My Adventures with Supergirl
Here we are at the season two finale! How will Superman and Supergirl defeat Brainiac and an army of Metallos? With the power of friendship!
No time for credits
This episode is packed to the gills. We’ve got no time for opening or closing credits. Instead we are given a quick glimpse at the logo and at the end the episode keeps going over the credits. The Max app even minimized the video at the top of my screen to give me related shows to watch next; even though the episode was still going!
Superman wins with a hug not a punch
The episode starts with the good guys near defeat. Superman and Supergirl are grounded and feeling the effects of Kryptonite. Waller and Luthor are surrounded by Metallos. Henshaw flies a group of jets towards Kandor but are shot down. Lois, Jimmy, and Lombard are on the run. Then the tide turns.
First it’s Steel who takes out some Metallos to save Lois, Jimmy, and Lombard. Then it’s basically every villain Superman fought in season one. Livewire, Heatwave, Silver Banshee, Mist, and Rough House all show up to take down Metallos and save Superman and Supergirl. Then finally, General Lane shoots down some Metallos to rescue Waller.
Of course it makes sense that Steel shows up as a hero because he has always been that, but it shows that Superman’s approach of helping paid off. He didn’t want to hurt Livewire. He tried to help save Silver Banshee from Task Force X. He didn’t make them his enemies. So now when he needs their help for the good of the world, they are here. I loved this. Perfect Superman stuff.
Brainiac again takes control of Kara and makes her fight Superman. But Superman doesn’t win by punching her harder. She’s just as strong as he is. No, he wins by embracing her as family. It was such a great shot of his fist going towards her, but ending in a hug. Then Lois and Jimmy join in and Kara is saved. Again, perfect Superman stuff. Lois and Jimmy were just as important to this finale’s victory as they were last season.
The team up of Superman and Supergirl pushes Kandor out of Earth’s atmosphere into the sun while the triumphant theme song plays.
Brainiac destroyed Krypton
When Brainiac is gloating over Superman and Supergirl thinking he has won he reveals that it was him that destroyed Krypton. Because the Kryptonians wanted peace and Brainiac was made for war. I think this is a mistake on the part of the show. You want to make this really personal for Clark and Kara. It makes Brainiac so much more diabolical and evil. But it takes away a critical Superman metaphor. The planet was doomed, their greatest scientist knew about it, and the people didn’t believe him. This bit of the origin is such a perfect reflection of our world and what may happen that it’s a mistake to change it. Every time they try to make some villain responsible for blowing the planet up it misses that crucial element. The only black mark on a fantastic episode.
Couple more easter egg/references
Henshaw’s attack on Kandor was very reminiscent of the military attack on Black Zero in Man of Steel. Speaking of Black Zero, Brainiac uses the “Black Zero Protocol” to infect his ship with Kryptonite as a last ditch effort to kill Kara and Clark. He also calls his take over of Supergirl the “Eradicator Override”. Black Zero and Eradicator seem to get used for all sorts of things across media. They are both great names and vague enough to be used for anything.
Kryptonians in the sun
The Black Zero Protocol isn’t going to do much against Clark and Kara because they are in the sun. Everyone knows that’s where Kryptonians are their strongest. The two of them then fly together to destroy Kandor and Brainiac once and for all. Kara gets the last fight with Brainiac reducing him to his “mainframe”. Basically a fancy external hard drive.
Soup on the roof
Kara wakes up after the battle (with a new mark under her eye) in bed in Smallville. Brainiac sitting defeated on the nightstand. Lois and Jimmy are there (asleep) with a welcome to Earth basket. Clark, Ma, and Pa walk in. She’s overwhelmed with affection for the first time in her life.
Clark brings her to play catch. A Kent family tradition. Calling back to his memory where she saw weakness. Show me your earth catch and then I will master it and then I will win!
While the credits roll Clark, Jimmy, and Lois read their story about the invasion. Lois tells Clark that she isn’t taking the Gotham job. Our new main four have some soup on the roof before flying out to save the day once again!
I can’t wait to see where we go for season three! From the first announcement images I knew I would enjoy this show. Superman is for everyone and this show was a great example of that!