Darkknight2149 Reviews: SUPERGIRL Season 1 Episode 3 "Fight Or Flight"

Like the couple of episodes that have preceded it, the third episode of the CBS Supergirl series is in complete denial that it is an offshoot of the much larger Superman mythos. As I mentioned in my review for last week's episode, the series is so obsessed with making a point that Supergirl is her own thing, yet the character is still wearing a variation on the Man of Steel's iconic costume. And any argument that the series did have that Supergirl isn't under Superman's shadow is completely undermined by Superman's appearance in the episode. But, on a more positive note, the series has finally decided to lay off on the silly failed attempts to get their feminist messages across (even if the messages themselves are admirable).

"Stronger Together" opens with Cat Grant interviewing Supergirl in a sequence very reminiscent of a notable scene between Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder from 1978's Superman: The Movie. However, this interview goes much less smoothly than said scene from the 1978 film, as Supergirl lets it slip that she is Superman's cousin. The episode makes a really big deal about how bad this is without actually making an argument as to why it's bad to begin with. Sure, Superman's enemies are now aware of the relation between the two heroes, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that there is probably a connection. It just isn't as big of a deal as Supergirl makes it out to be.

Supergirl's normal everyday life continues to be the show's low point. Kara spends a bulk of the episode bickering with her chickflick boss about how great Supergirl is without anyone even suspecting that Kara might be Supergirl. Convenient. But what is really absurd is Winslow Schott's new private office for Kara. The office itself is fine, but where in the abyss did Schott get all of that high tech equipment? It literally came out of nowhere. That is deus ex machina at its finest. Also, macho Jimmy Olsen continues to be ridiculous.

This episode's villain-of-the-week is Reactron, a character from Geoff John's New Krypton storyline. I was looking forward to this week's villain in particular, mainly due to his connections to Metallo, one of my two favourite Superman villains. In the comics, Reactron is essentially Metallo but with a Gold Kryptonite heart and radioactive abilities. If Metallo is the Green Goblin, then Reactron would be the Hobgoblin. The show's version of Reactron lacks the Kryptonite heart, which is quite understandable. To include the Kryptonite heart, the episode would have to go into heavy detail about the history of Kryptonite, the differences between the coloured variety of Kryptonite, the history of Metallo, and Reactron's connection to Metallo. Kryptonite heart or not, the series definitely nailed the character's look. If a bit cartoonish, Reactron is probably the best villain so far simply because of his sympathetic backstory.  Maxwell Lord appears in the episode, mostly so the series can have a Lex Luthor-eque character. I'm just glad they didn't use Veronica Cale, as that would've been painfully obvious.

While saving a captive Maxwell Lord, Supergirl rushes into a fight with Reactron without thinking. Just as she is about to die, Supergirl ends up getting saved by her cousin after he is summoned by Jimmy Olsen. For some reason, Supergirl is angry at Olsen for doing so. Would she have preferred to die? And why did Jimmy Olsen apologise afterwards?! Why didn't Superman take care of Reactron while he was still in National City? Superman literally knocked Reactron down, saved Supergirl and said "Well, I'm out!" And to top it all off, Superman actually agreed not to save her again. The absurdity is unbelievable.


VERDICT

Score: 5/10

This week's episode of Supergirl improves upon some of the flaws of the previous episodes but struggles to make logical sense.