'The Gifted': Blair Redford Previews Tonight's Game-Changing Episode
Tonight’s episode of The Gifted, “eXit strategy,” is a turning point for the mutant [...]
Pulse
Tonight's episode also introduces the mutant called Pulse, who has the power to negate other mutants' powers. Pulse is an old friend of Thunderbird's who has apparently jumped to the other side of the fight for mutant rights.
"Pulse himself, the character is a really formidable opponent for the group to go up against," Redford says. "He has the power to suppress other mutants' abilities that are in his vicinity. It's clearly something that can change the game if a guy like that gets involved in the fight. As far as Thunderbird's history to him, it's a pretty big story point so I think it's best watched live."
While Pulse's history may be secret for now, the revelation that some mutants are working for Sentinel Services will a story that continues to run through The Gifted in future episodes.
"The fact that there is a mutant working with the other side definitely raises a lot of questions and is the starting point for a pretty big storyline in the first season," Redford teases.
prevnextDreamer and Blink
Thunderbird isn't just being tested on the battlefield. The actions of his ex-girlfriend Dreamer, who used her mutant ability to insert her own memories of her relationship with Thunderbird in Blink's mind, has created some serious emotional strain within the Underground.
"I think Thunderbird is upset with Dreamer doing what she did," Redford explains. "He also sympathizes with her reasoning that she was trying to save the team. He's not a very open guy with his feelings so I think it's the last situation he wants to be a part of. He doesn't want to have to explain to Blink what happened, but the fact that it's not explained makes it very awkward when she's around him because obviously, he knows that she has fake implanted memories of the two of them. It's a hard place for him to be in, but it makes it fun to watch I suppose."
While it may be difficult to Thunderbird, it's an enjoyable dynamic for Redford to play with as an actor.
"It was just really fun," he says. "At the core part of playing a lot of stuff on this show, when it's related to our mutant powers, there's such fantastical ideas and the story points that we get to delve into with the magic what-if question. What if this happened in real life? How can we make it grounded, how can you make it real and relatable? I think everyone on the show does such a good job of that. I guess that's why it feels different than a lot of other superhero shows, it feels very grounded."
prevnextThe Future of The Gifted
That sense of being grounded is part of what sets The Gifted apart from other superhero shows on the air, and Redford says that four episodes into the show, it seems like audiences have been connecting.
"I'm just really pleased with what I've read," Redford says. "I'm not trying to filter it to go our way or anything, but it's just been a pleasant surprise to see an overwhelming amount of comments on various social media platforms where it's just a group that's taken an instant liking to the story we're telling, and especially to the characters. To have so many characters and still have it seem like everyone is a favorite to someone just feels like a real accomplishment."
While the show is grounded, it still offers plenty for X-Men fans to chew on, from Easter eggs to cameos to references to characters and groups from the comics. Redford remains committed to hitting that sweet spot between fan service and realistic storytelling.
"I think the fact that it's on a big network like Fox, if we can still do it justice to the comic fans and at the same time make fans out of the people who don't know anything about the comics, I think that's a huge win," he says. "If we've done that, which I think we have already, then that feels great. Hopefully, that works. That's been a goal of mine since I knew the project was actually happening. Hopefully, in the future, we keep doing that."
The Gifted airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Fox.
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