CBS actually pulled the episode of Supergirl that was to air last night in the wake of the Paris attacks. It was supposed to deal with a number of bombings throughout National City, so the reason why they pulled it and replaced it with this slightly-ahead-schedule and vaguely Thanksgiving themed episode should be obvious. Too bad this episode makes reference to the episode it replaced, eh? Without having seen the replaced episode, I have no idea if this was to be, in hindsight, the right decision. I’ve often been of the opinion that a little fantasy can go a long way, though. I’m sure they’ll air it eventually.
Which is why it’s a shame I’m deducting half a point from Gryffindor on this one. Because, once again, they drop the concept of feminism into yet another situation in which it is wholly unnecessary. A. everyone involved in the conversation in question is a woman. B. both sides come off like self-obsessed egotists. C. this is a series about a goddamn FLYING BRICK! Someone said something slightly mean or unfair about Supergirl? We’ve got to have a conversation about it! I’m going to watch the adventures of Barry Allen, the fastest paraplegic alive, tonight, and it’s going to be more interesting than seeing the same conversation for the fourth time in a row. Not just because of the fact that it’s different, either; because the psychological aspect of a character defined by the use of their leg benders suddenly being wheelchair bound is an interesting plot point that you can actually do something with.
What makes this one so much worse is that it kicks off the actual plot of the episode. Cat Grant owns a radio station, and employs a shock jock by the name of Leslie Willis. Leslie doesn’t like that there Supergirl, and make the mistake of saying so on the air. And somehow, everyone is listening to her show, including the people you wouldn’t expect to even remotely care about Leslie or her show or anything she has to say. Cat Grant, on the other hand, is a reasonable exception and calls Leslie up to her office to tell her that insinuating that the CATCO owned Supergirl®™© is an adorkable sapphic lesbian with a figure skating costume and Cthuloid genitals that no man will ever love is off limits. Leslie doesn’t take this “censorship” anywhere remotely close to well, and proceeds to bite the hand that feeds her. Leslie thinks that her contract will protect her to next signing, at least. So Cat makes her the highest paid CATCO traffic reporter. The cherry on this sundae being that Leslie isn’t even that good. She’s not the worst impression of a radio personality I’ve ever seen, but she’s not hot shit in a champagne glass, either.
There’s a storm rolling in, though, and lightning hits the tail of the chopper. You know, call me crazy, but I’m pretty sure no pilot will willingly take off and fly through a storm like that, especially in a helicopter. Maybe Cat just really wanted that pilot dead for no explained reason, I don’t know. But of course, they get hit in the tail with a bolt of lightning. Supergirl rescues the pilot, who somehow fell out of the helicopter, first. When she goes back to save Leslie, though, she gets hit by lightning just as she grabs her hand.
I guess lightning channeled through someone of the House of El can totally activate your metagene, because why not? Leslie becomes Livewire, and spends the rest of the episode trying, and failing, to kill Cat Grant. Need I remind you that this is all over Cat forbidding her to say anything bad about Supergirl? Did we fall into the Silver Age? Because this is like Lex Luthor hating Superman for accidentally causing him to lose his hair, and then stealing 40 cakes to feel better about it.
The better parts of the episode deal with the relationship between the Danvers and the DEO. We get an explanation why Dean Cain will only be showing up in flashbacks (he died working for the DEO, and Eliza doesn’t buy the story they told her), and a very awkward Thanksgiving scene. The scene in which Jeremiah decides to work for the DEO to keep them from taking Kara as an asset winds up being incredibly Pyrrhic. Eliza also warns Kara and Alex not to trust Hank Henshaw.
The best part, though? The allusion to Winn’s father (The Toyman) being in prison. Which is why he spent Thanksgiving with the Danvers.
Final Thoughts:
- Kara has to know Winn is the better choice. The family business is making toys (nudgenudgewinkwinksaynomore).
- I can’t imagine the pickup line “Halloween was last month, but with a body like that, all I can say is happy turkey day to me” works on many women. Or at any time other than the month of November.
- They did the “oblivious janitorial worker” gag. Mark it off your T.V. Bingo Card.
- All of Livewire’s dialogue is bordering on the insufferable. Especially the Cat puns.
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