screen, posing a sinister look. As he’s known for observing the Multiverse from the Nexus of All Realities, he watches the attack on Genosha with the billions of realities to which he has access.
What does The Watcher’s cameo in X-Men ‘97 mean for the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
The X-Men ‘97 creator Beau DeMayo earlier confirmed that the animated series wasn’t a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, The Watcher’s cameo subtly shows that the revival is connected to the ever-expanding shared universe of the franchise. Uatu’s presence is the first time the revival shows a connection to an MCU show outside of the franchise’s movie and series continuity.
Hence, this seems to hint at a crossover that is reportedly about to happen. In fact, the reboot’s executive producer, Brad Winderbaum, teased that a crossover and several cameos might actually occur.
“X-Men '97 fits into that '90s timeline, along with the OG series, as well as those concurrent,” he explained. “'90s shows that would sometimes cross over with the X-Men. The potential is always there.”
Who is The Watcher?
Uatu, aka The Watcher, is a fifth-dimensional being who watches the Multiverse from the Nexus of All Realities; thus, the name. But despite this ability, he is forbidden to interfere with the events that happen within the realities he oversees, following an oath. However, he has violated this oath many times.
He then created a Citadel on the Blue Area of the moon. Though he can only watch over Earth, he can still observe other parts of the universe, follow the lives of heroes and villains, and witness important cosmic events. He also has portals to view other realities and think about the What If...?
X-Men ’97 Episodes 1 to 5 are now available to stream on Disney+. New episodes are set to release every Wednesday. Five episodes into the series, the show often puts viewers on the edge of their seats with its surprising developments. As it’s already in the middle of its first season, there may be more astounding revelations and cameos fans are about to see.
