The Gifted Review - Smells Like Teen Spirit

Nowadays, Marvel Studios turns up like a bad penny. Whether its film, network TV, cable television, or internet streaming; chances are a Marvel Studios production is currently airing or available for viewing. While such blanket coverage might be great for Marvel’s bottom line; for fans of the entertainment giant, it’s a mixed bag. This is so because, frankly speaking, much of what Marvel Studios have put out for consumption is not exactly awe inspiring. However, occasionally, Marvel Studios has produced some quality gems, which few expected. For instance, there is FX’s Legion, or the first season of Netflix’s Daredevil. Judging from the pilot episode, Fox’s The Gifted seems to be of the quality gem material type.

The show tells the story of the Strucker family whose ostensibly ordinary life is suddenly overturned by events beyond their control. True Blood standout Stephen Moyer plays Reed Strucker, a prosecutor in the Atlanta District Attorney’s Office who specializes in prosecuting mutants who break the law. Indeed, in the opening few moments of the episode, we learn that Reed has been assigned to prosecute the recently captured mutant Lorna Dane. In addition, Amy Acker plays Reed’s homemaker wife Caitlin, who feels a bit uneasy about the work Reed does but nevertheless accepts it with the understanding he is doing it to support the family and it results in keeping deviant mutants off the streets. Natalie Alyn Lind and Percey Hynes White play Reed and Caitlin’s children Lauren and Andy.

While the Struckers are, for all intents and purposes, an average American family, their blandness is obliterated by the sudden revelation that not only are both Lauren and Andy mutants, but they are also wanted by Coby Bell's Jace Turner, an agent with the Department of Mutant Affairs’ Sentinel Services Division. Sentinel Services is the government agency responsible for protecting the nation against mutant threats. As a result, Reed is forced to use the knowledge and experience he gained prosecuting mutants to save his family and children from a fate he knows only too well.

In need of assistance, Reed reaches out to members of a renegade underground network of mutants, headed by Marcos Diaz and John Proudstar. Reed contacts the underground to see if they will help him and his family escape. In exchange for the information, Reed promises to provide Diaz with information he has about Dane, who is pregnant with Diaz’s child. However, before the Reed and Diaz can consummate their agreement, Sentinel Services arrives on the scene and chaos ensues.

Although this was the pilot, it feels as if the show has already hit its mid-season form. The chemistry between the character, especially between the Strucker family members, seems legit. Moreover, there is a good mix of character development and sci-fi special effects to satisfy both comic book and drama fans. Perhaps, most relevantly, The Gifted follows the well-worn path of Marvel’s other mutant based stories, which is not a criticism but rather a complement. What do you think?