Spoilers Supergirl - Season 2

[Christopher]

The way they blocked out the scene between Alex and The Doctor was a direct callback to the first confrontation between Alex and Astra, and the same thing applies to the scene in Kara's apartment where she argues with Alex about Clark vis a vis the scene in the Pilot where they argue about Kara saving the plane, even though the characters are in different places in the former apartment scene than they are in the latter.

Different places in more ways than one. Pardon the digression, but when looking for info about the show's sets the other day, I found that, in the pilot, they'd shot Kara's apartment scenes in a real LA loft with rental furnishings, but then they had to rebuild the whole thing on the soundstage and make replicas of all the rental furnishings because it was cheaper than renting them for a year or more. You kind of have to wonder why they didn't just build from scratch in the first place, then, but I guess the economics of a pilot -- when you don't know if you'll even be making more than the one episode -- are different from the economics for a whole season.

Sorry, just thought that was interesting. Now back to our program.

I wish they hadn't decided to write Snapper Carr as such an a-hole, but we did get some humor out of Kara's awkward attempt at a snappy insulting retort, so I can live with the situation for now.

Well, it's consistent, given that the height of her trash talk to date has been "Oh, shut up, you mean girl!"

J'onn giving Superman the Kryptonite at the end of the episode is not something I was expecting, but it's a nice resolution to the tension between them and a good 'bridge' to future cooperative endeavors between the DEO and Clark, so I'm glad it happened.

I wonder if that means we won't see Alex use her super-armor again. It's unclear whether it merely emits kryptonite radiation or is actually powered by kryptonite, like Metallo is. If the latter, that would suggest it won't be used again, unless they can rig an alternate power source. Which would be good, because you don't want it to be too easy for Alex to win her fights just by armoring up.

Cat leaving is sad because I'm going to miss having Calista around every week, but I loved the au revoir scenes between her and Kara and her and Supergirl, and am eagerly anticipating what's going to happen the next time we see her on the show.

I'm torn between enjoying the warmer Cat-Kara relationship and missing her old evil-boss persona. I'm not quite used to her pronouncing Kara's name correctly.

James taking Cat's job as CEO is going to be interesting to see because of the potential conflict that could arise in relation to the other 'job' we know he's going to be embarking on within the course of the next 8 episodes, and I'm also intrigued to see if it creates any conflicts between him and Snapper.

Jimmy Olsen vs. Snapper Carr. That sounds like some gimmicky story they would've done in some Silver Age issue, the battle of the teen sidekicks. (Since Snapper was originally the Justice League's teen mascot, and essentially a Jimmy Olsen knockoff to begin with. Ian Gomez's version has got to be one of the most extreme mismatches between the original character and the adaptation's namesake.)

I saw some people complaining online about Clark's stay in National City ending after only two episodes, but my counter-argument is that I'm pretty sure we're operating "in real time" and it's been a week since the events of The Adventures of Supergirl, which extends the timeline of Clark's stay considerably.

It would make sense that it took at least a week to turn Corben into Metallo, if the other guy hadn't been Metallo-ized overnight. Well, it makes sense that you could go faster the second time, once you have some experience with the process.

I'm not really sure what the intent of the final scene with Mon-El waking up and attacking Kara was supposed to have been, but it seemed like a 'cheap' way to end the episode. We'll see how they resolve the situation, though.

This show loves its cliffhanger endings.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

So far he doesn't have movie star presence and I hate to say that because I like him quite a bit and he continues to grow on me.

No matter his performances in other roles, he's a poor Superman in his approach, and certainly appearance.

She has her own Perry White/J. Jonah Jameson. This'll be good.

...but for a series that takes a lion's share of its conflicts and plots from non-Supergirl sources, I would hope she does not have that White/J.J.J. relationship. Its so worn in the annals of comic book / adaptation history, that its not fresh, or appealing. It was enough for Carr to make Kara understand that she's not entitled, so she would learn the value of earning her place.

I noticed that too. I also got to thinking that this show is doing like Arrow and making everyone into a superhero of some sort.

...and that's a ridiculous development. The lead being a superhero loses its appeal if every other supporting player is a superhero. This is not a team series, but one supposedly focusing on one character as the superheroine.

They also didn't set any firm plans for her. It looked like she didn't have any but someone like her always has plans. Let's see if the politics thing pans out. Where else can she go?

The showrunners should have crafted a believable reason for Cat's departure--they knew Flockhart was not long for the show before the move north, so how difficult would it be to create some exit plot tied to anything established in season one?

I also noticed that Flockhart's face looked like it was airbrushed in post production.

Hiding the age as much as possible.

James Olsen's role on the show is hard to define now. Kara called him her Boss but is he really? Snapper Carr is her actual Boss. Is there really a need for her to ever go to that office now? Originally Jimmy was introduced as a representive of Clark/Superman. Someone to look out for his cousin. But now we have actually seen Clark and he will be back at some point. Plus Kara has shown she can handle herself. On top of having closer ties to stronger characters in J'onn and Alex. Jimmy is not even her love interest anymore. I like the actor but making Jimmy the Guardian will make him even less identifiable as "Jimmy Olsen".

The showrunners seem to have responded to the worst of the fanbase who resent Brooks as Olsen, so with each new development, he's marginalized as Olsen. First, the abrupt break-up with Kara (when that was one of the strongest running plots of season one), now his new job, and eventually, the Guardian, where his costumes life will likely smother his civilian identity, thus James Olsen the man is just a footnote.

 

[Noname Given]

Obviously, they'll do whatever they think serves the show where James is concerned. Aside from being "Superman's Pal," there's nothing much that connects James Olsen with Jimmy Olsen.

Oh yeah, he owns a camera. That connects him as closely to the comic book character Peter Parker as to Jimmy Olsen.

Taking Cat out of the mix of daily interactions between the characters at the office means that if they want to develop her own mini-arc through the latter part of the season (say, running for public office, although that frankly has big downsides as a storyline) they can have Flockhart up for a week to shoot scenes that get dropped into four or five or six episodes.

Presumably she's paid her full fee either way.

^^^
She has a good agent it seems.

 

[Mudd]

Well, she's the only name actor they've got. I guess that mattered to CBS; perhaps less so to the CW.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Bottom line, I think they missed a chance to have a good one on one scene between James and Clark. A lot of talk for a whole season of how close they are, finally Superman shows and it was barely shown at all.

Agreed--and its just another example of how the James Olsen character is marginalized. He is supposed to be Clark's best friend, yet he is pushed in the corner in favor of the tepid team-up of cousins. There was no sense that the two men were the best of anything, and before someone chimes in, predicting some future plot will have Clark and James having their moment, it should have happened in Superman's first visit to build on that season long reference to James being his best friend.

Hell, Winn seemed more like Clark's best friend than James.

 

[dahj]

And Kara has the same in National City, except the girlfriend (though that would be cool).

Wait till she meets Sara Lance in the crossover...

 

[DigificWriter]

If it turns out that Kara is the character who is the focus of the upcoming "coming out story", I personally want it to happen through an attraction to Lena Luthor, because there was major subtext present in their interactions in The Adventures of Supergirl.

 

[Christopher]

By the way, apparently I'm not the only one who thinks Cat secretly knows Kara is Supergirl, and Andrew Kreisberg hints that it could be the case:

http://www.cbr.com/supergirl-ep-on-whether-cat-grant-knows-karas-secret-identity/

Or not, depending on which way they feel the story should go.

The article also clarifies why they pulled back on Kara/James, and it points out something that hadn't occurred to me: This version of Snapper Carr is basically Lou Grant to Kara's Mary Richards. Except he doesn't yet think she has "spunk."

Oh, gosh, now I'm hoping somebody does a Supergirl/Mary Tyler Moore Show mashup video...

 

[JD]

...and that's a ridiculous development. The lead being a superhero loses its appeal if every other supporting player is a superhero. This is not a team series, but one supposedly focusing on one character as the superheroine.

I feel the opposite about this kind of stuff, I think it's more fun when they find ways for more of the cast members to get in on the action. There are plenty of solo comic series that have other superheroes as supporting characters, so I don't see why it's a problem for a show like this.
I'm surprised they are actually having Cat leave CatCo., I had just figured we'd see less of her because Kara wasn't working directly for her any more. I thought the character would still be there, but that she would just be off screen most of the time.

 

[Noname Given]

By the way, apparently I'm not the only one who thinks Cat secretly knows Kara is Supergirl, and Andrew Kreisberg hints that it could be the case:

http://www.cbr.com/supergirl-ep-on-whether-cat-grant-knows-karas-secret-identity/

Or not, depending on which way they feel the story should go.

The article also clarifies why they pulled back on Kara/James, and it points out something that hadn't occurred to me: This version of Snapper Carr is basically Lou Grant to Kara's Mary Richards. Except he doesn't yet think she has "spunk."

Oh, gosh, now I'm hoping somebody does a Supergirl/Mary Tyler Moore Show mashup video...

IMO - The writers should have just had Cat come out with it, and Kara acknowledge it during the "I'm taking a leave of absence..." scene.

I mean hell, Cat deduced Barry Allen was the Flash in that cross-over episode in the first 15 minutes. It really strains credability she wouldn't have figured it out even withe Martian Manhunter doubling for Supergirl to confuse Cat. (IE at some point Cat should have realized she was duped somehow by Supergirl.)

 

[Snaploud]

If it turns out that Kara is the character who is the focus of the upcoming "coming out story", I personally want it to happen through an attraction to Lena Luthor, because there was major subtext present in their interactions in The Adventures of Supergirl.

That would certainly provide a good explanation for why she broke things off with Jimmy.

 

[Noname Given]

Wait till she meets Sara Lance in the crossover...

^^^
Yep - that girl seduced the Queen of France in the 18th century, and most of the (by her own account) willing female 'witch' population of the Salem colony in the late 1600's.

 

[M.A.C.O.]

That would certainly provide a good explanation for why she broke things off with Jimmy.

Ah. So that explains this exchange last week.

I wonder how this will play. There were talks about making one of the Robins (Tim) and a Superboy (Connor) gay a few years ago. But you know, because of their flagship exposure, TPTB didn't go for it.

 

[Christopher]

I mean hell, Cat deduced Barry Allen was the Flash in that cross-over episode in the first 15 minutes. It really strains credability she wouldn't have figured it out even withe Martian Manhunter doubling for Supergirl to confuse Cat. (IE at some point Cat should have realized she was duped somehow by Supergirl.)

Heck, that very scene (where she revealed knowing that Barry was the Flash) contained the most blatant hint from Cat that she knows Kara's secret. When she said she could deduce the truth about someone hiding a secret identity "just like that," she reached out and snapped her fingers in Kara's face in a move that gave the impression she was about to yank Kara's glasses off. Of course, the writers and/or director did that to give us -- and Kara -- a moment of concern that Cat might be about to expose her, but it's easy to believe that subtext was just as intentional on Cat's part, a way of teasing Kara that she knew without admitting that she knew. The line and the gesture were just too on-the-nose for me to believe it was accidental.

The other most obvious hint, I feel, was in the red kryptonite episode when James and Winn were urging Cat not to go on the air to denounce Supergirl. She said "I'm sure you're both working to cure her," but that she had to do it in the name of public safety. But she had no reason at that time to believe that Winn had any connection to Supergirl and would've been in any way involved in efforts to cure her -- unless she also knew that Supergirl was Kara.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

I feel the opposite about this kind of stuff, I think it's more fun when they find ways for more of the cast members to get in on the action. There are plenty of solo comic series that have other superheroes as supporting characters, so I don't see why it's a problem for a show like this.

Its not a problem if nearly every major character--with a direct relationship to Kara--is not a superhero. As it stands, you have Hank, and James is around the corner. Supergirl should be unique with only a few guest appearances here and there. Its enough when Hank rarely shifts to his true identity--its not overkill that leads the audience to think the series will eventually be some loose, Justice League sans the title, instead of being the true adventures of SG.

I'm surprised they are actually having Cat leave CatCo., I had just figured we'd see less of her because Kara wasn't working directly for her any more. I thought the character would still be there, but that she would just be off screen most of the time.

With Flockhart's personal life dictating matters, it was easier to have Cat leave, so there's no typically bad TV explanations of the constant absence of a character (when the actress leaves for whatever reason) who is still said to be "in the world".

That would certainly provide a good explanation for why she broke things off with Jimmy.

That would be a terrible explanation; since the pilot, Kara has not indicated any change in her sexual identity, and from the start, she's exhibited nothing except a deep crush-turned-love for James, and no one else. It's bad enough that the PTB forced the break up with James which was completely out of character.

 

[Snaploud]

That would be a terrible explanation; since the pilot, Kara has not indicated any change in her sexual identity, and from the start, she's exhibited nothing except a deep crush-turned-love for James, and no one else. It's bad enough that the PTB forced the break up with James which was completely out of character.

I can't claim to have some special incite into a person coming out, but it seems to me that this would be a realistic development. She looked up to Jimmy because of his relationship with Superman and realized a lack of chemistry after their first kiss. She then finds herself attracted to somebody she probably shouldn't because of family issues, so she hesitates to even admit it to herself at first.

Of course, the idea of 'coming out' may just be an Earth thing. We don't know what social norms exist on Krypton.

 

[Marc]

If it turns out that Kara is the character who is the focus of the upcoming "coming out story", I personally want it to happen through an attraction to Lena Luthor, because there was major subtext present in their interactions in The Adventures of Supergirl.

Can't really see them going down that path - it would be courages move but I think the outcry from the social conservatives would create such a stink that in the long term it could be detrimental to the show.

 

[Christopher]

Can't really see them going down that path - it would be courages move but I think the outcry from the social conservatives would create such a stink that in the long term it could be detrimental to the show.

But Legends of Tomorrow has a lesbian female lead in Sara Lance, and I don't hear any outcry over that. (We've already heard that Sara's going to be attracted to Supergirl in the big crossover next month.) Not to mention gay supporting characters like Curtis on Arrow and Captain Singh on The Flash. And plenty of other CW shows have had lesbian or bisexual female characters, including The 100, The Vampire Diaries, Jane the Virgin, and Supernatural, although several have been criticized for a tendency to kill off such characters.

So including lesbian/bi characters on yet another CW show would hardly require courage; if anything, it's practically routine by this point, and it's not something the CW's target audience would be likely to have a problem with.

Indeed, next week's Supergirl episode will feature the debut of Maggie Sawyer (Floriana Lima), who's one of DC's most prominent lesbian characters. It's not yet established whether her sexuality will be addressed in the show, but given prior precedent, I expect it'll be acknowledged as casually as it was with characters like Curtis and Singh.

 

[sojourner]

But Legends of Tomorrow has a lesbian female lead in Sara Lance, and I don't hear any outcry over that.

Sara "White Canary" is essentially a new character and thus would not have the "controversy" that making Supergirl lesbian would. Your other examples are all supporting characters who also do not share the "cache" of Supergirl.

 

[dahj]

^^
As far as I know, Supergirl's love life has never really been a prominent feature of the comics, it's not like she ever had an iconic relationship or anything in the comics.
So I don't think her being gay would really be that controversial as people who would usually come out and complain masking their thinly veiled homophobia in "that's not what happens in the comics" wouldn't really have much to hide behind.