Superman Homepage writer Michael Bailey reviews episodes from the “Supergirl” TV series, airing on The CW.
Check out his review of the 7th episode of Season 5 in which Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) finally learns the truth about Lena (Katie McGrath) while tangling with Leviathan. J’onn J’onnz (David Harewood) makes a discovery about his brother’s whereabouts.
Originally Aired: November 17, 2019
WRITTEN BY: J. Holtham & Katie Rose Rogers
DIRECTED BY: Andi Armaganian
REGULAR CAST:
Melissa Benoist (Kara/Supergirl)
Chyler Leigh (Alex Danvers)
Jesse Rath (Brainiac 5)
Katie McGrath (Lena Luthor)
Nicole Maines (Nia Nal/Dreamer)
GUEST STARS:
Andrea Brooks (Hope)
Carl Lumbly (M’yrnn Jones)
Phil LaMarr (Malefic Jones)
Mitch Pileggi (Rama Khan)
Patti Allan (Leviathan Agent)
Rating – 2 (out of 5): Before I get into how much I disliked this week’s episode was, I have to ask a question.
How did Alex and Brainy get out of Leviathan’s headquarters?
I know, I know. The woman knew they were there and Brainy is all hopped up on being able to process more information (or something like that), but Leviathan has been presented as this ultra-awesome and evil organization that can kill anyone they want to kill and not only was Brainy able to find the headquarters because of where he gets coffee, but that they could get in and out of said ultra-awesome and evil organization that can kill anyone’s headquarters.
This goes right into the biggest problem with this episode. Leviathan. Did the writers just tell us that Leviathan is an organization full of aliens that are trying to save the world from humanity/climate change? Aliens that landed in the meteor that killed the dinosaurs and thus lived in an era where the climate was completely different than it was today? I hope there is more to it than that, because if that is what they’re going for then this is shaping up to be the most boring and least effective big bad the series has seen thus far.
I mean the old woman, who thus far has been a scary/evil person that turned Anrea’s Rojas’ boyfriend into a killing machine and then killed that killing machine, went up against Lena and was thoroughly defeated by a force field.
I was hoping everything would come together. And it is. Badly.
Lena and Kara finally having it out was a damp squib as well. Melissa Benoist and Katie McGrath were doing their best with the material they were given, but this wasn’t what I was expecting and shot more holes into Lena’s motivation. It’s weird that Lena can be the best thing about this season and still have Lana in Season 4 of SMALLVILLE level motivation. It’s so weird. Like, it’s great that Lena is becoming the ultimate Luthor, but the fact that Kara didn’t do a better job of explaining why things happened the way they did means the writers and showrunners have no interest in actually exploring this relationship and really just want Lena to feel betrayed for the sake of false drama.
The more I think about this episode, the more it falls apart.
I mean…Rama Khan was a really weak villain with sub-par special effect.
It’s nice that Alex and Kelly were able to work through their relationship drama. I just wish the scenes weren’t so overly dramatic.
Not that the entire episode was terrible. J’onn’s scenes were legitimately touching and I was happy to see two cast members from JUSTICE LEAGUE and JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED in the episode. It wasn’t enough to save the episode, but I liked it just the same.
We get a week off before the unofficial mid-season finale (Crisis happens the week after that, but it’s a crossover, so it’s a separate thing all together) and I’m hoping that this show can pull out of the dive this episode put the season in. I’m not holding out hope for that.
Check out the “Supergirl – Episode Reviews” Contents page.
I had a totally different reaction to this episode than you Michael. I thought some of the lines between Kara and Lena were a bit clunky but overall I enjoyed their confrontation. I also thought it was an interesting reveal that Lena’s motivation for killing Lex was for the sake of her friends. That her trust and faith in them was what allowed her to steel her resolve and shoot him. Deep down I think she still cared for him despite all his misdeeds. So shooting him was something she probably regretted even as she did it. Then to find… Read more »
She lead a luthor to Superman’s sacred Fortress of which according to Lena, lex couldnt find. I mean supergirl was just stupid in this episode. Plus they continually stomp on superman and anything to do with him.i mean superman set a trap just in case a Luthor found the fortress and it was like the place was trying to warn her. I mean this episode was rediculous for real.
Can’t disagree. Fly’s her there like it’s a lunch date. Then of course presto, Lena knows how to change Fortress programing. Lena with her totally pasty look along with lip stick that looks like they applied it with a putty knife, tells SG she’s doing this to get even with her????? Stupid deluxe. And what’s with Jon’s father? Supposed to have died now comes back from some great dived every week to console his son. And now he looks younger than Jon!! What the H is going on??? Batwoman: This show is token and cloaked under the Batman myth-o. But… Read more »
As much as I’m a fan of this series, this episode was predictable. When the Superman Homepage first posted the photos of this episode, this what I had said. “From what I can tell from these photos, Kara takes Lena to the fortress for some important item that may help them in their mission. I don’t think that it is wise for Supergirl to bring Lena to the fortress though. It’s still Clark’s fortress, so Kara really shouldn’t be letting anyone else in without his permission. Especially if it’s a Luthor in the fortress.Even though Lena is Kara’s best friend,… Read more »
Truth be told, the writers ended last season with the Leviathan name drop. And at the time in the comics it seemed like a new Superman big bad. Well it wasn’t, if you have kept up on the Leviathan plot it became a detective story with Lois and Batman at the forefront. And not the greatest story either. I think the writers got stuck trying to figure out what to do with a big bad that wasn’t already established, and it may have been a little rushed. On top of that you have the greatest cross over in TV history,… Read more »
To be honest, I really don’t have an interest in the leviathan plot that they have going on for this season. I just feel it was added in as a somewhat filler until they get the main plot this season which is the “Matrix” angle they are going for. I have no other way to discribe it other than the word “ Matrix”.
Fly’s Lena to the Fortress like it’s a lunch date. The presto, Lena reprograms Fortress. Lena who’s back to looking like she ready for a coffin with her pasty look along with lip stick that looks like it was applied with a putty knife, tells SG she’s doing this because of hurt feelings??? And what’s with Jon’s father? Died sometime ago but comes back weekly from some great divide to console his son. AND he now looks younger than Jon!! Batwoman: This show is riding on the coat tails of Batman myth-o. Other than that all I see is a… Read more »