Superman on Television
Supergirl: Episode Reviews
Season 2 - Episode 5: "Crossfire"
Reviewed by: T.A. Ewart (aka liheibao)
Originally Aired: November 7, 2016
STORY BY: Gabriel Llanas & Anna Musky-Goldwyn
DIRECTED BY: Glen Winter
REGULAR CAST:
Melissa Benoist (Kara Danvers/Supergirl)
Chyler Leigh (Alex Danvers)
Mehcad Brooks (James Olsen)
David Harewood (Hank Henshaw/J'onn J'onzz)
Jeremy Jordan (Winslow "Winn" Schott)
Ian Gomez (Snapper Carr)
RECURRING CAST:
Chris Wood (Mon-El)
Katie McGrath (Lena Luthor)
Floriana Lima (Maggie Sawyer)
Brenda Strong (The Doctor)
GUEST CAST:
Andrea Brooks (Eve Teschmacher)
Rating - 4 (out of 5): This story had it all, and would have received a "5," if not for the needlessly messy adventure into Alex's sexuality. The move to The CW, which prompted this critic to worry about the quality of the SFX, hasn't diminished them in the slightest. If anything, they have been used more effectively and cleverly. A tight shot of Supergirl using her heat vision to sort out the villains, with cuts to the effects of her blasts, works with a great visual appeal, while having Supergirl actually use the super-speed she possesses, received a rare nod of approval. Benoist's portrayal of Supergirl is incredibly competent. She's learned the ropes, if you will, and hasn't been fettered by the mundane restraints put on characters of her ability. In short, when Supergirl arrives, she's capable, confident, and it's safe to have great expectations from her. That's a great feeling from the Superman Family, a feeling that should be spread to her DCEU counterparts. The episode wasn't limited to Supergirl either, as Jimmy, Winn, even Mon-El, all helped to make it a very well-rounded and entertaining episode.
However, it's not easy being a Mary Sue, and Alex is being given a tough time of it. Jimmy was slated to be Supergirl's love interest, and even though the chemistry was there, there was a significant resistance to the pairing, and so it was wisely dropped. Jimmy, however, rather than being left to flounder was given the helm of CatCo, and will also be fighting crime in the form of... well, tune in and find out. Alex? She's just discovered that she may be a lesbian because Maggie Sawyer has flirted with her. Alex had rendered onto us that she has dated men, but just wasn't into the intimacy with them. Although that should have been a big, bright, red lightbulb going off in her mind, Alex didn't seem to ever consider until Maggie Sawyer, who beds them Terran or Alien, so long as they're female, came to town. Convenient? Definitely. Pandering? Doubtlessly. Entertaining? Not in the slightest. Alex has potential, but it's been squandered by allowing her to be amorphous as water. She has no core. Alex takes the form of whatever she's placed into and that is truly unfortunate, as all of the other actors and actresses have been able to define themselves by their actions, and not whom they may want to couple with.
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