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“The Fanatical” brings us character development and relationship development while also catching us up on the trials and tribulations of the Thomas Coville Cult of Rao. It’s a radicalist, it’s a bomb, it’s a fourth WorldKiller!! Wait…what?!
It’s Your Favorite [Black] Neighborhood [Black] Vigilante!
We met Tanya last week running from her fellow cultists along with their prized journal. We open this week with her bringing the journal to James Olsen and Kara Danvers at CATCO. She is worried that they are working on making a bomb. Kara takes the journal “to Supergirl” and James has Tanya stay with him for security. We then catch back up with Olivia from the cult who shows up at CATCO terrified for her friend until it turns out she’s actually kidnapping Tanya along with the brute squad she brought with her. (I am the Brute Squad!) James goes full-on Guardian and goes after Tanya. We get the best on-screen Guardian action…ever…and he ends up getting his helmet blown off of his head at point blank range. As his true identity is revealed the police target him instead of Olivia and her gang. Nothing else happens because when we come back from commercial James is talking with Tanya about it doesn’t really matter that he is a superhero because he’s still a black man doing it. Later on a text threat is sent that the cult will expose James as Guardian if Tanya and the journal are not produced. To preempt their play James plans on holding a press conference revealing he is Guardian. Lena tries to stand with him and is also concerned for him. He explains to her that he was first wrongly treated by the authorities at the age of seven and he explains that “racism is the oldest form of bullying.” The story brings him to tears. Tanya comes at that moment to say he doesn’t have to give himself up, that she will face her fellow cultists head on. Mike “Mon-El” protects her and they get back to the cultists’ hideout where he brings Supergirl and Guardian to take care of things. Guardian saves Tanya and they undo the cult for now. Finally, James explains to Supergirl that he respects and admires her secret identity because she is protecting those close to her but he also knows that his intention to expose his Guardian side was going to be liberating and that one day he will do just that because Tanya and others need to see a black superhero in action.
The Faith and Foosball’s of Our Fathers
Aunt Alex is the worst. She’s asking anything and everything trying to get Ruby off of the couch and Ruby ain’t having it. Alex has been reading up on grief therapy and not much is working. She and J’onn compare stories with Ruby and M’yrnn’s struggles, and J’onn suggests that a trip to the arcade might be good for his father’s mind and Ruby’s disposition. The arcade doesn’t go well at first. M’yrnn thinks they’re genuinely under attack and Ruby is not happy. Then Ruby and M’yrnn are left alone. A foosball ball rolls up and they converse about cork and Mars and M’yrnn losing his family. Ruby asks what got him through it and he says his faith was the only thing and it worked because it brought him back to his son. They go play foosball and make some breakthroughs. Ruby later reveals to Alex that she’s afraid of what might happen to her since mom is a programmed alien murdering machine (paraphrased, of course). Alex assures her that she has people that are surrounding her with love and that they would die to protect her, no matter what comes.
Honesty is Always the Selfish Policy
Kara goes to James and lays into him because he didn’t have her back when he told Lena that Supergirl had him break into the L-Corp vault. He explains to Kara that Lena is his top priority and that his being honest with her has opened her up to him. Later, Mon-El suggests to Supergirl that she go to Lena and explain her reasoning and she does just that. She sincerely apologizes and hopes that this indiscretion will not hurt her’s and Lena’s friendship. Lena assures her it won’t because they’re not friends. Oooooooof. Lena also doesn’t understand why it’s so important to Supergirl that they be friends. Later Supergirl is struggling with Mon-El that if she is supposed to stand for Truth how she accomplishes that while living as a lie. He tells her that in this case she can protect others with her secret identity and that it’s the nobler choice. In other honesty issues, Mon-El is going with Kara to the meteorite 5 light years away and really wants to tell her what’s on his heart. J’onn suggests that that’s probably more selfish than helpful. Mon-El agrees.
Oh yeah, About the Cult
They’re not making a bomb, they’re cooking up the formula to create a fourth WorldKiller that is going to embody Olivia. She is holding the stone of Ura….something, something, something. The point is that it’s Kryptonian and it can turn a human into a WorldKiller. Lena and Winn figure out that they can use the stone to reverse engineer Reign into Sam permanently. And they better hurry because Reign is tiring of being held in Lena’s lab and she’s promising to rip Lena’s spine out at the first open opportunity. And Coville shows up after everything is over.
Closing Thoughts
Authorities going after anyone based on profiling is wrong. At times criminally wrong. That being said, this storyline just did not work in this episode. In Berlanti fashion, the social injustice issue of the week was hammered home with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. James crying over the fact that he was cuffed as a seven-year-old has no contextual genuineness since we’ve seen no evidence of him being discriminated against in any of this series. [Author’s note: I have no personal idea nor could I understand how it is to live as a black man in America and I acknowledge that.] What I would’ve like to seen is that this is an issue he has dealt with at other times in his life and not bring out this terrible backstory for context to suit the story of the week. Alex and Ruby finally get down to the issue of the issue and I appreciated that part of this episode very much. I loved the interactions between Ruby and M’yrnn and I also enjoyed Supergirl grappling with dealing with the complexity of standing for Truth and living with a constant lie. Overall, this episode fell a little flat because it didn’t advance the larger story. I’m all about character and relationship development; but, in this case one out of three story lines doesn’t create a win of an episode.
Cougar’s Comic Corner
Legends of the DC Universe 80-Page Giant #2 (comixology)
This giant-sized anthology features a Beast Boy tale by Geoff Johns (GREEN LANTERN), as well as other stories starring the Challengers of the Unknown, Deadman, Wonder Woman, Metal Men, Mr. Miracle, and the Legion of Super-Heroes!
Includes: “Bedtime Story” (Superman Cult)
A group of thirtieth century cultural historians attempt to corroborate the various myths surrounding a being known as Superman, and come to the conclusion that they know little of the truth about his existence, though he undoubtedly did exist.
News:
“Dark Side of the Moon” Season 3 Episode 20
SUPERGIRL LEARNS A STUNNING SECRET ABOUT KRYPTON – Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) is stunned to discover that a part of Krypton survived. Meanwhile, Alex (Chyler Leigh) is attacked while out with Ruby (guest star Emma Tremblay), and Lena (Katie McGrath) considers how far she will go to keep Reign contained. Hanelle Culpepper directed the episode written by Derek Simon & Katie Rose Rogers
Feedback
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The black powder has me wondering if Lena will create black kryptonite by chance and that’s how they’ll defeat Reign but still save Sam; I’m for that because we need more Sam I feel. Given she has Kryptonian DNA Sam should still be at least as powerful as Kara still thus she could become their “in case of emergencies” button instead of just shoving Clark in places. If they insist on Alex and Ruby still being a part of each other’s lives then again start a romance between Alex and Sam and have them get married; it just works better to keep Sam alive I feel so don’t kill her writers!
Sadly it seems the writers are going with Lena doesn’t know for easy drama, I love your idea of her telling off Supergirl through Kara John but sadly it’s not the plot they’re going with which as Karen says is just dumb and makes all the plots where Lena is suppose to be the most intelligent person in the room feel cheesy.
I didn’t mind the topic of racism being tackled on the series I just felt in this episode it kind of felt out of place; personally I wish they would have saved it for an entire episode versus being a part of one that’s mainly about another subject because it felt randomly placed in versus getting the screen time the discussion deserved. A good debate on the topic.
I actually wish James had revealed himself in this episode because then it would have been made the story connect at least some but because he chose to still stay in the shadows it made the whole race topic feel even more out of place; personally I wish they’d drop the Guardian plot with him because I just don’t buy James as a superhero even though Mehcad is built and they never really give him great plots – James can be inspiring as James he doesn’t need a custom debatably so I’m for them just dropping it myself although I doubt they will. They have GOT to do better with his stories if they’re going to continue because they are some of the most random and weak of the series to me.
I feel Ruby will have Mon level powers because she’s not full Kryptonian like Sam or Kara; will she have all the powers is debatable but I feel they’ll be Mon level versus Kara-Sam level because of her other half. We don’t know what that other half is really so she could have abilities from her father we don’t know about and if she does how do those mix with Kryptonian DNA?
“…or Lena who’s apparently the only one scientifically on top of this.” – but yet she can’t figure out Kara is Supergirl. 🙂
I just hope they don’t use the “you lied to me Kara” plot to turn Lena evil because that will just be the icing on the crap cake for that plot if they do! Just because you can write that plot doesn’t mean it’s good writing so I don’t get the decision to do this plot especially when you can be so refreshing by having Kara tell her and Lena being “Yeah I know and I get why you didn’t tell me”. You can still create drama between them based on how they handle situations but you don’t have to do this manufactured plot just to get drama between them as it’s not the only option for it.
NO TO MON/KARA!!! That would ruin Kara again I feel as they clearly have a balance issue with Mon and how they write him and after two seasons of him I think at least half the fandom needs a break from him. If they want to bring him back in S5 for some reason okay maybe but to keep him on the show…they’d just have to do a massive writing plan with him because so far his record isn’t great if you ask me. Again my main issues are his overall poor writing, the way he makes Kara a lesser version of herself arguably, and the screen time they give him just because – if he had reasons for being in all the scenes like with this episode it would be one thing but he often doesn’t so it just turns me off to him being a part of the series. Also again if he wanted to come back to Kara so badly why wait 7 years, you had a time machine just come back cured at the start it’s inconsistent logic but as you say why should we be surprised given his handling so far; I am just not a fan of another Mon heavy season even with him being good in this episode.
I’m surprised as well Kara didn’t use her laser vision to cut Olivia’s hand off!
That’s another thing with Mon, while the writers and fans may just dismiss the treaty I can’t help but feel Mon staying is killing millions in the future so again it makes him selfish and if he’s suppose to be better than that shouldn’t he return? If he stays who founds the Legion in the future – if they say time changed because of the Pestilence kill so he can stay because there’s no treaty then he can’t be the Legion founder anymore either as you can’t have one without the other if you say this is a straight path timeline like they suggested. Mon just has to go back or they have to admit his presence hurts people in the future, they made the rules with that plot so you can’t cherry pick it’s outcome; yes I mean they can but as Karen said it’s also my right as a fan to call crap on that and fault Mon each week for that choice when they try and say he’s so selfless.
They bring back Mon for another season you might get course language from me John. Ha.
Agreed Darryl regarding Kara-Lena! I’m definitely on Lena’s side in this.
I disagree Karen, Mon is married until he’s divorced in some manner, just because they’re separated doesn’t mean he’s not married still as Irma is arguably waiting for him to return. I feel this is a very touchy plot they’re dealing with and need to make it clear one way or another for everyone how they see it because I see Mon as cheating without question if he does anything while still married and it will taint Kara for me if she’s involved so I really hope they don’t have them do anything together until it’s clear he’s divorced…though I’m hoping he stays married.
Blue Beetle SO needs to be on “Arrow”; it’s beyond ridiculous he hasn’t given how many Kord Industries trucks are in that city!
If they do Sara/Kate it will just be ridiculous also because why can Sara hook up with everyone except Nyssa’s now days – that’s annoying! She’s suppose to be the love of her life yet we hear nothing on her really from Sara. Doing Kate is just begging to have talks of Maggie return given their relationship; I really hope Sara doesn’t sleep with her because enough already with her ignoring Nyssa. Also no to Alex sleeping with her because that would just be sad to have that on her record – she sleeps with the two women who end up together and she’s alone. I can only guess they’re doing Batwoman because they can’t do Batman for some reason and DC is is more protective of Batgirl than they are of Batman so it’s not going to be her thus she’d be the next big name up from the city people might get excited for; I know Robin and Nightwing are bigger names but no one is going to hit on Dick and Tim is too young.
Did you not see the lollipop eye sex Karen? Orange is Sam’s favorite flavor! 🙂 Sam has a lot going on so romance isn’t her first priority so let’s see how it goes in S4. 🙂
“and it’s on the SYFY channel.” – lol Karen!
Hey guys, its my first time posting in this group (I have posted in the Arrow Squad facebook group). I have always enjoyed the podcast since its inception, especially because I enjoy hearing all the comicbook nods and nuggets that the presenters give us during the podcast. I also enjoy the chemistry and humor between the hosts. This podcast has also led me to check out the Scarlett Cougar’s podcast with X-force11 for Gotham. Very nice work!
I wanted to comment on the segment of the podcast that spoke about the “James being a black vigilante experiencing racism” storyline to kind of provide some insight on the differences between the portrayal of the issue here on Supergirl and that of Black Lightning. I know a common gripe in the community of Supergirl fans is the way that the writers bludgeon the storylines with the blunt axe that is social commentary. Typically such annoyances can be alleviated if the perceived writing is good and the issue fits neatly into the context of the story. In this instance, however, I believe it did at the moment in which the issue was introduced into the episode (although carrying it out to its resolution could have been better executed). What James experienced in Supergirl is a more realistic example of the unconscious racial biases that African Americans face in the world than that which is portrayed in Black Lightning. In Black Lightning, such portrayals are more palatable because the show revolves around black people and the black experience in a black community. Like Black Panther, it is unyeilding in its willingness to dive deep in its representation of the multisubcultures of blackness. It does so to such an extent that the black community was shocked in how unrelenting it was in its presentation along with its universal praise and acceptance. Many that I have heard speak on the mainstream acceptance of these programs often wonder does the mainstream viewer even grasp all the “inside” jokes or references found in these programs. With that we have a “bizarre segue” back to the original point of this commentary which highlights why the writing feels different in Supergirl than Black Lightning. The issue of how races are viewed being brought to the forefront of Black Lightning is expected because that is the central idea of the show. That issue is a defining trait of the majority of characters in the program. In contrast, Supergirl, while showing some diversity, is still majorily white in its casting and in the context of the perspectives being shown. In this case, Guardian being held at gunpoint by the police while the true wrongdoers escape would seem forced into the episode and unnecessary for James’ character. In actuallity, based on the commentary in the podcast, it serves as a healthy reminder that James is, in fact, black. While this seems most certainly obvious to the viewer in seeing James’ skin color, this idea is lost as we see James’ character interact with the rest of this created world. As suggested by Karen in the podcast, such circumstances would not happen to James because he is a successful businessman who is a CEO of a widely reknown company. While this view is commonly held by well-meaning white individuals, this could not be any further from the truth. Please note: I am not insinuating that this view or vocalizing this view is racist. It only highlights the difference of experiences of people in this world based on how we categorize people subconsciously. However, it is important to note that that such a perspective is dangerous as it is the reasoning of many hateful people that seek to justify the mistreatment of black people in this country to their black friends with the “that’s not you” or the “you’re different” rationale. AGAIN: not insinuating that any of the hosts of this podcast are racists or said anything racist. Rather, the purpose of interjecting this issue into the show in this way is bring about a different point than that of the racism demonstrated by police officers in Black Lightning. In Black Lightning, being that the cast is majority black, the issue of racism is to be expected but highlighted in an overt way that everyone can agree on and understand. However, such racism presented on the part of the police officers can be dismissed as the police are crooked, dirty cops, so of course they would act in that way. In Supergirl, the cops are innocent in their intent but not with their actions. Rather than holding all the characters present in the brawl in the parking lot, they only hold the tall, muscular black man. Yes, Guardian did have a weapon on him in the form of his shield and utility belt, but so did the other white perpetrators. So why would the others be able to so easily “slip out the back” while the black guy is being detained? The unconscious view that black people are some how more threatening and scary. This forces us to look at the unconscious perspectives we unknowingly have about people of different races and our ideas of how they are to integrate into society as we believe they should. James is a successful, kind, and loving black man who does not carry the stereotypical traits of blackness we are unconsciously privy towards. From that vantage point it is easy to forget that James is black and experiences similar experiences to other black individuals who may carry a lot of the common black stereotypical characteristics. This is again highlighted in the conversation that James has with Lena Luthor. Lena Luthor at this moment is having the revelation also that James is “actually black” in a similar manner that the hosts of the podcast go through in discussing the topic. James does not carry himself like a criminal so why in this or any instance would he be treated like one, especially when it is obvious from his dress that he is Guardian? In conclusion of this long winded, essay (sorry) this ties into the theme of defining one’s identity among dual faces as James has the identity that his friends see and accept versus the face that is put on him subconsciously by world with many prejudices. Hope, I clarified some things and helped viewers see the intent of having that issue be included in this episode.