Rachel Bellwoar reviews the fourth episode of Marvel’s The Gifted…
Marvel’s The Gifted hasn’t been one to shy away from politics but in ‘eXit strategy’ it’s the politics of war that are in the forefront, with multiple characters questioning whether their actions can be forgiven by the constraints of wartime. The primary mission this episode is to save Polaris and Reed, yet Reed can thank Sentinel Services for his inclusion. They never should’ve transported the prisoners out together but there’s no additional risk to rescue them both.
Where last week seemed to even out his growth beside Kate’s (he wouldn’t hand the Mutant Underground over to the SS), this week gives Reed a tougher judge in Polaris and reminds us that, while Kate’s crimes were profit and silence, he persecuted Mutants for a living. In the meantime, Kate has stepped up the way many humans have failed. She’s shown that having powers isn’t what makes a person a hero and, if it’s all happening remarkably fast, it’s still remarkably cool. While there’s no question she’s had some advantages earning Mutant acceptance, will Reed adapt as quickly, now that he’s back in the fold, or will we see these discrepancies between the happy couple continue?
In order to form an ‘eXit strategy’ for Reed and Polaris, Eclipse must go without one when he contacts the Cartel for information. A storyline that feels like a misfire, there are too many characters to make this subplot viable. It’s separate from the main, Mutant action, irritating because Eclipse’s debt should be a one and done deal, and not the reason you watch a comic book show. The Cartel already have their hooks in multiple TV shows. If there’s such a thing as a Cartel itch, you don’t need The Gifted to scratch it. Eclipse’s past matters but, like Lauren, who has a sudden flash to what she would’ve been doing Sunday in high school, it can’t be the main focus.
Another problematic storyline, if interestingly so, has Lauren engaging Andy’s powers by making him angry, Hulk-style. Following last week’s long discussion with Blink about why this is the wrong approach, it’s another instance of war inciting a shortcut that could be detrimental to the person doing the cutting. Blink, after all, remains unrecovered from the memory Dreamer implanted in her yet, because she’s staying quiet about it, Dreamer won’t be implicated. She should’ve asked Blink for permission before taking action, but it would’ve been merely the semblance of having a choice. Under Thunderbird’s pushing, Dreamer admits she would’ve gone ahead with the planting had Blink said no. Like Eclipse and the Cartel, this isn’t a onetime slip of her conscience. It’s the start of a much worse path.
Which leads us to Pulse, mutant Benedict Arnold, who betrays his friends by blocking their powers when they’re breaking Polaris and Reed out. Or is he betraying them? Played by Vampire Diaries‘ Zach Roerig, Pulse could be a curious addition depending on how The Gifted decides to flesh out his story. Did he turn against his friends because they left him for dead, two years ago, or does his switching sides have something to do with the tattoo on his arm? Seeing the rescue from his point of view, it must be lousy catching your best friend saving someone else, when they didn’t save you, but Thunderbird leaves Pulse behind once more, making no steps to right past wrongs, and leaving Pulse an unknown entity.
What did you think of last night’s episode? After learning more about the different ways mutant abilities interact, how cool would it be to take a course in X-Men chemistry?
Rachel Bellwoar
