The Gifted Review: gaMe changer (Season 2 Episode 9)
What an intense episode! The Gifted Season 2 Episode 9, “gaMe changer,” gives us a finale that shows us a hint of what’s to come while leaving us wanting more. We finally see more of the Inner Circle’s plan; John unravels just as Lauren shines, what a ride!
Natalie Alyn Lind is a rock star. Of that, there is no doubt. She’s always been a strong performer, but every scene of hers in the finale is incredible. It raises the bar for the rest of her family — yes, I’m specifically talking about Andy.
From the way she convinces her parents to work with her to her flirting her way into the blood samples, she shines like no other. It’s a joy to see her grow as a character and be a born leader. She has her heart and head in the right place, unlike her brother who only thinks with a certain body part of his.
Lauren: She is trying to eliminate hate by eliminating mutants.
One of my favorite new dynamics of this season has been Lind and Stephen Moyer. Their relationship has changed drastically from the pilot episode, and for the better. It’s really good to see a good father-daughter dynamic, as that is actually not common in television.
Lind puts so much into her performance and we feel for Lauren no matter the situation. Here is a person who might have been scared when we first met her, but now truly embraces the x-gene. She knows that this so-called research could help people — her father among them — but knows it would do more harm than good. So she does what needs doing.
Which is why she’s the superior Strucker sibling and always will be.
John, on the other hand, is not doing so great. Just as I talked about in The Gifted Season 2 Episode 8, “the dreaM,” John feels like he needs to do something. If they do nothing, then the Underground is done for good.
I agree on the fact that action is needed because the Underground has been way too stagnant this season but Clarice also has a point. They need to be smart about what they do, they’re just three people after all.
John: If we don’t turn this thing around now it’s gonna be too late.
Right now he’s being blinded by his hatred of the Inner Circle. The Inner Circle took his best friend, Lorna, caused his other best friend to be miserable and created a lot of problems for mutants. Of course, his plan is not great either and it quickly goes to hell.
Blair Redford is wonderful at portraying how fast everything is going wrong for John. The dam has been building up since the start of the season and now it’s breaking. He keeps fighting with Clarice and with Marcos.
You know when Marcos is the one telling you to calm down it’s bad.
Marcos: If you bring up the X-Men right now so help me god I will punch you in the mouth.
John’s very bad day gets worse as the Purifiers capture him. Something tells me it’s not to have a nice chat over milk and cookies. We finally see another notch on the Inner Circle’s plan and it’s one they all have a special interest in. They’re going to attack the place that controls the mutant collars everywhere.
First of all, I’d like to say the government is kind of stupid for putting all their eggs in one basket.
I mean I’m glad they’re stupid because it makes it easier, but really, controlling all the collars from the same place? Is this amateur hour?
This plan is equally brilliant and terrible. Sure, most of the people in the collars are probably innocent but I bet there’s still some Rebeccas out there. Do we really want them free on the streets? I have a feeling that’s going to be important moving forward.
This is why Reeva is a brilliant antagonist she makes you agree with some of her actions. This is a cause that is close to the Frost Sisters, we talked about their experience in The Gifted Season 2 Episode 6, “iMprint”. It’s also close to Lorna and Andy, as they’ve both been forced to wear the collars.
We get a fabulous scene of Polaris and Andy just going to town on the servers and it is delightful to watch.
Stray Thoughts:
- All Lorna wants right now is to make the world a better place for Dawn and Marcos gets pulled into the fight for Dawn as well. I know I’ve said it a lot, but I love this family.
Lorna: What I’m doing now is for her, everything I’m doing now is necessary for the world to be what it could be. When it’s done, I will be with Dawn.
- I love John but if I’m Clarice, I’d slap him right then and there. I get he’s hurt and angry, but that’s no excuse for the things he said.
- I didn’t like Rebecca I think we all know this, but her dying to motivate Andy into moving forward makes me feel icky. It is a very clear-cut case of a woman in a refrigerator.
- Oh great there’s even more of those Purifiers are ICE I mentioned back in The Gifted Season 2 Episode 5, “afterMath,” those are always fun. There’s now an added Nazi feel to it because that’s what the story needed, more uncomfortable feelings to invoke.
What did you think of this episode of The Gifted? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Gifted airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on Fox.
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Maii Trueba de Buen
Maii is a 28-year-old writer who can be slightly invested in characters and their stories. She tries to give credit where credit is due but isn’t afraid to be honest in her writing. It's probably best not to ask about Lucifer or A Song of Ice and Fire, because you'll never hear the end of it. She graduated in film and has a certificate/minor in Art History. She brings that into her writing because, well, she’s a nerd. The only thing that beats her love of writing is her love of Pandas.