Rachel Bellwoar reviews the sixth episode of Marvel’s The Gifted…
There hasn’t been much time to reconcile everything that’s happened on The Gifted so far. “got your siX” feels like the show’s most comprehensive attempt to assess how the Strucker’s are dealing with their new situation.
In many ways, having their lives be upended has brought the family closer together. The episode is named after a military phrase for having a person’s back, and the Mutant Underground provide that support system for mutant refugees.
What “got your siX” also remembers is that shared trauma isn’t an erasure for all problems predating Lauren and Andy’s school dance. Their lives have been reset but their relationships have history, and neither sibling’s forgotten they have unresolved issues with their parents from before they found out they were gifted.
Parenting is very much the theme of the hour, and probably the reason this week’s break-into a federal building feels less dire than break-ins past. With Reed seeing the mission as a chance to bond with his son, how dangerous can it be, and sure enough they find time to talk about Andy’s powers before they have to knock down a wall.
How well this dialogue goes depends on who you ask. Marcos applauds Reed for trying to open a conversation, and he’s not wrong in doing so, but the compliment isn’t graded to point out the ways Reed sabotages himself. Using a cautionary tone, that implies Andy’s being impulsive, Reed could be onto something important, but he needs a better way of mentioning it. Making out like Andy’s purposely putting people in harm’s way is the not the way to encourage communication, and while Reed does some damage control later, it’s at Kate’s suggestion.
Some other thoughts on this episode:
- Training or Education: Lorna and Kate’s standstill over what’s best for the children is setting up to be explosive, especially since there’s an argument to be made for both sides.
- Less explosive: Lauren’s budding romance with Wes, which feels forced, and like one coupling too many for a show that’s already chock full of romance
- “got your siX” does a nice of painting John as a leader. That’s not to say other episodes didn’t make this clear already, but the opening scene is especially illuminative of his character.
- Regarding John’s debate with Dreamer, over whether violating Blink’s memories was the right thing to do: Dreamer might be right that her decision saved lives, but John’s right to feel guilty about it. Guilt keeps great power in check.
- It would’ve been so easy for Blink to cave and stay with the Mutant Underground, but they needed to know what they did to her wasn’t ok. Leaving was the only way she could achieve that, and bravo to Blink for standing her ground. Also cool was the show confirming Blink might have had feelings for John, before Dreamer whammied her. Now she can’t trust her heart.
- The Gifted keeps finding new ways to employ Lauren’s powers (this week as a ramp) and it’s totally tubular.
Rachel Bellwoar
