“Supergirl” Episode Review – S02E16 “Star-Crossed”

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 16th episode of Season 2 in which Mon-El’s parents come to National City, revealing him to be the Prince of Daxam. Meanwhile, Winn’s girlfriend, Lyra, gets Winn in trouble with the law. The Music Meister attacks Supergirl.

Star-CrossedOriginally Aired: March 20, 2017
WRITTEN BY: Katie Rose Rogers & Jess Kardos
DIRECTED BY: John Medlen

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)
Katie McGrath (Lena Luthor)

GUEST CAST:
Teri Hatcher (Rhea)
Kevin Sorbo (Lar Gand)
Tamzin Merchant (Lyra Strayd)
Darren Criss (Music Meister)

4Rating – 4 (out of 5): The romance between Kara and Mon-El is not one that’s every really been sold; more a construct born of a formula which is second nature to the Rom-Com format. That being said, this episode actually did bring the couple together by pushing them apart. In true romance fashion, a complication is borne of dishonesty, and now trust is shattered, and we can only wait to see if it will be reforged. Mon-El’s feelings towards Kara and his genuine desire to be with her, to fix himself in any way possible for the aforementioned to happen, is rendered in a most genuine manner. Mon-El has found purpose in life, and that purpose is his affection for Kara, which motivates him to be a better person. Kara sending him away because she cannot see past his prevarication, and into the man he has become is the full stop on a relationship that is only beginning to bloom. Hopefully, the twain will find someway to resolve this issue, perhaps with song?

I was up for the Guardian action, and looking forward to him showing some form, and he did… until he didn’t. Superior opponents require strategy and Guardian’s method of gadget, fight, be flung around definitely lacked something, however, when he seemed to be down for the count, and all seemed lost, I wasn’t worried as I knew he would be saved by National City’s greatest heroine: Alex Danvers?! It could have been a moment for Guardian, or Guardian and Winn, maybe even J’onn could have flexed some muscle, but no, the resident Swiss Army Knife was there to save the day, because… why? Why? Can no other character have some light, competence, or effectiveness? It could have been a very good moment for someone else, but that’s too much to ask. Hopefully Alex can’t sing…

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

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andramus
andramus
March 22, 2017 8:23 pm

FFS. It wasn’t like Alex came in on her own and saved the day. There was a whole team of DEO agents backing her up.

Also I don’t know where this Guardian story is going but I have no problem with Jimmy getting better at it as he goes along and making rookie mistakes early on. Most of his fights we’ve seen have been against human opponents. The more aliens he contends with the better I expect him to get. (Hopefully).

liheibao
liheibao
March 23, 2017 6:23 am
Reply to  andramus

FFS

Such language! LOL!

It wasn’t like Alex came in on her own and saved the day. There was a whole team of DEO agents backing her up.

She’s always around, always in the middle of things. It is what it is.

andramus
andramus
March 23, 2017 7:43 am
Reply to  liheibao

I was a little vehement there. The fact is obviously you and I disagree on your core contention that Alex is a Mary Sue. However even if I were to accept that there is some truth to that notion I do not think that every aspect or appearance of her character in the show has to reflect that. Her character was established from day one as a DEO agent whose job is to track down and capture alien criminals. She is trained by and works for an organisation that specialises in this. Her boss, father figure, mentor and trainer is… Read more »

liheibao
liheibao
March 24, 2017 1:58 pm
Reply to  andramus

Her character was established from day one as a DEO agent whose job is to track down and capture alien criminals. I’ve made my points about Alex already and don’t see the need to repeat them in the form of refutation. If Alex was what you stated, I’d be fine with that. However, she is the epitome of a Mary Sue. Mind you, a Mary Sue is no different than any other stock character (the Dad, the Mom, the Dude, the Chick) if it works. Viewers would be hard to recognize a Mary Sue character if the player performs their… Read more »

Steve Eden
Steve Eden
March 23, 2017 1:41 pm

Please do not take this as an attack. It is not, but your dislike of one character seems to be an obsession and is, frankly, tainting your reviews of this series. I’m not a big fan of the Alex/Maggie subplot (and mind you, the heavy-handed treatment used by the producers does get a bit tiresome), but this episode had none of that.

liheibao
liheibao
March 23, 2017 9:40 pm
Reply to  Steve Eden

If it was mere dislike, I’d agree with you, but it’s never been that.

Steve Eden
Steve Eden
March 24, 2017 12:02 am
Reply to  liheibao

Okay, then. I will continue to enjoy your reviews, liheibao, even though I may not agree with them.

redcape
redcape
March 24, 2017 2:20 pm

By the way……Any body else ask the question, what powers exactly does Mon-El have?? He doesn’t seem to do anything except mope around after Kara. Throws a punch now and then.

Anyone else catch the Flash cross over? Good lord I almost barfed at the very ending. Too much with the singing. And they couldn’t help but in one sequence throw in a gay reference. “Dads”……..dad’s?? “You got a problem with that!!!” This is like some kind of disease with all four of the CW shows. The references never stop.

liheibao
liheibao
March 25, 2017 9:04 am
Reply to  redcape

By the way……Any body else ask the question, what powers exactly does Mon-El have?? He doesn’t seem to do anything except mope around after Kara. Throws a punch now and then.

He should have the same powers as Kara, but hasn’t shown more than what you’ve stated. He displayed super-speed in the Flash crossover.

Anyone else catch the Flash cross over? Good lord I almost barfed at the very ending. Too much with the singing.

I reviewed it. Why not have a go at it over there?

andramus
andramus
March 25, 2017 7:16 pm
Reply to  liheibao

This is a particular problem with the Berlanti-verse shows that seems to be especially impacting on Supergirl this season. It may be affecting the other shows but I’m just not as aware of it. The problem being that changes from the comics canon and other creative choices are being explained in interviews but not on the shows. Comic readers expect Daxamites like Mon-El to have the same powers as in the comics and are confused when he doesn’t use them. However in an interview earlier in the season with the showrunners they explicitly said Mon-El was not going to be… Read more »