Supergirl On TV Guide

One last piece touching on Supergirl at Comic Con. Once again, she was on one of the covers of TV Guide's Comic-Con Special. This is a strong looking Kara striking the iconic heroic 'hands on hip' pose.

When I went to the store to buy this, there was a whole stack of this issue. But there was only one Supergirl cover left! Either she is rare, everyone bought her, or it was random. Glad I was able to scoop it up.

Great cover!

The coverage included an interview with Melissa Benoist, a behind the scenese look at season one, and a Q&A with the producers. I grabbed a couple of pieces which grabbed me. If you like these shows though, you should get the book. There are good articles on Flash, DCLoT, iZombie, etc.

Supergirl Episode 20: "Better Angels", the Finale

Supergirl Season One ended this week with an episode aptly called "Better Angels". I advise you settle in because this review is long. It is as much a look at this one episode as it is the whole series. And I couldn't be happier.

How do I put into words how happy this show has made me? Apparently by writing a lot. Because this show has understood Supergirl and what she represents from the beginning. Like many television shows, it grew stronger as the season progressed. The characters became more fleshed out. The plots became tighter. The themes and direction became more polished. And the stars simply shined.

I have tried over time here to showcase what I love about Supergirl. Her optimism. Her hope. Her sense of justice. Her fierce determination to do what's right. Her fears of not being good enough. It all comes together in a young hero striving to do what's right and occasionally failing. It is that 'never give up' that defines Supergirl as much as her array of powers. From Supergirl's difficult first appearances to her contemplating a darker justice to inspiring others, this show has captured it all.

It isn't perfect.

But what is.

What I have got this year has been 20 episodes which respect my favorite character in a new and fresh way. It is a show I can watch with my daughters without hesitation. It has super-heroics and brightness and hope. And it has character growth. The characters in this finale are very different from the ones we met in the premiere.

Right now we don't know if we are getting a Supergirl Season Two. I sincerely hope we do. But even if we don't, I have this season. It is a gem.

On to the show ...

Supergirl Episode 18: Worlds Finest

Supergirl Episode 18, titled 'Worlds Finest', aired this week. The episode was the much anticipated crossover with the Flash television show and was about as close to a comic book I have seen a show be. This was the classic 'heroes team up to beat villains who have teamed up' trope I have seen in comics over the years. And it nailed that storyline completely.

But more than that, this was an episode that seemed to embrace the notion of comic books. There was joy here. There was ice cream and races and quips. There were hugs and superhero nicknames.There was mentoring and friendship. There was smiles and fun. There was sunlight and lens flares.

And this couldn't have been aired at a better time, as another hero 'team-up' is being shown on the big screen. The dark, dour, depressing mess of 'Batman V Superman' stands in stark contrast to this near perfect illustration of what makes comics wonderful. I can't help but wonder if Greg Berlanti and Ali Adler were looking at the calendar and planning this out from day one.

Much of this rests on the shoulders of the actors. Melissa Benoist and Grant Gustin have such easy chemistry throughout the show. They are similar heroes, hoping to inspire and driven to do good. They interact so effortlessly. I love that The Flash is the veteran hero here, giving Kara pointers and being a role model.

We still await news of a second season for Supergirl. But I will repeat what has become a mantra for me. This show has been everything a Supergirl fan could ask for. And this episode might be the jewel in the crown.

Supergirl Episode 6: Red-Faced

Supergirl episode 6, 'Red Faced', came out this week and was a very good episode, building all the characters' back stories and showing how Supergirl is growing. The title works in a couple of ways. Anger is a big component of this plot, how to control your anger and how to channel it. But red-faced can also mean Red Tornado, the villain of the week here.

I am going to sound a bit repetitive but one of the reasons I love Supergirl as a character is that she has these great powers but she is beginning her hero's journey. She is much more human to me, much more fallible than Superman. She is optimistic but she can be fierce if she sees people wronged. So having her come to grips with rage and, in some ways, sadness in this episode was wonderful. And how that thread of anger is bounced off the supporting cast works well in making them three dimensional as well.

And, to again sound like a broken record here, Melissa Benoist completely shines in this episode. She shows such a range of emotions, played out often just in her expression and body language. She is amazing.

 We start with a very happy Supergirl flying high in the clouds, just clearing her head and enjoying herself. Her alone time is interrupted when she hears two drivers engaging in crazy road rage, banging into each other like a demolition derby and nearly plowing into a kid soccer team crossing the street.

Kara sounds almost a bit annoyed that she has to break away from her flight to stop these guys. And when one throws a punch at her, she defiantly yells at him and accidentally injures him. Captured on all the kids' cell phones, this is another episode where the public might distrust her. And Maxwell Lord takes the opportunity to hit the airwaves and talk about her brutality. Meanwhile, Hank Henshaw tells her she needs to control her anger or people will be afraid of her.

This is the first time we have seen Kara irritated when helping people.

I do like that she takes the time to help with small crimes like this as well as big threats like Vartox.

 Back at CatCo we finally meet Cat Grant's mother. The woman is a psychologically abusive woman and a product of her generation.

She belittles Cat constantly, calling her Kitty, saying Cat can't read and would rely on audio books, questioning Cat's importance, and even saying she prefers male heroes and doctors.

All this needling definitely gets under Cat's skin. And that anger is redirected at Kara and the staff.

Two episodes of anger both which end wrong.

Lucy let Jimmy know that her curmudgeon of a father is in town and we learn why. Lane is testing a new military deterrent codenamed Red Tornado and he wants Supergirl to fight it as a test. Lane's judicial counsel is none other then Lucy who informs both Hank and Supergirl that she has a written order from the President that the DEO needs to comply.

Lucy looks just as she did in the Jamal Igle pages of the Supergirl book. I love it.

And General Lane falls in line with his pre-New 52 persona. He hates aliens. He dislikes the DEO's 'foreign assistance' with Supergirl. And he is definitely a prickly personality, throwing blame at anyone but himself.

The night before the test, Kara hosts Game Night at her home. Earlier we hear her describe Game Night as the last shred of normalcy she has in her life. Unfortunately, this isn't the escape she wants as she sees Lucy and James dominate in games, clearly knowing each other well, and acting perfect. Meanwhile, #PoorWinn can't answer one question right with Kara.

Kara's general annoyance is unleashed on Red Tornado the next day. After initially being tossed about by whirlwinds (very nice effects here), she pulls a Bugs Bunny, burrowing underground, popping up next to the android, and batters him. I mean, it is like old school Nintendo Punch Out.

Unfortunately she does her job too well. She rips off a forearm, triggering a self-preservation program in the Tornado. He takes off in stealth mode, completely invisible.

General Lane quickly blames the DEO and Supergirl for this. Of course, he can't see that he is the one who created a semi-self-aware killing machine.

Her emotions simmering, Kara gets laid into my Cat for being late. And, for once, Kara lashes back, yelling at Cat for being mean. What I love about this scene is not only that Kara stands up for herself but her immediate recognition that this isn't who she is. Melissa Benoist is incredible here, shaking a bit and putting her hands in front of her face. It shows how distraught she is by all this.

Instead of being infuriated, Cat decides to mentor Kara more. While under the haze of martinis, Cat drops some wisdom. She talks how women can't easily show their emotions. Perry White can toss chairs like Bobby Knight and he is lauded. She can't do anything like that without it being professional suicide. Cat had to learn how to find 'the anger behind the anger', to find out what she is truly mad at and deal with it. 

After another encounter with the Red Tornado where she has to rescue General Lane and stop a twister from ripping the city apart,  Kara decides to box to let off some steam. She heads to a garage with James where he hits the heavy bag and she punches a car.

This was such a pivotal scene for the Supergirl character. She talks about Cat. She talks about being angry that she doesn't know how Jeremiah died. She talks about how, as a woman, she has to smile and keep her feelings in check.

And then she has this moment where she gets to the bottom of her anger. She wonders if she will never have a normal life. She is angry that she doesn't have a Game Night partner. She is angry that her life changed when her parents saved her. Nothing will ever be normal.

Once again, we see Benoist just dominate the screen. She hovers on tears, nearly shaking. This is sort of moment of understanding of what her life is.

 But the moment ends when Alex figures out how to track the Tornado. Working with Maxwell Lord, Alex has learned that the Tornado is now under the control of creator T.O. Morrow who was fired by General Lane.

In a great ending scene, we see a nice montage of two fights. Alex fights Morrow. Kara fights the Tornado. The director cuts back and forth brilliantly between the two.

Alex kills Morrow, cutting the telepathic cord. But when the Tornado remains active, Kara unleashes a primal scream, blasting it with her heat vision while visions of her youth, of her being rocketed off Krypton fill her head. It is an unbelievably powerful ending, with Benoist showing all the emotion we need to see.

This blast, perhaps the most intense heat vision blast I have ever seen, vaporizes the android.

And I am convinced that when Morrow was killed by Alex, his consciousness went into the robot. Someone will find that head, rebuild him, and find Morrow's intellect within. Mark it down!

There is nothing left but the wrap up.

Lucy finally realizes her father is misguided. She resigns her commission.
Cat finally stands up to her mother.
Winn, who has been hacking into the DEO, tells Alex that her father's last mission was in South America with Hank Henshaw.
And Alex discovers she is vulnerable, cutting her hand on a glass.

There are other great moments in this episode. Lord continues to woo Alex. At one point Alex reveals that Jeremiah worked for the government. It makes me wonder if Lord has telepathic powers like he did in the comic.

Hank at one point steps up and almost angrily defends Supergirl when General Lane attacks. He doesn't seem to be a villain. I am keeping with my Martian Manhunter guess.

Winn is coerced to hack the DEO when he learns it is about Jeremiah, noting he has daddy issues.

And the reveal that Henshaw and Jeremiah Danvers went on a mission together and only Henshaw returned, with no recollection of what happened, has led me to crazy guesses. Could Henshaw be Jeremiah? Did they discover J'Onn there and the Manhunter accidentally killed the two of them? This could sort of mirror the Erdel death in J'onn's origin.

But the high point here was Kara's self-discovery of her pain and anger and where it stems from. It is like she sort of turned a corner here. This isn't fun and games. This isn't jumping up and down on her couch like when she saved the plane. To be a hero like this is a vocation and it means sacrifice. And that can be difficult. That primal scream at the end was just a perfect capstone to that revelation.

This show continues to shine. I am one happy fan.

Supergirl Episode 4: How Does She Do It

Supergirl 'How Does She Do It' aired this week, the fifth episode of Supergirl aired was actually the 4th chapter in this season. This was the episode delayed a week given the tragedy of that occurred in Paris earlier this month.

This was another fun episode in this series, showcasing that this is still an inexperienced Kara learning how to juggle a secret identity and a life as a super-hero. It isn't easy. This is a Supergirl pulled in a number of directions and something's got to give. But the show makes a point to show that these are also the problems of non-super beings as well. Lucy, Jimmy, and Cat are all stretched to their limit and need to lean on others for help now and then. The inability to be everywhere at once, to save everybody all the time, is a lesson every hero needs to learn.

This episode also did a good job in pushing forward a couple of the brewing subplots, revealing more of Hank Henshaw's secret and introducing a new, fascinating villain. Some of this borrows or homages some classic scenes in comic book/superhero TV, something that always makes me smile.

Lastly, I have to say, the effects on this show continue to impress. The action sequences are thrilling.

As always, this isn't perfect. But my quibbles are minor and will be shared throughout the episode.

Remember, this episode was supposed to air after the Reactron episode. Supergirl is feeling pretty confident about herself at the end of that show, with even Superman telling her she is doing great.

So it isn't surprising that this episode opens with Kara saying that she can have it all, she can do everything.

That reverie is broken when she notices that a drone is following her. After a bit of a chase, more difficult than I would anticipate, Supergirl destroys it. It reminded me greatly of an early Byrne Superman issue where Luthor has a flying camera drone trying to trail Superman to discover his secrets.

Kara assumes that this is the DEO trailing her but Henshaw says it isn't from them. And the tech is highly advanced but not alien.

Meanwhile, at CatCo, Kara learns that Cat has won the prestigious Siegel Prize for women in media. This is the first time Cat has beaten Lois. But Cat can't go to accept the award because no one is around to watch her son Carter. Kara agrees to babysit. I like that Cat assumes Kara is doing it to have Ms. Grant owe Kara something. Now you would think that Cat could afford a high priced nanny service or bring Carter with her. So this is just a bit contrived. But just like that, Kara is on babysitting duty.

Off to fetch lunch, Kara runs into James and Lucy at the restaurant. We learn a bit about Lucy here. She works for the military JAG office. She calls James 'JImmy'. And we learn that Lucy broke up with him. Jimmy says it is because Lucy put her career over their relationship.

So we see that Lucy can't 'do it all', at least from James' point of view.

There isn't much time for chitchat. A bomb goes off in the city, gutting a building. Kara sweeps in, holding the building up, welding the steel infrastructure with her heat vision, and blowing out the flames with her superbreath.

This is a great action sequence and very classic. How often have we seen Superman do this welding trick to save a building or a dam. I love it.

What Kara doesn't see is another drone taking in the whole scene.

The building was a high tech lab with a connection to Maxwell Lord. Alex and Hank will pose as FBI agents (they have nifty switcheroo DEO->FBU badges) to investigate.

But that rescue and debrief at the DEO delay Kara from her other charge, taking care of Carter. She has to fly to his school to pick him up.

It is a cute scene as Carter is a shy, nerdy sort of kid. I think he is meant to remind us of Kara, having us get behind him and his little journey.

As always, Melissa Benoist is just a delight. She has this little character quirk of adjusting her glasses when embarrassed or caught in a little lie. Here she futzes with them after saying how much she liked school because it taught her about this 'new planet'. She is truly wonderful.

Kara drops Carter off at CatCo but can't watch him for long.

At Lord Industries, Alex interviews Max. He is a rather charming, independent mogul. But he tells a backstory of wanting to change the world. He doesn't trust the government or anyone, revealing his parents died in a lab accident when safety regulations failed. All this comes out in the silkiest of ways as he seems to be wooing Alex.

But their talk is interrupted by the discovery of a bomb in one of the lab's at Lord's building. Alex calls Kara in for the rescue forcing Kara to leave Carter with Winn. Again, we see she is being pulled away from one responsibility to deal with another.

In another great sequence we see Kara swoop in and fly the bomb out and up, away from the city. Waiting until the last second, she takes the brunt of the blast, falling into the ocean.

Kara is revived in a concentrated sunbath at the DEO. But in her haze, we see that Kara sees a red-eyed Hank. Hmmm ...

Those schematics could be cyborg eyes. The images definitely look like a head CT scan. Maybe Hank is looking at his own anatomy?

We then get some character building before the big finale.

Winn says he is dying every day as he pines for Kara. #PoorWinn

Lucy tells Kara that she may have left Jimmy but that was because Jimmy had checked out of the relationship. He always chose being Superman's Pal over being her boyfriend. It shows that James can't do it all either. It also sets up a bit of a Rashomon feel to their relationship. Who was at fault? Probably both? And Lucy is already jealous of Supergirl as a potential rival for Jimmy's love. Are these the seeds for Superwoman?

We learn that Carter is semi-obsessed with Supergirl, enough to sneak out to the Lord magnetic train maiden trip, in hopes of seeing Supergirl there.

And we learn that the likely bomber is a Lord ex-employee named Alexander Knox. Knox was fired, divorced, and dealing with a sick daughter.

Things take an interesting turn when a bomb scare is called at the airport, exactly as Lucy is heading to catch a flight home. Meanwhile, Winn, while trying to find Carter, sees Knox on the train, with a very obvious bomb poking out of his coat.

So there are some problems here. One, you would think that security would be high enough to not have this guy get on the train. But how could no one else see this thing?

Second, Carter is escorted onto the train by Lord. Lord assumes Carter has been separated from parents. So that was a bit too contrived a way to get Carter on the train.

Third, at the airport, we see Lucy helping an elderly woman out of the terminal. It is clear that the creative staff doesn't want us to dislike Lucy. So she is given a sympathetic angle to the Jimmy romance. And we see her helping someone in the most trite manner. I don't mind us liking Lucy. But that felt a bit too obvious.

Regardless, with two bombs, Kara has to make a decision. She can't be everywhere. She can't do it all. She has tells the DEO that she'll deal with the train. They have to take the airport bomb.

At the airport, Henshaw sends everyone away. And then, all red eyed, he rips the bomb apart and disables it.

If he was the true Cyborg Superman, able to communicate with devices, he could shut it down in a less physical way. But maybe he is just a cyborg without the other powers.

Of course, this also could easily be the Martian Manhunter as well, showing powers in J'onn's repertoire.

To explain how he defused the bomb, Henshaw claims it was a dud.

On the train, Kara confronts Knox. She tries to talk him down in the most Supergirl way possible and I love it. She says she'll help him. She says she knows what it is like to feel pulled in many directions. She calls upon his love for his daughter, a sick daughter who needs her father. She doesn't go straight to fisticuffs.

But Knox doesn't seem demented or enraged. He says he wasn't expecting to blow up the bomb. But he couldn't face his daughter if caught. He activates the bomb. Supergirl can fly it or Knox away. If the bomb is removed from the train it will automatically detonate.

The only thing left for Supergirl is to save the rest of the train. With Knox in the front, she disconnects the locomotive and stops it, allowing the bomb to detonate further down the track.

Get it ... more powerful than a locomotive, even an electromagnetically propelled one.

The episode really sticks the landing though as the last scene is brilliant.

Supergirl puts it all together that Maxwell Lord was behind the whole thing. The bombs, including the one at the airport, had a kill switch. Knox's daughter was being kept alive by a grant from Maxwell Lord. Lord was behind everything but was never in danger because he could have stopped the bombs remotely.

Lord basically confesses, stating that the drones and bombs each tested an aspect of Supergirl's powers. And her choosing to save the train over the more populated airport perhaps means she had feelings for someone there. Lord was evaluating Supergirl; he wants to have all the information on her ... to control her? Kill her?

Regardless, it's all nefarious. And Peter Facinelli, as Lord, is perfectly smarmy and here oozes some malevolence.

It ends with Supergirl saying she'll be watching Lord closely. It isn't over.

We have seen a similar scene between Lex and Superman many times. Whether it is Superman floating outside of Lex's office on the animated series, or Dean Cain questioning John Shea on Adventures of Lois and Clark, we have seen this. But it worked so well here. This is Supergirl confident in her abilities.

There were more bits. We got more of Cat Grant throwing down wisdom of going slow in life, gaining skills and doing more as you learn. We see Jimmy and Lucy back together, thrown into each others' arms by the airport threat. But that ending with Lord was fantastic.

So overall another fun episode with Supergirl. Melissa Benoist is a star, as usual, running the gamut of emotions in Kara. And the subplots of the show continue to move forward, making this more than a monster of the week.

Supergirl Episode 5ish: Livewire

Supergirl Episode 4 "How Does She Do It" was shelved for a week when its plot of terrorist time bombings around National City was felt to be too close to the attacks on France to be aired. As a result, this week, we got to see Episode 5 "Livewire" one week early.

"Livewire" was a very good episode focusing as much on character development as it did on action. This was a world-building episode, adding history to all the female characters of the show. We got to see how expectations and mentoring can mold people. We learned that too much pressure can make someone crack. And we learned that a lack of a role model can create a monster. All of this was extremely well done. Brit Morgan played a great Livewire villain. The standout performance was by Calista Flockhart who  showed that Cat Grant  may appear callous and sometimes shallow but whose waters run deep. The standout scene was between Chyler Leigh and Helen Slater where Alex finally confronted her mother Eliza about unrealistic expectations and disappointment.

That doesn't mean Supergirl is absent. Melissa Benoist still brings a positive vibe  and joy to the role. There is humor. There is maturity. There is optimism. There is fierceness. Supergirl is a complex character because of the breadth of her emotions. Benoist shines, capturing it all. And her wire work and action sequences are improving weekly.

I don't want these reviews to be a simple rehash. So I'll try to hit the high points.

The episode starts with Supergirl stopping an alien who has escaped and is running amok in the DEO headquarters. It is an excellent action sequence with this alien tossing agents through windows and Kara eventually body slamming it into submission with flight powers. The choreography is great. Kara uses fighting technique. And there is a definite emergence of a little body quirk, Kara floating/flying with her right leg bent at the knee and flexed. That is 'her' pose.

But the best part of the fight is when Kara learns this behemoth was female and gives a quick 'respect'. That flip from determined combatant to quipster is perfect.

Helen Slater is in the episode as Eliza Danvers, the girls' mother visiting for Thanksgiving. One thing that is obvious is that Alex walks on egg shells around her. Eliza has put a lot of pressure on Alex to protect Kara. And Alex knows Eliza won't be happy about Kara's coming out as Supergirl. In an interesting turn, Eliza doesn't know that Alex works for the DEO. She thinks she is still just a lab rat, not a field agent.

The scene is quick but lays the foundation of the relationship. Alex is under the microscope and feels the pressure.

And we learn that Kara's favorite pie is chocolate pecan. It is 'the best dessert on 12 planets'. Does this mean Kara has visited other planets? That other planets visited Krypton so she sampled other alien confections? Hmmm ...

We then get a montage of Leslie Willis, CatCo's shock jock. And Willis aims her wrath at Supergirl. In a mini-monologue she insults Supergirl's looks, her 'adorkable' nature, her idiotic costume of skirt and tights, her 'Sapphic' vibe. She wonders who would try to penetrate the chastity belt of steel and if Kryptonian genitalia is horrific.  It is a nice scene. We see everyone's reaction to specific parts of the rant. So Winn hears about the costume. James rolls his eyes about the sexuality. It is nothing but the attack of a bully, trying to shame Supergirl.

And Cat isn't going to let it go on. First off, CatCo wants a 'relationship' with Supergirl. Cat would 'adopt' Supergirl if she could. In a great line, we hear Cat say that Supergirl's presence is changing National City to something more optimistic, a place of hope. That is phenomenal.

But personally, Cat realizes she should have been a better mentor for Leslie. It is here that we begin to see more of Cat. It isn't all about ratings. It is sometimes about doing what's right.

Despite Leslie's threat that Cat will regret it, Grant demotes Leslie to a traffic reporter in the 'Cat Copter'.

 As I said above, this is episode 5. Episode 4 was skipped.

The only speed bump to that was James seemingly being back together with Lucy Lane. This should get explained more in that fourth episode. But James is off for a long Thanksgiving with Lucy.

 Leslie's first broadcast as a traffic reporter is in a thunderstorm and soon the helicopter is out of control. Supergirl has to swoop in for the rescue. There is something very classic about a copter save, evocative of the Donner movie.

But while grabbing Leslie, a lightning bolt hits Kara. The energy courses into Leslie, turning her hair blue and knocking the DJ into a coma.

The effects on this show is brilliant. The lightning/electric powers this whole episode is just great.

 The Eliza and Alex friction increases during the show. Eliza blames Alex for letting Kara get herself into this situation. I love how Eliza says that Kara just assumes that everyone is as good as she is. That is the Supergirl optimism and brightness I love.

We then flashback to seeing Kara flying over Midvale with Alex when they were kids. It's a dangerous silly thing to do.

But what I love was Malina Weissman adopt that same 'right leg bent' flying pose. It is continuity nods like this that enrich a show like this.

 Finally, filled with the liquid courage of wine, Alex tells her mother that she is a DEO agent. It absolutely ruins Thanksgiving dinner. But at least the air is cleared. Eliza should be proud of Alex. She should know that Alex is helping and protecting Kara in that role. Her mother shouldn't be disappointed in her.

Alex has been pushed by Eliza and has accomplished so much. It should be enough to garner respect. This theme is woven throughout the show.

I also like Kara standing up to Eliza. Kara decided to be Supergirl. It was her decision. The mother shouldn't be deriding Alex.

Alex storms off. Winn slinks away. And Kara is called to CatCo.

Meanwhile, Livewire has awoken from her coma and loves her new powers. She absorbs the energy from the city and confronts Cat in the CatCo office.  Kara is there and the two run for cover. Cat tells Kara to run 20 floors down to get security. It allows Kara to slip away and become Supergirl. There are lots of clues that Cat knows Kara is Supergirl. This is one of them.

Livewire and Supergirl fight in another great scene. The effects are great, especially a spot were we see Supergirl rise outside the window of the CatCo building and fly through the glass. And we again see more fighting technique from Kara: heat vision, haymakers, and head butts.

 The Alex/Eliza relationship builds up until we get a powerful scene between the two. Alex sheds tears as she asks her mother why she has never been good enough for her mother. Eliza admits that Alex makes the tough decisions. Alex is better than Eliza could hope to be. And Eliza calls Alex 'her Supergirl'.

This is so well acted. The best scene of the episode for me.

Meanwhile, the DEO has helped Kara by creating a sort of capacitor trap that reminds Supergirl of Ghostbusters. I love that the Ghostbuster quip falls flat in the serious conference room of the DEO. Perfect.

But better than that was Henshaw saying it is a trap modified to capture a Zarolatt! That is a deep cut reference to the 80s mini-series The Weird!

 Echoing the sentiments from the Alex/Eliza scene, we hear from Cat how she should have mentored Leslie in a better way. Cat's mother pushed and pushed Cat all her life. Sometimes it is unhealthy, but it has made Cat who she is. It is why Cat pushes those she cares about (admitting Supergirl is one of those people). She is trying to bring the best out of people. She didn't do that with Leslie. Cat created this monster.

The trap is set with Cat and Supergirl luring Livewire to 'where it all started', her first radio station. In another great small thing, we see Leslie's first show's poster. It is a smiling Leslie. The font is cursive, not the sharp style of her current show. We see how Leslie has changed without guidance.

Again, small things like personality quirks and continuity nods, and this visual prompt of Livewire's past adds so much to a show.

 Supergirl and Livewire brawl in the street and it is beautiful. The effects are stunning, especially seeing Livewire teleport into wiring and wielding lightning whips. Just spectacular.

The Ghostbuster device fails so Supergirl has to fall back onto an old favorite to beat an electric villain. She grabs a water main and douses Leslie, shorting her out. I liked that this was Kara needing to think on her own and not use a gadget of the week.

Look at this screen grab. Those are unreal effects.

The fallout from the defeat are varied.

Cat decides that she won't run nonsense about celebrities (one getting drunk at Club Apokolips?) and instead will run positive stories instead. Supergirl's positivity is working its magic here?

Winn tells Kara that he is jealous of her family. His father is a bad person and is in prison. He didn't name drop Toyman. But we know that.

And Eliza lets her girls know a secret she has been keeping. We see in flashbacks that young Kara's flight with Alex got the attention of the DEO back then. A more hirsute Henshaw wants Kara to be taken in. Instead, Jeremiah Danvers makes a deal. He will work for the DEO and Kara will stay put. Jeremiah knows everything there is to know about Superman (a bit meta coming from Dean Cain). All Danvers' research and expertise will now be in the DEO's hands. This explains why the DEO has Kara's ship, knows so much about Kryptonite, and knew to recruit Alex. And while Jeremiah died 'in a plane crash', Eliza thinks something else happened.

I can't believe this is a heel turn for Henshaw. And it echoes a bit too much like Harrison Wells to me. I guess I'll have to see where it goes.

If I had one complaint about the episode, it is Kara calling Eliza her foster mother. She doesn't call her mom, she calls her Eliza. I was hoping for something more familial here. Like 'adoptive mother'. She considers Alex her sister. Why not think of Eliza as a mother figure? She can still love Alura.

But that seems a quibble in comparison to all the backstory and character building we saw here. Just great stuff. And the battle scenes and effects were top notch.

My prediction? In the season finale, Cat reveals she knows Kara is Supergirl.




Each episode seems like it is getting better.

Supergirl Episode 3 - Fight Or Flight

"Fight or Flight", the third episode of Supergirl show, aired earlier this week and was easily the best episode to date.

From the very beginning, even before the show was released, we had heard about themes that would be running through this program. We were going to see a young Supergirl, grasping her destiny of being a hero, but learning along the way. This was going to be an empowering story about a young woman, supported by mother and sister. She was going to strive to be her own person, not defined by Superman. And there was going to be some love interests and comedy.

This episode hit everyone of these themes. It was fantastic. Now I will say, the dreaded love triangle between 'Win who loves Kara who likes James' is the one part of the show that seems a bit unnecessary. But the rest of it was perfect.

And I haven't even mentioned that it also starred Reactron!

The episode starts where the last one ends with Cat Grant interviewing Supergirl.

The scene is great with Supergirl standing up to Cat's questions. Elements of Supergirl's origin might be similar to Superman's but this is 'her story!'. Supergirl says she takes her job as hero seriously; it's why she didn't appear earlier.

But best of all, when Cat asks her about wanting to start a family, Supergirl lashes out saying that no one asks her cousin those types of questions. How true is that? How often do we hear about professional women asked in interviews about make-up, babies, and boyfriends? Those topics are never brought up with men in similar positions. It was a much more subtle and therefore much more powerful comment than the 'is it because I'm a girl' ones we saw in the earlier airings.

Back at CatCo, Cat is giddy with her scoop that Supergirl is Superman's cousin. Cat even says 'The Daily Planet can suck it!'.

Not everyone is happy that Supergirl revealed her relationship to Superman.

Hank Henshaw thinks it was foolish, comparing it to being part of a reality show 'Keeping up with the Kryptonians'. (Hilarious.) Win isn't sure if it was smart.

And Reactron, scarred and obviously ill, sees an opportunity. Superman will pay ... and Supergirl is the cost.

At the DEO, Supergirl hears of a pile up on the interstate. Even as Henshaw tries to stall her, as this is a non-alien emergency, Supergirl flies off. She doesn't delay in desire to help people.

Flying on scene, Supergirl saves someone trapped in an overturned bus. I love that we are seeing these more simple heroics, building up good will for Kara. Even the Firefighter calls her Supergirl and tells her how she can help, recognizing her as an ally.

Reactron arrives and there is a huge brawl in the street. The Reactron power bolts look just  as they did when Jamal Igle drew them. In my favorite moment, Supergirl pulls a car door off, uses it as a shield, and then slams Reactron with it. Just wonderful!

His armor sparking and damaged, Reactron flees.

Supergirl learns that Reactron (she thinks it is a stupid name, love it!) fought Superman to a standstill a number of times. And Reactron has kidnapped science mogul Maxwell Lord to help repair his armor.

Win, meanwhile, has set up a mini-headquarters in an abandoned office in Catco. Win has figured out a way to find Reactron. Jimmy doesn't think she should face him because Clark almost died the last time they fought.

And just like that, Jimmy has outed Clark's secret identity to Win. Just insanity.

Supergirl isn't listening to Jimmy though.Kara states that she is trying to figure out what being Supergirl means, and she needs to be defined by her victories and defeats. She can't call Superman in to save the day. Given how leaving Superman's shadow and becoming her own person is a huge part of Supergirl's mythos, I loved that as well.

The Super Friends are joined by Alex and they are able to figure out that Reactron is Ben Krull, a nuclear physicist who was thought dead when his reactor melted down. Superman minimized the damage and saved the day for the most part. But Krull and his wife were thought dead. Krull must have survived and blames Superman for the death of his wife.

I don't know if I needed a sympathetic backstory for Reactron. In the comics he is always just a sadistic bastard. I did like that this origin leads to Kara thinking she can try to talk to Krull first. She will try to plea to someone who is hurting before resorting to 'punching him real hard until he falls down.'

That last statement is the sort of mix of optimism and fierceness that I like seeing in Supergirl.

Supergirl flies and is able to rescue Lord. But Reactron gets the upper hand in battle and is almost about to kill her when a familiar shape arrives to save the day. Confronted by Superman, Reactron once again flees.

Jimmy had called Superman with a signal watch. Jimmy was worried. But Kara is angry. She needs to fight her own battles.

Reactron crashes a media party celebrating the Tribune's Supergirl exclusive forcing Supergirl to engage him again. From DEO headquarters, Alex and Henshaw (clearly a Cyborg, sensing Alex is in the DEO HQ)  have figured out that Supergirl can defeat Reactron by ripping his mini-reactor out of his chest plate. But it needs to be encased in lead or it'll explode, nuking the city. Meanwhile, Jimmy lures Reactron away from Supergirl by saying that killing Superman's Pal would be more emotionally damaging than Reactron killing his cousin.

Kara melts a lead piece of art in the party venue, coating her hand. In a brawl in an open lot, moves in, hoists Reactron up, and rips out the nuclear device with her leaded fist.

It is a great fight with great effects. So good.

I have left out a lot of 'love triangle' bits. Kara dances with Win until Jimmy cuts in. Alex can tell Kara is crushing on Jimmy. But the triangle becomes a rhombus when Lucy Lane, Jimmy's ex, arrives.

A bit distraught, Kara is thrilled to get some IM's from Clark. Clark says he thinks she is doing great, defeating Reactron when he couldn't, and that it was a job for Supergirl. The look of happiness and pride on Kara's face is incredible. For me, this was the best moment of the show. Not the action, not the nuclear bolts, not the romance. This scene, where Superman acknowledges Supergirl's worth, was just powerful.

The writers and producers needed to do this. Superman was the elephant in the room, the shadow Supergirl has always needed to step out from under. So we 'saw him', he knows she can handle herself, he is proud of her, he doesn't need to come back. Hurrah!

I also liked that Alex was a great sister and friend here. There wasn't the 'don't be a hero/be a hero' turn this episode. She gives a nice speech about how this is the beginning of Supergirl's career. I guess it was James' turn to doubt Supergirl.

I know that ratings are down. But this show is just getting better and better. The way Supergirl is determined to be a hero, her own hero is empowering. The way she leaps into situations to help people is admirable. The fights are fierce. It all seems to be working. I only hope the word of mouth continues to spread so that the buzz doesn't fade.

Review: Supergirl episode 2 - 'Stronger Together'

"Stronger Together", the second episode of Supergirl, aired at the beginning of this week and was simply fantastic. I had some issues with the rushed sort of pace of the pilot, as that episode shoved a bit too much story into a mere 48 minutes.

This issue keeps the pedal to the metal, keeps the pace brisk, but doesn't have the rushed feel of the first. There are character turns here and plot twists. But nothing seems too fast, no turn too quick, to feel as if there was a scene missing. That fast pace works both in character development and action sequences.  And the action sequences are superb.

But most of all, the feel of the show remains pitch perfect. I have said over and over that I love that Supergirl is at the beginning of the hero's journey. She has the weight of the S-Shield, the weight of Superman's presence and perfection, on her. She can fail. But she remains optimistic, hopeful, and always dusts herself off and keeps on fighting. I'll review many of my favorite moments here but the foundation of this show is Melissa Benoist who is able to pull off the gamut of Kara's emotions - joy, confidence, anger, disgust, sadness, surprise. She simply is Kara. 

The episode starts with Kara in a training exercise for the DEO and declaring that 'this is her story'. It so reminds me of the 'this is my life' opening statement in the Gates/Igle run.

Supergirl is feeling pretty good about herself as she outruns missiles and seems to prove herself to Hank Henshaw. Unfortunately the good feelings end when she can't put out a fire near an oil tanker and ends up accidentally spilling the crude into the ocean.

The fallout is that the media asks if Supergirl is a miracle or a menace. Even local National City celebrity Maxwell Lord asks if her presence is worth it, knowing the danger she represents.

It all feels like Gates' Supergirl #34, even when Cat seems to want to pile on. But then the show takes a nice turn from the book. Cat wants to control Supergirl's narrative; she sounds almost supportive. Of course she also wants to beat the 'Daily Planet hags' Lois Lane and Clark Kent. Awesome.

In the end Cat wants Jimmy to use his role as a 'famous pal' to set up an interview. Kara isn't interested.

Later, we see Hellgrammite robbing 'Plastino Chemicals', a nice nod to Al Plastino.

Supergirl sees a sort of spike at the crime scene and we see her flashback to Krypton. There is a great scene between Alura and a young Kara. There is a lot to love here. We see a studious Kara, using a hand held device to study. And Laura Benanti is great as this supportive, strong mother telling Kara about her work. The conversation she recalls is about Hellgrammite, someone Alura imprisoned.

This Krypton seems much more in line with the Man of Steel look.

It becomes clear that Kara needs to train more, learning not only to use her powers but also to learn how to fight.

As expected from the sizzle reel, we see Alex fighting Kara in a Kryptonite Danger Room. Kara is all big right hand haymakers and Alex easily parries and trashes Supergirl. It is another moment where Kara questions Alex's support.

Kara storms off, saying she knows why Superman works alone.

This theme of family support and working alone is key to this entire episode.

I do worry that the DEO has so much Kryptonite that they have airgun darts, a whole room infused, and later hand weapons. Will it be a crutch?

 That said, we see General Astra and other Kryptonians on Earth. They bully the Hellgrammite into tracking down Supergirl to kill her, blood relations or no.

I will say that Benoist is fantastic. But Benanti is amazing. She exudes this love and support as Alura. And as Astra, she is deliciously wicked, grinning and sneering at the same time. Perfect.

Much like we had a montage scene last episode, we see the same here.

Cat again talks about Supergirl needing to start small and then have huge adventures. Cat equates it to her own story, going from Perry White's assistant to gossip columnist to media mogul. It is a journey. Supergirl shouldn't jump to the end.

Kara realizes that she has mentors and friends who can help her. Leaning on Super Friends Win and Jimmy, we see Kara foil an armed robbery on 5th and Siegel (nice homage). We see her carry an ambulance on Donner Avenue (again nice) to the hospital (lowering the vehicle down in a classic super-image).  And we see her save a snake (not a kitten) in a tree.

Pat Benatar's 'Hit me with your best shot' plays as we see Supergirl succeed in turning public sentiment around. Can 'Invincible' be far behind?? Please say yes!!

This series of rescues brings Alex back to Alex's life where again we see the sisters talk about supporting each other. I hope this argument/reconciliation pattern between the sisters not happen every episode.

Kara isn't the only one on a personal journey.

There is a great scene were we learn that Jimmy no longer wanted to be defined as being Superman's Pal. He wants to define himself. If Kara doesn't talk to Cat, Jimmy will be sent packing back to Metropolis. And he doesn't want that.

Kara talks about the S-shield. It is the crest of the House of El. But it also means 'El My Arah', a motto which means 'stronger together'. Supergirl is going to embrace that. Unlike Superman, she realizes she needs a support system, she likes her circle, and she will grow with them. And it is okay for James to need help too.

I didn't think this was a shot at Superman's support system (Lois, the Kents, etc.). I think this simply meant that Superman is established enough to fight super-villains on her own. Kara isn't their yet. She is stronger when all her friends are there helping her.

The DEO ends up in a skirmish with Hellgrammite. During that fight Alex is captured. All this ends up with Supergirl and Alex in a factory fight with General Astra and the Hellgrammite.

There is a fantastic brawl between Astra and Kara with lots of super-powers on display. We see people tossed through walls, heat vision fights, girders bent and twisted. And all of this while Kara deals with learning Astra is back and evil.

There is a perfect moment where Astra says that Alura jailed her for 'speaking the truth.' Alura says she won't let another world die. Kara then looks back determined and says 'I was about to say the same thing'. It shows Kara's conviction. Just fantastic.

In the fight, Hellgrammite is killed by Alex (a rather casual murder, akin to last week's Vartox death). And Hank Henshaw shows up brandishing a K-knife and driving Alura away. 

The episode ends with a rapid fire display of revelations.

It is clear that Astra isn't the big bad. She is working for someone else. At first I was thinking Mongul. Now I wonder if it is Maxwell Lord!

Again, Alex decides to support Kara. The two vow to have faith in each other. And then Alex says a line which pretty much defines Supergirl for me. When discussing Kara coming to Earth and losing her world, Alex says that Kara 'never let that loss diminish her light.' That is Supergirl in a nut shell ... bright and optimistic and heroic.

Alex has also set up a sort of 'Conference Room of Solitude' for Kara at the DEO headquarters. Inside is an Alura AI, a working computer that Kara can ask questions to. It smacks a bit too much like the Jor-El AI of Smallville. But I loved that Kara asked if she could have a hug. All the feels!

But the biggest reveal was Hank Henshaw sporting red eyes. Henshaw's character was still a bit too one-dimensionally gruff for me in this show. But we learn that he had a family (I assume their death led to his hatred of aliens). And then this shot.

My hope is that he is a Martian.

That said, he's probably Cyborg Superman?

The episode ends with a cliffhanger with Kara carrying Cat's car outside the city to grant that interview.

Nice hook!

So, like the pilot, a lot happens here. But this time the events seem to unfold a bit more naturally. There weren't character 180's that seem odd. 

Melissa Benoist really shines. I love the disgust on her face when she hears Cat think that Supergirl might be Superman's girlfriend. Kissing cousins? There is this look of 'icky' on Kara's face. But we also see a fierce Kara yelling at Henshaw. We see her smiling with joy when flying. We see her awkwardness when she fiddles with her glasses. Just perfect.

There were even more references embedded in the show. Talk of 'single bounds', the military guild, Superman's fortress and other Easter eggs were all there.

This episode seem to answer the concerns I had last week. I still think the Henshaw/Alex/Kara dynamic is the part of the show that needs some work. The Win/Cat/Jimmy/Kara stuff is just solid!

This was a big win overall!

Overall grade: A