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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
Last week, 20th Century Fox premiered the pilot of its new television series, The Gifted, which was directed by none other than Bryan Singer. Here is our review on the show’s second episode, titled rX, which is directed by Len Wiseman (director of Live Free or Die Hard and Underworld).
Also, if you have not seen the previous episode, here is a link to our review of the pilot.
Warning: Possible spoilers ahead!
Plot Summary
Leaving off where the pilot ended, Reed Strucker is left behind by his family and the underground mutants and is taken into custody by the Sentinel Services.
Meanwhile, Clarice Fong/ Blink is in an unstable condition, inadvertently creating portals to a nearby road from the mutant base. Caitlin Strucker and Marcos Diaz/ Eclipse go to retrieve medication for her at the closest hospital.
In prison, Lorna Dane runs into trouble.
Discussion
This episode continues conveying the series’ theme on discrimination against mutants. The show plays it in a way that is unlike what is shown in the X-Men movies and Legion. The initial scene of rX displays a typical scenario of mutants trying to live normal lives in public and the humans that mock and scrutinize them. Mutants are perceived as inferior, and normal human beings will get away with anything due to their human rights. This reflects how those in our society are given advantages that are unfair to others.
In Lorna’s story arc, we see how regular humans are treated in comparison to the treatment of those with mutant DNA. As Marcos said in the episode, once a mutant is labeled dangerous, their rights immediately mean nothing. The “muties” do not have as fortunate a privilege as do normal humans, and this reflects how people in today’s society are approached differently because they were not born the same as us. Reed Strucker says that “it’s not illegal to be a mutant,” however being one will earn you dirty looks no matter where you are.
We learn that if humans cannot protect us, we can always rely on our own blood relatives to help keep us safe from harm’s way.
Easter Eggs and Trivia Facts:
- Lorna Dane/ Polaris is seen wearing a Mutant Inhibitor Collar around her neck. Such a device is worn by individuals carrying the mutant gene, and this prevents them from manifesting their abilities around others.
Are you ready for next week’s episode? For more The Gifted-related news and reviews, follow Geek Motivation on Twitter (@GEEKMOTIVATION) and Instagram (@geekmotivation).
Written by: John Tangalin
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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