October 19, 2016: “Supergirl” Episode Review – S02E02 “The Last Children of Krypton”

Supergirl -- "The Last Children of Krypton" -- Image SPG202b_0069 -- Pictured (L-R): Tyler Hoechlin as Clark/Superman and Melissa Benoist Kara/Supergirl -- Photo: Diyah Pera/The CW -- © 2016 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved

Superman Homepage reviewer T.A. Ewart (aka liheibao) reviews episodes from the “Supergirl” TV series, airing on The CW.

Check out his review of the 2nd episode of Season 2 in which CADMUS attacks National City with a kryptonite powered villain who ends up seriously hurting Supergirl (Melissa Benoist). Superman (guest star Tyler Hoechlin) blames Hank (David Harewood) because the kryptonite was stolen from the DEO. Meanwhile, Kara’s first day at her new job doesn’t go as planned after she meets her new boss, Snapper Carr (guest star Ian Gomez).

Supergirl and Superman adventuring together is like a most wished for thing, that one has wanted unknowingly. The interplay between the actors makes it seem as if they’ve known each other for years, and this is the first time viewers have seen them on-screen. Benoist and Hoechlin have excellent chemistry for the roles they play, which is that of two people who enjoy spending time together. Why would they not? Superman and Supergirl, for all the connections that they make to the world around them, are still beings quite above the common. However, not with each other. It’s akin to talking shop with someone of the same discipline, someone who enjoys the same hobby – there is a knowledge and connection that is made and that can only be made because of the kinship that is made through the shared love of the shared knowledge. That increases exponentially when it is family, and as the title clues in, these are the last children of Krypton.

Click here to read the complete review of this “Supergirl” episode.

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MattComics
MattComics
October 19, 2016 10:07 pm

Really enjoyed this ep for all the reasons TA mentioned. Even little touches were a big deal for me. I love it when this show has spoken Kryptonian. J’Onn paying respects to the statue of Clark’s biological parents (and on top of that calling back to Jor-El’s words as he placed the baby in the ship in Superman The Movie.) was beautiful as was Kara’s “Tausha” to Clark. I think it’d be awesome if the Homepage actually kept track of spoken Kryptonian in the show for fans to easily reference. Both the writers take and Tyler Hoechlin’s portrayal were an… Read more »

B M
B M
October 20, 2016 1:20 pm
Reply to  MattComics

Yeah I did not like Snapper at all, thought he was a real douche bag, that being said, the actor did a great job making me hate him

RobertAnthony
RobertAnthony
October 21, 2016 10:20 am
Reply to  B M

Ditto.

RobertAnthony
RobertAnthony
October 21, 2016 10:26 am
Reply to  MattComics

That is the one failsafe that evil can never counteract: good people who are unwilling to sit idly by.

This reminds me of a quote from Irish Statesman Edmund Burke

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

I’m enjoying Supergirl.Hope you are too.

I am.

liheibao
liheibao
October 21, 2016 12:22 pm
Reply to  RobertAnthony

Nice catch! I’ve heard that phrase attributed to so many over the years: Gandhi, MLK jr., Jian-Wa Chang, but to learn that it was Edmund Burke is very satisfying.

CollyerisSuperman
CollyerisSuperman
October 19, 2016 10:13 pm

Hoechlin’s Kent was good. His Superman needs to be more authoritative. Cavill is spot on for me.

Randall1028
Randall1028
October 20, 2016 8:54 am

Another fantastic episode. I grinned ear to ear during the whole car-escape scene. The interaction between Clark and Kara is just… everything I could hope for. As always, Melissa’s Supergirl plays very well with others and her chemistry with Tyler’s Superman is on par with Grant’s Flash. While I absolutely loved her initial interactions with Snapper (the introduction and then the inability to find the words to tell him off), I do hope this grows a bit from where it is now. It’s funny now, but 4 episodes from now it’s going to be real annoying. The fear of change… Read more »

MattComics
MattComics
October 20, 2016 12:21 pm
Reply to  Randall1028

I can’t really blame Clark for wanting Kryptonite off the table entirely. As he pointed out it’s not so much that he doubted J’Onn as basically what about the person who succeeds or replaces him or if even the President decides that all aliens are ruining America and orders the deployment of Kryptonite weapons? He can’t depend on the idea that the military will handle having Kryptonite with wisdom and caution that J’Onn might. It’s also been said that Cadmus is the reason Clark doesn’t work for the government and we’ve seen what they’ve done with it. We saw the… Read more »

kal-bert
kal-bert
October 20, 2016 8:46 pm
Reply to  MattComics

I couldn’t say it better. I’ll add something: How can Clark trust someone that after all he’s done for the world still doesn’t trust him?
In spain we say one thing: Thieves are always afraid of being robbed. This is probably what Clark would think about MManhunter.

Randall1028
Randall1028
October 21, 2016 8:45 am
Reply to  MattComics

I would agree if there weren’t 10+ other enemy Kryptonians out there. And if there wasn’t already absolute evidence that he or Kara can be mind controlled. And if this Superman didn’t trust people. And if this Superman was infallible. None of that is evident though. If the President orders deployment of kryptonite weapons, then he fights, goes into hiding, or leaves until they realize their mistake. Simple as that. Clark isn’t above the law and it’s not up to him to decide whether they deserve to have a weapon that can hurt him. Now, to be fair, he didn’t… Read more »

kal-bert
kal-bert
October 23, 2016 3:02 pm
Reply to  Randall1028

Wrong. It’s been clear in the Supergirl series that those were the 1st kryptonians found in that universe that weren’t Kal or Kara and that kryptonite was obviously found long before the series started. But like Clark said, not everybody is a good person and when a whole army is holding a weapon that can destroy him or Kara, you don’t know which of those soldiers may be out of his mind and use it against him which is what happened. Superman has proven through more than a decade or even 2 decades that he’s not an enemy but they’re… Read more »

Randall1028
Randall1028
October 24, 2016 11:15 am
Reply to  kal-bert

How is it wrong? Before the other 10+ Kryptonians showed, sure, MAYBE Superman had the weak argument that the government he operates in shouldn’t have a way to keep him in check. However, I have a hard time believing that this Superman, having just been through being fully mind controlled by an enemy, to still be uptight about the military having something that can hurt him. I don’t care how long he’s proven he’s not the enemy. In all the telling me of how I’m wrong for why I believe the Military should have kryptonite and how it’s not the… Read more »

kal-bert
kal-bert
October 24, 2016 1:28 pm
Reply to  Randall1028

It means that criminals getting into the military implies that a weapon that can kill Supes is quite commonly known there or they have a mole in the army. This is the reason Supes is unconfortable with sooo many people having kryptonite in his hands. The army is not someone. Probably Supes trusts MManhunter more than anyone else but it’s not in HIS hands. It is in the hands of potentially thousands of soldiers making it an uncontrollable weapon. A weapon that (suposedly) just works against him. Which is quite threatening. A bad person just trying to kill him (or… Read more »

B M
B M
October 20, 2016 1:22 pm

I thought this was a great episode all the way through. I actually can’t wait to see next week’s offering

s-shield
s-shield
October 20, 2016 6:08 pm

I also loved the episode. The relationship between Clark and Kara is just what I wanted. If I have to read another comic where Superman and Supergirl get into a fist fight, I’ll puke. If I had one gripe, I’m kinda surprised Clark was SO dead-set against kryptonite being stored. Traditionally, he’s seen its value as an anti-Zod or anti-brainwashing agent. If the entirety of his argument had been about the threat to Kara, I’d have bought it better, but he seemed to be just as worried about himself, which felt a tad off. Maybe it’s just because unlike Batman… Read more »

MattComics
MattComics
October 20, 2016 7:34 pm
Reply to  s-shield

But he wasn’t just worried about himself. In dialog he clearly expressed his concern for Kara as well and in addition to that he remarked that the use of Kryptonite on Mon-El’s room was treating him as a prisoner.

s-shield
s-shield
October 20, 2016 8:38 pm
Reply to  MattComics

I know, that’s why I wrote he seemed just AS worried about himself (as he was for Kara), lol.

I’d have been happier if he had taken himself out the equation entirely. “It was one thing when it was just me at risk, I can accept that, but what about Kara now that she’s out there?” Something like that. But a minor quibble, I’ll admit.

Kal-Ed
October 20, 2016 6:27 pm

Amazing. Absolutely amazing episode. I just can’t get enough of Superman. It felt really comic book-y and exactly how’d you imagine an issue of action comics comes to life. Applause to all the people involved in making this project a reality.

kal-bert
kal-bert
October 20, 2016 8:59 pm
Reply to  Kal-Ed

Like I said in another thread, when Supes is well written, no one cares about the lack of trunks and other things. As much as I love his trunks (I don’t know how to say it and not look gay… XD) in the end all we need to be happy is a Superman that behaves like well, SUPERMAN.

Kal-Ed
October 21, 2016 5:51 pm
Reply to  kal-bert

Ditto sir. Well said.

andramus
andramus
October 21, 2016 2:03 am

The more I think about it the more problem I have with Clark being opposed to anyone having Kryptonite. At first I saw it from both sides but as soon as J’onn pointed out that Clark and Kara weren’t the only Kryptonians out there and that so far all of them except for Clark and Kara were enemies I thought Clark didn’t have a leg to stand on. Clark’s argument was basically that there should be nothing allowed to exist in the world that can hurt him or Kara. I was thinking to myself at this point that everyone else… Read more »

liheibao
liheibao
October 21, 2016 8:43 am
Reply to  andramus

There is a point to be made on both sides, as Metallo isn’t a result without the use of Kryptonite. The Kryptonians that J’onn notes weren’t stopped by Kryptonite. They were barely slowed down by it. The best weapon against wayward Kryptonians has always been Superman, Superboy, Supergirl, and Krypto. Accept no substitute.

Randall1028
Randall1028
October 21, 2016 9:44 am
Reply to  liheibao

Except Astra was killed by a Kryptonite sword. I would say she was more than “barely slowed” by it. And if we are going to bring in the argument of the tech eliminating kryptonite’s threat…then why not just give that to Superman and call it a day (by the way, why DID they have to “adapt” the tech to deal with Metallo?)? 🙂 These loop holes are summed up simply by “that’s just the way the writers wrote it.” But taking that out and using real world logic, having anti-alien weapons (regardless of what powers it) to use as a… Read more »

liheibao
liheibao
October 21, 2016 10:04 am
Reply to  Randall1028

Astra being killed doesn’t make the argument for the Kryptonite better, as with the multiplicity of Kryptonite wepaons, only she was removed by Kryptonite, and dubiously.

Your argument sounds similar to those who advocate for good people to have firearms, to combat bad people with firearms, and fail to see the inherent problem with that.

Randall1028
Randall1028
October 21, 2016 9:44 pm
Reply to  liheibao

Not really. The argument your referring to is for arming the general public in the event of a public shooting. Which I’m not going to debate the merits or the pitfalls of. But we’re talking about a trained military organization, with the directive to protect the planet. If they have no way to do that, then what’s their purpose? Not sure how Astra’s death helps the “humans shouldn’t have kryptonite weapons” argument either. Had Alex hit her with anything else, it would’ve had no effect and J’onn would be dead. Whether or not she was the only one to fall… Read more »

liheibao
liheibao
October 21, 2016 10:26 pm
Reply to  Randall1028

The “trained military organization”, has a Martian who can move at super-speed, become intangible, etc., but is firing a Kryptonite weapon. You can apply your argument there.

As for the rest, I can understand if you enjoy tussling with this minor premise, but it’s easily resolved in argument, and, what is more, on the show. Kryptonite isn’t the answer and never was. Superman was right, hence J’onn giving him the Kryptonite. J’onn decision to harbour the Kryptonite was short-sighted, as it may protect the world from renegade Kryptonians, but not renegade humans like Metallo. Supergirl and Superman can do both.

kal-bert
kal-bert
October 23, 2016 3:07 pm
Reply to  liheibao

And more: those kryptonians were suposedly the 1st ones found, there is no evidence of other kryptonians (alive) before Supergirl series so they kept that kryptonite to use it against Supes. I don’t think having a gun at his head is something to be happy about.

Jon_Hauge
Jon_Hauge
October 22, 2016 9:46 am
Reply to  andramus

I agree. There are other Kryptonians out there, and both Supergirl and Superman are susceptible to mind control.

MattComics
MattComics
October 22, 2016 10:53 am
Reply to  Jon_Hauge

Just as there are humans susceptible to fear, hate, and willful ignorance as Cadmus and even some of the other military personnel who temporarily took over the DEO last season clearly demonstrates. Despite the DEO keeping Kryptonite under lock and key they got to it anyway. Resulting in the two Metallo’s who hurt humans and Kryptonians.

Jon_Hauge
Jon_Hauge
October 25, 2016 1:08 pm
Reply to  MattComics

And the two Metallo’s were created because of the presence of Kryptonians. Things escalate which was the theme in the Dark Knight movie. Let’s take mind control and other Kryptonians out of the equation and stay with biology. What if Superman and Supergirl develop Alzheimer or other form of brain deterioration? They catch a virus? You and me have a Alzheimer fit nothing happens, Superman does and it could wipe out a city.

liheibao
liheibao
October 22, 2016 10:12 pm
Reply to  Jon_Hauge

J’onn says that Kryptonians are immune to mind control. If not, he could have mind controlled the Kryptonians himself.

andramus
andramus
October 22, 2016 10:19 pm
Reply to  liheibao

They’re immune to J’onn’s telepathy not neccessarily to other kinds of telepathy. Also they weren’t immune to Astra’s mind control technology from season 1. Kara wasn’t affected by Astra’s mind control technology because it had been calibrated to affect humans. Because Clark’s brain-patterns were more humanlike than Kara’s due to his upbringing he was affected by then technology when she wasn’t.

However I believe the technology could have been recalibrated to target Kryptonian brain-patterns. Indigo basically said they could use the technology to conquer the universe.

liheibao
liheibao
October 22, 2016 10:35 pm
Reply to  andramus

As there’s only one type of telepathy, you mean that they would be susceptible to a stronger telepath? That’s saying a lot, as J’onn is supposed to be one of the top telepathy in the DCU.

As for the rest, why would Kryptonians be immune to Kryptonian technology? The bit with Supergirl was contradictory, since, as you stayed, the tech worked on humans and Kryptonians alike.

andramus
andramus
October 22, 2016 11:15 pm
Reply to  liheibao

I said the technology needed to be calibrated to the brain-patterns of the people it was being used on. The story basically established that your brain-patterns are shaped by the environment/culture you are born into and raised in. This is why Clark was affected and Kara wasn’t. Because their brain-patterns were different – Clark’s being more human like because he spent all of his formative years on Earth. Also who says there aren’t different kinds of telepathy in this universe? By this I mean telepathy is basically a way to read minds (among other things) but the mechanism of how… Read more »

liheibao
liheibao
October 23, 2016 12:15 pm
Reply to  andramus

Hhmm, OK! LOL!

Steve Wright
Steve Wright
October 22, 2016 6:28 pm

Superman wouldn’t have a problem with kryptonite being under control of someone he trusts. But not a military operation run by someone he doesn’t trust. I thought they spelled that out in the scene at the fortress.

liheibao
liheibao
October 22, 2016 10:10 pm
Reply to  Steve Wright

They did, and I allude to that, but hey, let’s just fight! LOL!

Randall1028
Randall1028
October 24, 2016 10:24 am
Reply to  liheibao

This is “fighting”? it’s stating a countering opinion, that’s all. I don’t think any of this has gotten heated, I know I certainly made sure none of my comments were accusatory or attacking in nature, did I miss something? I’m seriously asking as all I saw, until this post I’m replying to, were points and counterpoints being noted. We’re all in agreement that this show is enjoyable. I’ve even stated we’ve spent more effort on this point than it’s worth, as it has almost no real impact on the enjoyment on the show. (And if anything, it takes kryptonite off… Read more »

liheibao
liheibao
October 24, 2016 12:49 pm
Reply to  Randall1028

No one has been off the farm, it’s just, as Steve pointed out, there’s a clear reason for Superman’s position. It’s a justified position as well. However, some just want to argue the point, rather than look at the validity of it.

Hynad
Hynad
October 23, 2016 2:22 am

I want Alex’s exoskeleton.

With that thing, your unprotected human face can get hit by a superpowered being and you’ll take it as if you were a kryptonian. -___-

The rest of the episode was really good.

MattComics
MattComics
October 23, 2016 7:30 am
Reply to  Hynad

Does that mean Alex is a meteor freak? :p

kal-bert
kal-bert
October 23, 2016 3:14 pm
Reply to  MattComics

BAZINGA!!!