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The Gifted Recap: “3 X 1”

By Kelly Shanaphy

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It can’t be said enough how much the addition of the Stepford Cuckoos has elevated The Gifted. “3 X 1” showcases their cunning powers of manipulation as they work to get the Mutant Underground on their side.

While the episode spends most of the time shuffling characters to get on the side of the Frost triplets, it sets up a compelling final two hours for this season. With everyone arguing over how long the group should hold onto their morality/empathy, it will be interesting to see what battle lines are eventually drawn.

The Underground is torn apart with everyone disagreeing on the Frost sisters’ methods. After the massacre of the Sentinel Services agents, some (including Marcos and the Struckers) feel like they’re murderers who can’t be trusted, while Blink and Lorna appreciate their results. Right now the mutants are fighting a war and “3 X 1” starts the debate between the group whether they should stoop to more violent methods or remain on the high ground.

Unfortunately, Marcos loses his only allies in the argument when the Struckers opt to flee to Mexico now that the Cuckoos have turned some of the Underground against him.

Can the sisters be trusted? Probably not, because “3 X 1” makes it clear that they have their own agenda. The Cuckoos are confirmed members of the Hellfire Club and are working for a mysterious man behind a desk. He seems like he’s there to restrain some of their more dramatic impulses, but is nevertheless pleased with their results despite their unorthodox methods.

Giving them a diamond as payment, the three sisters are tasked with recruiting the Underground back to their side. Of course, this isn’t as easy as a feat and the three decide to separate to focus on individual recruits: namely Lorna and Andy.

At the Fairburn station of the Mutant Underground, Andy is moping about upset that his family has decided to flee Atlanta. One of the Cuckoos preys on his anger and encourages him to fight back against his parents’ wishes. However, he’s alone in this argument because Lauren is finally coming around to the idea of leaving their Underground friends. In fact, she would rather stay in Fairburn since she’s been reunited with her boyfriend, Wes, who has turned a new leaf to be a good guy. Yet, she’s plagued by feelings of guilt over Dreamer’s death as well as Blink’s parting words to her to stay and fight.

Agent Turner is angered by the memory of his friends all killing themselves at the command of the Frost sisters and is fully committed back to the mutant-hunting agenda. In “3 X 1” his partnership is restored with Dr. Campbell and the two use a device, created by the Fenris powers, to decimate the Fairburn station. They capture almost everyone, except for The Struckers and Wes, who are hidden thanks to the latter’s power.

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While the Underground group manages to save the five of them, their car is compromised and they must rely on the Cuckoos to escape safely. Andy gets to confidently point out that they should align themselves with the triplets, as do Lorna and Blink, which finally gets the Cuckoos the alliance they were looking for. Unfortunately, it was all deception, because the three were the ones who called in the tip on the Fairburn station, thus sacrificing many mutants just to gain the trust the group. Never trust a Frost, right?

The Gifted returns in two weeks with the mutant/human tension continuing to rise at a quick speed. Campbell and Turner get the funding to expand their program, while the Underground continues to be torn apart by the argument about morality in “3 X 1”. Who will end up on which side? It looks like the Brotherhood might finally begin to rise now that Lorna’s powers have increased exponentially alongside her lust for vengeance.

Next: The Gifted Midseason Finale Recap: “eXploited”

One thing is for sure, The Stepford Cuckoos have brought a whole new dynamic to the show and hopefully, they remain on The Gifted for a very long time.

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