Review by An Honest Fangirl
Well, this episode title was a little on the nose, wasn't it? I know that sounds a little biting and sarcastic, but I genuinely did really enjoy this episode.
This was a different kind of The Gifted episode than what we normally get. Outside of Andy's training, there were really no fights or big action set pieces. Instead, we focused a lot more on quieter, character driven moments that explored how lost basically all of the major characters have become since Atlanta. We didn't even get to see Clarice and Lauren go and pick up Jasmine. Normally, that would have been a huge scene, but I actually didn't miss it.
So the dream that Lauren had last episode is the same one that Andy had this episode with one major change: at the end of it, Lauren falls (throws herself) off the roof in order to avoid becoming Fenris? That's some pretty heavy stuff that we will definitely see play out in reality at some point later this season. But it brings up an interesting question. Why are Lauren and Andy having these dreams? Are they developing some kind of shared precognition? Or is this another, unseen mutant who is trying to manipulate things in the background?
Regardless, the dream is obviously affecting Andy on numerous levels here. Despite him leaving to join the Hellfire Club/Inner Circle, I never doubted that he loved and cared for his sister. It makes sense that watching her die in a dream would drive him to seek her out, even if it's just to hear her voice. I'm really curious to see how that phone call would have gone done had Lauren picked up the phone as opposed to Reed.
I'm glad that Andy is having these doubts. He wasn't necessarily my favorite character last season, but they've been doing some really interesting stuff with him here. I'm really enjoying the dynamic that he has with Reeva. As we saw last episode, she will not hesitate to kill anyone who stands in the way of her dream for a mutant homeland, even if they are on her side, even if she does care for them. Because I think that she genuinely does care about Andy. She did genuinely try to connect with him when she told the story of her childhood friend. But she was also literally moments away from killing him with only minor pain and regret showing on her face.
Honestly, it's refreshing to see that Lorna and Andy are well aware of the lengths that Reeva is willing to go to, and it's also nice to see Esme begin to have some issues with that as well. I'll admit that her having trouble killing people kind of came out of left field considering the whole "Fire" scene last season, but I still like what it is doing. Esme, and by association her sisters, are my favorite characters by far. What happens when three telepaths that are so closely linked start to disagree? Can they disagree? Take different sides in an argument or war? Obviously, they can live separate from each other, but how much can they actually fight each other? I don't know the answer, but I can't wait to find out. Their scenes were definitely my favorite of the episode.
I also really enjoyed the brief scenes that we got that focused on John. He can sometimes be a shallow character. He largely puts up this front of being calm and in control, but he's also dealing with some major emotional trauma. He was charged with leading the Mutant Underground, and by almost all measures, he's failed. That's got to be a heavy burden.
I'm very curious to see Erg and the Morlocks. I get the feeling that they're going to play heavily into Clarice's arc. We got the second scene in two episodes in which she talks about how she hates that she has to cover herself up in order to pass as a normal human. Granted, her physical mutations are not as glaringly obvious as they could be, but I'll be curious to see if she feels any kinship with this new group. Hopefully it doesn't cause unnecessary drama between her and John. I really just want them to be a happy, supportive couple.
Especially since our other couples are definitely not seeing eye to eye. Reed and Caitlin are having some serious marital problems, and that's not even taking into account the issues Reed is having with his new abilities. Their argument about Andy was basically a rehash of last episode, but at least it was kept to a minimum. I am more curious to see more of Reed's powers. He just totally disintegrated basically whatever he touched! That's really cool, but also definitely something that he should tell people about. Did anyone catch what scientific technobabble Pippa Strucker was saying when Reed was reviewing his notes? I didn't understand a word of that, but it's sure to be important.
Honestly, out of all the Struckers, Lauren is probably doing the best. She's just so strong mentally and emotionally that I keep waiting for something to be the last straw to break her. I do appreciate how she seems to be the only one in that family that has absolutely zero issues speaking about exactly how she feels and why and at the appropriate time. Her admitting that she didn't necessarily want Andy back because they killed 15 people together was very powerful. I hope that she gets more substantial things to do soon.
Caitlin also needs more to do, besides being desperate to get Andy back. Although Marcos makes her look downright healthy and perfectly adjusted to grief. He's in a really bad place, which contrasted sharply with Lorna, who looks like motherhood seriously agrees with her. That final scene where Marcos used the broke champaign bottle (hello, Obvious Symbolism) to send a message to her and his new child was incredibly sweet and touching. I'm glad that it looks like they'll be reunited next episode, even if it is because Dawn is already in trouble. See, this is why I tend to not like babies on my shows.
Oh, and before I forget. (Too late, I mostly already did) Jace is back! Yay? Honestly, when he didn't appear last episode, I thought that meant that he was written out. But he's still here and still obsessed with mutants, assuming that his vow to his wife to actually end his obsession was a lie. I still think that he'll eventually end up with the Purifiers, especially since they were name dropped again this episode, but we shall see. I don't really have a lot to say about him.
Random Thoughts
Insert obligatory all lawyers are demons joke here.
Okay, so we all agree that the light at the end was very sweet and cute. But it was also very, very stupid. Marcos might as well put up a neon sign saying "Hey! Mutants are right here!"
Andy plays League of Legends. I don't know why that makes me very happy, but it does.
I really like that we get to see the minor characters that also joined the Inner Circle last season. Makes the world feel more real and concrete.
I don't know if you can tell by how much I've written, but I really enjoyed this episode. If this is a sign of how the season is going to go, I'm very excited.
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An Honest Fangirl loves superheroes, science fiction, fantasy, and really bad horror movies.
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