It’s no picnic for Supergirl, as she encounters public scrutiny, self-doubts, and the usual problems with aunts and bugs.
Director: Glen Winter
Writers: Ali Adler, Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Caitlin Parrish
Melissa Benoist as Kara Danvers
Mehcad Brooks as James Olsen
David Harewood as Director Hank Henshaw
Calista Flockhart as Cat Grant
Chyler Leigh as Alex Danvers
Jeremy Jordan as Winn Schott
Laura Benanti as Alura Zor-El
Laura Benanti as General Astra Zor-El
Justice Leak as Helgrammite
Malina Weissman asYoung Kara
Rich Ceraulo as Agent Hartmann
Peter Facinelli as Maxwell Lord
Jay Jackson as Not Perd Hapley
Premise
Supergirl encounters difficulties establishing herself as a hero, and must face her renegade aunt and her alien associate.
High Points
The episode featured some intriguing bait-and-switch. Will it be about Supergirl’s difficulties establishing herself? That would be fun—but no, there’s a freak of the week. Is it about the freak of the week—no, because someone else takes him out, and the season’s Big Bad introduces herself.
The episode also gives us a quick flash of Hank Henshaw’s destiny.
Low Point
I know we’re closer to Guardians of the Galaxy than serious SF, but the notion that an alien shape-shifting insectoid would have sensitive dangling testicles and could be taken out with a swift kick the nards really pushes the stupid–
–almost as stupid as a beam of heat stopping a beam of heat.
The Scores:
Originality: 1/6 I really find myself wishing them would have gone with DC’s Supergirl—any incarnation of DC’s Supergirl—than Clark Clone, Agent of Not-SHIELD. To this derivative mix they add Maxwell Lord as Lex Luthor and Alura’s Evil Twin as General Zod.
Effects: 4/6 The effects were all over the map. The flying looked okay, and I could give CGI Krypton a pass, because it was effectively designed. CGI Helgrammite movement across walls looked remarkably fake. The apparent Wire-fu falls somewhere in between.
Acting: 5/6 The show benefits from a strong lead.
Story: 4/6
Emotional Response: 4/6
Production: 5/6
Overall: 5/6
In total, “Stronger Together” receives 28/42
Lingering Question
Is the show just going to ask us to accept an offscreen Man of Steel, no matter how earth-threatening the danger? I know Supergirl has to learn to stand on her own, but the constant reminders of Superman’s existence raise too many questions.
I’m still on board but it seems like the show is trying to be too many things at once. Hopefully now that the major players are all on the board and a few of the more obvious establishing plots are done/in progress it’ll start to come together more coherently.
The effects were OK, one landing (in the desert) was a bit abrupt/jarring, and a few other minor nits and such but it wasn’t too distracting.
And for once, I can say Oliver has a better disguise than another hero on TV:
It can’t be her. How could she see without the glasses???