If you’ve read any of my episode reviews for Fox’s X-Men show, The Gifted, or if you’ve watched the show itself, then you’re probably aware of the problem revolving around Andy. He’s the son of characters Reed and Kate Strucker, and is one of the main reasons the family goes on the run in the first place. Well, you could actually argue he is the reason that they’re forced out of their home and into the hands of the Mutant Underground. As I have mentioned in a few of my reviews, though, I have felt that Andy’s progression with his powers has been a little off. There’s no new episode this week, so I thought it the perfect time to expand on my thinking in regards to how this element of the show may end up being its downfall.
The Gifted has had some great episodes these past couple weeks, like “threat of eXtinction”. It almost seems like the show will continue to get better as it moves forward. But… then there’s Andy. I haven’t been docking any points in my reviews for Andy still seeming like he has full control over his power, because I came to accept that there was going to be no explanation for his progress as a mutant. He just seems to have a certain degree of control over his powers where no explanation is warranted. But I feel that there should be clarification into why Andy has shown such control, especially since he’ll be playing an integral role in the show’s future.
Next Monday will most likely be the first time you’ll get to see how Andy and Lauren’s combined power works. I have a feeling that since the show’s developers haven’t given any insight into how Andy has such skill with his abilities, next week’s episode may make or break the series. It’ll mark the point where Andy and Lauren become extremely important characters. Previously, they’ve sort of been standing on the sidelines, being used here and there for certain missions. You haven’t seen their full potential be released yet.
Because you haven’t been given insight into how Andy has developed his powers almost further than his sister, Lauren, who has known about her abilities much longer than Andy, I don’t know how next week will turn out for The Gifted. If the creators of the show had given Andy the opportunity to show that he was struggling with the control of his powers, then I feel like next week would go more smoothly. And, no, before you even say it… Lorna’s little training sessions don’t count, because those happened after the fact that Andy displayed a degree of expertise that didn’t make sense. Considering that there has been no explanation, next week could be a disaster.
First, Andy shows that he hasn’t needed any training in handling his powers, and then he discovers that when he and his sister hold hands, they make a super mutant. I feel like the latter would require Andy to have full control. Considering The Gifted is showing him to be exactly this, then the problem will remain to be: how? How does a mutant who just discovered his powers exert such control? The only way that this all would make sense in the grander scheme of things would be if next week showed you the answer to this question, or if you discovered that Andy hasn’t been in control at all.
Considering their ancestors had the same powers, and they were seen as terrorists because of the destruction they caused, maybe the control you see in Andy is only an illusion. This theory may be the only way for Andy to have a future in The Gifted that makes sense. The exact theory being: his and Lauren’s ancestors never exactly needed to know how their powers worked, because the abilities they possessed by themselves weren’t what made them unique as a mutant. Their true power was the one that they used together. As time progressed, they weren’t able to control it to be used for good, causing destruction instead. Andy and Lauren may be in the same predicament. Both have shown prowess with their abilities on their own, but what will happen when they join forces? I hope that they discover the control they thought they had was merely an illusion, as it may be the only way to save the show from Andy’s little dilemma.
What do you think about Andy? Although an emo goofball, I like the way the creators have made him less emo since he’s been with the Mutant Underground. It shows that he feels more comfortable being in the presence of others like him, in a place where he can be himself. Hence why he’s been beat-boxing more since he’s arrived (Reed even says so). I don’t have any problems with his development as a human. The only problem I have with him has to do with his powers and his development as a mutant; so I’m hoping that next week’s episode solves this issue, as it may prove to be the downfall of The Gifted if left unexplored.