Supergirl Season Five Episode Discussion and Review Volume 1

Someone in a FB group I belong to posted this and I thought it was too funny not to share.



Shoutouts to Katie’s first major role and the snickers ads that are running in comic books.

Confidence Woman was IMO necessary and not “filler”, we needed the backstory for Andrea/Acrata. I actually care about her now that there’s more to her than a horrible boss. Similarly, I thought “Man of Steel” made Ben Lockwood a more compelling character last season. It also provided some context for Lena’s reaction to finding out Kara’s secret. And now all the players know the name Leviathan. My prediction is Kara and Lena will realize they have to work together against Leviathan in the classic the enemy of my enemy is my friend situation. Working together will help them regain some of the trust that’s been lost on both sides. Looking back on last season almost everything was done for a reason even if we didn’t know the reason for several episodes, growing up my dad told me patience is a virtue so let’s show some.

I agree with all of this. Once season 4 was complete, we could look back on earlier episodes and see why certain things were done. I still think The Elite were used poorly, though. But that's just my opinion.

I have the same feeling, this year. The things that are less-than-great on an episode-to-episode basis probably have a reason. That said, I do think they need to do better at making each episode stand out in it's own quality, while still allowing it to contribute to the ongoing narrative. And also, keeping Kara at the center.

I agree that there’s room for improvement in making individual episodes stand out more. I also think that we as an audience need to play the long game a bit more and trust the writers will bring things together like they did last season. For me a bit of the issue comes from where a show falls on the spectrum of being procedural versus serialized. Season one of this show leaned more towards procedural then with the network switch went more serialized to match the other Arrowverse shows. IMO it’s more challenging to make individual episodes stand out when a show is highly serialized. One show that I think had a great procedural/serialized balance was The X-Files. Each season and the show itself had an overall arc and many episodes served to move that along. But there were also some “monster of the week episodes” that had absolutely nothing to do with moving the story along. Those episodes were some of the most bonkers fun ones and often served as a chance for the audience to catch their breath from the heavy stuff. I’m not sure if 20 some years later audiences would tolerate that same balance. Should the show do some (say 3-4 per 22 episode season) bonkers fun, standout “villain of the week” episodes that have nothing to do with the main arc. If you think about it some fan favorite episodes of Arrowverse shows have been called “fun filler”. Would today’s audiences accept that if say the showrunners announced that intention at SDCC so we know it’s coming. I hope the 100th episode is a bonkers fun one-off that lets the cast have fun and celebrate their achievement with the fans.

Rewatching last week's episode right now. I actually liked it. And, I found myself really liking Andrea after it. She now feels like a sadly tragic person to me--she could have been great, but chose wrong, very very wrong. lol

One thing I just realized is helping to make this season great for me since season 1--not so many random aliens running around everywhere AND we're back at Noonan's. Having aliens everywhere, for me, made Supergirl and Superman AND J'onn feel less special, unique. They were starting to make the entire Earth feel like the cantina back on Tatooine. If I could have ANY change come from Crisis it would be THAT--aliens just being from Fort Rozz. I miss the feeling of being afraid of the "things that go bump in the night"-- like the Jailer episode where the FBI was trying to keep the "strange things" a secret.

Someone on another site brought this up so although I’ve given it my own spin, I can’t take credit for the idea. We as an audience know that Kara has always believed in Lena and been on her side but there’s a lot that Lena doesn’t know. Lena doesn’t know that Kara was the only one who believed she was innocent in “Luthor’s”. Lena doesn’t know that Kara was just as worried about her as Mon-EL when they were trapped on the Daxamite ship in “Resist. Lena doesn’t know the extent of what Kara did to prove the lead bomb didn’t poison the kids in “Damage”. Lena doesn’t know that Kara was seconds away from telling her on the plane back from Kasnia or that Alex told Kara to wait at game night.

This is some of what Lena knows.
• That her friend pretended to be interviewing her for a story about her mother while really just digging for dirt on Cadmus.
• That her best friend didn't trust her with Kryptonite when she was trying to find a way to defeat Reign, opinions vary on Kara’s reaction.
• That her best friend was the one who recruited her boyfriend to spy on her. I think the consensus is that Kara was wrong to ask James to break onto L Corp, this IMO was Kara’s biggest mistake and on her.
• That her friend interviewed her about Mercy Graves just so she could find and stop Mercy.

Remember how Lena said Kara is a good actress. Lena thinks Kara’s pretended to befriend her in order to "keep an eye on the resident Luthor", that Kara’s been manipulating her just like everyone else always did. All Lena sees is what she believes to have been a performance for the last three years whose purpose was to "keep your enemies close,". Kara did tell Livewire that she’d been keeping an eye on her when she went to ask Livewire to go to Fort Roz with her. Do I condone Lena’s most recent actions, no I don’t but the more I think about it I can see her POV.

At some point, someone else (Alex would be the best candidate) will tell Lena how often Kara’s stood up for Lena and genuinely believed in her. I can see Lena using her baby truth seeker like she did with Lillian. I can picture a Kara/Lena scene where Kara insists she’s been Lena’s friend all along and Lena tells her to prove it. They’ve never said the truth seekers venom doesn’t work on Kryptonians.

Light on the political heavy handedness and more with the action adventure. I can start watching the show again regularly if it continues like this.

I really do hope the two ladies mend fences. Hate to see Lena just be out right evil. Product of her upbringing I guess. One too many betrayals.

Good to be able to feel invested in these characters.
I got misty when Kara told Lena her identity. I admit it.

Don’t judge me! ?

Good episode. Supergirl does the saving, not the other way around.

@ Kiwi,

Welcome back.

Hi Kiwi!

Good to hear from you.

Pictures have revealed Lena to be working alongside Alex in the Supergirl episode of the Crisis crossover. This means 1 of 2 things. Either Lena comes to her senses and forgives Kara, at the end of this upcoming episode (Wrath of Rama Khan), or the Crisis begins, and Team Supergirl and Lena realize they need to work together, for the sake of survival.

Regardless, Kara knows about Lena's actions, now, and they aren't stretching that trope over the whole season, which is nice. As a result, the pacing, this year, has been so much better than last year. Not every episode is a winner, but things have been moving along nicely, these past few episodes.

Wow! Just realized, I've rewatched this week's episode 3.5 times already. I like it even better than the first time I watched. Says a lot about this season--me excited to re-watch each episode more than once. Haven't done that since season 1, to this extent. The way Melissa plays Kara during the Kara/Lena scene--WOW! She reverts back to the more innocent and naive Kara from season 1. It's especially noticeable at two parts--"Why didn't you come to me...." and..."Are you going to kill me?" So so well done. And, I specifically want to point out, that usually, when Kara is in the Supergirl suit, I see Supergirl. This was one time that I can think of where I saw Kara actually in the suit. Again, that's high praise for Melissa.

I hope the 100th episode is a bonkers fun one-off that lets the cast have fun and celebrate their achievement with the fans.

Brie, I saw online that Danielle Panabaker said the most recent episode of The Flash (which SHE directed) would show Grant Gustin at his goofiest. Well, I say for episode 100, let Melissa be the queen of silly. She has shown silliness in many behind the scenes pictures and videos on Instagram.

Time to loosen up and celebrate.

TVGuide.com interview it Katie, here are some highlights.

When asked what it was like filming that confrontation scene, which took a day to film, she said it was “horrendous” then explains why “the thing about things like that is that your mind knows it's fake, but your body doesn't know, because you're asking your body to go through it. So the emotions are all, as far as your body is concerned, very real.” but she added that the finished product was worth it. That’s a bit of incite about what these actors put themselves through for our entertainment. She also said “It was a long, very emotional day, and if you can see how much Melissa is delivering on her coverage, she gives just as much when the camera's not on her”.

Lastly here’s what she said this Sunday’s episode The Wrath of Rama Khan “What I have to say about it is that episode is very exciting. It's like nail-biting. Every episode is slightly different, but this one's sort of like edge-of-your-seat, nail-biting, very tense episode.”
.

Another question I have is how is James putting on the Guardian suit and not getting arrested?

****

By the grace and guile of the writers' illogical and non-linear line of thinking (and lack of attention to detail, lore, plausibility, air-headedness and plain old tomfoolery). It's their secret super powers, don't you know!

Alrighty, figured I'd jump in since we are a few episodes in. Been steering clear to avoid spoilers (especially leading up to Crisis), as well as, being swayed in my opinions of the show . Enjoying not having any idea of what's coming, who's coming, or what to expect/predict. I have to say, I was completely surprised by this week's reveal at the end. SO refreshing to have that reaction, again, when it comes to a Supergirl episode.

Also, last episode I felt was tighter, better written. There were side stories, but they didn't take up a lot of time while still propelling their purpose forward.

Jesse was so good with his multiple personalities, AGAIN. That whole scene was terrifically acted by all involved.

Overall, REALLY liking this season!! Been so great to be away from heavy handed politics, as so many Supergirl fans have requested/argued for/left because of. As for American's watching, we are already overwhelmed by a heated political climate. Been so so so very refreshing to get an hour of my favorite show of just pure entertainment.

Other major pluses for me:

--Loved how Lena found out the secret. Brilliantly acted, and tragic.
--Intriguing, tighter story lines filled with some solid mystery
--Good new villains
--Focus seems to finally be back on Kara/Supergirl for the most part
--More and more focus on the heart of the show--THE DANVERS SISTERS!!
--I really like Kelly. The actress has grown on me, and I like the "calmness" about the character.
--AMAZING ACTING BY MELISSA!!!
--Jesse is KILLING it as Brainy.
--Loving more Brainy/Alex/Supergirl scenes. GOLDEN!
--Brainy/Lena scenes, terrific, and surprisingly funny

Somewhat minuses for me, but not severe ones:

--They made SUCH a big political statement deal in season 2 about J'onn choosing to live his life as a black man; but umm...his whole family is portrayed as black. ???? And how did Lena force his brother to turn into a human? So do Martians have some human default? Seems like loose writing.

--Liking Kelly. LOVING Alex. Not loving Kelly and Alex. While I appreciate that their relationship is being writing more maturely than Alex/Maggie, for ME it just feels like two straight women with no chemistry. But, again, that's me.

P.S....

Did anyone else feel like Jame's/Mehcad's exit was totally anticlimactic???? Winn/Jeremy got a huge emotional send-off. Seemed off to me.

I was on was on vacation and didn't get to watch Dangerous Liaisons until last night. I didn't look at the pictures either. I agree @evrafter it was nice to not know too much going into an episode. In my headcannon James didn't get as big a sendoff as Winn because he's just moving to a town driving distance away not 1000 years into the future. In show the characters can still call him anytime and see him without too much trouble, It's us as the audience that know that's not going to happen..

It was nice to have the Leviathan story move forward. I liked that Kara went into the first fight with Rip Roar alone. I did figure out from the time they said no body was found that William's friend is Rip Roar. I get why some don't like how that was telegraphed but this is the same universe that's trying to convince me that Barry Allan as played by Grant is going to die, sorry Flash is bugging the heck out me right now. Overall still enjoying this season but can't wait until CoIE is over and really don't want my shows blown up by it.

Confidence Woman was IMO necessary and not “filler”, we needed the backstory for Andrea/Acrata. I actually care about her now that there’s more to her than a horrible boss. Similarly, I thought “Man of Steel” made Ben Lockwood a more compelling character last season. It also provided some context for Lena’s reaction to finding out Kara’s secret. And now all the players know the name Leviathan. My prediction is Kara and Lena will realize they have to work together against Leviathan in the classic the enemy of my enemy is my friend situation. Working together will help them regain some of the trust that’s been lost on both sides. Looking back on last season almost everything was done for a reason even if we didn’t know the reason for several episodes, growing up my dad told me patience is a virtue so let’s show some.

Confidence Woman was IMO necessary and not “filler”, we needed the backstory for Andrea/Acrata. I actually care about her now that there’s more to her than a horrible boss. Similarly, I thought “Man of Steel” made Ben Lockwood a more compelling character last season. It also provided some context for Lena’s reaction to finding out Kara’s secret. And now all the players know the name Leviathan. My prediction is Kara and Lena will realize they have to work together against Leviathan in the classic the enemy of my enemy is my friend situation. Working together will help them regain some of the trust that’s been lost on both sides. Looking back on last season almost everything was done for a reason even if we didn’t know the reason for several episodes, growing up my dad told me patience is a virtue so let’s show some.

I agree with all of this. Once season 4 was complete, we could look back on earlier episodes and see why certain things were done. I still think The Elite were used poorly, though. But that's just my opinion.

I have the same feeling, this year. The things that are less-than-great on an episode-to-episode basis probably have a reason. That said, I do think they need to do better at making each episode stand out in it's own quality, while still allowing it to contribute to the ongoing narrative. And also, keeping Kara at the center.

I feel like I can trust the writers more this season than I have since they moved to Vancouver. My only problem is, we have not had a solid FULL SEASON of this series. We get a solid half a season.....so there is a part of me that wonders when the table turns and the writing goes off the path and over the cliff.

Pictures have revealed Lena to be working alongside Alex in the Supergirl episode of the Crisis crossover. This means 1 of 2 things. Either Lena comes to her senses and forgives Kara, at the end of this upcoming episode (Wrath of Rama Khan), or the Crisis begins, and Team Supergirl and Lena realize they need to work together, for the sake of survival.

Regardless, Kara knows about Lena's actions, now, and they aren't stretching that trope over the whole season, which is nice. As a result, the pacing, this year, has been so much better than last year. Not every episode is a winner, but things have been moving along nicely, these past few episodes.

I noticed those pictures. Team Super worked with Lillian to fight a bigger threat back in Season 2. It could go either way. I like not knowing yet. ?

The pacing has indeed made a big, big difference this year.

I enjoyed Tremors alot...the Lena/Kara scenes have been the best of all seasons.

I would really like for the 2 to come to an understanding and then Lena rides off into the sunset.....but loving the drama this season.

Glad the Jonn family drama 6.0 is over, my hope is that "emo" Jonn is a thing of the past.

Loved sassy Supergirl this episode very much....I want to see more of that in the future.