Superman on Television

Supergirl: Episode Reviews

Season 1 - Episode 6: "Red Faced"

Reviewed by: T.A. Ewart (aka liheibao)

Red Faced Originally Aired: November 30, 2015
WRITTEN BY: Michael Grassi and Rachel Shukert
DIRECTED BY: Jesse Warn

REGULAR CAST:
Melissa Benoist (Kara Danvers/Supergirl)
Calista Flockhart (Cat Grant)
Chyler Leigh (Alex Danvers)
Mehcad Brooks (James Olsen)
David Harewood (Hank Henshaw)
Jeremy Jordan (Winslow "WinnÓ Schott)

RECURRING CAST:
Peter Facinelli (Maxwell Lord)
Jenna Dewan-Tatum (Lucy Lane)
Briana Venskus (Agent Vasquez)

GUEST CAST:
Iddo Goldberg (Dr. T.O. Morrow/Red Tornado)
Glenn Morshower (General Sam Lane)
Luke Macfarlane (Agent Donovan)
Joan Juliet Buck (Katherine Grant)

5Rating - 5 (out of 5): It's doubtful that many would find an episode of Supergirl the catalyst for deep, probing thought, but this installment's theme of rage, anger, and the manner in which it's dealt with, did just that. Anger, as a trait, is not one that is acceptable in polite society, yet it's an emotion continuously served up in every medium of media that is to be consumed. People are taught to dread someone being angry with them, and companies are quick to apologize when the Twitter feed for their products turns nasty, dreading what may come of angry consumers. There are positive applications to anger, as there are with nearly every emotion, but the idea of not being able to express one's vexation, is the knowledge that one cannot truly express him or herself. In this episode tangentially comments that may not be able to be fully expressed are part of what becomes vexing, and Cat displays her own way of venting choler, but it's Kara's ire which is given the full-focus, naturally.

There are three different receptacles for rage in this installment, the first being Kara. We see her frustration watching Jimmy and Lucy being smitten with each other, having to quash her own feelings for the matter. Next, we have Cat lace into her, a natural occurrence on the show, and Sam Lane insult her very existence. We move then to Red Tornado, the second receptacle, created for war applications, who indirectly becomes Kara's punching bag, and she does so with zest. It's a great show of her fighting prowess and wire-work, but also how deadly she actually is if pushed a wee too far. The last receptacle is the inanimate object: a punching bag, an automobile, which are suspended to take the beating the players feel they've received. None of these receptacles prove sufficient to contain the anger doled out, as Kara wrecks the auto, Cat receives a tongue lashing from Kara, and Red Tornado becomes more deadly after being defeated. Yet where does the rage go? That's answered in Kara destroying, or killing, as it's become sentient, Red Tornado. Her rage is fully unleashed on something defenseless against her power, until it's destroyed. It's a gripping moment, one that she obviously doesn't relish, and one that only time will show if she's learned from.

I'd be at a loss to predict that I would be enjoying Supergirl this much. In truth, I thought it was going to be a major disappointment from the initial information released on it (i.e. I thought it was going to suck. Badly). However, with every chance and instance, Supergirl has surprised me. It's been assertive without being aggressive, topical without bearing down on viewers with a litany of remonstrance. Instead of going for a scowl, Supergirl chose to display a smile. I never thought that such a decision would be brave for a show about a super-heroine, but to be of good-nature and cheer, to be heartfelt and hopeful, these qualities aren't in vogue these days. Just ask her cousin or her comic book counterpart. Now that Supergirl has been given a full season to tell her adventures, I look forward to more of what's been given... with a wee bit of probing thought.



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