Spoilers Supergirl - Season 5
- Thread starter dahj
- Start date
Catching up to Supergirl, I'm up to the episode where Alex gets the Martian transforming She-Ra weapon and please someone tell me it turns into a sword at some point!
We don't know.
Alex needs a user manual for it but all she's got is J'onn 
so she's spending time trying to learn how to use it.
[/spoiler
so she's spending time trying to learn how to use it.[/spoiler
I thought it was more of a trust issue?
They’re just waiting until the finale where she’ll bust it out and create a virtual clone of Supergirl with her mind.
Well....
After seeing you say something like this, and the attitudes you've shown in the past, I would not be not be entirely surprised if you did.
QUOTE="Kirk Prime, post: 13322156, member: 73917"]
First of all, it is NOT a children's show, and if it were, the subject matter is BEYOND inappropriate.
[/QUOTE]
Not at all, I'd say it's the best place to do it. It's a fact of life that transgender people are around, and it's best to introduce kids to that fact early so it's not as much of a shock later.
I got caught up and the last episode was not exactly subtle with it's message, but I think it is an important issue and they handled it pretty well. I didn't really see it as preachy, since it was everything was entirely in character and appropriate to the story. The only time I really have a problem with this kind stuff is when they have the characters acting out of character or if it is not appropriate to the story.
The Alex story was pretty good to, I like the fact that we're finally getting a story for her that isn't entirely focused on her love life.
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There's no reason it should be a shock. Kids don't have preconceptions about gender; tell them that some people get mistakenly assigned the wrong gender at birth and have to fix it later, or that not everybody falls neatly into one of two categories but sometimes people wind up in between them, and they'll just say "okay" and accept it. They have no reason not to. Prejudice has to be taught.
She tried to murder the man, then threatened to wait for him when he's released. There's nothing heroic about that. Compare that to Jennifer Pierce from Black Lightning, who was arguing with her father over his non-lethal force philosophy, only to regret it once Odell manipulated her into killing (as she's pointed out to Jefferson, Khalil, Brandon and others). Nia had no remorse at all, and that's largely due to the writers/showrunners having no problem with Nia's position / desire to kill to protect it. Indeed that does weaken the character.
The problem is that Berlanti, et al., created this series with the intent of being a socio-political soapbox above all else (most of the time), and its always been a screaming brick through the window. In the case of James Olsen, they revealed how he was only there to be a token for "flavor"/points, since he was never written by anyone who would have him act in life as a black male dealing with issues (on the street or as Guardian) unique to his world view, and that no one other character would have a clue about--much like the writers. It was easier to give him a Very Special Episode that was utterly devoid of substance about his position/perspective in life, then sweep him under the carpet, since he never represented the issues they really care about.
Yes, it seems like a bit of filler will be what drives the remaining handful of episodes, only to have the Leviathans and /or Lex meet their end (prison more than the chance Lex will be bumped off) probably thanks to some "making a stand" scene involving SG, Rojas and Lena. then its back to grinning.
As I elaborated earlier, I would have liked for the writers to have SG and Nia involved in a season-long character arc where:
- SG has a crisis of faith about her ability to mentor Nia
- Nia has a crisis about her ability to be a hero and about her ability to control her powers without hurting/killing
- Elements of transphobia are presented throughout the season, leading Nia closer and closer to the precipice of losing control of her powers
- SG, on the verge of losing Lena as a friend, finds it difficult to talk to Nia about hope and being a hero
- Nia, in a moment of anger, tells Supergirl off for being hypocritical
- SG has a very personal fight with an enemy where Alex is almost killed; SG comes very close to killing that enemy herself, but at the last moment realizes that's not who she is
- Nia observes this fight and realizes that being a hero is about self-control, compassion and forgiveness as much as it is about justice
- SG realizes that mentoring Nia is about setting a example as much as it is about teaching and telling
- Nia has her faith about being a hero restored, SG has her faith about being a mentor restored
Both characters experience growth and this is 100x more compelling than what the writers actually did having Supergirl deliver a preachy and stilted speech about not resorting to violence. Show us, don't tell us. Having one episode about this issue was also a disservice to Nia and Nicole Maines. It should have been a multiple-episode arc.
I don't mind them using this series to deliver social messages; it's one of the reasons why I watch it, I like the message of optimism and hope the series delivers. It's just that I feel they've lost a lot of that charm from the earlier seasons.
It seems highly likely to me that Lex will be written off SG and transferred to the new Superman and Lois series as the primary villain there.
Supergirl
Season 5 / Episode 16 - "Alex in Wonderland"
SG/Kara: For once, she was sort of correct about Jeremiah, while Alex was being an unreasonable dick with misplaced anger/jealousy toward Kara.
Yep, Benoist is in coat-wearing phase (2nd week in a row). The time-honored visual trick of pregnant actresses on weekly TV series.
Alex: Alex being an idiot should not be rewarded with her somehow stumbling on the link between the Obsidian contacts and the Leviathan gang's Coma room.
Her VR fantasy message was on point (being trapped in a fantasy world), but it was yet another Very Special Episode about the grass not being greener on the other side--accepting her reality. This did not need a full episode to tell this story, or its tenuous connection to the Leviathan /Lex plot.
Kelly: "...nothing to do." The story of this character since her shoehorning into the series.
Lex: Dey--and everyone who was a part of the transformed world has no real reason to start mistrusting Lex now; its all based on Kara's whining, which is not evidence that should make anyone doubt the reality they've known for so long. The basis of this "Get Lex" plot is paper-thin at best.
Leviathans: Hopefully this goes somewhere soon, and with you-know-who being a plant to work against Rojas, Lena's villainy should be ramped up, instead of fading away.
NOTES: Ohhh, those horrible FX.
GRADE: C-.
Season 5 / Episode 16 - "Alex in Wonderland"
SG/Kara: For once, she was sort of correct about Jeremiah, while Alex was being an unreasonable dick with misplaced anger/jealousy toward Kara.
Yep, Benoist is in coat-wearing phase (2nd week in a row). The time-honored visual trick of pregnant actresses on weekly TV series.
Alex: Alex being an idiot should not be rewarded with her somehow stumbling on the link between the Obsidian contacts and the Leviathan gang's Coma room.
Her VR fantasy message was on point (being trapped in a fantasy world), but it was yet another Very Special Episode about the grass not being greener on the other side--accepting her reality. This did not need a full episode to tell this story, or its tenuous connection to the Leviathan /Lex plot.
Kelly: "...nothing to do." The story of this character since her shoehorning into the series.
Lex: Dey--and everyone who was a part of the transformed world has no real reason to start mistrusting Lex now; its all based on Kara's whining, which is not evidence that should make anyone doubt the reality they've known for so long. The basis of this "Get Lex" plot is paper-thin at best.
Leviathans: Hopefully this goes somewhere soon, and with you-know-who being a plant to work against Rojas, Lena's villainy should be ramped up, instead of fading away.
NOTES: Ohhh, those horrible FX.
GRADE: C-.
I thought it was decent, surprisingly so, actually. Moved the story along, which has been a huge problem this season as the main plot has literally stalled a few times already. Kara/Melissa can emote so well with her facial expressions alone; she's such an underrated actress.
Not anywhere near as good as it should have been.
This show has completely lost its sense of fun.
This show has completely lost its sense of fun.
You're right, Nia Nale show a very dark side of herself. For me, it participated to weaken the character (= her image), who is supposed to be strong and kind/generous. I didn't like the image which was sent from Nia in this episode! :-(
[QUOTE="TREK_GOD_1, post: 13325853, member: 5844"The problem is that Berlanti, et al., created this series with the intent of being a socio-political soapbox above all else (most of the time), and its always been a screaming brick through the window. In the case of James Olsen, they revealed how he was only there to be a token for "flavor"/points, since he was never written by anyone who would have him act in life as a black male dealing with issues (on the street or as Guardian) unique to his world view, and that no one other character would have a clue about--much like the writers. It was easier to give him a Very Special Episode that was utterly devoid of substance about his position/perspective in life, then sweep him under the carpet, since he never represented the issues they really care about. [/QUOTE]
That's why I didn't like S4a. Too morally compass. While the second part was good because based on pure action.
[QUOTE="TREK_GOD_1, post: 13325853, member: 5844"Yes, it seems like a bit of filler will be what drives the remaining handful of episodes, only to have the Leviathans and /or Lex meet their end (prison more than the chance Lex will be bumped off) probably thanks to some "making a stand" scene involving SG, Rojas and Lena. then its back to grinning.[/QUOTE]
Let's be honest, even if last 5 epsiodes were good, the s5 is a total mess and it will not catch errors made. This season was supposed to have several interesting plotlines (Kara's fight for Lena's soul; Kara's new great ennemy in the person of the Leviathan) and a new love interest in the person of William Dey, very less interesting so much, I think that Kara is better alone than her in forced relationships. And what have we gotten? Not much: where is Kara's fight for Lena's soul after 16 epsiodes already releasedl? Only the 5x13 showed a Kara deciding to stop lamenting about her betrayal and asking to Lena to face the consequenes of her actions ; the Leviathan (I don't know for you but for me, after 16 episodes, I still know nothing about this organization et the ramifications towards Kara and Lena; as for William Dey, his introduction as well as reporter as love interest was so badly done that his storyline seems to interest just a very few people (only 4 epsiodes on 16 was devoted to him and the 2 which focused on him as Kara's love interest were surrended by violent reactions and controversies => on my part, I'm happy with this situation: less William on my screen, best it is, btw!)
Instead, producers/writers scattered on useless storylines, like J'onn's brother, Rojas being Acrata and virtual reality lenses presented as dangerous because addictive.Without forgetting, too much of Lex Luthor!
I really don't know how they could make things better with only 4 epsiodes remaining to be released.I think it is too late for this season 5 become a "must see".
Sorry to no be optimist.
I was surprised to see that this was such a Supergirl-light episode. I would've thought we'd be past the episodes whose production overlapped with Crisis.
Speaking of absences, the plot with Jeremiah definitely felt like it was written around Dean Cain's unavailability, or perhaps the producers' desire to distance themselves from Cain given his attitudes and politics these days. First they kill off Jeremiah offscreen, then they make Alex work through it in a way where the payoff is accepting that she can't face him and he's just gone. It feels a bit unsatisfying dramatically.
I'm glad they didn't keep up the "back in the real world" fakeout for long before revealing Alex was still trapped. By now that's such a cliche that I always expect it, and while it was still a cliche, at least they didn't actually try to fool us for more than a moment.
Speaking of absences, the plot with Jeremiah definitely felt like it was written around Dean Cain's unavailability, or perhaps the producers' desire to distance themselves from Cain given his attitudes and politics these days. First they kill off Jeremiah offscreen, then they make Alex work through it in a way where the payoff is accepting that she can't face him and he's just gone. It feels a bit unsatisfying dramatically.
I'm glad they didn't keep up the "back in the real world" fakeout for long before revealing Alex was still trapped. By now that's such a cliche that I always expect it, and while it was still a cliche, at least they didn't actually try to fool us for more than a moment.
TVline jut gave ratings.
Supergirl did 651K / 0.2. Steady in the demp but the show matched its smallest audience ever.
IF I was one of CW's big bosses, I would wonder some explanations. to producers about the ratings of the current season and will force them to do a hell of cleaning in writers room, without forgetting to hire competent one and there are many.
Come on more we advance in the season, more ratings decline. And don't tell me that CW doesn't care there!
Supergirl did 651K / 0.2. Steady in the demp but the show matched its smallest audience ever.
IF I was one of CW's big bosses, I would wonder some explanations. to producers about the ratings of the current season and will force them to do a hell of cleaning in writers room, without forgetting to hire competent one and there are many.
Come on more we advance in the season, more ratings decline. And don't tell me that CW doesn't care there!
TVline jut gave ratings.
Supergirl did 651K / 0.2. Steady in the demp but the show matched its smallest audience ever.
IF I was one of CW's big bosses, I would wonder some explanations. to producers about the ratings of the current season and will force them to do a hell of cleaning in writers room, without forgetting to hire competent one and there are many.
Come on more we advance in the season, more ratings decline. And don't tell me that CW doesn't care there!
The CW...doesn’t care as much as you would think. They care more about the streaming numbers and SG is still a top 3 show for the network when it’s all said and done.
That said, they do need better writers. Or at least get back some of the Season 4 writers that left.
Melissa Benoist directed the next episode, so that's what they were freeing up her time to work on.
It makes sense, from a logistical standpoint. I'm sure they've probably wanted to write off Dean Cain for good for a while, and an opportunity for an unusually Alex-heavy and Supergirl-light episode gave them a good window to burn off that plotline.
To make it worse, believe I saw SG is one that hadn’t finished filming before the CoVid19 shutdown, so the finale isn’t even finished filming. Season is either going to stop cold, or they’ll just try and rework what footage they have to a less than planned finale. And Melissa’s pregnancy makes it even harder to knock out a couple scenes quickly later on if there’s a window to do so. Gonna be tough to land this plane
Exactly this. Plus with her pregnancy, she just wasn't going to be on set filming as much when it wasn't needed.
As for Dean Cain, yeah, I think he burned his bridges a long time ago with this show (and with most of Hollywood in general). They didn't even show his picture at his character's funeral.
SG was nearly finished; I believe they had literally a single day left on their shooting schedule when everything was postponed. Most of the main characters had finished shooting, including Melissa and David. The scenes that were left were with more minor characters like Nia and Brainy. What could be difficult though is finishing off CGI and editing.
Oh, that explains it. Same reason Caity Lotz was mostly absent from the LoT episode she directed (and the one before it, when she was in director prep).
I've been thinking they should mail everyone greenscreens and costumes and have them act out shows on virtual sets.
In fact, I gather than The Mandalorian is making a ton of use of a computer game rendering engine to create realistic interactive sets in real time for their rear-projected backdrops. I wonder if a game engine could be used to help create virtual sets for actors to participate in remotely. Sort of like an MMORPG, but with real actor footage superimposed over the game characters, or something like that.
I don't think the CW or Berlanti would go for that, although the CW is somewhat of a pioneer in trying unconventional things on TV/streaming.
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