“Supergirl” Episode Review – S02E11 “The Martian Chronicles”

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 11th episode of Season 2 in which, Armek, a White Martian, descends on National City intent on taking M’gann back to Mars to face her punishment as a traitor.

The Martian ChroniclesOriginally Aired: February 6, 2017
WRITTEN BY: Gabriel Llanas and Anna Musky-Goldwyn
DIRECTED BY: David McWhirter

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)

RECURRING CAST:
Chris Wood (Mon-El)
Floriana Lima (Maggie Sawyer)

GUEST CAST:
Sharon Leal (M’gann M’orzz/Miss Martian)
Terrell Tilford (Armek)
Andrea Brooks (Eve Teschmacher)
Briana Venskus (Agent Vasquez)
Curtis Lum (Agent Demos)
Robert Zen Humage (Fish Head)
Peter Prontzos (Homeless Man)

3Rating – 3 (out of 5): Riddle me this, dear viewer, what exactly has been the theme of Supergirl this season? Immigrant aliens? Being a hero? Forgiveness for past crimes? Supergirl is deep into the season, and one would be hard pressed to predict where the season will end, as unlike last season, there is very little indication as to what the show wants to accomplish this time out. Miss Martian is off to Mars, but did we need an entire episode to achieve this lesser plot line? Mon-El’s drinking club soda, Winn has a calling, Alex is going to a concert…? In all of this, what is Kara doing? Supergirl, as stated in earlier critiques, has been so well developed in character, that she is the rock that allows all others to develop their own. However, and this is where so many writers fail with characters like Supergirl, she still needs something to do. Character development eventually ends, but adventure most go on, and that requires imagination and creativity, as opposed to building personas up, only to break them down.

For all of you lot who just couldn’t stand the relationship stuff this time around, I feel your pain, but hey, Supergirl is in essence a romantic comedy, and these are the tropes of such shows. Characters will develop feelings, only to have complications impede the progress of anything substantial happening. No one gets to rock on without something going awry. Jimmy and Lucy, Winn and Siobhan, Jimmy and Kara, J’onn and Megan, Mon-El and Kara, Cat Grant and Clark Kent (ha!). In rom-coms, only the boring characters, like Alex and Maggie, are shacked up because there’s little else to do with them. Yes, it can be grating and a groaner, but take heart, the musical episode is coming soon. Good things happen when people get to sing it out.

Check out the “Supergirl – Episode Reviews” Contents page.

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MattComics
MattComics
February 9, 2017 6:22 pm

My impression at least of what they are shooting for aside from debates about the execution for a moment, is that the theme for Supergirl this season is that she’s learning more about how to be Kara now that she’s gotten good at being Supergirl last season.

That theme ties into an overall theme of being true to ones self and how it can be simultaneously the best and most extremely difficult thing anyone can ever do. ..especially when there are those who would rather see you just go away, silenced, or dead.

liheibao
liheibao
February 9, 2017 9:18 pm
Reply to  MattComics

That theme ties into an overall theme of being true to ones self and how it can be simultaneously the best and most extremely difficult thing anyone can ever do. ..especially when there are those who would rather see you just go away, silenced, or dead.

That can be applied to every character this season except Supergirl/Kara.

MattComics
MattComics
February 9, 2017 10:05 pm
Reply to  liheibao

Well, as I see it it’s happening on the Kara side of things rather than the Supergirl side. She’s constantly needing to find courage to assert herself and being true to the kind of reporter she wants to be in the face of Snapper Carr who (at least at the start) has no faith in her abilities at all and seems to have a pretty jaded viewpoint to begin with. I’ll grant though in execution it feels more like a side thing compared to what’s going on with everybody else because there does seem to be a little less focus… Read more »

NeoRanger
NeoRanger
February 10, 2017 4:36 pm

I’m sounding like a broken record, but I’m really not enjoying the show this year. Like The Flash, I merely tolerate it at this point. I will say I actually had more fun with this episode, in the sense that at least the entire lock-down situation was moderately entertaining, but all this needless drama is grating for me. I still hate it that they do The CW thing of stopping in the middle of a tense situation to have a heart-to-heart. I agree with T.A.’s review otherwise; nothing’s actually happening that has any weight. Conflict is manufactured and empty, tension… Read more »

redcape
redcape
February 10, 2017 6:41 pm
Reply to  NeoRanger

Pretty accurate Neo. Were gonna have to slug through the next Valentines episode that is going to revolve around Alex and Maggie. So get ready for some big time lips locks between the two. Gee….can hardly wait. I can’t put my thumb on exactly what the deal is with all the four CW shows at this time. Something is just off. Supergirl, too much of this romance and everyone out in the streets. On the Flash, everybody and there brother can run at super speed. On Arrow, every bady that shows up is an expert archer. Legends of Tom, every… Read more »

macca38
macca38
February 12, 2017 6:00 am

This season has been with the exception of brilliant 1st two (Superman) episodes a little weak. Less Supergirl action / flying & more relationships & discussion. I wish to see Supergirl in flight more often, saving the little child from falling off a high rise building etc. I was bought the 1st season on blueray for Christmas, would I purchase season 2?

Perhaps for Superman episodes a purchase would be worthwhile & also encourage the studios that a Superman tv series is desired.