"The Gifted" continues its treat of name-dropping mutants from the Marvel Universe.
The FOX series is steadily building its story with the fifth episode, "boXed in." The episode featured both the Mutant Underground and Sentinel Services doing what they could to further their respective goals.
Amidst the increasing acts of hostility launched by the two sides, the episode also gave an opportunity to Polaris (Emma Dumont) and Eclipse (Sean Teale) to talk about their unborn child after freeing her and Reed Strucker (Stephen Moyer) out of the hands of the Sentinel Services.
It can be remembered that the first episode revealed that Polaris was with child and that this could potentially affect her, Eclipse and their relationship moving forward. The two talked about their excitement and the trouble associated with bringing a mutant child into the world while also thinking of a suitable baby name. Polaris told her baby daddy that if their child is a girl, they would call her Aurora.
The name is a nice throwback to the two's budding romance as seen in the second episode of the show where Polaris and Eclipse combined their powers form a small aurora borealis. Aside from the beautiful light show, Aurora is also the name of a Marvel character who made her first appearance in the "Uncanny X-Men" comics.
Aurora is an X-Men member aside from being with the Canadian superhero squad Alpha Flight. Aurora, whose real name is Jeanne-Marie, has the ability to fly with super speed, endurance and stamina. She has a twin brother, Jean-Paul, code named Northstar. Aurora also has the same light-emitting powers as Eclipse on "The Gifted."
In the comics, Aurora and her twin brother were separated at birth after their parents' death. Northstar was adopted by a family, while Aurora was sent to be raised in a school for girls.
The show has so far focused on the mutants Polaris and Eclipse always being on the run, and bringing a mutant into the world might not be a good idea as the parents might be forced to put the child in a safe place like a school or adoption facility.
Name-dropping Aurora might just be a fun nod to Marvel Comics and fans, or it could foreshadow what's to come for the series.
"The Gifted" airs every Monday at 9 p.m. EDT on FOX.
