The premise of Gifted, Nikita Lalwani’s debut — an overachieving girl pushed by overbearing Indian immigrant parents through the gates of a most prestigious university — sounds distressingly like last year’s ruckus-stirring Opal Mehta, but the approach is entirely different. Here, the family is British, the university Oxford, and the poignant story told in painfully realistic tones. Lalwani’s pacing can be confusing — five years slip by as if a day — but she gets deep inside hyper-wound-up math prodigy Rumi Vasi. Sadly, when she finally escapes parental expectations, we follow Mom’s anguish instead of Rumi’s relief. It feels like a cheat — something her parents would never approve of. B
Related Articles
![The Simpsons Apple Vision Pro](https://ew.com/thmb/g7kmHbeX9ZDsD9nKOkU52zsbuKs=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/VR-headset-the-simpsons-052924-2-5df8dd70b75b4a59988000b0fc6a472f.jpg)
21 times The Simpsons predicted the future
![Wayne Brady & Robin Williams SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTRE AND THE MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE 2003 TRIBUTE DINNER, BEVERLY HILTON HOTEL, LOS ANGELES, AMERICA - 10 FEB 2003](https://ew.com/thmb/_gF2eVfoCU6XZrYz-abt-DodMNI=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/wayne-brady-tout-6c9618237be3403596a9b42f3d76c3af.jpg)
Wayne Brady recalls emotional moment with Robin Williams, shares how his 'hero' helped him step into his truth
![Aaron Stanford promo photo](https://ew.com/thmb/Ueyhhr360jOO6JJOP5PFrPfUNt0=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/aaron-stanford-1a-9e130a0ad2874143b68d84e7a2e50085.jpg)
X-Men star Aaron Stanford sparks up Pyro again after 18 years: 'I was shocked and thrilled' (exclusive)
![The Umbrella Academy](https://ew.com/thmb/ZQ0V0-TFwUh8kT2tUgrkIV7s7QA=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/The-Umbrella-Academy-052924-tout-0a012393f68b45559997f448c57a2984.jpg)
The Hargreeves are back in the first Umbrella Academy season 4 teaser
![Ripley. Andrew Scott as Tom Ripley in Episode 102](https://ew.com/thmb/GeUf1VewYcMH58ycmXLkJe-ieEw=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Ripley-060324-01-839bb079319542b6b7e78f4bc0639807.jpg)
Anatomy of a killer: How Ripley showrunner and Andrew Scott reinvented the infamous con artist
![Best reality shows on Amazon: HELL'S KITCHEN, PROJECT RUNWAY, Ronald Gladden and James Marsden on 'Jury Duty'](https://ew.com/thmb/bI9O6TKamfiSK44-UiAAh1tyRI8=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/best-reality-shows-on-Amazon-050924-86e24ccdb56741498f86b8fe190290ab.jpg)
The 11 best reality shows streaming on Amazon Prime
![Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar on The View](https://ew.com/thmb/npn4RDmlZURwmpnyn3G9TLIZSnE=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/whoopi-goldberg-joy-behar-the-view-031924-59c82bc0c49d44b183553879e54ddead.jpg)
Joy Behar brings up Catholic abuse while Whoopi Goldberg gifts Pope Francis book to The View audience
![Ana and Alyssa The View](https://ew.com/thmb/wzgljXgP49eDb6zYFy97JFBIyCA=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ana-alyssa-gift-the-view-010524-5c740fc8c4194ed684b488e139849a0a.jpg)
The View's Ana Navarro gives Republican cohost shady elephant gift live on air: 'Work in progress'
![JONATHAN AND DREW SCOTT Live With Mark and Kelly](https://ew.com/thmb/suPFwrj51ei1d8lXhcK-KQ8Z0_4=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/jonathan-drew-scott-live-kelly-mark-051724-1-794e8a318b44438ca46920d35e874d4d.jpg)
Property Brothers twins pretend to drop pants, tease their size when asked how they're different on Live
![Collage of Replica of the Midsommar Harga temple ceramic incense holder; ULTIMATE WARNER BROS. COLLECTORS 9 PACK of wine bottles ; Kermit Clogs for Adults by Crocs; A24 99 Movie Crosswords Book on red and green background](https://ew.com/thmb/yMYYnfWIOKYAbwCXM-dElUs6fYw=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/EW-gift-guide-2023-2017d46ce0b846fd9923fce216ed1f81.jpg)
EW's 2023 pop culture holiday gift guide
![Must List collage of Jeremy Allen-White in The Bear; June Squibb in Thelma; Amaarae;](https://ew.com/thmb/HX94u_Bjlzs0239MMMdvqdI6f30=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Must-List-JUNE-28-79ac266c1b9a4453851550867d33e2ad.jpg)
The Bear, Thelma, Amaarae, and A Quiet Place: Day One top this week's Must List
![Whoopi gifts Sydney Sweeney with candy](https://ew.com/thmb/R_530gm4SyjzFMt_S5ptvfIfQa8=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/whoopi-goldberg-sydney-sweeney-the-view-032024-ee4fed8a071a405e817da757751060e5.jpg)
Whoopi Goldberg surprised Sydney Sweeney live on The View with candy gifts from 'under my chest'
![Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool/Wade Wilson in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios' DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE](https://ew.com/thmb/HcIFS4NZ4Wq8fxl6xBG3GD2O46Y=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/DeadpoolWolverineCover06262404-35e1659b05b54c939c1f3493a1f9d535.jpg)
How the cameo-stacked Deadpool & Wolverine carves out a new future for Marvel's mutants
![Roxxxy Andrews on RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars Season 9, Episode 5](https://ew.com/thmb/Nd2_GfRrLTxUGV2foBfNTcn-MO8=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Roxxxy-Andrews-RuPauls-Drag-Race-All-Stars-060724-1-f64f07be3eac4f4cbac705c1d3cfd3cc.jpg)
Roxxxy Andrews explains her RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 9 breakdown over cutting Angeria or Gottmik
![CHANDRA WILSON and JESSICA CAPSHAW in GREYâS ANATOMY episode Baby Can I Hold You](https://ew.com/thmb/0inj8vi2kLZCzhXXGfwIzduAb3Y=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Greys-Anatomy-0684-040124-db646aaa1d1f43f0a33a0212958360cb.jpg)
Grey's Anatomy recap: Arizona is back
![Michael Richards, Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander of 'Seinfeld'](https://ew.com/thmb/6TRseBs6KOSLltMu7kYyAkpVibE=/282x188/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/seinfeld-cast-052424-a5e1c12af66148b78dca4eb3966024d6.jpg)
The 15 most memorable Seinfeld moments: From Elaine's dance moves to the puffy shirt