S3E9 "Reign" Discussion and Review

That final showdown was EPIC! It was a good cliffhanger too cause we were left knowing supergirl didn't 'die' but is gravely injured.

The christmas party scenes were fun. J'onn's love for jingle bell rock was funny!

I think a lot of those 'mind control' theories about Saturn Girl were shot down. Her appreciation and awe of supergirl was sweet to see although I hate seeing kara hurting. I can do without all of Kara's angsty pining. Mon-el looks happy and in love and he's definitely not the same guy from s2. He seems much more serious/mature.

I'm very underwhelmed by Lena/James. I guess the only thing the writers could come up with for James was this. I'm afraid he's gonna become a supporting character to Lena's storylines.

I can't wait to see more of Reign and the legion when the season returns!

They are on the verge of destroying Supergirl's character from likable to unlikable. Good point that any romance drama has come from Kara and I hope the writers realize this. With Kreisberg gone, they should be able to break away from this formula. She is becoming like Barry from season 3.

1) IMO if anyone, with the possible exception of J'onn, had tried to step into the fight it would’ve just been an additional distraction for Kara. She was already distracted with the civilians at the Christmas party and on the street at the end. The one thing the DEO, James and even Lena could have done is get the civilians the heck away from the fight and then stay a safe distance away themselves.
2) I've decided here's how I want the timing to go in the next episode. Kara is awake by the end of the first scene but not at full strength physically or mentally until the very end of the second to last scene. The last scene is an action scene and her first public appearance to let Reign and the city know she's back. In between her friends and family could help her recover mentally while time heals her physically. If done correctly that should provide an acceptable amount of Melissa time. It would be great if Cat could be one of those people but realistically I know that's probably not happening. How awesome would it be to have Cat come waltzing into the DEO demanding to see Kara(pronouncing the name correctly). I also think it might provide an opportune time to clue Lena in. After seeing that fight Lena would naturally ask James if he knew how Supergirl was doing. She would also ask him if he knew where Kara is. James could tell Kara that he's covering for her at work but Lena’s worried about Supergirl. Kara could to give him the OK to bring Lena to the DEO to see her and during the visit tells Lena the truth. Lena might be frightened enough for her friend that it tempers her anger at Kara not telling her earlier. I can picture Lena saying something like "Kara Danvers we will talk about why you didn't trust me but right now it's more important that we figure out how to beat this thing".

I'm probably in the minority but, I don't think that Lena should find out. I really don't see a necessity for it. Everything that has happened can either be excused or covered by J'onn. And with Lillian as her mother and Lex as her brother, Lena knowing would do more harm than good to Kara. It would just be another door opened to the Luthors and the rest of the world finding out and getting to Kara. Not to mention the fact that we still don't know how Lena is going to be down the road, if she will stay on the right side of morality or not.

***Editing this so I don't double post because I forgot to ask about Supergirl's suit. From the comics, is it supposed to have some type of special powers or is it reinforced in some way? The aftereffects of Reign's laser to her chest with the cloth ripped open but, the emblem still showing through underneath gave that impression.

For the question regarding why Kara's suit doesn't shred...

There were numerous reasons for this in the comics, for Superman, over the years. The first was that it was Kryptonian fabric that came in his pod. This obviously doesn't work for Kara, as Winn made her suit.

Another is that it was treated with certain chemicals. Again, out of the realm of possibility for Winn at the beginning of season one.

A more modern reason was that Kryptonians, under a yellow sun, emit a very thin aura over their bodies. This aura is at least part of their invulnerability. And it can protect any clothing close enough to their skin, but not loose fitting clothing.

This is likely the reason one would use for Supergirl. It explains why her original cape shredded in the pilot, as it's loose fitting. It explains why her clothes went up in flames in "Ace Reporter, but her suit was fine. And like any Kryptonian ability, this aura would depend on the solar radiation within the subjects cells. So if that radiation ran low or were exhausted, the subject's invulnerability would be compromised.

Also, invulnerability, in the context of Kryptonians, is a relative term. They aren't really invulnerable. It's just enhanced durability. If someone considerably stronger attacked, they would still be able to take damage, just as any human would in a fight.

This explains why Reign was able to make Supergirl bleed and bruise, as well as burn the emblem off her suit. She either exhausted the solar radiation in Supergirl's body, or was just strong enough damage Supergirl, despite her enhanced durability.

My theory is that the fight with Reign was a combination of those 2 factors. With every hit, bits of the solar radiation in her cells were depleted by the Supergirl's enhanced durability taking the overwhelming damage of Reign's blows. By the end, most of solar radiation was depleted, but not all of it. This is why Reign's heat vision damaged her suit, but did not completely penetrate it. It's also why Kara was still alive after her fall. If she were completely depleted of Solar radiation, she would have never survived the fall. She would have been just as vulnerable as any human. But enough of it was depleted to where she was either incapable of flying, or she was just on the verge of passing out before the fall even started.

She looked like she passed out on the way down, if you ask me.

Draftingafter is right. It is time for Kara’s Mon-El phase to fade. Kara’s current S3-Barry-mode must end soon, for she is a lot less compelling a character while it lasts. The distant and superior “not human” attitude and her lack of affection and warmth for anyone except Alex, Sam and Lena right now makes it extremely hard to root for her.

For its many flaws, S1 of the show drew me in mainly as Kara was a paragon of friendliness and understanding. She couldn’t be further from that at the moment.

Also the guy had 7 years. It’s not his fault. It is selfish to monopolise the grief and make him feel bad too.

Oh? But, he knows that she has had only seven months, right? Just because he has had time to move on, doesn't mean she has had the same time. Why should she be the only one showing concern for him and Imra? She is just asking for space and he is pushing to get everything right with her asap (like Kara did with Winn in S1).

I don't think she is monopolising anything. She is also trying her best.

Draftingafter is right. It is time for Kara’s Mon-El phase to fade. Kara’s current S3-Barry-mode must end soon, for she is a lot less compelling a character while it lasts. The distant and superior “not human” attitude and her lack of affection and warmth for anyone except Alex, Sam and Lena right now makes it extremely hard to root for her.

I think she also shows affection for J'onn and Winn. (not entirely sure why she didn't mention him being her best friend, but may be she thought girl friends? or may be she considers Winn as family just like Alex?)...

And compassion for random people on the street who might get hurt... That is ultimately who Supergirl is and I don't think she has lost that. Or will ever lose that. She had it even in the first episode when she was going with the most non-human thing, when she went to that hurt soldier.

Also, I don't think they are going to end the Mon El-Imra-Kara drama any time soon. It'd be great if they do... but, I think it is going to be a season long arc for her.

The unfortunate part of this (if true) is that the angst is solely coming from Kara. We've seen more than once that mon-el is happy with his wife and vice versa. So the drama of this triangle is purely kara agonizing over mon-el & Imra's marriage, and I am definitely not here for that.

Draftingafter is right. It is time for Kara’s Mon-El phase to fade. Kara’s current S3-Barry-mode must end soon, for she is a lot less compelling a character while it lasts. The distant and superior “not human” attitude and her lack of affection and warmth for anyone except Alex, Sam and Lena right now makes it extremely hard to root for her.

I think she also shows affection for J'onn and Winn. (not entirely sure why she didn't mention him being her best friend, but may be she thought girl friends? or may be she considers Winn as family just like Alex?)...

And compassion for random people on the street who might get hurt... That is ultimately who Supergirl is and I don't think she has lost that. Or will ever lose that. She had it even in the first episode when she was going with the most non-human thing, when she went to that hurt soldier.

Also, I don't think they are going to end the Mon El-Imra-Kara drama any time soon. It'd be great if they do... but, I think it is going to be a season long arc for her.

The unfortunate part of this (if true) is that the angst is solely coming from Kara. We've seen more than once that mon-el is happy with his wife and vice versa. So the drama of this triangle is purely kara agonizing over mon-el & Imra's marriage, and I am definitely not here for that.

I agree. I just don't see it ending any time soon.

And realistically speaking, I don't think Kara should be blamed so much for it either--I think she has been getting the short end of the stick pretty much this whole season for something that is pretty normal for any person in her situation.

I just hope they don't hammer at it too much when the season starts up again. If they do it'll become tiring very very fast.

Draftingafter is right. It is time for Kara’s Mon-El phase to fade. Kara’s current S3-Barry-mode must end soon, for she is a lot less compelling a character while it lasts. The distant and superior “not human” attitude and her lack of affection and warmth for anyone except Alex, Sam and Lena right now makes it extremely hard to root for her.

I think she also shows affection for J'onn and Winn. (not entirely sure why she didn't mention him being her best friend, but may be she thought girl friends? or may be she considers Winn as family just like Alex?)...

And compassion for random people on the street who might get hurt... That is ultimately who Supergirl is and I don't think she has lost that. Or will ever lose that. She had it even in the first episode when she was going with the most non-human thing, when she went to that hurt soldier.

Also, I don't think they are going to end the Mon El-Imra-Kara drama any time soon. It'd be great if they do... but, I think it is going to be a season long arc for her.

The unfortunate part of this (if true) is that the angst is solely coming from Kara. We've seen more than once that mon-el is happy with his wife and vice versa. So the drama of this triangle is purely kara agonizing over mon-el & Imra's marriage, and I am definitely not here for that.

I agree. I just don't see it ending any time soon.

And realistically speaking, I don't think Kara should be blamed so much for it either--I think she has been getting the short end of the stick pretty much this whole season for something that is pretty normal for any person in her situation.

I just hope they don't hammer at it too much when the season starts up again. If they do it'll become tiring very very fast.

What I am hoping for is they get over the Mon El part quick and focus on her entire legacy of losses like they have done so far this season--well, on the most part. It is something worth exploring in her character and something that Superman does not allow.

May be, by end of next episode, Kara will have come to terms with Imra and Mon El. However, the theme of loss and her dealing with it can still continue; especially with Reign being a kryptonian.

They are on the verge of destroying Supergirl's character from likable to unlikable. Good point that any romance drama has come from Kara and I hope the writers realize this. With Kreisberg gone, they should be able to break away from this formula. She is becoming like Barry from season 3.

I am not sure I agree with you about Supergirl who still seems to be a good character, but you raise an interesting question. Where were they in writing and filming when Mr. Kreisberg was iirc put on leave?

It's a bit hard to focus on the rest of the episode when they ended with that fight that was so well done. The fight, SG being a hero and a smaller portion of relationship exploration, should be the template that they utilize from this point on. It puts SG on a different level.

I liked the setup to Reign. Thought they did a pretty good job showing some of her power early and throughout the episode. The way she took down that gang without even being seen gave the appearance of her having a high level of powers. It will be interesting to see where they go with the whole mythology of being a god, the devil and Kryptonian history. Obviously, Coville believes and Hank seems to think there is something to the story but, neither Kara nor Reign believe that they are deities.

I liked the Christmas party, loved the interaction between Winn, Hank and Hank's dad. The only part that I didn't enjoy was Kara's comment about her good buddies, Lena and Sam. Kara's comment about never having best friends like Lena and Sam degrades her relationship with Winn and James, who were considered close enough to be called family in season 1. I'm a firm supporter of girl power but, not to the extent of tossing out history or forcing female relationships that haven't had time to develop yet. as in the case of Sam, who Kara has known for about 3 months.

Mon-el and Irma are okay. Glad to see that Mon-el has moved on, as he should have after 7 years, and that he is happy. Yes, Kara has to have time to adjust to the fact that he is alive, he's back and he's married. Won't happen over night and if Mon-el wasn't in her face, it would be much easier for her to do. I really do hope that the writers don't keep pushing this issue. Don't continue to create love conflict just to have conflict and allow Kara the space to adjust.

I'm not a fan of romantic relationships on the show, and honestly, for awhile I thought this was going to be the Lena and James mid-season finale. That said, the two have just as much chemistry as every other character that they've shoved together and in about the same amount of time. I like that James now seems to have a purpose beyond trying to be a hero, however feeble it is. Question - does he have some kind of power to just call that shield into existence?

Overall- best episode of the season for me thus far. Probably one of my top 10 of all at the moment.

So, I have no way to prove this. It's just a theory about that last scene, where Ruby comes down for Christmas and we see Sam at the window, possibly as Reign.

I think it's too early and too convenient for Ruby to find out about her mother this way. I think that ending was a red herring.

In that scene, we see Sam at the window, her hands kinda shaking or twitching, and then she turns to see Ruby.

I think it's possible that she's standing there, her hands shaking, because she's seen the news, and doesn't know how to tell Ruby what happened to Supergirl. We've seen multiple times that Supergirl is absolutely Ruby's hero. So to wake up on Christmas day and see the news about what happened to her...I think that would be really hard for Sam. And that's where episode 10 would pick up, with her trying to break the news to Ruby.

Just a theory. But I think it makes sense.

I don't think it is Reign either; and I like your theory; and I think it is plausible.

In time Kiwi or evrafter would have. I'd say the excitement for the crossover eclipses anything at the moment and normally discussions are not posted one week early.

Thanks for making this though

In time Kiwi or evrafter would have. I'd say the excitement for the crossover eclipses anything at the moment and normally discussions are not posted one week early.

Thanks for making this though

To be honest, im much more excited for the mid-season finale than the crossover. Im thrilled to see the continuations of the stories of mon-el, the legion of supe4heroes, and of course, reign.

To tell the truth, i think that the crossover came at a bad time for supergirl, because it ruin the momentum that the show got this week with mon-el's return and the awakening of reign.

I gotta get through the crossover first......

I wonder what the big cliff hanger for the mid season finale is going to be. I initially thought it was going to be Kara finding out Sam is Reign, but that seems to early to make that reveal given what we've seen of the other arrow verse shows with a 'hidden identity' big bad. (Reign wears a mask)

I wonder what the big cliff hanger for the mid season finale is going to be. I initially thought it was going to be Kara finding out Sam is Reign, but that seems to early to make that reveal given what we've seen of the other arrow verse shows with a 'hidden identity' big bad. (Reign wears a mask)

Yeah, I don't think she finds out that Same is Reign in ep. 9......she fights her in ep. 9 however, and from the pics out there is slammed pretty hard....to the point of bleeding.

Bless her heart, she goes from Overgirl to Reign.....

I wonder what the big cliff hanger for the mid season finale is going to be. I initially thought it was going to be Kara finding out Sam is Reign, but that seems to early to make that reveal given what we've seen of the other arrow verse shows with a 'hidden identity' big bad. (Reign wears a mask)

Yeah, I don't think she finds out that Same is Reign in ep. 9......she fights her in ep. 9 however, and from the pics out there is slammed pretty hard....to the point of bleeding.

Bless her heart, she goes from Overgirl to Reign.....

Yeah, two khryptonians in two episodes...both sort of dark versions of herself. I think Sam will never be as bad as Overgirl is bc Overgirl is a nazi and Sams just under mind control/conditioning. (The real Sam would never do what Reign does)

A reveal to another person also wouldn't make much sense to me considering she just barely got the Reign identity this episode.

I wonder what the big cliff hanger for the mid season finale is going to be. I initially thought it was going to be Kara finding out Sam is Reign, but that seems to early to make that reveal given what we've seen of the other arrow verse shows with a 'hidden identity' big bad. (Reign wears a mask)

Yeah, I don't think she finds out that Same is Reign in ep. 9......she fights her in ep. 9 however, and from the pics out there is slammed pretty hard....to the point of bleeding.

Bless her heart, she goes from Overgirl to Reign.....

Yeah, two khryptonians in two episodes...both sort of dark versions of herself. I think Sam will never be as bad as Overgirl is bc Overgirl is a nazi and Sams just under mind control/conditioning. (The real Sam would never do what Reign does)

A reveal to another person also wouldn't make much sense to me considering she just barely got the Reign identity this episode.

Why do you keep saying she is under mind control, she is not...she is a created being, created to be a World killer not mind controlled to be that, she is MADE TO BE THAT, it is in her DNA.

I gotta get through the crossover first......

Exactly, we've got 3 additional episodes of Melissa (plus Chyler and Jeremy) to enjoy yet before we start thinking about Episode 9.

We (Myself and evrafter) don't start new episode threads until after the previous one has screened and been discussed.

For Episode 9 I'm looking forward to Supergirl vs Reign Round 1, hopefully the start of some action driven episodes.

I wonder if we'll see Imra in her Saturn Girl costume this episode or that won't be till Episode 10 when Braniac 5 comes along, I'm interested to see what costume they go with for her.

I am doubtful that we will see them in full costume in Reign....I think this will simply be when we see Reign first using her power.....my thing is, how will she know how to fight?