Previously: Kara was the worst babysitter ever.
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Red Faced
Samantha: Okay so the episode starts with Kara flying over the city. Alex beeps in to ask if everything is okay since usually flying = cheesy battles. But no, this time Kara is just flying to clear her head. But, of course, duty calls and Kara hears some trouble a brewing.
Marines: I don’t want to start every episode with Supergirl flying and making some statement that then gets immediately negated. I DON’T WANNA.
Samantha: We cut to the spin off Fast and Furious show that Vin Diesel has been talking about and I get excited! Two guys are yelling at each other and banging their cars together. It’s Fast and Furious: Road Rage, y’all. Of course they’re doing this in a school zone and almost super murder a bunch of little kids crossing the street. Supergirl stops the cars just in time, and looks at them like the pieces of shit they are before basking in the applause. One of the drivers, Piece of Shit King, gets out of the car and starts yelling at Supergirl for breaking his nose and totaling his ride. He completely ignores the fact that he literally almost murdered a ton of children. He then takes a swing at Supergirl. That’s right, he tries to face punch Supergirl. She grabs his hand and starts squeezing.
Catherine: THANK. I didn’t get that she was wrong at all in this scene. She definitely has to watch herself to make sure that she doesn’t hurt anyone unnecessarily but the guy took a swing at her! How is that not self-defense. If you wanted you to make it look like she was just losing control of her anger, show, you really could’ve done a better job.
Mari: “You really could’ve done a better job,” is basically what I always want to tell this show.
Samantha: Guys, I’m just so glad I wasn’t alone in my baffled anger.
But yes, we cut to a news report that says that Supergirl scared children and had road rage. What the fuck. If they wanted to explore Kara’s anger I dunno if this was the most sensical way to do it.
Henshaw scolds Supergirl for losing control. “Those two idiots nearly killed people and you’re getting mad at me?” Supergirl asks. This sounds like me every time I would get into a fight with my younger siblings. #OldestChildProblems. Then Henshaw says the cousin thing so I can brood over a shot. He explains that people fear Superman not because of his powers, but because of what he could do with them if he lost his temper. Uh. That sounds like fearing his powers but whatever. (M: That’s exactly what that is.) A random DEO worker comes up and shows Supergirl that Carlisle Maxwell is reaming her on TV for “police brutality.” Oh. Is that the route they’re trying to go with? Now I feel half weird about my earlier GO SUPERGIRL but I still think that was a bad way to start exploring it.
Catherine: It’s so dumb. This is so dumb. I’m mad, you guys.
Mari: I really hope this is supposed to be media sensationalism and not like an actual parallel to police brutality. Actually, I don’t hope that because real life police brutality is NOT media sensationalism and it’s a crappy comparison either way.
Samantha: Cut to that one restaurant in National City where Jimmy and Lucy are having coffee. She slides in the fact that her dad is in town and Jimmy chokes on his coffee. Legit reaction. There’s this YA book called Fallout by Gwenda Bond which is all about teenage Lois Lane. It’s my only connection to General Lane but yeah, legit reaction is legit. He wants to have dinner with the two of them. As Lucy leaves, Kara walks in. Lucy thanks Kara for the invite and it’s clear that Kara doesn’t have any Jeffing idea what she’s talking about. Once Lucy is gone, Kara asks Jimmy what’s up. Apparently General Lane doesn’t like Jimmy cause he consorts with aliens. Then Kara asks wtf invitation Lucy was talking about. Apparently Jimmy invited her to game night and meant to tell Kara. Way to fail at telling people things Jimmy. Kara awkwards about how great that is and leaves.
Cut to Cat’s office where a British woman is saying that Cat’s many tvs are hella awful. It is quickly revealed that this is Cat’s mom and we are probably not supposed to like her. She’s in town for a book tour and wastes no time insulting Cat about, like, her ability to read or something. Cat says that Carter would love to see her but grandma aint got time for that. Mama Cat sees the poster of Supergirl and wonders why she isn’t called Superwoman. Ths causes Cat to realize her mom didn’t bother reading her article. She says, in regard to Supergirl, “I can’t help but feel safer in Metropolis. Call me old fashioned but I still prefer a male doctor.” Uh, yeah, I will call you old fashioned and part of the problem and so annoying.
Catherine: But I like that the show told us we’re supposed to hate her by immediately showing that she’s a misogynist. Shows their hearts in the right place, anyway.
Samantha: True. We are definitely supposed to hate this character this time.
Kara is walking in with the morning coffee in an outfit I really love. She finds Alex waiting at her desk, wanting to talk about her dad. Kara says she doesn’t have time right now but Alex is actually there to talk to Winn.
The three of them go into a conference room and Winn says that he cannot break into the DEO mainframe cause that’s treason. Kara says it’s about Papa Dean Cain and Winn sighs, “That’s dirty pull Danvers, you know I have daddy issues.” It’s honestly the most interesting line he’s ever delivered I think. They explain the situation and Winn reluctantly says that he’s in. Suddenly! the girls get beeped from Henshaw.
DEO Headquarters. General Lane gets out of a truck and walks up the Henshaw, Supergirl, and Alex. He needs Henshaw to transfer Supergirl over to his command. Alex, hilariously, says that Supergirl doesn’t actually work for them. Hokay. Genreal Lane expresses his dislike of the DEO, but he needs Supergirl to help him test some new weapon that they want to use against insurgents. Then, Lucy gets out of the truck in full uniform because it was time for her to suck. She says that Supergirl has no choice, she has an executive order forcing her to comply. So many thoughts.
1. I completely did not know that Lucy worked for the military. I have no idea what I thought she did.
2. I do not want to hate Lucy but they make her so snotty and awful in this scene. She doesn’t even allow discussion to happen before busting in all “Nah nah nah, you haaaaaave to.” I don’t want to do the “women are awful and competitive over a man” thing, show.
3. But. Like. Supergirl is an alien? Is she really a US citizen? Does the president really have legit authority, legally speaking?
Catherine: Ah, the age old question: How much authority does the government have over Superman/Girl? It’s visited in comics and shows a lot. I think the most definitive answer is basically that they have no real control but that the Supes cooperate with them often because they’re nice (usually).
Mari: Except to each other in which case THEY DON’T EVEN CALL FOR THE HOLIDAYS. #notoverit #anIMdoesn’tcount
Samantha: Anyway. They mention that the president is a woman, which is cool. Supergirl eye spars with Lucy before saying that she’ll do it. General Lane says that he needs Supergirl to fight his robot. Some British guy busts in to be like “It’s not a robot, it’s an anthropomorphic pseudo entity.” Dramatic opening of a crate reveals Red Tornado. A giant red suit thing.
Post commercial break Kara and the guys are in the Super Cave (do we have a clever nickname for this yet?) (C: I vote that one.) and Kara is telling them about fighting A Not Robot. She says that General Lane and Lucy “asked” her (the quotations are my own addition) and Winn worries that Lucy might have recognized her. Lol, not in my lifetime Winn. Not in my lifetime. I need a cousin shot. (C: You being mad that no one ever recognizes her will never not be funny.) As if in answer to my pleas, Kara says that she’s doing this to prove that her and her cousin can be trusted. Winn asks if game night is off and Kara then makes a dramatic speech about how it will go on because it’s her last shred of normalcy left.
Kara walks with Cat, going over the details of an upcoming dinner with her mother. They walk into her office and speak of the devil is sitting on the couch. She’s there to tell Cat that she’s cancelling dinner to go hang with some famous writer friends. Despite just bitching about it, you can tell Cat is bummed. Mama Cat continues being awful when she comments that Cat wouldn’t having anything to talk about with famous smart peoples. I get offended for Cat, who is the best part of this show. Cat immediately tries the limit of my last comment by taking it out on Kara, saying that everyone sees her throwing herself at Jimmy. This is what happens when I recap the first watch through. Enjoy. Kara looks mad but keeps it together.
Game Night. Lucy and Jimmy are killing it at a game and being all super coupley. It’s Winn and Kara’s turn and they suck in comparison. Winn goes, “Oh this ones easy! Your cousin.”
Samantha: And we usually reserve that nickname for this guy, so you really do suck!
But of course, she can’t answer that one with Lucy present. Drink up. Lucy continues to head down a frustrating path by belittling Supergirl. I can’t think of any other reason this is happening then she feels threatened by her and is doing the “girl thing” by tearing her down. Because god forbid we support each other, ladies.
Catherine:
No but seriously Jimmy really should’ve stepped up and distracted Lucy somehow. It would’ve saved everyone embarrassment. He just sat there like an old guy in a strip club who can’t get an erection.
Samantha: Kara rage flies to the DEO for the big showdown with the Not Robot. Some random dude puts money down on the android but Alex takes the alien. The fight begins with Kara getting her ass handed to her but then she holds her own. British guy says that the Not Robot is experiencing system damage and the test is over. Alex tells Kara but she doesn’t quite stop until Henshaw yells at her.
As everyone runs out Not Robot takes off and British guy informs us that it’s in stealth mode and 100% undetectable and a super killer and it’s all Supergirl’s fault! Well that seems….irresponsible.
Catherine: Seems like their should be a firewall in between ‘driving test’ and ‘serial killer’. ‘Toaster’, perhaps? ‘Wonderful new friend’?
Mari: Also, maybe just like a, “if you fight it too hard it will become a murder machine” heads-up for Supergirl would’ve worked.
Samantha: Inside DEO Headquarters. The General is blustering at everyone and wants The Not Robot detroyed before it kills people. British guy is totally against this because his years of work are more important. The General is all “yeah but it failed so you’re fired.” Everyone angsts and awkwards until we cut to the next scene.
Cat is yelling for Kira who takes a few moments to get into the office. Cat continues to be extra awful until Kara finally snaps.
Catherine: We should all try to do that and I’m proud of Kara and you and everyone in this bar!
Mari: This was another moment when we were supposed to be like GASP! Kara! But no. Still good. Keep doing these things please. It makes for better TV.
Samantha: Ha, I never even considered we were supposed to be appalled with Kara here. Nope show, this was great.
Anyway, Cat shushs her and tells her to forward the phones because they are going.
Carlisle Enterprises. Alex walks into his office and shows him the severed arm of The Not Robot. I forgot to mention that Kara severed it’s arm during their fight. He examines the arm as Alex asks for his help to find the Army’s rogue android. He tells her that it was good to see her but he’s too busy.
Awkward Lane Dinner. We’re off to a rough start as the General gets all bent out of shape cause Jimmy orders a club soda instead of alcohol. Lucy goes to powder her nose and the men are left alone. There’s some back and forth about The General not liking Jimmy until he just straight up admits it’s cause he isn’t good enough for Lucy. He thinks Jimmy will hold her back and that he isn’t special.
Catherine: Could be worse, General. Your daughter could be dating an alien. Oh…wait…
Samantha: At a bar, Cat is drinking a martini. I want to go to a bar with Cat. (C: Seconded.) She’s telling Kara that everyone gets angry but that you cannot get angry at work, especially when you’re a girl. Here is a gif of Cat with all of the martinis.
A few drinks later, Cat is telling the story of when Perry White threw a chair through a window because someone missed a deadline. “If I had thrown a chair, or my god, if I had thrown a napkin, it would have been all over the papers. It would have been professional and cultural suicide.” Which. Accurate double standard is accurate. (C: *preach emoji*) She tells Kara to find a release and find out what’s really bothering her. Cat is hella pissed at her mom so she took it out on Kara. She doesn’t think Kara was really mad at her and tells her to find the anger behind the anger.
As the Lane’s and Jimmy walk out of dinner, the Not Robot shows up. Jimmy hits his panic button.
Kara is helping Cat up when she super hears the commotion.
The Not Robot blasts Lucy and she goes flying. I dunno how she isn’t dead. Jimmy yells a delayed “Lucy!” and runs to her. The General orders it to disengage, which is stupid. Not Robot goes to punch him but Supergirl stops him just in time. Even though she beat the shit out of it just a few scenes ago, now she can’t quite. Not Robot sets off a tornado and then looks at her. Kara watches the tornado in horror and Not Robot creep smiles. She flies around the tornado a little and kind of groans at it and that works. It dispels.
Inside, DEO headquarters a doctor is looking over Lucy, who is of course fine. She genuinely thanks Supergirl for saving her life. The General chides her for letting it get away and Supergirl protests that it learned from last time. Lucy thinks it used her humanity against her. Henshaw enters the scene saying that his team analyzed the robo arm and discovered lead, to hinder xray vision. He hypothesizes that the Not Robot was created to take down Krytonians, not insurgents. (C: Well thanks a shitload for that information, Captain Old News.) The General says that the DEO has all kinds of aliens locked up downstairs and the only difference between Supergirl and them, is that she’s blonde. Ew. Henshaw defends Supergirl and the Lanes leave.
Carlisle’s Office. He has set up a lovely dinner table and is pouring wine as Alex walks in. He tells her that if she wants his help she has to talk with him. Alex randomly confesses some vague details about her dad’s death. Carlisle confesses that he figured out the android isn’t working alone. It’s basically a drone and they should be looking for whomever is controlling it.
Random Empty Warehouse. A car is dangling as Kara prepares to use it to box. Jimmy is there and comments that Clark never has to get his rage on. Kara says, “Well, cause he’s a man. Girls are taught to smile and keep it on the inside.” Jimmy counters with, “Well it’s not like black men are encouraged to be angry in public.” Since it’s not a Who Has It Worse competition, Kara says that this will be good for both of them. They start listing things they’re mad about and punching either the bag or the car.
Kara realizes she’s really angry that she might never find her perfect game night partner and that she doesn’t feel normal. There’s a good little moment of acting when Kara says that her chance at being normal ended when her parents put her on that ship. Alex calls and she has to go.
Catherine: I liked this scene. And you’re right it was a good acting moment.
Mari: GUYS. I liked it too. Wow. I liked a thing.
Samantha: 3/3 Snark Ladies are agreeing a lot this episode! Wheeeeee!
DEO. Alex explains that british guy (okay, his name is Dr. Morrow) is still controlling Not Robot and that’s why he went after the Lanes. They plan on drawing out the android and doing some gps magic to find where Morrow is. Henshaw tells the General that they need his help.
Alex gets out of a car saying that she has a position on Morrow.
Not Robot stares down General Lane. He goes to punch him but PSYCH it’s just a hologram. Kara shoots Not Robot with some giant gun thing. They start fighting.
Alex enters a basement where she sees lots of computers she can shoot but Morrow comes out of the shadows to tell her that won’t matter. It’s a telepathic interface. He’s wearing an electronic crown thing. He says that she’ll have to kill him to get the Not Robot to stop. Alex tries to talk him down but he just comes at her and now they’re fighting too. We cut a lot between the two fights. Not Robot has Supergirl in a choke hold when we cut back to Alex’s fight. She points her gun at Morrow and fires. Morrow droops over like he’s actually a robot and dies? Supergirl thinks that it’s over but DOUBLE PSYCH Not Robot has become sentient and wakes up to continue the fight. Kara throws some laser vision at it with a side of rage as she remembers the night her parents put her in the ship. She screams as the music swells and the Not Robot blows up.
That Restaurant We’re Always In. Lucy and Jimmy sit together as General Lane walks in, saying that he has a car to take them to the airport. Lucy is going back to Metropolis with him. Lucy informs her father that she’s done working with him. She tells her father that her and Jimmy are on the same team and that’s why she’s staying. Daddy Lane tells her she’s making a terrible mistake.
Kara’s Apartment. Alex walks in to find Kara and Winn looking grave. Hey, does Winn have a first name? I can’t even pretend to know it. (C: I thought Winn was his first name?) (S: Ha okay, I’m bad at this.) He found a mostly redacted file on Dean Cain’s death. What he could piece together was that Dean Cain and another agent were on a mission in South America to apprehend an alien. It did not go well and both were presumed dead. Until a month later when the other agent showed up, a-okay and claiming to not remember a thing. Obviously, that agent was Hank. Cut to the son of a gun flashing his red eyes at headquarters with people everywhere. Hey this all feels really sketchy, maybe Dean Cain is alive! (C: Yay!) (M: I like a second thing!)
Cat’s Office. Mama Cat is bitching at Kara because her car to the airport isn’t there yet but Kara didn’t even know she was supposed to get her one. She turns to bitch at Cat and calls Kara “this creature of yours” and wonders how she can justify paying her a salary. Cat decides to get her bamf on.
I dunno. I’m still cranky about the opening of the episode. That dude was gonna punch a woman and just cause she happened to have the capability to defend herself she got in trouble. She didn’t start wailing on him. She defended herself.
Catherine: All of your feelings are correct.
Mari: On the bright side, I didn’t hate it? It was still super hamfisted but again, the whole idea of Kara having to deal with her rage and how being Supergirl hasn’t fixed any of her problems was cool. No alien of the week which was extra cool. I could deal with 100% less Lucy Lane though.
Next time on Supergirl: Kara loses her powers but no one cares much.
I'm a 28 year old graduated English major and almost librarian. I can often be found singing too loudly (poorly) in the car or spending some time (hours) on Tumblr. I am a lover of Harry Potter, the Spice Girls, and too many other things.
I'm a 30-something south Floridan who loves the beach but cannot swim. Such is my life, full of small contradictions and little trivialities. My main life goals are never to take life too seriously, but to do everything I attempt seriously well. After that, my life goals devolve into things like not wearing pants and eating all of the Zebra Cakes in the world. THE WORLD.
I am a 30-something year-old human woman who lives in Maine. I'm a freelance writer who mostly spends time that I should be doing that, watching T.V. I also love reading and comic books way too much.
