'Legion': How Will the Devil With the Yellow Eyes Be Stopped?

(WARNING: The following post contains spoilers for Legion.)

On the latest episode of Legion, the Devil with the Yellow Eyes finally came to the forefront of all the action. It had been hiding within the recesses of David's mind up until recently, but when it realized David's grip had weakened, it presented an ideal opportunity for the Devil to take over.

The Devil With the Yellow Eyes is in control of David Haller's body.

While the Summerland team sat unaware of the Devil taking control of David's body, he spent a good time masquerading as David. What's worse is that we don't know what the Devil's motives are. It could be planning on conquering the world or it could just seek to engorge itself like it has done in the past. Either way, it's in control of David's body and the Summerland team is going to need a strong mutant to help stop it.

Reasonably speaking, it doesn't seem like any of the mutants at Summerland are capable of stopping the Devil possessing David's body and it doesn't look like the X-Men are going to show up, but there's one mutant how could help: Professor Charles Xavier.

Could Professor X show up to stop The Devil With the Yellow Eyes?

In "Chapter 5," it was discovered that David was adopted, giving context to his name being Haller since his origins in the comics indicate that he's the son of Charles Xavier. Now that we know David's last name is Haller by adoption, it opens the door for his real father, Charles Xavier, to enter the picture. Charles being David's father would establish a strong mental connection between the two of them and give David a way to push the Devil out of his mind.

Here's the thing: There is no indication of Charles Xavier ever showing up on the #Legion television series. Patrick Stewart did say he was on board to play #ProfessorX in an interview with James Corden, so that may be a sign, but not confirmation. Check out the video below:

In the comics, when the Shadow King took over David Haller's mind, it was Charles Xavier and the X-Men who removed the Shadow King from David's mind. However, the conflict left David in a vegetative state. David eventually woke up from his comatose state, cured of his fractured mind.

Do the comics foreshadow how the situation will play out?

With David being possessed by the Shadow King in the comics and the television version of David Haller being possessed by the Devil with the Yellow Eyes, the stories appear to share quite a few similarities. Enough so that it only makes sense for a mutant like Charles Xavier to show up to help David with his devil problem. However, Charles Xavier might not be the savior of David's story. It's possible we were introduced to a more believable candidate to help David in "Chapter 4."

If you recall, "Chapter 4" introduced us to Dr. Melanie Bird's husband, Oliver Bird. David found him trapped on an astral plane when he traveled deep into his own mind. During the meeting between Oliver and David, Oliver spoke of various subjects but didn't explain how he became trapped on the astral plane. We learn from Melanie later on that Oliver became trapped after becoming too immersed in the universe he created within his mind.

Is freeing Oliver Bird the key to stopping The Devil With the Yellow Eyes?

Telepathic mutants like David Haller and Oliver Bird can create fantasy universes within their own minds. Oliver experienced the unfortunate side effect of using that ability in excess and wound up trapped within his own mind. However, at this point in the Legion story, it may be the right time for Oliver to free himself.

Melanie Bird was counting on David waking up Oliver but that doesn't look like it's going to happen now. Of course, we need to remember Legion takes place in a comic book universe so there's probably another way that they can wake Oliver up. Oliver had been alone for years, so perhaps seeing David was the jolt he needed to reconnect his mind with his body.

It would be appropriate for Oliver to wake up now, but stopping the Devil with the Yellow Eyes isn't the only reason Oliver might wake up. A reunion between Oliver and Melanie was foreshadowed by Melanie's mention of Oliver in "Chapter 4." We should look at the prolongation of Oliver's life with a cryogenic suit being a hint towards Oliver waking him up at some point. Melanie even tried to persuade David into waking Oliver up but she had no idea the Devil with the Yellow Eyes was in control, making her efforts pointless. That said, it seems like Oliver's awakening will happen in light of David Haller entering the fold.

Still, we don't know if Oliver will factor into the plan to save David from the Devil with the Yellow Eyes. The key to defeating the Devil with the Yellow Eyes may even lie within David himself.