In seeking an end to his destructive powers, Reed Strucker may have just handed over the key to destroying mutantkind. In "gaMe changer," the mid-season finale of The Gifted Season 2, the Strucker family patriarch continues to receive treatment from his father's former partner Dr. Madeline Risman. However altruistic her intentions, her research could lead to the erasure of the X-gene once and for all.

In a CBR-exclusive clip from the episode, Caitlin smuggles some vials of the treatment away in her pocket. Reed couldn't help but express his guilt over their plans to leave. As such, it seems he may be unaware of Risman's goal to permanently block the X-gene, which Lauren learned last week.

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When Risman walked over, Caitlin asked how the medication worked, leading Risman to explain how it functions in detail. According to Risman, Reed's cells produce a protein that releases energy. The treatment she created with Otto Strucker blocks the protein, but -- when it wears off -- it triggers a "massive release of power."

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"That's why the work we're doing with Lauren is so important," Risman insisted. "By comparing your X-gene and hers, we can learn to not just block the gene, but turn it off entirely." She then promised not to let him down again and injected his fluids bag with a syringe.

According to the synopsis for "gaMe changer,"

Tensions within the Inner Circle are at an all-time high, as Andy comes to Rebecca's defense against Reeva. After making an important discovery about Dr. Risman's research, Lauren convinces Reed and Caitlin that they must take action to destroy it. Frustrated with not being taken seriously, Jace begins to strategize with the Purifiers. Meanwhile, the Mutant Underground continues to work on saving mutants. However, tensions flare between Blink and Thunderbird as they confront their differences.

Airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT, Fox’s The Gifted stars Stephen Moyer as Reed Strucker, Amy Acker as Caitlin Strucker, Sean Teale as Eclipse/Marcos Diaz, Jamie Chung as Blink/Clarice Fong, Coby Bell as Jace Turner, Emma Dumont as Polaris/Lorna Dane, Blair Redford as Thunderbird/John Proudstar, Natalie Alyn Lind as Lauren Strucker, Percy Hynes White as Andy Strucker, Skyler Samuels as the Frost sisters and Grace Byers as Reeva Payge.