Three episodes in and it’s time for Supergirl to face her greatest threat yet… a hand-me-down from her cousin! Okay, that’s mean, and as we’ll get to in a sec the connection to Superman is addressed in many ways throughout the episode, but, honestly, I just couldn’t resist the crack.
Read on below for our Five Thoughts on Supergirl‘s third episode, “Fight Or Flight”.
1. Cat Grant v. Supergirl: Dawn Of Journalism
This episode picks up from the sort-of cliffhanger ending of last week’s episode with Supergirl finally sitting down (or, rather, hovering near) with Cat Grant for the big one-on-one interview. Sure, it’s not exactly “I like pink very much, Lois” levels of interview, but it’s a big step in Kara’s journey in the show. For the first two episodes, a lot has been made about how secretive Kara had to be about her identity and how she’s not ready for the limelight. This episode was largely about Supergirl having to put herself out there and face challenges by herself and a great way of showcasing that came with her confronting Cat Grant.
While Superman was pretty much lauded by the press, especially at the Daily Planet when he first showed up, it’s pretty interesting to me that Kara and Cat Grant’s relationship more closely resembles Peter Parker’s with J. Jonah Jameson. Having to work in your civilian identity with someone looking to undermine your heroic identity is a great way to come out as the underdog and this episode played with that dynamic in some pretty interesting ways.
Though, I was really hoping that at least in TV I could escape journalists over 40 griping about millennials, but I guess not.
2. The Toxic Avenger V: Low Budget Man Of Steel
I’ll admit, my first impressions of Reactron were… not great. The thing about Superman’s mythology is that outside of heavy hitter villains like Lex Luthor, Brainiac or Bizarro there’s really not a lot to work with. Reactron is no different and this episode largely didn’t do him a lot of favours. The budget certainly wasn’t enough to make his not-quite-Zod-from-Man-Of-Steel costume look anything other than cheap padding and the episode had way better things to do than actually give him any depth other than the generic “I don’t like Superman because tragedy in my past” reasons so he was just kind of… there.
Still, as a one-note villain who really just showed up to kick Supergirl around long enough until she came up with a way to beat him, he’s not the worst they could have picked. But he certainly wasn’t the highlight of the episode.
3. The Bureaucracy Of The DEO
This was something I found interesting: the DEO, Department Of Extra-Normal Operatives, apparently isn’t interested in tackling human criminals who use advanced technologies to enhance their abilities. Good news to any criminals out there in National City worrying whether or not to take their power armour on that upcoming heist.
Honestly, this was pretty much just padded conflict because the episode would have been over if Hank Henshaw had immediately decided to help out Supergirl, but it was actually kind of smart padded conflict. With Kara, Wynn and James setting up their own mini-S.T.A.R. Labs in the middle of CatCo (which, apparently, I’m supposed to believe won’t be immediately discovered by the custodial staff), it makes sense to keep painting the DEO in more constricting and sinister light to differentiate the two, especially given that Hank Henshaw is clearly already a cyborg and is using Supergirl to get his revenge on Superman for not saving his Fantastic Four-ripoff family.
I mean, what? Hank Henshaw being evil? No way…
4. The Problem With Being Superman’s Cousin
Supergirl is the closest we have on #DCTV to a legit legacy character and while that’s an interesting angle to give the character, forcing them to develop by perpetually placing them in the shadow of the hero they’re emulating, it’s hurting way more than Arrow or The Flash ever did because of the fact that they can’t seriously use Batman or Superman. This episode was really all about Kara learning not to lean on Superman or calling her cousin for help in dangerous situations… but the show does that by continually leaning on Superman references in every other scene and actually having Jimmy call Superman for help in this episode.
Continued belowLook, I get it. You want folks like me to jump up and down and get all giddy when you reference Superman because, for some reason, you still don’t think Melissa Benoist can hold this show down on her own even though she 100% can. But you gotta let it go. After this episode, this show really needs either knuckle down and just case Superman and have him show up as a recurring character or stop mentioning him for the majority of the rest of the scene. This halfway shit where Kara’s big connection to Clark is through off-brand Skype? Yeah, it’s not cutting it and it’s undermining all the development you’re trying to give Kara.
5. Maxwell Lord: I Can’t Believe It’s Not Lex Luthor!
So… we finally get to meet Maxwell Lord in this episode. And… yeah. He’s just Lex Luthor if Lex Luthor was Mark Zuckerberg. You know, because that’s a smart idea. (Nudge nudge wink wink Jesse Eisenberg reference). In all seriousness, though, Peter Facinelli has all the charm, swagger, suaveness and wit to capture this millenial, hip not-quite-Lex-Luthor. He just doesn’t have the presence. Or much to do, really. He goes from talking about trains to being captured to dancing with Cat Grant and while his mention last week was all about how he wants Supergirl to bugger off out of National City… both times he sees her this episode, he’s actually pretty chipper about her saving him.
Is he a villain? Is he going to be supporting Supergirl? Is he just a rich guy who’s going to show up every so often? I have no idea, but I feel like this episode needed to pick one and run with it.
