Supergirl, Episode 2 “Stronger Together” Broadcast on November 2, 2015
Teleplay by Andrew Kreisberg & Ali Adler
Story by Greg Berlanti & Andrew Kreisberg
Directed by Glen Winter
“Previously on Supergirl“, Kara works for Cat Grant because she thought doing so would allow her to make a difference. However, when a plane carrying her sister is about to crash she saves the people on board, exposing herself to the world and garnering the ire of sister Alex. As Supergirl she’s escorted to the D.E.O. by Alex; it’s a government agency that protects earth from alien invasion. She defeats alien criminal Vartox, proving she can be a hero.
It’s been a week since she’s revealed herself to National City, and the D.E.O. is testing her abilities by firing missiles at her. Once completed, she shares a moment with Alex before being contacted by Winn of a raging fire at National City Port. Arriving on the scene, she’s told that a ship is loaded with more than a million barrels of crude oil and if the fire gets to it it’ll go off like a two ton bomb. She stops its explosion, but with a price. Later that day, Maxwell Lord appears on television speaking of the trouble Supergirl brings, and will continue to bring, to the city. Cat comes in to work and calls a meeting where she states she wants to take control of Supergirl’s narrative and scoop The Daily Planet. “I want an interview,” she says, causing the wrong reaction in Kara. James tries to convince Kara that she should do the interview, but she feels she’ll reveal too much. That night at Plastino Chemicals, a security man spots an intruder whose face splits open like a bug’s when confronted. The guard runs off but is chased by the man who quickly scuttles along the ceilings’ pipes. The alien criminal leaps down upon the guard, killing him, before running off himself. Cue opening title sequence and first commercial break.
A decent second episode that has the story really pushing the family element throughout; so much so I could picture children saying, “Okay, we got it already!” It seemed as if the writer’s didn’t trust viewers to get this theme more subtly. Kara’s quickly shown not to be at the same ability level of her famous cousin, creating errors as she’s trying to be heroic, and the story has her getting advice from several people on what it takes to be a hero. Thankfully, she figures out what she needs to do in this episode, so this shouldn’t have to be addressed again. A setting is revealed that will probably be used to either take out Supergirl or her General aunt in a latter episode, because it’s too big to be used for a throwaway scene. There’s a really good scene where Cat Grant gets to tell Kara what Supergirl should do to improve herself and it gave a good amount of backstory to Cat and provided insight into how her character thinks. Hank Henshaw was lucky Supergirl didn’t throw him through a wall, as the story was making him to be the ultimate horse’s ass, but things seemed to have changed by the end of this episode, though I hadn’t seen them changing in “that” way so soon. Alura Zor-El is a prime example of Kryptonian arrogance so fashionable in the films and comics and her battle with her niece had some really good effects. The item that ended the battle was excellent and I enjoyed Laura Benanti‘s complete change by the episode’s end. Justin Leak was okay as the Hellgrammite and I would have loved to hear Apokolips mentioned, but it wasn’t to be.
The good: Calista Flockhart, Laura Benanti, a cameo by Maxwell Lord, the effects, the montage of Kara rebuilding Supergirl’s reputation, and the quick action sequence on the bridge at night.
Fun lines: “You know I’m starting to answer to Supergirl,” “#terriblegirl.” “Security breach in Sector 52,” “It means ‘stronger together’,” ” I am here to save you all,” “It’s been a long time, little one,” “You are so wrong,” and “Let’s talk.”
The bad: This episode really overhammers the issue of family, Good-Alex/Bad-Alex is feeling played out, and I don’t understand why Kara tolerates Henshaw — She has no reason to put up with his attitude.
The final line: An okay episode that doesn’t trust its viewers to see a common theme. Overall grade: B-
Share this:
Thank you. Elsewhere, I’ve likened it to an after school special. The Flash is just as family oriented and made by the same people, but it isn’t as heavy-handed as this. Solid themes, but they’ve got to tweak the tone.