The Gifted Review: Monsters (Season 2 Episode 15)
The Gifted Season 2 Episode 15, “Monsters” is incredible and emotional. It is definitely an upgrade from the last episode. This further confirms that The Gifted truly shines when it’s focusing on its characters rather than just showy action sequences.
Doing What’s Right
On these types of shows, there’s always the question of fighting for what you believe in or doing what is right. Sometimes they are the same thing, but most of the time they are not.
But knowing it’s the right thing or the wrong thing isn’t always enough. This episode shows us two people who are faced with that particular challenge; only one makes the correct choice.
Just like in the last episode, The Gifted Season 2 Episode 14, “calaMity”, Jace is wondering if what happened with the Morlocks was the right thing to do. He investigates and realizes that they weren’t a terrorist group but rather just families trying to survive.
While at first, he has doubts because of the way the rest talk about mutant children, he does nothing about it.
He knows what they are doing is wrong and yet he’s too wishy-washy to do anything about it.
Andy Strucker faces a similar dilemma. Andy is still deep in the Reeva Payge kool-aid up until the visit to the tunnels. Lorna opens his eyes to the fact that Reeva set the Purifiers on the Morlocks, and because of that innocents died. She appeals to the kid that Andy used to be.
We see her guilt in her role in bringing Andy to the Inner Circle and pleads with him to return with her, and he does. Because he knows if they want a mutant homeland this isn’t the way to get it.
Monsters Together
This episode gives us the return of two of the Underground’s missing members, Andy and Lorna. I still kind of think that Andy is a brat but this episode gives us a look into his headspace.
Andy isn’t with the Inner Circle just because he believes in them and thinks they are above his family. He thinks his family won’t accept him back because of the things he has done. The thing about the Struckers is that they’re a loyal bunch.
Reed: If you’re a monster son then so am I.
Andy screwed up a lot on the course of the season, but so did the rest of them. They all went towards the darkness at one point before taking a step back. Now it’s Andy’s turn. All the Struckers give wonderful performances and you can’t help but feel your eyes tear up as you see Andy embracing his family once again.
Caitlin: If we surrender everything we’ve fought for, everything we’ve lost will be for nothing. We’ve come too far to give up now.
We Are Family
The underground has been floundering for most of the season, I know I’ve personally complained about it enough times. We don’t see that here though. “Monsters” shows us what really matters about the Underground.
They aren’t brought together by just a common goal, but because they’re a family. Lorna, Marcos, John, Clarice, and the Struckers are a family. They’re stronger together than when they are apart.
They have their differences but at the end of the day, they love each other. They’ll fight for each other no matter what. No one judges John for not being able to help, Marcos knows just what to say to Reed to help him turn his power on. They have all been through the trenches and it has made them stronger.
John is not doing well, he is being haunted by visions of Clarice to the point where he can’t use his powers. Which leads to a beautiful scene between him and Marcos. Sean Teale and Blair Redford are wonderful as Marcos comforts his best friend, his brother.
John: I’m useless.
Marcos: You’re not useless John. So what if you can’t track? So what? The storm that is coming our way isn’t going to be hard to find and the real question here brother is can you still fight?
Of course, that leads to the gorgeous reunion montage. This is probably one of my favorite sequences on this season. I love scenes that let the music and acting do all the work, there are no words said because they don’t need to be said. Using Florence + The Machine’s “Never Let Me Go” is truly an iconic choice.
First, we get the Struckers, which I talked about earlier. Then we get Marcos and Lorna.
I love the image of Marcos with the rosary it’s such a tiny detail but it’s a beautiful callback to the character’s roots. I’m a Latina who doesn’t really practice religion and yet when I am most uncertain I turn towards the virgin as well. So to me showing Marcos praying with the rosary when he is so worried about Lorna and what’s to come is a wonderful show of his heritage.
Lorna and Marcos just hold hands as the Aurora Borealis appears as they kiss and later hug. They are together again and nothing is going to pull them apart again. It is especially poignant as the song is going “never let me go, never let me go”.
Finally, we see John on the roof, with more memories of Clarice, he hears her call out his name so calls out both of hers. Just as the Underground family arrives on the roof. John and Andy nod at each other and then the moment we all waited for happens. The reunion between Lorna and John. I spoke about the importance of their friendship back on The Gifted Season 2 Episode 10, “eneMy of My eneMy”.
Emma Dumont and Blair Redford do a great job at portraying where their characters are, emotionally. You see the uncertainty in both of them and the nervousness as Lorna holds out her hand. Then it all falls away as John just hugs his best friend. They were the ones that started all of this and they still are extremely important to each other.
The Underground family is back together and they’re stronger than ever.
Stray Thoughts:
- So are we thinking Blink is still alive? Because I think she might still be alive.
- Reed is probably going to win the MVP for the season, I’m shocked too.
- Esme is still a mystery to me I have no idea which road she is going to take.
- Reed murdering that racist bastard is definitely an episode highlight.
- All the Thunderblink flashbacks kill me.
- Do we think the Morlocks will join the Underground in their fight? Yes? No?
What did you think of this episode of The Gifted? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Reviewer Rating:
User Rating:
The Gifted airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on FOX.
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Schitt’s Creek is the Perfect World We Desperately Need Right Now
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.