The Gifted season 1 finale recap: eXtraction / X-roads

Political tension causes a change in loyalties:

While Dr. Campbell is showing off his video of linked Hounds to other convention-goers and politicians, John and Marcos get dressed for the summit, talking about why loyalty to the X-Men and the Underground is a priority over the Frost sisters. At the same time, Lorna and Clarice get ready in Lorna’s room, also having a conversation about the power of small DNA mutations and why one small piece of DNA doesn’t define the whole person. They both have family legacies with mutant groups, and it bonds the women in a way that we haven’t seen on the series before.

Focusing on the Hound research, Ellen remembers a woman who used to meet late at night with Otto. Ellen was convinced that Otto was having an affair, but it’s possible this woman was just helping him with the confidential research. Ellen doesn’t want to go back to HQ, but plans to hide with a friend in Florida, and in a tearful goodbye with her grandkids, she reminds them of how proud she is of them.

Looking mighty snazzy, Clarice, John, Lorna, Marcos, and the Frosts prepare to make their way to the summit, manipulating the guards and the person they’ve kidnapped to get them past security with ease. In a moment alone, John apologizes to Clarice for making her feel unwanted and alienated, and confirms to her that she is part of the Underground. The two (finally) share a kiss before heading inside the convention center.

In HQ, Sage and Reed work to find Otto’s research partner, afraid that Sentinel Services will come for her next. Caitlin wants to know what happened between Andy and Lauren, but he brushes it off. Lauren stops and looks at her mother seriously. “Something has changed in Andy. He’s not the same anymore,” she says.

Ready to strike at the summit, Lorna takes out the cell phone power from the convention attendees from the SUV. Already inside, John, Clarice and Marcos wait for Campbell to come out of the elevator and they attack him, but a Hound is in their group and fights back. Campbell blocks himself by using children and the mutants refuse to attack. Watch the clip of the intense scene below:

We’re then transported into another flashback of Lorna in a mental hospital from 4 years ago. She has a visitor who approaches her about becoming a leader to help the X-Men. She thinks the X-Men had abandoned the mutants and herself, but she’s told that they need her to help lead an Underground… and we all know what choice she made.

It’s an understatement to say that the Frosts were disappointed that the mutants didn’t attack the human children to get to Campbell. Even with security on their tail, the Frosts want to go back inside, determined not to leave without their target. Meanwhile, Turner has a linked pair of Hounds at Ellen’s office and together they’re able to track the Struckers. He’s more determined than ever to follow the mutants back to HQ.

Arriving at the home in Charlotte, Lorna blends in a little too well with two of the Frost sisters, making her way inside with a new sense of pride and focus. Outside, Esme challenges Marcos and John in the driveway, upset that the men didn’t take Campbell prisoner, telling them to put the lives of mutants ahead of the lives of humans. The men make it clear that hurting people is never something to which they’d agree.

Frustrated with the Struckers and feeling attacked, Andy packs up his duffel bag and moves upstairs to a cot beside other teens who had been trained by Polaris. Lauren approaches him and the two of them talk, but Andy calls her out on denying her powers to put her family at risk, now for a second time. We’re just hoping this is a Frost sister planting thoughts in his mind and not his own opinion.

Talking with Lorna alone once more, Esme reveals she knows Lorna’s birth father gave her a medallion on her 13th birthday. She’s part of his legacy with the Hellfire Club.