Frankly, after last episode, I need a breather, a 'rest issue'. Not that this is nonsense. All our characters are dealing with things and we learn more and move forward. All of this is set in a Humanist Gala for Metropolis.Clark has no idea who he is without Superman. Lois and Jimmy are nominated for an award but Lois is still feeling like she is the shadow of Vicki Vale. Jimmy is still dealing with his feelings for Kara. Kara is dealing with her feelings for Jimmy while also being the main hero of Metropolis. More on all these in the review.
This episode also leans into many characters we have met and who make up the supporting cast. Silver St. Cloud, Steve Lombard, Vicki Vale, and Bizarro all show up and add flavor.
All these character moments are shown through an action piece of Dr. Poison trying to turn humans into animals. This leads to another Silver Age Jimmy moment.
Love this episode mostly because you feel the pain that Clark is suffering, not knowing who he is now that he is powerless. He seems almost disgusted with life as Clark. Hmmm ...
As stated, we are heading to a humanitarian gala in Metropolis where Superman and Supergirl are receiving an award. But there are also other awards seemingly up for grabs. Lois and Jimmy are nominated for a journalism award.
Clark is going along, as a guest I suppose, and he is just completely out of sorts. We learn it has been a month since he lost his power. He is 'just' Clark Kent. He is protesting a bit too much saying he is fine. But Lois knows that Clark's 'identity' is shattered.
It is an interesting take and wonder how others feel. I always thought Clark "is" Clark and Superman is who he is when he does super-heroics. I think he identifies more as Clark than Superman. But here he seems just lost. I can imagine he is limited in how much he can help people which must be tough.
But I think he is just too depressed about this.
At the gala, Jimmy is joined by his last contract obligation date through W.O.R.M.S. Tonight's date Princess Marlena Maru from Markovia! (That name might click with some long time fans.)
He isn't exactly thrilled. He still likes Kara but he pushed her away. He thinks Supergirl has moved on. But I also like that this Jimmy (like the one in the Gunn movie) seems irresistible to women.
But Kara's being irked when she sees Jimmy brought a date (she didn't) speaks volumes.
It is hard for me to sort of figure Jimmy out. He told Kara to move on and now he's upset. Why not just say 'let's not be exclusive yet so you can make sure you understand Earth'. So his pushing away and being ticked off that she moved on is a bit cringe-y.
Vicki Vale is also up for the award Jimmy/Lois are nominated in.
We met Vicki in season one as a hero Lois had. You might recall that Lois rejected moving to Gotham to stick with Clark and the Metropolis gang. So seeing Vicki still being a bit ticked for that rejection, trying to belittle Lois and setting up a 'let's have a news competition here at the party' competition feels like something a spurned lover or a veteran upset the rookie is about to overtake them would do.
But just as Clark seems to be protesting how okay he is too much, Lois saying she isn't obsessed with Vicki any more also feels like an empty statement.
Our characters are dealing with stuff!
But despite her being a bit upset at Jimmy, Kara really ... and I mean REALLY ... shines this episode.
She doesn't take any of the snark bait Poison throws out trying to make Kara jealous of the Jimmy date. And when Poison says Supergirl should be happy for winning an award, Kara shows some humility and grace giving all the proper respect to Superman.
I have seen dark, edgy, angry Supergirl too much recently ... even here last season. But she has grown so much here. I lover her in this season and it only gets better.
Meanwhile, we see the Bizarro we met earlier this season is now working in an ice cream shop and making kids smile. When he overhears that Supergirl is winning the award, he flies (in a makeshift costume).
I get the sense he is going to play a big part in the rest of the season. Remember, we have all these versions of Superman this season - Cyborg, Jon, Eradicators. Why not Bizarro!
But I love he isn't imperfect or backwards. He seems genuinely sweet and good. After all, this is nurture not nature, taught lessons by Dr. Binder.
But I love he isn't imperfect or backwards. He seems genuinely sweet and good. After all, this is nurture not nature, taught lessons by Dr. Binder.
Kara's speech when accepts the humanitarian award is another great moment for her.
She graciously ... humbly ... accepts the award for both cousins.
And she talks about how she understands why Superman loves Earth. She also loves Earth and there are people she loves.
Lightyears away from angry, drunk, loner, 'get me off Earth' Supergirl.
This Supergirl is tough, heroic, fierce. But kind and compassionate. That is Supergirl.
Clark meanwhile has put himself in charge of babysitting the Newskid Legion. (Again, he thinks as 'just Clark' that he isn't good for anything else).
When they go missing, he goes searching for them in the museum where the gala is being held.
Wandering around, he gets some sort of vision with voices calling him Kal-El. It starts out as a cold Krypton that then seems to explode in fire. Is this the destruction of Krypton? Did this happen because of something in the museum? (We did see a crystal in a set piece.)
Will this somehow play into Clark getting his powers back?
The kids discover something nefarious going on in the museum. A henchmen pulls a gun on them.
Look at Clark, still being a hero, leaping in front of the gun even though he has no powers.
I mean ... that is Superman! And that is Clark!
But he's powerless.
Princess Maru is reveals herself as Dr. Poison. She has mutagenic gas that can turn humans into animals. She releases it in the museum.
And before Kara can step in, Dr. Poison says that she is about to put the mutagen in the Metropolis water supply. Supergirl has no choice but to head to the other threat.
Dr. Poison!
But also, I like the fact that people seem to turn into animals that might be there totem?
Clark took the first guy out but was shot in the arm.
Lois stumbles on Clark and the NewsKids as well. Suddenly a chase is on.
It is Lois who sort of saves the day, collapsing the airvent they are all crawling through so the mutated crocodile man falls away. (Exposed to the gas, she becomes a black cat ... too funny.)
Instead of recognizing how he also saved the kids from gunplay, Clark seems struck that Lois has to be the hero.
After Jimmy has been turned into a wolfman and a porcupine this season, I have been waiting for Turtle Boy. And we got him.
He is exposed to the gas and turns into a turtle.
But he uses his charm to try and convince Maru to take him along due to their animal attraction. Eventually he pulls her mask off exposing her to the gas.
The scene is hilarious. Turtle boy might have been enough. But the fact that Maru is so taken in with him that she is rolling all over the floor like a burlesque dancer, talking to the turtle, makes it even more funny.
Look at that screencap and try not to smile.
The now Fennic Fox(?) Dr. Poison tries to escape in a waiting helicopter only to run into ... Bizarro.
When Supergirl takes care of the water threat and clears the museum of the mutagen gas, she flies to the roof to find the bad guys tied up in metal, broken guns on the ground.
She didn't see Bizarro. She wonders who this could be.
How cool to see Bizarro becoming an anonymous hero.
With the action piece over, we have to catch up with our characters and their issues.
Jimmy admits that he is love with Kara.
Finally.
Lois tries to play off that she won the award saying the work is reward enough.
But that was more for Vicki to overhear.
Maybe Lois will feel better about herself.
Kara confronts Jimmy about his mixed messages.
The two seem to come to a bit of an understanding. But good for her to call Jimmy out on all his games.
I really like Supergirl on this show.
Meanwhile Clark continues to struggle.
He feels he wasn't helpful at all. Who is he supposed to be?
That is a serious existential crisis with our hero. And frankly, it feels fresh. I don't know if this is how I think Superman would react to losing his powers. But I think it is an interesting view to explore here.
But there's no time. Our four protagonists are sucked into portals suspiciously similar to Mr. Mxyzptlk's from Season one.
Hmmm ...
I've talked about comic homages in the show. But I had to point out two more cultural references.
Surely 'W.O.R.M.S., W.O.R.M.S., W.O.R.M.S.' is a riff on the famous 'Words, words, words' line from Hamlet.
And 'Get to the Chopper' has to be an homage to Predator.
Freaking amazing!
The show keeps stunning me. Loving it.
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