Welcome to Arrowverse Checkups. As the
Arrowverse enters its eighth year, I’ll checking in with each series premiere
see where they are and where they appear to be going. Let’s jump in!
A new season of Supergirl has arrived! I love this show
very much, but we’re not here to talk about that. We’re here to discuss all the
cool story threads that have been set up. Although there is one weird thing
about those threads: None of them belong Supergirl. Yes, Kara has plenty going
on in her life, but, as of right now, her alter ego has no ongoing plot. Not
that it’s a problem. This has become a fantastic ensemble show ad this episode
was a showcase for that. And at least Supergirl gets a slick new suit.
Let’s
start with that ensemble. J’onn has gone full Dad Mode. He teaches youth tai
chi and gives calm, sound advice to his friends. Pretty tranquil life that my
guy has earned. Unfortunately, his brother shows up and releases a villain from
the Phantom Zone. That conflict makes up the spine of this episode, but it
doesn’t matter. At the end of the episode, J’onn’s brother reveals himself to
J’onn and accuses him and their father of betrayal and villainy. Except J’onn
appears to not know he has a brother. This seems to be the primary conflict for
the early part of the season. Which makes me wonder if J’onn’s brother is from
a different Earth. This seems likely as he was brought to this Earth by the
Monitor last season.
Elsewhere, love is in the air. Nia
and Brainy are struggling in their relationship because Brainy shrinks from
physical contact with Nia. This leads to a sweet if slightly forced scene where
we get the couple’s first kiss. I’m sure this is not the only relationship
struggle we’ll see from them this season. Alex and her new beau, Kelly, are in
deep into the puppy love phase of their relationship. That’s about all we get
from Alex in this episode, but I think Kelly’s new job may end up causing
conflict in this relationship.
You see, Kelly has just taken a job
with Obsidian North. Specifically, she’s working to implement their Virtual
Augmented Reality technology into medical uses. Obsidian North appears to be at
the heart of the big theme/question this season: How much technology is too
much technology? Lena is seen using advanced technology, especially Obsidian
North’s VR contacts, throughout the episode while Kara comes down hard on the
way technology can let people escape and not deal with harsh realities that
need to be confronted. There is certainly an argument to be made for both sides,
but time will tell how Supergirl will
handle it.
The head of Obsidian North’s VAR
department is Andrea Rojas, who has just purchased CatCo from Lena. And Andrea
has big plans for CatCo. They are going to pivot to “fun, digestible
watercooler news.” Many of the CatCo writers have a problem with this as they
are known for their hard-hitting journalism (Kara is awarded a Pulitzer in this
very episode!). Andrea doesn’t care and announces that they all have new 3-year
contracts with non-compete clauses. Is that legal? Don’t people have to sign
new contracts before they go into effect? Also, what an asshole move. Many of
the staff quit, including James. He decides its time for a new adventure and
accepts that his journalistic career is over. James’ actor, Mehcad Brooks, is
leaving the show at some point this season and this seems to be the beginning
of the story that will lead to that exit.
Kara has a different reaction to
Andrea Rojas’ takeover. She’s is going to remain at CatCo and try to change it
from the inside. Supergirl tackling
one of the main crises in journalism is exciting. I hope they approach it with
the fervor that they did immigration last season. Say what you have to say but
allow for the antagonists in this story to have some valid points.
Kara’s other story is Lena. And
Lena’s story is Kara. Throughout the last few episodes of Season 4, Kara kept
putting off telling Lena that she is Supergirl. She continues to do it
throughout this episode. What she doesn’t realize is that Lena already knows
and has been working to takedown Supergirl (not in a kill-y way though. Just in
a destroy-your-life kind of way). Lena planned to release Supergirl’s identity
to the world during Kara’s Pulitzer Prize celebration, but Kara reveals herself
backstage before Lena gives her introduction. They make up except Lena is still
mad and decides to use Kara and Supergirl to further whatever plan she is
working on. There are no hints here as to what she is working on, but she says
it will save the world. Can’t wait to see what that is.
And, as the cliffhanger, Eve
Tessmacher is kidnapped from the back of a restaurant she appears to be working
at. I guess the Leviathan plot will arrive next episode. And that will
presumably be the major story for this season. And, of course, there is a
crisis coming…
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