TV REVIEWS: FTN Reviews The Gifted Season 2 Episode 9: gaMe Changer

After a Lorna focused episode last week, it was time to get back to work, and while it still stumbled in some areas, “gaMe Changer” did exactly what it needed to for the shows “midseason finale” of sorts (it will be back New Year’s Day).

First and foremost, we found out the Inner Circle’s plan in more detail. Mainly, they robbed the bank to not just get money, but to find out information on a company. Why that company? Because they were controlling ALL of the Mutant collars in the United States. And because of Lorna and Andy, those Mutants are now all free. Welcome to the Mutant Uprising.

I know the endgame is Genosha in some form, but this step was important, because they needed a nation of Mutants that would be indebted to the Inner Circle, and this gives them that chip. The Inner Circle will spread the word as to what they did, and when the time comes, those Mutants that were fried will answer the call. All according to plan.

Speaking of which, Andy killing Rebecca was a big move, and it could have easily have backfired, but because the writing team focused on Andy/Lorna’s relationship, they made it work, and Andy is now even more committed to the Inner Circle’s cause.

Unlike however what’s happening with John and Mutant Underground. While I’m glad they stuck with John’s desire to stick it to the Inner Circle, you almost have to wonder when the turning point is going to be for the Mutant Underground (the trailer seems to indicate it’ll be next episode, but we’ll see). They’ve been down in the dumps the last few weeks, and now John and Clarice are fighting (that breakup was straight out of the CW playbook, I hated it). Oh, and now John’s captured, so I hope this ends in a meaningful way because this season has been more about the Inner Circle running the show versus the Mutant Underground fighting back.

There was some progress on the Strucker side of things, mainly, their ‘cure” was just a chance for the X-Gene to be wiped out permanently. I’m a little sad it was dispatched so quickly, but it served its purpose. Reed has medicine to last for a while, and they know what’s going on with him at least, so that could lead to something. Seeing Noah reject the cure and save them all was a big moment, I’m not sure if he’s going to be alive after what he did, but we’ll see.

Finally, seeing the Purifiers become a “Citizen Militia” is another big step, and one I approve. Think about it, the human race has always had number advantages, and now, through Jace Taylor and Benedict Ryan, they can mobilize them. Sure, this is what Reeva wants, but if it becomes a true three-way war? The sky is the limit with storylines.

“gaMe changer” was just that, and though we have to wait a while for The Gifted to return, it’s going to be fun to see what happens when they return, because they were teasing quite a bit.