Untitled design(51)

SUPERGIRL: A Mixed Bag

Supergirl’s 15th episode (“Exodus”) served as an obvious metaphor for the treatment of immigrants, right down to the black vans and quip about a fascist being in the White House. Families were torn from their lives, tricked into vulnerable positions, and treated like nothing more than chattel. Alex’s horror was also my horror: “You are forcibly deporting them.”

The episode also highlighted the importance of the media, of a free press—while lobbing a decent right hook at “fake news”—actual fake news, not the truth that small minds label it as such, because it offends their ego. That often feels like a certain scene in Monty Python to me.

Honestly? This was the first time I downright liked Ian Gomez (“Careful, Ponytail. You’re on def con three with the moxie.” Moxie! Fantastic word.). Don’t get me wrong: he’s no Cat Grant. And I feel her gaping absence like a sucker punch made of snark and a piping hot latte. In all things, I am Team Cat Grant.

Which brings me to my least favorite part of the episode. It’s not Mon-El and his endearing potsticker delivery (which was weird, because that felt like a very Jimmy thing to do). It wasn’t even his misuse of the word “blob” instead of “blog.” It also wasn’t his amusing Desi Arnaz impersonation. No, it was the idea that—after being fired and losing the job she loves—Kara could utter honestly saying that being Supergirl and having Mon-El in her life was enough. The job is who she is, not what she can do (“When I write, I don’t need a yellow sun. … I really loved that job.”) and she just…what? Gazes longingly into Mon-El’s eyes and stops caring?

For one thing, I don’t buy it. For another thing, it makes me angry. A significant other is not your whole world. Losing a job you love and having a boyfriend do not cancel each other out. What the actual fresh hell is that going to teach young girls? Spoiler alert: bad things, y’all.

I will say that Lena and Kara’s friendship makes me unspeakably happy. I love their dynamic, and how Lena dives in to help Kara discover the location of Cadmus. And sure, Supergirl saving Lena from her mother’s Goon Squad (Brute Squad?) was a nice touch. That’s what the show needs: girls saving and being there for each other.

Obviously, though, we have to talk about the elephant in the room: Alex. Yes, she was right in the end: Jeremiah threw down for her (“Dad, it’s time for you to do what you taught your daughters to do. Are you with me?”). However, she flew off halfcocked and nearly got launched into space. As far as plans go, that was not real great. And if it weren’t for Kara (and her encouragement of Kara), things would’ve gone a lot differently. I can’t really decide if I buy Maggie as a ride-or-die girl. I feel like Maggie is the kind of person who tells you when you’re being dumb. Support is imperative, but that felt oddly out of character.

I did love J’onn tricking Alex, as terrible as that sounds. David Harewood brings such complexity and concern to the role. He’s a better pseudo-father than Jeremiah is, for one thing. But he’s also a person who just seems to love his people—and Alex is his people. The scenes between Harewood and Chyler Leigh are always excellent.

Oh, and it’s official: I ship Lyra and Winn. Jimmy seems to as well (side-note: it felt like they didn’t know what to do with him. He’s a sounding board at the bar, then shows up to rescue Alex, while letting the bad guys get away. Um. Not all that helpful. And it was weird.). Anyway his quip about their drift compatibility was pretty great: “I’m actually a lot more impressed by how you speak Winn.” And, honestly? They seem to be the most in sync on the show. His face whenever he sees her—he lights up. He has a total and understandable meltdown when she’s taken. The kind of frantic, panicked lashing out that happens when you’re afraid you’re about to lose someone you love. Jeremy Jordan did a great job with that. And Lyra herself kicks a ton of ass. She threw down pretty fiercely when she was being abducted. She is not a helpless damsel.

We also got the briefest glimpse of Teri Hatcher and Kevin Sorbo, who are the aliens hunting Mon-El. And if they don’t turn out to somehow be his parents, I’ll be very surprised. I mean, clearly, they’re evil. Or at least evil adjacent. But I’m curious to see what trouble Lois Lane and Hercules get up to.

,

Comments are closed.

Welcoming the Future, Treasuring the Past.