Superman on Television

Supergirl: Episode Reviews

Season 2 - Episode 4: "Survivors"

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

Survivors Originally Aired: October 31, 2016
STORY BY: Paula Yoo and Eric Carrasco
DIRECTED BY: James Marshall

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)
Ian Gomez (Snapper Carr)

RECURRING CAST:
Chris Wood (Mon-El)
Floriana Lima (Maggie Sawyer)
Calista Flockhart (Cat Grant)
Katie McGrath (Lena Luthor)
Brenda Strong (The Doctor)

SPECIAL GUEST:
Laura Benanti (Alura Zor-El)

GUEST CAST:
Sharon Leal (M'gann M'orzz/Miss Martian)
Katie McGrath (Lena Luthor)
Dichen Lachman (Veronica Sinclair/Roulette)
Ian Casselberry (Quill)
Stephi Chin-Salvo (Receptionist)
John DeSantis (Draaga)
Harrison MacDonald (Mummy Bro)
Dan Willows (Werewolf Bro)
Terry Mullett (Buzzcut Merc)
Ben Sullivan (Prince of Daxam)
Shauna Haracka (Maggie's Girlfriend)
Robert Zen Humpage (Dead Alien)

3Rating - 3 (out of 5): Supergirl rights the ship somewhat with this week's episode, but, unfortunately, there's too much Alex Danvers and Maggie Sawyer. The real story is between Martian Manhunter and Miss Martian, and it's actually quite good. Harewood makes the most of his scenes and does an excellent job of portraying the alienation he, as J'onn, has felt, in addition to the frustration he feels when Miss Martian rejects his overture to bond in the Martian manner. The Fight Club nonsense is only saved by Benoist selling herself as a powerhouse, and only with her roundhouse... which was nicely punctuated. Mon-El's story is utterly unnecessary, but since Jimmy Olsen isn't a suitable romantic interest any longer, someone has to fill that void. Note: It will never work. Super-powered beings like Kara grow distant from their humanity when linked to someone who isn't human. It's been done before more than once with Superman, in and out of canon, and the result is either Regime Superman or death.

I've little affection for Alex, who just comes across as a Mary Sue in all the wrong ways. However, her yearning stares at Maggie Sawyer, coupled with Sawyer's smirks at flirting successfully with Alex, are just too much "What the...?". Alex has shown no interest in anyone male or female, yet with Sawyer's arrival, Alex has joined the ranks of sexual fluidity... and I just don't buy it. The pandering or blatant grab for relevancy in the form of sexuality made topical, just falls flat with me. Alex just seems to be a cipher, at the end of the day. She's a great sister when Supergirl is around. DEO superstar when J'onn is near. Greatest fighter of all when any alien comes around, and conveniently sexually fluid when Sawyer arrives, ready to bed any female, alien or otherwise. The real shame of it is that Sawyer is a very good character, as evidenced by her longevity in the Superman mythos, but her popularity stems from the Howard Stern treatment, and that's the direction Supergirl has decided to proceed.



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