In Review: Supergirl (S6 – Ep7) Fear Knot

Synopsis: In Fear Knot. As the Super Friends brave the Phantom Zone to bring Supergirl home, each member of the team is confronted by visions of their worst fear.

The Story

Our heroes take a trip into the phantom zone via the Watch Tower. Which just so happens to double as a spaceship. J’onn J’onnz warns everyone that they will wind up having to face their deepest fears should they encounter any phantoms. So, armed with that information. They decide to take Kelly Olson along because of her experience in matters of the mind. She actually gives them some pretty good advice about how to ground themselves. It turns out that they have to use Kelly’s advice a lot sooner than they hoped when the ship experiences turbulence several times over. In fact every time one of the superfriends has to face their fear. It is announced with we’re experiencing turbulence. It felt like super friends crossed with the rocky horror show. I kid you not. If you’d put this episode to music and song it would be a hit.

Meanwhile back in the Phantom Zone. Supergirl has all but given up hope. Thankfully she has her father with her who somehow manages to talk her round.

The Acting

I have to be honest. This episode has to be the campest thing have seen in a while. There should really be an award for keeping a straight face while quoting some of the dialogue. Especially the scene in which J’onn J’onnz pretty much says enough is enough before he goes after the Phantom on their ship. And Brainiac’s balloon crisis almost had me peeing my pants. Both David Harewood and Jesse Rath did fantastically in that they both managed to keep a straight face doing that scene.

On a more serious note. I also thought the scene between Lena (Katie McGrath) and Nia (Nicole Maines) where they bonded about losing their mothers was a solid scene and really well acted. Even though what followed for Lena kind of rips off a certain famous scene from the ‘Alien’ franchise. Only instead of the alien. It is some sort of water monster from a folk story.

Overall

Fear Knot for me was a bit of a mixed bag. It had its moments, but it also had some really absurd moments really should be put to a Rocky Horror show sort of soundtrack. The reveal that Watchtower was actually also a spaceship felt a little convenient to me. Especially given that the show has been going for six years. And we don’t see it until now. The scenes where each crew member experienced their fears were telegraphed. In that, you kind of saw them coming. This is a shame because I think if they had been sprung on us as a bit more of a surprise. It would have worked a little better. But my guess is. They needed to telegraph them somewhat in order for the final few minutes to make sense. For a midseason finale. It felt a bit anti-climatic and predictable.

Overall. Not the best, but not the worst either. I don’t think it will win any awards.