Superman on Television

Justice League Action: Episode Reviews

Season 1 - Episodes 50: "Keeping Up With The Kryptonians"

Originally Aired: June 1, 2018 (U.S.)

Written by Andrew Kreisberg and Lauren Certo
Directed by Jake Castorena

CAST:
Jason J Lewis as Superman (voice)
Diedrich Bader as Booster Gold (voice)
Gilbert Gottfried as Mr Mxyzptlk (voice)
Joanne Spracklen as Supergirl (voice)

We open with the Daily Planet News Parade! In sepia tone? We're shown an invading army from war torn Kasnia taking over Kansas, with help from a familiar flying man dressed in red and black and using heat vision. The news feed quickly changes to news about everyone's favorite reality show That's so Kara! Seems the last daughter of Krypton is now a Super Star with a big reality show. While walking the red carpet at an event a young woman calls to Supergirl for help stopping Kara in her tracks. We're has she heard that name before? While pausing to gather her thoughts her agent a small loud obnoxious man named Mxy... uh I mean Marty comes running to Kara asking what her problem is. Just then a flying man in red and black crashes the scene and plants a flag in Metropolis in the name of Kasnia. Kara angry that her entrance was ruined flies after Kasnia Man to show him who's boss. While the two super beings are having a throw down a clueless Booster Gold slips in from the space time continuum to find things have gone astray. He comes across Marty and wonders what's going on, of course after he gives publicity shots to the agent. Booster mention Smallville which sets something off in Kasnia Mans mind. We change to present day Smallville just a short while before all the chaos to see Superman and Supergirl putting a stop to a couple of tornados. Afterward relaxing on Ma Kent's porch eating blueberry pie they hear some familiar music coming from a mysterious TV on the porch. It seems they're watching the Mxy Zone. Eyeing each other suspiciously the two heroes know they're dealing with none other than Mr Mxyzptlk. The imp being sick of the two do gooders zaps them into an alternate dimension so the heroes can become enemies. And now back to Kasnia Man and Kara!

Rating - 5 (out of 5): We've got a Superman episode! And with Supergirl! I believe this is the first episode featuring Supergirl. They do a wonderful job. The show uses the current continuity of Supergirl being the oldest but arriving later then Clark. It also seems that she was raised at least for awhile in Smallville. The scenes the two have as Superman and Supergirl are very nice. From stopping tornados to relaxing on the Kent porch wondering what their life would be like if they hadn't been raised in Smallville the pair share some nice moments. Obviously the alternate reality pays homage to Superman The Red Son with the Russian like country of Kasnia and a much darker Superman. Of course it also mimics the Superman Apokolips story from Superman:TAS. Booster Gold actually plays an important role hear though he's hardly aware of it. As usual Booster is played for laughs but also has an endearing quality to him. And Gilbert Gottfried as Mr Mxyzptlk is always fun. I love time travel and alternate reality stories and when they feature Superman that's all the better!

Booster mentions Mxy by name which triggers something in Kasnia Man. With the cat out of the bag Mxy reveals himself only to punish Booster by crushing him with the Daily Planet Globe. Having his memory triggered Kasnia Man tricks Mxyzptlk in saying his name backwards. After saying a belated farewell to the "late" Booster, Kasnia Man, Kara and that reality blink out of existence. Back on the farm with their memories still intact Superman tells Supergirl that the rivalry they had in the alternate dimension would never happen to them. They hug but are interrupted by Booster Gold alive and well with a stomach full of blueberry pie.

This was a joyful episode! And a great Superman and Supergirl story to boot. In the short time the episode had they have wonderful characterizations of the two heroes. I don't want to get ahead of myself but if they could give us a spin off Superman series in the same style of this episode i would be down for that! May not have been a perfect episode but I think it is the best one featuring Superman to date.

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