There are many mutant factions in the X-Men comics, some of them being the more prominent ones that many people, whether reader or not, would know about. The latest episode of "The Gifted" introduced another mutant group called the Hounds, all of whom are from the "Days of Future Past" timeline. With the Hounds being introduced, will this be a setup for the introduction of a famous X-Men in the same timeline?
The Hounds are a group of mutants who have been reprogrammed and are forced to hunt down other mutants to detain in concentration camps. They are controlled by the cyborg named Ahab, who will also be appearing on the show.
That being said, one of the most famous members of the Hounds is Rachel Summers also known as Rachel Grey, the daughter of Scott and Jean Grey from the "Days of Future Past" timeline. Rachel was forced to become a Hound when she was a teen. However, as she grew older and took more control over her Phoenix powers, she was able to break free from her conditioning. Yet, the price she had to pay for her freedom from being a Hound was being sent to a concentration camp.
It was there that she got to meet the last traces of the X-Men, who came up with a plan to send the consciousness of Kate Pryde, an older version of Kitty Pryde, back in time to stop the assassination of Senator Robert Kelly by the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. The assassination just so happened to result in the execution of the Mutant Registration Act and eventually the future that Rachel was living in. Rachel would eventually go to the present day herself and join the X-Men. So how could she fit into "The Gifted?"
As everyone could recall, there is a clue in the Hound symbol that was tattooed onto Pulse (Zach Roerig), Thunderbird's (Blair Redford) best friend. The symbol has thin black lines, referencing to the facial tattoos on the Hounds in the comics. At the center of these lines is a shape of a bird. Perhaps the bird shape is a reference to the Phoenix raptor. In the "Days of Future Past" timeline, Jean Grey was able to control and coexist with the Phoenix Force. Rachel soon inherited it and became one of the most capable wielders of its power.
A fan theory suggests that Rachel was the source of the powerful explosion that caused the July 15 incident that was referenced on "The Gifted." The incident was responsible for taking Jace Turner's (Coby Bell) daughter's life which led him to working for Sentinel Services. Rachel was somehow captured and turned over to Roderick Campbell (Garrett Dillahunt), the future Ahab. He managed to force Rachel to use her telepathic abilities to brainwash other mutants into becoming Hounds.
This could result in Rachel somehow breaking free of Campbell's control and turn on him. Rachel would then join the Mutant Underground as they go on the run from Sentinel Services as well as the Hounds. Rachel's addition could make her the highest-profile X-Men character in the cast.
Of course, this is all speculation at this point. It might not be possible to get Rachel onto the series given her parentage and given her popularity.
Meanwhile, the official synopsis for episode 6 of "The Gifted" is titled "Got your siX," and it reveals that Thunderbird is determined to find out what Sentinel Services did to Pulse and leads a mission to get some answers. At the same time, Lauren (Natalie Alyn Lind) will make a new friend who has abilities that are useful while Blink (Jamie Chung) makes a decision regarding her future.
"The Gifted" airs Mondays at 9 p.m. EDT on FOX.
