Post — Aaron Ngo

Major Spoilers are included in this episode review. Please read with caution.

Second episode of the season is setting J’onn up as a major player, Lena’s descent into technological evil territroy, and Kara’s limitations as both a hero and reporter. Also, the episode shows us parallels between the romances (Alex & Kelly, Nia & Brainy). James Olsen is shown oddly happy in this episode as the show is making way for his exit out. You shall be missed, James Olsen. Kara and Lena didn’t share screentime this episode, which was a major mistake as I would’ve liked to see their new normal by now.

I understand why, but it was the wrong call.

After this episode, I’m not sold on Alex and Kelly, but the writers did excellent on trying to make them a believable couple. Alex is freaking out because she’s aware that they’re still getting to know each other, but the feelings are intense. However, the whole shape-shifting scenario and Alex being able to tell Kelly apart from the Malefic does help sell them as falling in love with each other.

Nia and Brainy are sweet and take the bulk of the comic relief in the episode. I adore them as a couple, and their interactions are the highlight of the episode.

Lena spent her time with AI best friend Hope, who body-snatches Eve’s body. Oh yeah, Lena kidnapped Eve, and treated her less than human. This is a dark moment for Lena Luthor, and it shows how she violated Eve’s rights as a human being. It hurts to see her fall like this without Kara having a single clue about what’s going on or the pain Lena’s harboring. She believes that they’re okay with each other, but once this truth rears its ugly head, their friendship might not survive it.

J’onn and Malefic dealt with exposition-heavy material. As an audience, we’re told more than shown about the Martian mythology / Malefic’s background, and why exactly J’onn has holes in his memory. The execution of the exposition, Kelly’s new work with tech eye contacts, was also handled poorly, and made this storyline somewhat slow to get going.

Kara has to deal with a different new normal at CatCo and how she’s not able to handle her new boss and coworker. They’re initially anger with Kara about not being able to do her job, which is oddly fair, and demote her to copywriting assignments as punishment. Showing up to editorial meetings does seem important, but we’re supposed to root for Kara Danvers anyway.

However, Kara and J’onn’s one-on-one time was great. It makes me wonder why Alex isn’t given the same treatment when she was worried about Kelly, and how Alex almost killed her with blueberry pancakes.

Overall, the second episode explored both plot and character to give us a better sense of what’s in store for us this season, setting up “Leviathan” as the main antagonist through Eve’s last words and Malefic’s horrific goals to destroy J’onn’s Earth family as vengeance for being imprisoned in the Phantom Zone. I’m excited!

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