Supergirl Review [2×02]: “The Last Children of Krypton”

Great action and solid character drama make this week’s Supergirl one of the series’ best!

Anyone who thought Supergirl would falter in its transition to The CW was sorely mistaken. Two episodes in and it’s already clear Kara has found her rightful home. The show feels fresh, the action on point, and characters better realized than ever before. This was a fast paced episode with quite a bit going on but writers Robert Rovner and Caitlin Parrish adeptly juggled the many moving pieces.

This week Kara is faced with change once again. After a few days of cousinly bonding she’s grown used to having a super pal and dreads Clark’s inevitable departure. To compound the matter, Cat announces that she too will soon be moving on from National City. Throw in a tetchy new boss and some Kryptonite powered cyborgs and our Girl of Steel has quite the emotional rollercoaster to deal with.

Meanwhile Cadmus reveals themselves to the world as an Anti-Alien group of mass destruction. Can these nameless scientists defeat our extraterrestrial heroes? I doubt it but I’m sure they’ll spend all season trying. Their duel Metallos certainly pose a formidable threat to any Kryptonian.

Superman: You can’t have it both ways J’onn. You can’t offer friendship with one hand and Kryptonite with the other.

Our heroes’ real challenge this week is finding a way to stand together. See Superman and J’onn have some rather frosty trust issues to work out. How do you warm a frigid relationship? A trip to an ice fortress of course. Perhaps that would also do Alex some good as her resentment towards Kara builds due to Clark’s presence. Will Kara ever truly find a way to juggle her two families? The two sides of her identity? That sounds like a series long question. Alright, enough preamble. Let’s dive into this rather busy episode.

Family Feuds

Conflict is the backbone of any good drama and this episode offered it in spades. From the contentious dynamic between Superman and J’onn to the sisterly blow out between Kara and Alex, “The Last Children of Krypton” delivered quality, conflict driven, character moments. The dialog was particularly memorable in these strong scenes of character friction. I found myself repeatedly pausing the episode to write down quote after quote in my notes.

Kara: This is about me not feeling alone anymore. When I’m with Clark I feel like I’m connected to somebody who actually understands what it’s like to be me.
Alex: So does he understand that he abandoned you with us. Do you?

Alex’s growing feelings of resentment and subsequent argument with Kara was especially engaging as I found myself sympathizing with both characters for different reasons. Kara’s desire to spend time with Clark, while potentially insensitive, is totally understandable. He is potentially the only person that can truly understand what it’s like to be her. Her long list of reasons for moving to Metropolis are all quite logical despite being fueled by emotion. On the other hand, I understand why Alex, who has given up much of her life for Kara, would feel under-appreciated and forgotten at the very idea of Kara moving. Alex’s strongest moment was bringing up that Clark had abandoned Kara from the very beginning. This line had the duel effect of shining a light on Alex’s resentment while also reminding the audience that this Superman is not without his faults. Winn being the one to talk Alex down was a surprisingly effective move and I look forward to seeing more interactions between these two antithetical characters in the future.

Superman: I don’t hate you J’onn. I just don’t trust you because you don’t trust me.

Meanwhile, Superman’s disagreement with Martian Manhunter gave Tyler Hoechlin the chance to show a broader range of Superman’s emotions. He’d done a fun job of portraying the boy scout last week but he also felt a little too perfect. His argument with J’onn over the stockpiling of Kryptonite allowed him to fully display the character’s anger, strength, and humanity. These confrontations effectively rounded out the character for me while also providing strong moments for Hank.

Woes of the Workplace

The workplace drama was mostly shunted to the side this episode but what we got was worthwhile. Reporter pad in hand, Kara was faced with a cranky new boss: Snapper Carr. So far, Carr is a mixed bag. His old school no nonsense attitude provided some laughs when contrasted with Kara’s bubbling naiveté but he also slipped into caricature territory a few times. This doesn’t appear to be performer Ian Gomez’s fault however, as the writing plays up this comic booky aspect quite a bit. Sometimes it works but it’s a fine line between fun and groan worthy. Hopefully going forward they can find the right balance. The plus side is he had good reason to dislike Kara right off the bat. She’d been handed a job she wasn’t ready or qualified for. I wish we’d gotten to see Kara actually working to win him over, but I understand why, given everything else that was going on, it wasn’t given the spotlight.

Snapper: No assignment, no job. Now get your entitled ass out of my office before I channel my last divorce and break you emotionally.

Cat’s departure, while abrupt, was handled relatively well. There wasn’t much more they could do given that actress Calista Flockhart didn’t want to stay on as a regular once production shifted to Vancouver. Her motherly presence will be missed but it was also time for Kara to be more directly challenged in her work life. Last episode laid a solid foundation for Cat’s career change and I liked how they echoed the idea of diving into unknown waters this week as well. The best part of the CatCo scenes was watching Melissa Benoist portray Kara’s fear of change. These quiet moments of unease are what ground Supergirl as a relatable human character.

Cat: I just need you to pick up your big girl pants Kara and own your power because I’m not going to be around for very much longer.
Kara: Oh my God! Ms. Grant, are you dying?

James came off as an afterthought this week as the romance plot line was fully abandoned. Yes he took Cat’s place at the head of the company but right now it feels like the show isn’t really sure what to do with him. Those who follow news about the show will know where his arc is headed but I wonder how long it will take to get there.

The Menace of Metallo

Best action on the show to date? I think so. The duel Metallos were fearsome opponents for our Kryptonians heroes and the effects team rose to the occasion. The CW knows what it’s doing when it comes to effects and they’re able to exceed expectations no matter the budget. I was fully able to get lost in the show without any shoddy CGI pulling me out. The first tangle with Metallo particularly fun and well conceived. The scene I connected with the most however was Alex’s gunfight with the Cadmus agents. It was adrenaline fueled, finely filmed, and excellently choreographed. What’s more? It all culminated in an awesome shot of Supergirl catching a bullet to save her sister’s life. I can’t remember ever being on the edge of my seat like that during Supergirl before.

Villains aren’t just about action however and unfortunately the Metallos were left paper thin. Sure, it was great to see everyone team up and overcome their differences to defeat them but I wanted more. Metallo is an A-List Superman villain after all and I think he should have been more complex and frightening. Lines like “I’m happy to give myself up for my cause,” also undermined their character as nothing I’d seen made me think Metallo truly cared about Cadmus.

Lady Cadmus: You know what I see when I look at you? An abused child. A brainwashed little girl the DEO has warped into believing demons are angels. That your life should be sacrificed to them, our invaders.

However, Metallo was simply the muscle this week as Lady Cadmus took center stage. Okay she’s not literally called Lady Cadmus but they refuse to give Brenda Strong’s character a name so I’m doing it for them. Strong is suitably creepy in the role but as fun as the character is, she’s also pretty simplistic. Humans preforming vile acts to destroy the “alien menace” feels overly repetitive for this show. They try to make you see her side but she’s just a little too overtly evil to be taken seriously. On the other hand, I am sufficiently intrigued by her hints about Alex’s father. What or who will he become?

Final Verdict: Strong Heroes Outweigh Weak Villains in this Action Packed Episode

“The Last Children of Krypton” is a standout episode of Supergirl. I hope it’s a sign of what’s to come because everything clicked this week. Hoechlin’s Superman was given added depth, the humor was plentiful, and the action was dynamic. While Snapper Car and Lady Cadmus stray into cartoon territory from time to time that isn’t always a bad thing. This is a show about a SUPER girl after all. It’s just about striking the right balance going forward.

Superman: See now, if the bullets don’t work, right, why the punching?

The heroes of Supergirl are complex, interesting people with histories, hopes, and regrets. I just hope that, that same care can be given to the villains this season. They’re nailing nuanced character conflict between their heroes. Now let’s have some true complexity to the conflict with our villains. The good news is we’re certainly trending in the right direction. Supergirl is soaring to new heights and I can’t wait to see where she goes next.

Comments/ Concerns:

• Loved Kara calling Clark a “big, big nerd” because he won’t drink and fly
• Gotta love that Crisis on Infinite Earths tribute
• Winn hugging Superman was great
• I really enjoy those shots where the super cousins zoom past a wall and come out the other side in their street clothes
• Predictable cliff hanger with the Kryptonian waking up but I’m excited to see where it goes next week
• I wish we got to see more of Clark and James being best buds