Review: 'The Gifted' Strikes At The Heart Of The X-Men
11/09/2017 05:03 pm EST
Feared and Hated
The Gifted pilot, which is directed by veteran X-Men movies director Bryan Singer, includes a moment where a young teenage mutant is being bullied and, put under intense emotional and physical stress, lashes out with his powers for the first time. There's another where a mutant is on the run and rescued by those who would be her new family.
These are iconic scenes that have not only defined the X-Men as a franchise but set them apart from the other heroes of the Marvel Universe, and serve the same purpose in the context of The Gifted.
While The Gifted is said to be set apart from the X-Men movie series, it's easy to see the series as being set on the path to the dark future seen in X-Men: Days of Future Past.
Days of Future Present
The Gifted also borrows the house style that Singer established for those films, which makes the series feel of a piece with that universe even if it doesn't specifically reference it.
That distinct style helps The Gifted stand apart in the increasingly crowded superhero television space, as do its darker world and timely themes.
By striking at the heart of the very concept of the X-Men and leaning into the idea that mutants are "feared and hated" to touch on themes like discrimination and immigration, The Gifted is the most exciting and relevant new superhero show this season.
The Gifted premieres October 2 at 9 p.m. ET on Fox.
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