Spoilers Supergirl - Season 2

[Reverend]

The thing with Kryptonite is that it *only* comes from meteorites and then only specific ones that presumably only started landing in the last three decades or so. As such it is *extremely* rare and if any is on the black market the cost would easily be in the seven figures per gram.

Not the kind of thing you'd expect a couple of half-wit bank robbers to be packing. That stuff is secret government agencies and billionaire mad scientists only.

 

[matthunter]

Not to mention, Kal's first instinct from decades of knowing he's bulletproof is to put himself in the path of bullets to prevent bystanders getting hurt. Instinct is hard to overcome, and if a bullet IS kryptonite, it will already start slowing him down as it comes closer, meaning he may not have time to avoid it entirely even if he spots it leaving the barrel.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Well at least he doesn't have to duck when they throw the gun like George Reeves did.

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[Christopher]

Not to mention, Kal's first instinct from decades of knowing he's bulletproof is to put himself in the path of bullets to prevent bystanders getting hurt. Instinct is hard to overcome, and if a bullet IS kryptonite, it will already start slowing him down as it comes closer, meaning he may not have time to avoid it entirely even if he spots it leaving the barrel.

Although they're ignoring that advice that James had for Kara in episode 2 (advice that he supposedly got from Superman) -- that, because bullets do bounce and endanger bystanders, she should ideally try to stop the bad guys from getting off a shot in the first place.

 

[Commander Richard]

I'd think that instinct would go the other way. Sure, reason says that kryptonite might be too expensive for the average joe or hard to acquire but getting shot even once or just knowing that it's out there should make them worried or cautious.

Although they're ignoring that advice that James had for Kara in episode 2 (advice that he supposedly got from Superman) -- that, because bullets do bounce and endanger bystanders, she should ideally try to stop the bad guys from getting off a shot in the first place.

Reminds me of this...

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The people in the helicopter were almost hit.

 

[Nerys Myk]

They need to go all Flash and pick the bullets out of the air.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

At least the baddie in the Superman Returns clip was trying to go for a soft spot at the end. They never do that when it would make sense (i.e. Batman).

 

[Christopher]

I'd think that instinct would go the other way. Sure, reason says that kryptonite might be too expensive for the average joe or hard to acquire but getting shot even once or just knowing that it's out there should make them worried or cautious.

Living in fear like that, expecting the worst of every situation, is not what defines a hero. This whole series has been thematically driven by the idea that it's a mistake to let fear determine your choices in life. And given that, to date, there's been no hint that anyone outside the DEO has access to kryptonite (aside from Max Lord's failed duplication that resulted in red K), the fear that some random street thug would somehow have kryptonite bullets would fall into the category of irrational paranoia.

Although that might change after next week, since it looks like the Supercousins are about to find out that Cadmus has some green K of its own.

 

[Nerys Myk]

At least the baddie in the Superman Returns clip was trying to go for a soft spot at the end. They never do that when it would make sense (i.e. Batman).

When Luke Cage was fighting Diamondback I kept wondering why he didn't hit him in his very exposed mouth.

 

[DigificWriter]

Living in fear like that, expecting the worst of every situation, is not what defines a hero. This whole series has been thematically driven by the idea that it's a mistake to let fear determine your choices in life. And given that, to date, there's been no hint that anyone outside the DEO has access to kryptonite (aside from Max Lord's failed duplication that resulted in red K), the fear that some random street thug would somehow have kryptonite bullets would fall into the category of irrational paranoia.

Although that might change after next week, since it looks like the Supercousins are about to find out that Cadmus has some green K of its own.

The only reason Cadmus has Green K is because they stole it from the DEO, which gives Clark even more reason to be angry at and distrustful of J'onn.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I guess I'm old and nostalgic, but liked Cadmus as goodguys.

 

[JD]

This is quite a snarky Superman.

I wonder why people even try shooting at Superman or Supergirl in the first place. I mean, if they were still largely unknown, it would make sense, but Superman's been world-famous for over a dozen years and Supergirl for a year now. So, really, is there a single bank robber who wouldn't already know that shooting at either of them would be a waste of bullets? (It's like that line in Luke Cage. "I guess you haven't heard about me.")

At this point this is so common to Superman/girl stories that I've learned to just go with it.

 

[Christopher]

I suppose it could be a matter of reflex -- people who believe guns give them power would default to shooting at anything that frightened them. People with actual firearms discipline, like soldiers, would be better trained at choosing their targets and knowing when firing would be a waste of ammunition, but ordinary bank robbers would probably put less thought into it.

Still, you'd think that after the first couple of bullets didn't do any good, the next step would be to try running away instead of just standing there continuing to fire. Or even just to drop the gun and say "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, please don't hurt me!"

 

[DigificWriter]

Criminals are invariably going to be stupid. That's why they're criminals. If they were smart, they'd find other ways to occupy their time, so it doesn't surprise me that you've got bank robbers shooting at the Supers even though their bullets just bounce off.

 

[Reverend]

Let's just get one thing perfectly clear: if someone fires at civilians with what he *knows* for a fact are kryptonite bullets, then he would still get in the path of those bullets and take the hit to protect said civilians. Because he's Superman.

He doesn't do what what he does because it's safe for him 99% of the time, he does it because he's a hero. It's part of who he is.

 

[Christopher]

Let's just get one thing perfectly clear: if someone fires at civilians with what he *knows* for a fact are kryptonite bullets, then he would still get in the path of those bullets and take the hit to protect said civilians. Because he's Superman.

He doesn't do what what he does because it's safe for him 99% of the time, he does it because he's a hero. It's part of who he is.

:applause:

This. Exactly.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Assuming they don't tack attempted murder onto your charges maybe it's a bragging point when they get thrown into prison. "I shot him right in the face!" "Man, I unloaded a whole clip into Superman before he got me."

 

[Nerys Myk]

Assuming they don't tack attempted murder onto your charges maybe it's a bragging point when they get thrown into prison. "I shot him right in the face!" "Man, I unloaded a whole clip into Superman before he got me."

"You and everybody else, mac."

 

[Christopher]

Assuming they don't tack attempted murder onto your charges maybe it's a bragging point when they get thrown into prison. "I shot him right in the face!" "Man, I unloaded a whole clip into Superman before he got me."

Attempted murder would require believing that your actions could have a lethal outcome. If you don't know or don't believe that Superman is invulnerable, then shooting at him would be attempted murder. But if you know that you can't kill Superman but shoot at him anyway just for symbolic reasons, then you wouldn't have the mens rea for attempted murder, and it'd probably be something more like battery. Plus reckless endangerment of bystanders, given the ricochet risk.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Attempted murder would require believing that your actions could have a lethal outcome. If you don't know or don't believe that Superman is invulnerable, then shooting at him would be attempted murder. But if you know that you can't kill Superman but shoot at him anyway just for symbolic reasons, then you wouldn't have the mens rea for attempted murder, and it'd probably be something more like battery. Plus reckless endangerment of bystanders, given the ricochet risk.

Guess it depends on who has the better lawyers. The argument could be presented that they must not have believed him to be invulnerable otherwise why shoot at him so they must have been trying to kill him. Might prove to be a deterrent to prevent the public from being hurt the next time.

BTW, I'm no lawyer and admit it's unlikely, hence my "assuming they don't..."