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 18th episode of Season 2 in which Lena’s (guest star Katie McGarth) ex-boyfriend, Jack Spheer (guest star Rahul Kohli), comes to National City to unveil his big breakthrough in nano-technology, which has the potential to eradicate all diseases. Lena asks Kara to attend Jack’s conference with her for support. When Kara sees Snapper (guest Star Ian Gomez) in attendance she’s inspired to tap back into her reporter skills and questions Jack on his discovery, which ultimately leads to a bigger investigation that puts everyone in danger.
Originally Aired: April 24, 2017
WRITTEN BY: Paula Yoo and Caitlin Parrish
DIRECTED BY: Armen V. Kevorkian
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:
Teri Hatcher (Rhea)
Katie McGrath (Lena Luthor)
Tamzin Merchant (Lyra Strayd)
Rahul Kohli (Jack Spheer)
Claudia Doumit (Beth Breen)
Ian Gomez (Snapper Carr)
Andrew McNee (Joe Watkins)
Johnny Ghorbani (Derrick Simmons)
Josh Hallem (Brian)
Rating – 3 (out of 5): The best line of the show was delivered by a guest star, Rahul Kohli, and there was more than a little irony about it. “Lena, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” summed up much of the action and dialogue for this episode. There were some good turns in the “servant” actually being the “superior” a la Benito Cereno. However, that was marred with the lurch towards agenda and Lena Luthor’s canned response to being the power behind the throne. In truth, where the episode started off with a hard focus on Kara and her desire to return to reporting, it takes a hard right to become a lost love tale, which never truly materializes. It’s not fully clear why things didn’t work out between Lena and Jack, they just didn’t, and although Jack waxes poetic about losing Lena, aside from her obvious comeliness, there’s no true reason why he misses or still longs for her. In keeping with the understanding boyfriend, Jack dies, loving Lena all the more, and you have to wonder what all the fuss was about.
This was the first installment in some time where Supergirl actually faced an enemy which was intriguing. The fact that she barely stopped the nanites with freeze breath really had me interested on how she would combat them later, only that never materialized. Instead she was trussed up the Roman way, while a Luthor sorted the problem out. There’s something wrong about that. While many want Supergirl, and definitely Superman, to be just regular folks, fresh off the farm, they are still much more than that. Supergirl, restrained and helpless was just unappetizing. I’d rather her do something dynamic and creative, however, there just aren’t enough writers with the capability to handle a character like Supergirl, make her human, and make her fully realized as well. Pity.
Check out the “Supergirl – Episode Reviews” Contents page.
I had a problem with Supergirl being restrained by the nanites at the end. It made no sense. Not being able to get them off her I could understand but being restrained not so much.
I thought they were a more convincing threat to people Supergirl was trying to save than to her. They were a challenge and I could see how she could fail to save people from them especially if she didn’t see them coming.