Bloodthirsty aliens, maniacal robots, and genetically modified racoons. These are the belovedly strange creatures fans of superhero films adore. Now, this craze of modern pop culture has spread dramatically to television shows. The cause of this was the revolutionary idea of an expanded universe. Instead of just sequels to movies, studios rolled out spin-offs.

The first of these shows was Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. This show had a rough first season. The characters were cliche and boring, but the later seasons have made for excellent development. Next came Marvel’s Netflix series. Daredevil and Jessica Jones were received with spectacular praise from fans because of the dark tone and astounding cinematography of the action scenes. However, Netflix’s Iron Fist was rushed in the making. Its Rotten Tomatoes score of 17% says enough. Marvel’s rival, DC, has has created a universe on the CW. Commonly known as the “arrow-verse” it consists of Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl. Now, Fox has joined in on the superhero TV spin-offs in releasing a new show to tie in with their cinematic universe: The Gifted.

The Gifted premiered Monday, Oct. 2nd. It takes place in the X-Men universe. This universe also contains Wolverine’s solo movies and Deadpool. Of all the expanded superhero universes, the X-Men franchise is one of the most confusing. Because of the time travel that rebooted the series with X-MEN: Days of Future Past, there are several timelines that audiences must follow. However, the specific date or timeline this show exists in is quite vague. It references some events that have happened in other X-Men movies, but these are spread along multiple timelines. It is believed that The Gifted exists in the same general universe as other X-Men movies, but in a timeline all on its own.

The first episode was a strong start to the series. I was going into this cautiously optimistic, as the promos looked appealing. The last superhero show that premiered earlier this year, Inhumans did not receive praise from critics or fans. So, I was pleasantly surprised with the first two episodes.

To start, I loved the angle that was taken with this show. Set in a brutal dystopia, mutants are being publicly hunted down by the American government. A family afflicted with mutant powers is on the run for their lives, and – more importantly – their freedom. This show’s plot is very different from the X-Men movies. Instead of characters flying around in supersonic jets and dressed in bright yellow leotards, it is much more grounded and realistic. This allows for a compelling story  about the oppression of mutants. Compared to the movies, this show has more grit. It feels more grounded and real with a darker tone. The tone felt similar to that of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., a show that I very much love and have continued watching for five years now.

This unique take on Marvel’s mutants allows for a deeper allegory in social inequality. In one particular scene at the start of the second episode, an unnamed mutant girl is being mocked at a bowling alley. She is told, for her safety, to walk away. Lauren argues, “Why should she be the one who has to leave?” Other phrases such as “mutant rights” are named. The Gifted marks connections between the oppression of mutants and various social equality movements, such as civil rights and LGBTQ activism. In the show, mutants are being hunted and not given fair treatment when placed under arrest, much like past racial segregation and socioeconomic disparity.

The show has decent special effects. Of course, there is not the huge action set pieces that we see in the movies, nor does it have the overflowing budget. The characters’ powers, such as telekinesis and portal throwing, were displayed very well with CGI. I especially liked the spider droids that were sent after them by the mutant hunters. They looked very realistic, the quality almost on par with the movies.

Besides the special effects, the acting was also not bad. In any show, it takes a while for the characters to get used to each other and appear authentic. The Gifted certainly fell victim to awkward dialogue. However, a redeeming factor is the sibling dynamic between two children which makes for a believable relationship, despite their whiny toned dialogue at times. I could relate with the way the sister looked out for her younger brother, as I have an older sister of my own. They even bickered pointlessly in a long car ride scene, something definitely expected of siblings.

In the first episode, expect the pace to be a bit rushed. The story is somewhat confusing in parts. The characters speak quickly and are constantly moving around without a clear motive. This is understandable, as the pilot episode had to establish all the characters and relate their story arcs in under an hour. The second episode was much easier to follow, as it could focus more on just a few specific events throughout the entire hour.

The strong willed damsel in distress, the token doctor, and a single Stan Lee cameo in The Gifted all led to a classic enjoyable superhero show. However, the grittier tone and the more personal approach to the characters I felt made it one of the more memorable ones. These first two episodes built a secure foundation for the rest of the series to build upon. I am excited for what else is to come from these mutants.