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Welcome back, folks! This week I’m joined by one of my Arrow Squad co-hosts, The Shadow, a.k.a. Brian, and we had the great pleasure to talk about Supergirl Season 1 Episode 17 entitled “Manhunter”. This episode originally aired on March 21, 2016 and features special guest star Eddie McClintock of Warehouse 13. Dean Cain reprises his role as Jeremiah Danvers, and we also see the young actresses who portray the younger versions of Alex and Kara, Jordan Mazarati and Melina Weissman (respectively).
One actress we do not give enough credit to is Briana Venskus, who plays the role of Agent Vasquez. Her character really stood out to me this week for some reason. She has been in nearly episode of Supergirl, and yet she’s still such a minor character that we don’t know anything about her. What I really like about the use of her character is that you can see that she observes her colleagues and the way they operate, so that in a situation like this episode presents, she knows where her loyalties are. And we love her for it!
Mighty Morphing Manhunter
The background we received this week on J’onn J’onzz becoming Hank Henshaw was exactly what the doctor ordered. What I love most about getting this information now is that it came out organically. It was woven into the story, and the story was allowed to be told so that we’d be ready to hear it and it wouldn’t feel randomly injected or thrust upon us before we actually had the heart to care for what J’onn has done for the DEO and for the world.
It took a long time for all of us to get a feel for who J’onn was, especially when it was still uncertain who Hank was! But as our little Supergirl family developed, bonded, and struggled, it became very clear that there was a unique vibe between them that enables them to work together so well.
Interestingly, the former Hank Henshaw was as black and white as we thought J’onn was in the beginning, when we didn’t know who he was. The Hank we saw on mission was fierce, blinded by the mission objective, and unyielding. What surprised me most was that he stabbed Jeremiah during their brawl. He went for the kill. That’s very strange.
Upon taking over Hank’s responsibilities, I can see how J’onn had to play that up. And yet I wonder how, if Hank and this Colonel James Harper were such good friends, he didn’t know about Project Cadmus. Not that it was a secret, as James knew what it was, but that J’onn had to ask questions about it and that he didn’t know Jeremiah was being held there.
Holy reveal, Batman! Jeremiah is still alive.
Agent Party Girl
Interesting back story we get on the Danvers sisters as well. From their first interactions as kids, Kara dealing with the nuances of Earth and Alex dealing with the nuances of Kara, to the very different paths they were brought down, a lot about the girls’ relationship makes more sense. Even though this season has brought them closer together, Kara’s diatribe in the previous episode cuts a lot deeper than I imagined.
While Kara gets the “This World Already Has Superman” speech from her foster dad, Alex grows up in the shadow of someone with extraordinary powers. Insurmountable, inexplicable powers. She’s brimming with intelligence, but has no aptitude to apply it. Either that character trait wasn’t developed, or she allowed the insecurity of inadequacy to consume her, and she wasted her nights away trying to forget her directionlessness.
From Partying like a rockstar… | …to jailbird |
Anyway, I really enjoyed the exposition here about the girls. It reminded me that it hasn’t been easy going for them, even though Alex has taken care of Kara, it isn’t until recently that they both were able to see that they are who they are because they grew up together.
Lucy, Lucy, Lucy
Will I be shooting myself in the foot later for saying that I really like the direction they took Lucy? I wasn’t happy that they just had her up and leave Catco after her split with James “Don’t Make Me Answer Your Phone” Olsen, but I was a fan of them bringing her back, confronting the issue that broke them up, and then thrusting her into this position of authority. I hesitantly trust who Lucy is right now. I’m hesitant because I’m bombarded with all of these uber comic fans who are like, “Lucy is terrible in the comics! Ugh!” But through the lens of this series, I’ve been extremely surprised by my enjoyment of her arc.
Now that Alex is on the run and Lucy is head of DEO, I can’t help but wonder how Kara’s primary relationships will change. Kara-Alex, Kara-James, Kara-Hank… They’re all on a very narrow precipice, none of which really bear any risk of falling off entirely, but are just very uncertain due to present circumstances.
Is it next week yet??
Next Week
Season 1 Episode 18: WORLD’S FINEST! Featuring Grant Gustin as The Flash
Watch the crazy awesome promo
Feedback
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Feel better Scarlet Cougar!
Sidebar: I have to say I enjoyed Pete more in the early seasons, especially S1, than the later ones because it felt like he became more about just the humor and that didn’t feel like the character to me; yes he could be funny but that wasn’t his only trait.
TV crossover – eh; we’ll see how it goes. Podcast crossover could be interesting.
Bruce Timms mention – yay! “Justice League” and “Justice League: Unlimited” are amazing! I agree, I thought the Hank-Jeremiah-Jonn thing took place over days with Jeremiah trying to change Hank’s mind about Jonn but Hank ends up cornering Jonn and Jeremiah jumps in to save him so that’s why Jonn feels dedicated to protecting the girls and he kills Hank to protect himself but I guess because it was nearing the end of the season and they have massive plots coming up they sort of shrunk the events which work overall but I did feel it would actually be longer than that as said.
I’m definitely sad they’re splitting up the sisters; I felt so bad for Kara when she was trying not to cry while saying “She has you.” regarding Hank about Alex. You could tell she so badly wanted to help because she doesn’t like Alex alone on dangerous missions and Jeremiah means something to her too – he’s not just Alex’s dad. It’ll be interesting to see how they act separated long term, but I agree I’m sad about it. The Danvers sisters are amazing! Favorite pairing on the show. I don’t know if it’s all Kara related in the party/jail scenes for Alex, I think some of it is her missing Jeremiah because of their potential relationship; we know Alex doesn’t have the best relationship with Eliza because of the pressure she puts on her but if Jeremiah made her feel equal to Kara and she lost that it could play into her “Don’t care.” attitude some. Maybe we’ll see Alex-Jeremiah flashbacks or hear her talk about him some next week to get a better idea on their relationship to see if it’s a factor or if it really is all Kara related and if it’s just Kara what changed Alex’s jealousy.
No, bad Shadow! Maxwell Lord is our Lex Lurther; Alex can be mad at Kara and they can fight, but she is not Lex! You’re theory is intriguing but I’m going to have to say no thank you. Also yes to Max-Alex banter, but no to a romance between them!
I have to disagree about using Dean more in the series, I love him on this but really we have a character for every thing he could provide – DEO scientist? Alex, even though she’s more in the field than the lab. Father at work? Jonn has that covered. Yes he could switch off with Eliza at times parenting, but beyond that I’m not sure what he could really do while not feeling shoehorned in. I definitely have mixed feelings about Jeremiah being alive in the series; it’s great for the Danvers but beyond that what’s he really going to do? Also who would have found him in time to save his life? If Jonn posed as Hank with him why not take him back to the DEO then for treatment; how did Cadmus get him?
The power overload scene at school was a nice callback to that scene in “Man Of Steel” where the same thing happens to Clark complete with a rescue of others during childhood years. Cat is awesome. A great co-hosting job by Shadow!
Some blog post comments…
“One actress we do not give enough credit to is Briana Venskus, who plays the role of Agent Vasquez.” – Vasquez is awesome.
“And yet I wonder how, if Hank and this Colonel James Harper were such good friends, he didn’t know about Project Cadmus.” – Hank may have known about it, but unless Jonn absorbed his memories during the fight, which I don’t think he had time to really do, then he wouldn’t know about it thus the questions maybe.
“Holy reveal, Batman! Jeremiah is still alive.” – character wise this is great for the Danvers, but it’s going to depend on how they use him post this if it’s a good thing story wise.
“Agent Party Girl” – lol; “Shut up car!”…that will never not be funny. “She’s brimming with intelligence, but has no aptitude to apply it. Either that character trait wasn’t developed, or she allowed the insecurity of inadequacy to consume her, and she wasted her nights away trying to forget her directionlessness.” – I don’t think it was just things with Kara that lead Alex to her drinking, I wonder how much Jeremiah’s death affected her; we know she doesn’t have the best relationship with Eliza because of the pressure she feels she put on her so could feeling like she lost someone who could understand her in Jeremiah also be a factor in trying to wash away things with alcohol?
It’s going to be interesting to see what happens with Lucy.