The Gifted Review: hoMe (Season 2 Episode 12)
The Gifted is back for another episode and this is definitely not better than the last. The Gifted Season 2 Episode 12, “hoMe” is good but it feels like more of the same. I’m glad that Jamie Chung gets to shine, that we get some backstory for Clarice/Blink and that Lorna is team Underground but the rest feels formulaic.
I get that this is a terrible world and that things aren’t easy for mutants. I like the real world connections in that sometimes bad shit happens to good people. Maybe this is just the darkest before the dawn but it feels a bit too grim.
But we’ll get to that later.
Bravery is hard
If there had been something lacking from an otherwise strong second season it was the lack of Clarice/Blink. Or rather the lack of focus on her.
This season she’s been relegated to the link to the Morlocks or making quips in the background. Which is highly unfair because Clarice is an incredible character and Jamie Chung is masterful.
Thankfully that changes this episode and we finally get some backstory on our favorite purple hair mutant. We find out about her best friend, the foster sister she tried to save but couldn’t. It’s so heartbreaking but it informs so much of her character.
It tells us why she didn’t like getting close to people and why she’s so fiercely protective of those she loves. While her actions in this episode break my heart, as they break John’s, I get it. She’s seen so many people she loves die she doesn’t want to lose anyone else.
She almost lost John again and he wants to go back and fight a battle that has no end or no way to win. Chung is wonderful at portraying how hurt and how terrified she is. She knows John is not going to give up but she can’t watch him get himself killed.
Let’s face it this has been brewing since The Gifted Season 2, Episode 7, “no Mercy” and it’s just come to fruition.
ERG: You gave up your life, everything you know, a man you love, all for what you believe. I can’t imagine anything braver than that.
At the moment she’s siding with Erg because they both want to protect their people. Do I think this is the end of her in the Underground? No, but she deserves a bit of time to put herself back together.
Is this too Grim?
If you’ve been reading my reviews all season there’s no hiding who my favorites are. I love Lorna Dane with all my heart and Emma Dumont’s portrayal is wonderful. I love the shift in Lorna now that the blindfold is off.
She now realizes the depth of what the Inner Circle is capable of but it only strengthens her resolve. Dumont is incredible in the scene in the elevator where we see Lorna is truly and deeply scared. While I think it’s clever to have her as the spy in the Inner Circle it also terrifies me.
Lorna: I helped start this, I have to end it.
Ever since The Gifted Season 2 Episode 6, “iMprint”, we know that Esme and Lorna have gotten closer. While I still believe that Esme cares about Lorna and Dawn I can’t say the same for the rest of them.
Once Lorna stops being useful to them they’ll want to take her out of the game, and that’s what I’m worried about. (Marcos is clearly worried about that as well.)
The problem is that the Inner Circle doesn’t seem to tell Lorna anything so she can she be a good spy. Is she putting herself in unnecessary danger? Which leads to my main problem with this episode. The loss of the Underworld leaders.
I get that the heroes need obstacles, and I get that there are casualties. But so many losses in one season? We’re in episode 12 out of 16 and they’ve won like once or twice. Let them win every once in a while, everyone else wins except for the Underground. It’s slightly ridiculous.
Lorna: For so long all that kept me going is the thought of someday, somehow, you, me and Dawn could all be together. And now I just feel like it’s slipping further and further away from me.
I hope this is just the part of the hero’s journey where the hero doubts. I hope this is truly the darkest before the dawn. And that things will start to look up. Because right now it’s very grim and they can’t keep repeating the same plot over and over again.
Stray Thoughts:
- I don’t like the fact that Evangeline is basically fridged. We get a badass professional who means a lot to our main characters, has connections and is a freaking dragon. And she gets killed offscreen? For what to motivate Lorna and John into going against the Inner Circle? They were already motivated enough.
- I’m hoping she’s not actually dead because we see no body but I’m not going to hold my breath.
- So basically Reed is the only Strucker with common sense left?
- I still think Reed’s powers are important and that he needs to embrace them, the show wants us to believe he’s going to die from them but that seems too simple.
- I will believe a lot of things but don’t tell me a version of Google Translate can translate a letter in German accurately.
What did you think of this episode of The Gifted? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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User Rating:
The Gifted airs Tuesdays at 9/8c 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.