'X-Men '97' Season 2 Ending Explained: the Cast Break Down 4 Crucial Moments

The final episode of X-Men 97 season 2, titled "Survival of the Fittest," has fans discussing who dies, whether there's a post-credits scene, and what the finale sets up for the show's future. In this episode, Rogue, Nightcrawler, and Beast travel to the deep ocean to stop Apocalypse from taking over the resurrected Gambit. Rogue enters the Celestial Shrine and meets Eson the Searcher, who agrees to imbue Rogue with Celestial power to battle Apocalypse.

However, if Rogue succeeds, she will sacrifice her life for Gambit. Rogue agrees and goes to face Apocalypse, saving Gambit and defeating him by using her skin-to-skin contact powers on him. However, Rogue discovers she hasn't lost her life due to her agreement with Eson, leading to Nightcrawler entering the Celestial Shrine and making a deal to save Rogue's life at his own expense.

This implies Nightcrawler's return in the future, as the show has a history of reviving popular characters. The episode ends with a mid-credits scene revealing that Mystique is impersonating United Nations official Valerie Cooper.