Recap: 'Supergirl' is back with better effects, a light touch and a little more steel
So, let me start this by saying that I am a Superman FAN. I read his books, collect his action figures, statues and T-shirts. I even have his "S" shield tattooed on my left arm. I tell you all of this so that you know my reviews of this season of Supergirl come from a place of absolute fandom AND that no one is a harsher critic of bad Kryptonian lore than yours truly.
While I'm not usually one to judge a television show on the merits of its special effects, last season's "Red Tornado" episode was about the epitome of bad effects and the hope for this season is that the budget will trend more towards CGI effects when necessary and steer away from the bad cosplay that last season gave us. Already, Superman, Martian Manhunter and the various aircraft that made their way into this season's premiere episode have surpassed some of last season's mistakes.
It seems that DC's television brand is determined to maintain its more jovial side with nods to its other properties, TV and film alike. Cat Grant (Calista Flockhart) lets her voice ring out for her new assistant, Miss Tessmacher, with Hackman-esque glee. Lex Luthor notes "flying" is the safest way to travel. A father, whose family is saved from impending doom, is moved to exclaim "We're moving back to Gotham!" Canon be damned.
Perhaps the best part of Supergirl is its oh, so very comic booky nature. I'm still confused why it wasn't initially a part of the CW's lineup as opposed to CBS trying their hand within the genre. As the show developed over last season, particularly with the Flash guest-starring on an episode, it was easy to see that it belonged very much within this world. The introduction of Kara's world famous cousin works flawlessly, whether bespectacled as Clark Kent or blue and red adorned as Superman. Tyler Hoechlin fills the role his own way. Not too Reeve, not too Cavill but seemingly capable of being his own Kal-El. The little Superman/Clark moments stole episode one for me, from his greeting with James Olsen, his conversation with Perry White (is "lickety-split" really gone from our lexicon?) to his wink to a saved civilian. I hope that the show doesn't stray too far away from Kara's story with Blue Blue in her world but it is fun to see them together.
Having just finished Marvel's astounding Luke Cage series on Netflix, it gives me a great deal of joy to be able to jump into season 2 of Supergirl. I'm not a binge watcher for the most part so the return of the weekly serial nature of my favorite show from last season does my heart good. That leap from Cage to Kara is akin to leaping from a hot, steamy Jacuzzi into a nice cool pool. Both are enjoyable experiences, thoroughly entertaining yet radically different. The direction set up for the season seems enticing. Who is the alien who crashes to Earth in the beginning of the episode? I think I know but I'm not telling. What is Cadmus up to? Anyone familiar with DC history knows that, whatever it is, it promises bad times for our Girl of Steel.
One episode down, a whole season left to go and so far we're up, up and away!