The Gifted (2017)
TV SeriesOptional
A family goes on the run with a mutant underground after their children’s powers emerge. This 2017 Marvel series was made outside Marvel Studios’ main MCU line-up, so it’s optional for the watch order and works fine on its own. All 29 episodes stream on Hulu in the US, about 20h 47m in all.
| Release date | October 2, 2017 |
|---|---|
| Episodes | 29 × ~43 min |
Why it’s worth knowing about
Fox’s network X-Men series, set in a world where the X-Men have vanished. Two seasons.
About The Gifted
The Gifted's first season is set in an alternate timeline where the X-Men have disappeared and mutants face growing hostility. District attorney Reed Strucker and his wife Caitlin, a nurse, discover that their children Lauren, who creates force fields, and Andy, who has telekinetic powers, are mutants. Hunted by Sentinel Services agent Jace Turner, the family falls in with a mutant underground led by Thunderbird, alongside Eclipse, Blink and Polaris, while the telepathic Frost triplets circle the story.
Matt Nix created and ran the show for Fox with 20th Century Fox Television and Marvel Television. Bryan Singer directed the pilot, and Len Wiseman joined as a director and executive producer. Stephen Moyer and Amy Acker play the parents, with Natalie Alyn Lind, Percy Hynes White, Sean Teale, Jamie Chung, Blair Redford, Emma Dumont, Coby Bell and Skyler Samuels as the Frost sisters. Season 1's 13 episodes aired from October 2017 to January 2018, opening to 4.9 million viewers, and earned a 76% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Good to know
- Eclipse, who absorbs and manipulates light, was created for the show rather than adapted from the comics.
- Skyler Samuels plays all three Frost triplets, Esme, Sophie and Phoebe, who recur in season 1 before becoming regulars in season 2.
- Polaris is Magneto's daughter in the comics, and the show keeps that family link in play.
- Nix tied the X-Men's absence to a 9/11-style event that fueled anti-mutant hatred.
How to watch it
You don't need any X-Men films beforehand, though a basic sense of the mutant world helps with references. The season is serialized, so watch the 13 episodes in order, then continue to season 2, the final one. It's a good fit for viewers who like family drama and on-the-run thrillers, and for X-Men fans who enjoy seeing lesser-known mutants like Blink and Thunderbird get the spotlight.
Where to watch The Gifted in the US
| Streaming (subscription) | Hulu |
|---|---|
| Rent or buy | Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango at Home |
Where to watch The Gifted outside the US
| Country | Stream | Other options |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Disney+ | None needed |
| Canada | Disney+ | None needed |
| India | Not included | Not available |
Streaming availability last verified: October 16, 2026
All streaming options for Marvel movies and shows, by service and country.
Related guides
The Gifted FAQ
Is The Gifted connected to the X-Men movies?
Not directly. It's set in an alternate timeline where the X-Men have vanished, and it doesn't continue any film's story.
How many seasons of The Gifted are there?
Two, with 29 episodes in total. Fox canceled the show in April 2019.
Who plays Polaris in The Gifted?
Emma Dumont plays Lorna Dane, also known as Polaris, who can control magnetism.
Can you skip The Gifted?
Yes. It isn’t part of the MCU timeline.
How many episodes does The Gifted have?
The Gifted has 29 episodes, around 43 minutes each.
Is The Gifted part of the MCU?
It was made by Marvel Television alongside the MCU films. Marvel has since folded some of these shows into its official timeline; see our Netflix and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. canon guides for details.