Spoilers Supergirl - Season 1

[Christopher]

This was pretty good, though not perfect. My favorite part is that Benoist spent the entire episode in Supergirl mode, not Kara. All my life, I've grown up with live-action superhero shows where the heroes spent most of their time in civilian mode, and I've loved how much time this show spent with Supergirl in costume, but this is the pinnacle -- a whole episode in costume. That's a rare thing in live action superhero shows, aside from a couple of Power Rangers episodes. There may have been a Batman episode or two where Adam West and Burt Ward spent the whole half-hour in costume, but probably only as part of a 2- or 3-parter. (Well, this is part of a 2-parter, essentially, but it was different back then.)

It's good that they addressed Superman's absence, but while it does settle some questions, it raises another: Namely, why doesn't Non send Superman to fight Supergirl?

And it would've made Kara's failure to save "Kelly" more potent if they'd seeded her as a recurring character. Apparently the actress (Carly Nykanen) has been in three prior episodes, but billed as "Editor," "Employee #1," and "Woman," so it's not like they set up much of an emotional investment in her character.

Also, why did J'onn and Alex arrive in Random Empty Lot instead of, ohh, showing up at Catco to team up with Supergirl? And why did Maxima get released before all the other DEO inmates? Although that was a pretty cool action sequence, and an impressive win for Supergirl, beating Maxima and the DEO and stopping the prisoner release all by herself. I loved it how she used her own spaceship to save herself for a second time.

As is so often the case, the strongest part came from Cat's scenes with Supergirl and the pep talk she gave. It's an important message, that we should look beyond fear to guide our choices. So many political factions today are built entirely on fear, on being afraid of those unlike themselves or promoting fear to manipulate people. The idea that we have to embrace something more constructive than fear isn't just a hokey comic-book trope, it's a genuinely meaningful statement in this day and age. And it's great that, not only was Cat able to reach Supergirl, but Supergirl was able to reach Max. Hopefully she can even find a way to convince Non, who does seem to be a well-intentioned extremist.

 

[SAndrews10]

Can't find anything online to verify, but I guess there's grumblings that the CW might be the one to re-air season 1 this summer.

 

[Morpheus 02]

Kinda bogus that they had superman under mind control when they just extant he is off world.

But I DID like the Harrison Ford reference

 

[Christopher]

Kinda bogus that they had superman under mind control when they just extant he is off world.

Maybe he was offworld in order to find something that would help fight Myriad, and he was bringing it back with him when he fell prey to Myriad's control.

I'm more interested in Max's explanation for why Superman was affected. Sure, on the surface, it's just an easy copout so Supergirl has to save the day, but I like what it implies from a character standpoint. One of the defining traits of the post-Crisis Superman, more so than pre-Crisis, is that he grew up thinking of himself as human, and that his identity as a member of humanity, adopted or not, is more important to him than his Kryptonian identity. And in this show, that's what distinguishes Kara from him -- the fact that she is fundamentally Kryptonian in her identity and values. So it's fitting that that difference in self-definition manifested in a plot-relevant way.

And it's interesting to contemplate philosophically, too -- the idea that how you choose to identify and define yourself could influence your thinking, even your very nature, on a fundamental level. I wonder, is there also an upside to Superman considering himself more human than Kryptonian? Could it somehow make him slightly less vulnerable to kryptonite than his cousin?

It's also interesting that Max knows so much about Superman's upbringing. I could buy that he deduced Superman's identity as Clark by extrapolating from his knowledge of Kara's identity, but Cat didn't seem surprised by any of his spiel. So is it common knowledge that Superman has a civilian identity and grew up on Earth? One other element of the post-Crisis continuity is that the idea of Superman even having another identity wasn't known to most people. If it's common knowledge here, that's a more pre-Crisis approach.

 

[tomalak301]

I've been championing this show a lot lately but this is the first episode in this half of the season I really wasn't enthused about. Maybe it was the political lecturing, or talking about global warming, or whatever but for two episodes left in the season I kind of expected a little more push. I always love the Kara/Cat pep talks and honestly I got a little emotional during the Hope speech because while most shows revel in darkness and despair, I appreciate this one taking a lighter approach and saying yes there is hope in the world and we should never lose site of it.

Also, the writing left some to be desired. Alex didn't need to join J'onn, the jump off the ledge didn't have the emotional impact I think the writers were going for, and honestly the guy playing Non is a bit annoying. I do wish Astra was the big bad for the entire season even though I understand the reasons why that wasn't the case. I am looking forward to the finale. Hopefully this set up gives us a great finale next week.

 

[JD]

This was pretty good, though not perfect. My favorite part is that Benoist spent the entire episode in Supergirl mode, not Kara. All my life, I've grown up with live-action superhero shows where the heroes spent most of their time in civilian mode, and I've loved how much time this show spent with Supergirl in costume, but this is the pinnacle -- a whole episode in costume. That's a rare thing in live action superhero shows, aside from a couple of Power Rangers episodes. There may have been a Batman episode or two where Adam West and Burt Ward spent the whole half-hour in costume, but probably only as part of a 2- or 3-parter. (Well, this is part of a 2-parter, essentially, but it was different back then.)

It's good that they addressed Superman's absence, but while it does settle some questions, it raises another: Namely, why doesn't Non send Superman to fight Supergirl?

And it would've made Kara's failure to save "Kelly" more potent if they'd seeded her as a recurring character. Apparently the actress (Carly Nykanen) has been in three prior episodes, but billed as "Editor," "Employee #1," and "Woman," so it's not like they set up much of an emotional investment in her character.

Also, why did J'onn and Alex arrive in Random Empty Lot instead of, ohh, showing up at Catco to team up with Supergirl? And why did Maxima get released before all the other DEO inmates? Although that was a pretty cool action sequence, and an impressive win for Supergirl, beating Maxima and the DEO and stopping the prisoner release all by herself. I loved it how she used her own spaceship to save herself for a second time.

I just assumed he landed because he was so weakened trying to block Alex from Myriad.

As is so often the case, the strongest part came from Cat's scenes with Supergirl and the pep talk she gave. It's an important message, that we should look beyond fear to guide our choices. So many political factions today are built entirely on fear, on being afraid of those unlike themselves or promoting fear to manipulate people. The idea that we have to embrace something more constructive than fear isn't just a hokey comic-book trope, it's a genuinely meaningful statement in this day and age. And it's great that, not only was Cat able to reach Supergirl, but Supergirl was able to reach Max. Hopefully she can even find a way to convince Non, who does seem to be a well-intentioned extremist.

This one was pretty good.
They did actually give us a legitimate excuse for why Superman couldn't help at first, and then having him vulnerable to Myriad was a nice way to get him off the playing field. Either one of those would have been enough, so it was a little weird they gave use both so close together.
We got lots of good stuff between Supergirl and Cat.
I like that Supergirl was actually able to talk Max out of using the bomb.
J'Onn meeting Alex's mom was fun.
I was a little annoyed that they left J'Onn's fate ambiguous here, but then showed him alive and well in the preview for next week.
With the way things played out here, I'm wondering if they might talk Non down, but not Indigo and we end up with her as the actual final Big Bad for the season. She definitely seemed a lot more aggressive and hostile than Non here.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I wonder if that "energy ball" Non has will ever be explained or named? Obviously its inspired by the Omegahedron from the 1984 movie. I imagine that is probably what the writers call it even if its never named in dialogue. But its surprising its not been addressed what it is or what he is doing with it. Yet it stands out in every scene Non holds it in. Maybe that will be addressed next week. Kara gaining control of it may help defeat him.

 

[The Old Mixer]

I thought the ball was Myriad?

There's something fundamentally disappointing about having multiple Kryptonians as villains and they use a mind control plot that involves everyone standing around talking for most of the episode. Also, while Alex had to be there because plot, it made her look pretty amateurish that she basically handicapped J'onn from doing his thing. Obviously the show has to hold back from giving us too much superpowered spectacle, but the writing just isn't up to selling that need to hold back story-wise. Too much time was spent on the false jeopardy of a plan that we knew Supergirl would never go for.

The best part of the episode was Cat walking into the office like nothing was going on, but isn't it convenient that Max protected her out of all the citizens of National City?

 

[Guy Gardener]

Max knows Kara is Supergirl.

Maybe he's into Cat, or maybe he needed an ally to manipulate Supergirl/Kara who he knew Supergirl would listen to.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Except that Cat turned Supergirl against Max's plot.

 

[Sto-Vo-Kory]

I'm guessing Max Lord will somehow absorb Myriad's mind control power in the finale to become more like his comic book counterpart.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

I've been championing this show a lot lately but this is the first episode in this half of the season I really wasn't enthused about. Maybe it was the political lecturing, or talking about global warming, or whatever

Social and political lecturing has been one of the only hallmarks (albeit negative) of the series. Its in nearly every episode, when the focus should have been building a solid representation of the source.

I always love the Kara/Cat pep talks and honestly I got a little emotional during the Hope speech because while most shows revel in darkness and despair, I appreciate this one taking a lighter approach and saying yes there is hope in the world and we should never lose site of it.

But its nothing new; how many episodes have James giving her a "hope" or "duty" speech? He's been giving her pep talks to this insecure heroine over and over again, which is contradictory storytelling, since the series has her stomping about, full of of confidence, and thinking she knows what to do...yet she always needs her weekly session on the couch to get by.

Also, the writing left some to be desired. Alex didn't need to join J'onn,

I pointed that out yesterday, but in order to create a false dilemma (Alex being kidnapped), once again, they have her--out of her league--facing super-powered enemies. Of course, that is more producer agenda , and the aforementioned false dilemma of Alex also turned into an enemy that any sensible plotting.

...but I'm guessing the entire conflict will include yet another "sisterhood" speech--possibly to Non, because everyone else in that world show has watched that show.

the jump off the ledge didn't have the emotional impact I think the writers were going for,

Do you mean the redshirt victim, or James and Winn? Either way, it would not be effective, as no one had even a moment of doubt that James and Winn would be saved, while the redshirt was faceless, so the audience had no emotional investment in her fate.

and honestly the guy playing Non is a bit annoying.

I think Non's cool, mustache-twisting evil works better that the rest of the cackling villains of the season,none feeling like a serious threat at all,aside from certain traits explored with the Master Jailer.

 

[DigificWriter]

I really enjoyed last night's episode and didn't feel like it was in any way "incomplete", although I was surprised when it ended because things went so fast that, before I realized it, we'd hit the bottom of the hour.

I have to say that I now officially love Peter Facinelli's Maxwell Lord and don't want him to go anywhere next season (even though I know there's a distinct chance that he could be gone since Peter took a lead role in the Pilot for another show). He was a little quick on the trigger for a bit, but eventually came around to Kara's way of thinking, showing that he's not a completely callous bastard. I also loved his snarky flirting with Cat.

While we're on the subject of callous bastards, I thought it was great that General Lane and Kara were able to have a civil conversation, and almost wish we'd seen more of him in the episode.

I don't know why, but I'd somehow gotten it into my head that we were going to get to see Melissa, Helen, and Laura on-screen together at the same time in a single scene, and was sad that we didn't, but it's still a milestone that we got all 3 of them in one episode.

Speaking of both Eliza and Indigo, I loved how Eliza went into full-on scientist mode and was asking J'onn questions about his Martian physiology and exactly how his shape-shifting abilities work, and also really liked the fight between him and Indigo, even though it sucked seeing him get stabbed.

I've seen certain reviews describe the Myriad plan itself as kind of underwhelming, but I personally found it really scary, especially since the people it affected weren't just behaving as a "hive-mind" but could have their bodies and minds taken over directly by Non. It reminded me very much of the Borg from Star Trek, and was therefore really creepy.

I can't wait to see how all of the lingering threads from this episode get resolved next week, so the writers did their job correctly.

10 out of 10 for me.

 

[Christopher]

With the way things played out here, I'm wondering if they might talk Non down, but not Indigo and we end up with her as the actual final Big Bad for the season. She definitely seemed a lot more aggressive and hostile than Non here.

Yeah, that's my sense too. Introducing Indigo as the intractable, genocidal fanatic puts Non in the role of the more reasonable, redeemable villain, a reversal of the Non-Astra dynamic. So it's an effective way of setting him up to come around.

I thought the ball was Myriad?

It does seem to be the control unit, yes.

There's something fundamentally disappointing about having multiple Kryptonians as villains and they use a mind control plot that involves everyone standing around talking for most of the episode.

No doubt they're saving as much of their budget as they can for next week's finale. Still, I generally prefer talking to fighting. Supergirl talking Max out of his bomb scheme was a much more difficult and impressive thing to achieve than just punching an alien.

The best part of the episode was Cat walking into the office like nothing was going on, but isn't it convenient that Max protected her out of all the citizens of National City?

Cat is the most powerful and connected businessperson in National City (even more so than Max himself, though he'd be loath to admit it), so she'd be a valuable ally. And we've seen them flirting before, so we know he has a personal stake in her well-being. And he knows that Cat is a mentor for Supergirl in both her identities, and thus her presence could be valuable for Supergirl as well as himself.

I'm guessing Max Lord will somehow absorb Myriad's mind control power in the finale to become more like his comic book counterpart.

Interesting thought, but I don't think it would fit with the "face turn" he seems to be taking lately. Although maybe that could be a tragic angle, that he turns to the light side under Supergirl's influence, but is then corrupted again by power.

Speaking of both Eliza and Indigo, I loved how Eliza went into full-on scientist mode and was asking J'onn questions about his Martian physiology and exactly how his shape-shifting abilities work, and also really liked the fight between him and Indigo, even though it sucked seeing him get stabbed.

This is a pet peeve of mine, as readers of the Heroes Reborn thread will remember. How can a shapeshifter even be injured? Why can't he just shift the injured part of his body back to an intact form? Even if it takes an effort of will to maintain an altered form, at least he could hold the injury together long enough to prevent bleeding out. Not to mention that there was a much more appropriate way to endanger J'onn already present in the scene. He and Indigo were fighting next to a burning shack, and we know fire is his weakness. Seems a waste not to make use of that. At the very least, the heat from the fire could've been shown to weaken his abilities enough to let the stabbing take hold.

 

[Mike Farley]

There was a neat bit in the 5Years Later Legion of Super-Heroes where Chameleon Boy is revealed to have survived a "certain" kill shot because he has rearranged his internal organs for combat purposes.

 

[Dick Whitman]

It does seem to be the control unit,

It is also what Non used to reconstruct Indigo. So I think its more than just Myriad.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

I've seen certain reviews describe the Myriad plan itself as kind of underwhelming, but I personally found it really scary, especially since the people it affected weren't just behaving as a "hive-mind" but could have their bodies and minds taken over directly by Non. It reminded me very much of the Borg from Star Trek, and was therefore really creepy.

Some might find it underwhelming because the mind control plot has two, unavoidable problems in an ongoing series:

1. Its been done to death.

2. None of the "A" & "B" characters will ever suffer permanent damage or threats, which removes the teeth from the threat. Audiences need to feel that there's a risk someone they see every week might suffer, with Supergirl not being able to do a thing about it. When that did not happen, the overall Myriad plan loses its main hook: controlling and using humans, no matter the risk to lives. No one thought James & Winn were ever in danger, or will suffer permanent damage from Myriad.

 

[dahj]

It is also what Non used to reconstruct Indigo. So I think its more than just Myriad.

It has a myriad of uses that ball.

 

[Christopher]

It is also what Non used to reconstruct Indigo. So I think its more than just Myriad.

Maybe it's a universal remote?

 

[davejames]

There's something fundamentally disappointing about having multiple Kryptonians as villains and they use a mind control plot that involves everyone standing around talking for most of the episode. Also, while Alex had to be there because plot, it made her look pretty amateurish that she basically handicapped J'onn from doing his thing. Obviously the show has to hold back from giving us too much superpowered spectacle, but the writing just isn't up to selling that need to hold back story-wise. Too much time was spent on the false jeopardy of a plan that we knew Supergirl would never go for.

The best part of the episode was Cat walking into the office like nothing was going on, but isn't it convenient that Max protected her out of all the citizens of National City?

Yeah I kinda have to agree. The episode started out really strong, but then became just a series of heartfelt conversations one after another which were clearly only meant to fill time. Usually the show knows where to put those moments to make them as effective as possible, but this time they really did seem to overdo it.

Social and political lecturing has been one of the only hallmarks (albeit negative) of the series. Its in nearly every episode, when the focus should have been building a solid representation of the source.

Not sure these quick off-hand remarks could really be considered "lecturing", but whatever. Clearly this is something that really jumps out at you for some reason.

But its nothing new; how many episodes have James giving her a "hope" or "duty" speech? He's been giving her pep talks to this insecure heroine over and over again, which is contradictory storytelling, since the series has her stomping about, full of of confidence, and thinking she knows what to do...yet she always needs her weekly session on the couch to get by.

Yeah there might have been a bit too much angst and indecisiveness from Kara this episode, but we still see an awful lot of that from Barry as well (even though he should be a whole lot more confident and experienced by now).