The Gifted episode filled in details the fast-paced premiere episode left out. But at the same time, not much happened aside from Blink not dying. It was interesting to see the once prejudiced Kate risking her life to aid the mutants in getting medicine. She poses as Eclipse’s boyfriend to steal supplies from the hospital and the doctor assumes she’s in danger, convinced it’s a domestic violence situation.
Meanwhile, Reed is getting interrogated by The Sentinels. He’s not giving them anything, and is now clearly devoted to helping mutants ever since he became aware of his children's’ true identity. Polaris is having a hard time in prison. Fellow inmates throw her down to the ground and kick her stomach (which just goes to show just how much the world wants to exterminate mutants). No other mutants are befriending her, fearing forming an alliance will just make it worse since they can’t use their powers.
While there wasn’t too much by way of plot development, there were a bunch of easter eggs, nods, connections to the X-men comics and cool moments. Here’s our favorite five:
A New Hairstyle
Polaris had dark hair in the premiere premiere episode, but not after tonight. Sent to prison after being caught by police trying to save her teammates in the Mutant Underground, she takes her first shower and her natural hair color is revealed. It’s green, just like the comics.
Nod To Fenris
The Strucker children weren’t named Andy and Lauren in the comics. Andrea and Andreas von Strucker collectively went by Fenris. They were German supervillain twins who could hold hands to fly and manipulate energy. This episode, we were introduced to Roderick Campbell, who is researching mutant siblings. His research appears to be a result of an incident back in 1962. “MUTANT TERROR IN RIO DE JANEIRO,” a newspaper clipping reads.
A closer look at the text reveals the brother sister duo had blonde hair and blue eyes, a clear nod to Fenris from the comics. Whatever the case, this doctor is clearly interested in Andy and Lauren.
Multiple international intelligence agencies are on the hunt for the perpetrators of Monday’s devastating terror attack in Rio de Janeiro. The suspects are of European descent and suspected blonde-haired, blue-eyed twins with dangerous and highly destructive mutant abilities.
Local authorities are fully cooperating with their international counterparts in conducting a search of the greater Rio de Janeiro and surrounding areas for any leads or sightings of these two wanted terrorists. Once captured, multiple nations will surely vie for the opportunity to try and punish […]
Mutant Liberation Front
While Reed is being interrogated, Agent Jace Turner mentions the fact the Mutant Underground will soon be labeled as a terrorist organization, just like the Brotherhood of Mutants and the Mutant Liberation Front. The latter wasn’t mentioned in the previous episode. In the comics, the group was formed by the mutant time-traveler Stryfe (a clone of Cable) and he lead the group to commit violent acts in the name of mutant rights. While the group was introduced in New Mutants, they are primarily X-Force Villains.
Lauren’s Powers
We got a better look at Lauren’s powers and she can close portals. With Blink still in shock, her powers are acting erratically, opening random portals all around them. While her mother Kate is off trying to get medicine for Eclipse and Blink, Lauren protects the Mutant Underground, showing off just how powerful she actually is.
The Highway
Blink’s powers allow her to open portals, she seems to keep going to the same stretch of road over and over. What’s the significance? We’ll have to wait until later in the season to find out what in Blink’s past keeps calling her to this specific location.
The Gifted airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on Fox.
