It is clear based on the season card, name-drops, and plot points that we will be circling the 'Reign of the Supermen' storyline. Or, at the very least, what it means to be Superman, what it means to be Kryptonian, and how one can define themselves. We hear about Hank Henshaw. We see Bizarro. We see Supergirl recognizing the psychological weight of needing to redefining herself away from Brainiac, Kryptonian robots hinting at the need to reinvigorate their culture, and we even see Lois dealing with her upbringing and how that made her who she is. All of that is reflected against Superman's sunniness and his Kent upbringing. Whew ... all that in the first episode.
But in all that thick plot, there is still the fun and joy we saw in this show's first two seasons. Clark and Lois' flirting and teasing. Jimmy and Kara's romance. Kara still being a bit of a stranger in a strange land. And Clark just wanting the simple things in life like a Halloween festival, the crispness of an autumn day, and a dog.
For Supergirl fans, she will clearly be a central figure on the show as she struggles with her new life. Should be a great showcase for her and will resonate with the movie's take on Kara.
On to some details and highpoints. There are a lot so settle in!
Upset by the Brainiac talk, Kara flies off questioning herself, asking who she is. It doesn't get more existential than that. Who is she in this universe, on this world, in this family.
We start with the cousins flying to a new Fortress, cared for by Kryptonian robots.
Love the Supergirl costume this season. The cape is more like a hood/cloak look. The red skirt has a sort of Amazonian feel. And love the blue pants as well.
Somehow Brainiac is still around, either imprisoned or in some virtual reality in the Fortress and Supergirl has to say her piece, trying to close her past.
But it is a tense scene. Brainiac says that he knows who Kara really is. That this 'Supergirl' is an act that has fooled Superman. She isn't changed.
Kara says she knows who she is. But you can tell she is shaken by this conversation.
Remember, last season we learned she was a genocidal tool for Brainiac, destroying planets for him, killing millions. Even if he was controlling her for those deeds, she was his vanguard. She must be troubled. She is probably looking for forgiveness.
Remember, last season we learned she was a genocidal tool for Brainiac, destroying planets for him, killing millions. Even if he was controlling her for those deeds, she was his vanguard. She must be troubled. She is probably looking for forgiveness.
It will be interesting to see if she rises above or sinks into old routines.
As for the Kryptonian robot stewards, Superman was surprised to see them. They must have self-formed. They inundate him with tasks in the Fortress.
The lead robot says Superman will need to learn about Kryptonian culture and his duties.
Sounds like a veiled threat. Throughout the show, Krypton has been shown to be a war-like race with conquering goals. I wouldn't be shocked if these things want to somehow take over Earth.
Love this panel of her in her new costume over a bright blue world.
Here in a black uniform flying above a nighttime dark Earth.
She is different now, brighter and sunnier. But who she was is still in her.
Great callback by the show's creators.
After all that we flip completely, going to a sillier scene of Lois, Clark, Jimmy, and Kara at the Kent pumpkin festival around Halloween. Kara is thrilled to say how she and Jimmy are couple-costumed as Rocky and June from the Challengers of the Unknown. Nice deep cut.
But you can see how playful these two are, early in their romance.
There is a nice bit of plot echoing.
Jimmy thinks this Supergirl thing will be short-lived because she is going to see the world and he isn't good enough. Love his worried expression. Lois tells him to be honest about his feelings and go for it. Change is good.
Right after that exchange, Clark tells Lois how he has been looking at farmhouses outside the city for them to move into. The concept scares her. It is so much change. Now it is Clark who tells her change can be good.
Again, it will be fun to track these two romances. This is all new for Supergirl. For sure, her emotions will be complicated and perhaps almost juvenile.
The four characters break into the place and discover tubes with half-formed cloned organisms with Kryptonian DNA. But one seems to have been viable and out of the tube - B1Z. Of course, the Bizarro connection is clear.
One room has Kryptonian flora.
Whoever makes this show must be a comic fan or up on their classic Superman mythos. Clearly this is the Scarlet Jungle. So cool.
Even deeper, they find an area of Earth trees and fine someone buried, in an almost honored way.
It is Dr. George Otto Binder, one of the lead scientists.
Hard to think a monster lives in this place if they lovingly buried this man. Hmmm ...
Of course Otto Binder and George Papp wrote the first Bizarro story. So George Otto Binder is a nice nod to the creators. (Binder also created Supergirl so a bit of overlap.)
While at the grave, Bizarro comes out and tries to attack. Supergirl is able to throw him off.
As a long time Supergirl fan, hearing her call the Kryptonian clone 'an abomination' really stinks of her thoughts around Superboy in the New 52. She used those words all the time.
Will Superman be able to teach her to respect this new life? Or will she be hard-headed and violent about it, like the tool of Brainiac? Maybe I am over-reading this. But that New 52 language hit me hard.
Bizarro runs off when it hears some noise and Superman goes off to investigate. Turns out the noise is a robot guardian, intent on attacking Bizarro and Superman.
Meanwhile, investigating the are more, Supergirl, Lois, and Jimmy come across Bizarro's home. There are tapes of Binder telling Bizarro it is okay to be scared sometimes and sad. It is okay to be angry sometimes but you can't lash out. Overall you must be kind.
How wonderful for Bizarro to be brought up with such love.
And it is a perfect counterpoint to Kara's upbringing. Lois and Jimmy were wrong when they had assumed the place was set up to create weapons. This upbringing is not a weapon's upbringing and Kara would know.
What a powerful scene. Anything that help Kara come to terms with her past, help her recognize it, has to help her on this journey. Otto Binder telling Supergirl to be kind is pretty meta too!
The robot rumbles with Superman and ultimately self-destructs bringing the place down around them.
Bizarro ends up saving Superman and then going out into the streets (luckily it is Halloween so he walks around freely).
In his mind he hears the hopeful words of Binder telling him his life's path is his to choose.
I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see B1Z for a while in this show.
And then, a great cliffhanger.
Caliban was a LexCorp lab. It was a failure and Lex is willing to write it off.
It is time to talk to Hank Henshaw.
What an amazing opener!
But I am ready to see this Supergirl plot play out. While I feel the things they have made this character do on the show is awful, I am hoping there is a bright outcome.
What did you all think?
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