Stronger Together – Kara must put doubts aside as she tries to apprehend an escapee from the Kryptonian prison; Cat pressures James for an interview with Supergirl. It was just one of the many instances the episode made it possible for Kara to be both super and not-so-super all at the same time. Last week’s episode started off strong with an impressive rating of 12.96 (viewers by millions).
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Kara tells the D.E.O. what they’re dealing with because her mother sent a Hellgrammite to Fort Rozz. Which is why all the tests and all the training that Henshaw and the DEO want to put her through are just so boring. Astra, recovering, says that Kara’s not just a “little girl from Krypton anymore”. When he says it doesn’t work this way, she insists someone make it happen by the end of the day. She decides to solve the problem by flying to the front of the ship, using her super strength to pull it away from the flames.
“Miracle, or menace?” asks a news anchor (played by Jay Jackson aka Perd Hapley from “Parks and Recreation”, so it’s a little hard to take him seriously). And, of course, Kara’s boss, Cat Grant, is now demanding that her staff arrange a “girl-to-girl” sit-down interview between her and Supergirl. At the end of the episode, Kara met Cat on a rooftop for an exclusive interview. The beast also shoots venomous darts that look like icicles covered in poison. So, Alex takes Kara into a Kryptonite-lined room for a few hand-to-hand combat. Alex teaches Kara a lesson by essentially kicking the crap out of her. This is the most compelling development between the sisters so far, and allowing Alex to train Kara – giving her more of a goal than simply being a dour rain cloud on Kara’s sunshiney disposition.
With the current opinion on Supergirl by the public, Cat Grant’s not happy. The “Supergirl” premiere marks the first time in 40 years (since “Wonder Woman”) that a classic female superhero will be a star of a broadcast network series. Kara’s making it clear that she’s very much looking for a team effort compared to her cousin’s solo approach. Winn arrives in the alley to find James, resulting in an uncomfortable and adorable confrontation. Because everyone and everything, even shows that open as strong as this one did, needs to learn and to grow. Kara seems pleased. They decide to listen to Cat and start small.
Supergirl flies around, trying to listen for her sister. She then meets James and Winn, as Supergirl, both surprised the other knows her secret. Despite their similar super-ensembles, Kara strives for her own identity.
This runs parallel to Alex setting up a room for Kara in the DEO that contains an AI programmed to look like Alura from Kara’s pod; Kara wants nothing more than a hug from her mother, but the AI can only give Kara the information she needs. One enters Alex’s leg, and she is captured. Either that was an editorial decision, or DC relaxed whatever restrictions existed there, because this episode went 180 degrees to a point where people were namechecking Superman, Clark Kent, and Lois Lane seemingly every 90 seconds or so. But Kara wants to be part of a team.
Kara doesn’t have much time to mope because a guard has been killed at a local plastics manufacturing plant. They’re searching the city for Alex, and Supergirl joins the hunt via air, listening to the sounds of the city until she hears her sister’s voice and darts to her side. As she surveys the scenes, Kara realizes she knows what attacked these men: a Hellgrammite, an insect that can take the form of anything it wishes and must consume chlorine to survive. She overhears Alex being interrogated by General Astra and tracks her down. Astra plans on using the Hellgrammite as bait to lure her niece out.
Now that Astra survived getting stabbed by a Kryptonite dagger, she has a sample of the substance.
As Alex is nursing back to health, the sisters share a lovely moment together. Rather than just battling random villains while slowly learning there’s someone else controlling them, Kara now knows as much about Evil Twin Astra as we do.
“When we first saw her, she was exactly who we saw in our heads and our hearts … and then we had to go through this extensive process of seeing other people and being in love with someone already”, Adler said. Kara is overcome with emotion.
The episode wraps with a few strings left untied. He says thanks. As he walks away, his eyes glow red…
Cat calls James to tell him his time is up regarding scoring her the interview. James tells her how suddenly everyone knew his name because of his friendship with you-know-who.
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A review of tonight’s “Supergirl” coming up just as soon as I have breakfast with Ruth Bader Ginsburg…
