Let's re-watch Supergirl Season 1 together!

"How Does She Do It" has been in my top 5 since season 1. I loved the action, the only thing that kept me from a 100% enjoyment was the cheesy line from James to Lucy: "Because you were here...." BIG EYE ROLL....Lol and the fact that Kara was googoo eyed over James. Never liked that in Season 1. But the action, and the last scene between Lord and Supergirl was FANTASTIC.

You know, Supergirl Season 1 has such a strong focus on Kara and Supergirl, and one way it accomplishes that is that Supergirl has the supreme power over the villains (with the exception of the use of Kryptonite). She's really the only one that can battle with Astra and Non, for example, and the other villains she really does seem to defeat by herself, or at least primarily by herself (Team Supergirl operates behind the scenes). We lose that in subsequent seasons, and that's one way I think the focus has strayed from her. There doesn't seem to be a doubt about her power in regard to the other characters. In subsequent seasons, we often see her wiped out easily or up against villains that have Kryptonite.

So I'm not commenting specifically on any or the current episode so far, just been reading through the comments and replying to some of what's already been said.

superbill said ... Kara's adorable dorkiness
Fun scenes: Kara's tentative look leaving the elevator at Catco after saving the plane

That expression she had was pretty cute. It seems Kara shows more of her dorky side as Kara Danvers and has a more serious demeanour as Supergirl. No doubt to distinguish the identities.

Meadows said ... 10. Note that the friends in Season 1 aren't "super," except for J'onn. I think that was a key to the season focusing on Kara. We don't need a lot of additional superheroes; we just need Supergirl and her non-super friends, except for J'onn, of course.

I agree. Supergirl is already a powerhouse on her own and having other or too many other superheroes detracts from her. That having been said I think its possibly more to do with others joining in the action scenes whether they are powered or not. You could have characters with superpowers but not necessarily using them in combat situation. For example where J'onn used his abilities to disengage the bomb at the airport and his telepathy or jumping to season 4 a moment, Dreamer using her precognitive abilities to learn of certain events. So they would be supporting Kara but she would be the one doing the heavy lifting when it came to everything else.

Meadows said ... You know, one of the things I've been noticing about Season 1 is the villains. The primary villains aren't all bad.

We can empathize with the villains more when they're not all bad. Lex Luthor is just all bad, One of the key components of Lena's character is that despite being reared by and around people who became all bad, she isn't really all bad

Maxwell Lord seems to be an anti villain i.e a villain with heroic or good intentions. Lena was this in season 5. We can probably relate more to these kinds of villains, and Max and Lena also showed they cared for the average Joe and Jane.
It could have been interesting to have a superpowered character like Kara who is undoubtedly good but is antagonistic towards her a bit like a Batman vs Superman setup.

I watched "Red-Faced" on Monday. This episode has always been a popular one with many viewers because of its great action sequences, specifically Supergirl fighting Red Tornado, and also Alex battling Dr. Morrow. And rightly so; those scenes set a worthy standard for action scenes in the show.

There is a lot more to this episode though, and that is what I want to mention today.

The special effects were great, especially the tornado and Supergirl flying in the opposite direction to dissipate it. I also liked Supergirl tunneling underground before erupting to hit Red Tornado from behind. It's not really special effects, but the demonic glare from Red Tornado's eyes was also really creepy.

Cat Grant telling off her mother and J'onn putting Gen. Lane in his place both got a cheer from me. Her mom and the general need a big dose of humility.

A+ acting throughout by the entire cast. Two sequences stand out in particular. The first begins with Cat berating Kara, Kara erupting in anger, Cat taking her to a bar and assuming the mentoring role, and ending with Cat staggering out after consuming three martinis. That sequence shows the full range of emotions, includes a bit of humor, and represents a big leap forward in the relationship between Cat and Kara. "Find the anger behind the anger" remains a memorable line. Excellent work by Melissa and Calista.

The second sequence is the one where Kara and James meet to punch things and dispel their anger. It's a brief scene, but one that provides so much understanding of who these two are and what motivates them. Great work by both, but Melissa in particular is brilliant. The dialog itself is great, but the magic she brings to it is what really makes the scene memorable. I've said it many times before, but her mastery of inflection and expression is a gift that few actors have. It's the little things she does, like the pain on her face as she worries about never finding her perfect partner, and the eye roll after being called away by a phone call, that sets her apart.

I am soooo far behind.

Anyway, Red Faced. I loved this one. Fun action, great character development, and it had a lot to say about being a woman (and a black man as well) in the workforce. It made those points in an organic and entertaining way.

I miss General Lane. He was a great antagonist. They've recast the role for the upcoming Superman and Lois. Wonder how much of a heavy he will be going forward.

Melissa and Callista worked so well together. I would have watched a non-super office dramedy with the two of them.

Melissa and Callista worked so well together. I would have watched a non-super office dramedy with the two of them.

They are great foils for each other. I'd like to see a short series which focuses on Cat interacting with 'both' Supergirl and Kara Danvers

In my mind, Livewire, then Red Faced, is where season 1 REALLY hit it's stride.

My longer Episode 9 'Blood Bonds' review: While this was lighter on Supergirl action it was heavy on Melissa's acting talent especially when it comes to emotional acting where she really brings her A game. My highlights on that front were:

- Melissa was so so good as a stressed Kara awaiting the arrival of Cat to the office. "Today we have to act really really normal like like not just normal normal but Super normal, only no Super" , which had Winn questioning whether she was having a stroke. Then there was the heating of and spilling of the coffee followed by forgetting her glasses. Mel was just so entertaining to watch

- The other scene that was tops for me was an initially angry (at James and Winn for taking on Maxwell Lord without her) and then overwhelmed Kara. I liked that scene a lot and it was a brave move by Winn to stand in the doorway to stop her from doing something that she'll regret. I liked Winn and James both holding Kara's hand and providing that emotional support to her. Later on Kara said thanks to them both for stopping her and Winn replied "Hey, it's why you keep us around right?" .

All of the Kara and Cat scenes were thoroughly enjoyable in the episode and they were my favourites of them from the entire series. Both Melissa and Calista were especially good in the scene the Season 1 Soundtrack calls 'Catty Questions'

I loved the way Supergirl saved Alex from the bomb by shielding her with her cape. I also liked Supergirl saving the solider's life and how later on he recoginsed that and let her proceed when General Lane wouldn't.

I enjoyed Melissa in the little scene where she plays Kara and MM disguised as Supergirl. Kara to MM Supergirl "I really like your outfit" MM Supergirl to Kara "I like your glasses" . So sweet and funny.

Kara talking to J'onn on the rooftop and then chatting with Clark on IM was a nice scene with some lovely music (especially the piano) to accompany it.

One of the funniest lines was Supergirl saying to Alex and J'onn " I can keep a secret" and they both reply together "No you can't" .

Blood Bonds was a really enjoyable episode, next comes Childish Things and one of my absolute favourite scenes from the entire series.


Totally unrelated comment, I was watching a Quiz show tonight and this question was asked "Supergirl had the name of Kara Zor-El on which planet?", a man answered correctly with Krypton. Always cool to hear Supergirl related questions on quiz shows.

Great review, Kiwi. You hit on all of the points that stood out to me.

- This was one of Melissa's better performances, she made you feel for Kara having lost her powers but then displayed such hope when dressed as a powerless Supergirl talking down the store robber.

The scene in the convenience store is among my all time favorites, one I've watched over and over. Supergirl's quivering hand was a great touch showing that being a hero meant overcoming her fear, followed by a pitch-perfect speech. Beautifully acted!

BTW, in this review (and many others from you, if I remember correctly) you give special mention to the soundtrack. Thanks for pointing that out. I have a tendency to take it for granted, but the music is definitely worthy of mention.

'Human for a Day' was an episode for me that had some mixed emotions, it was an excellent episode but I was quite disappointed they went with a Supergirl losing her powers story so early in the piece, felt it's something they could've left till Season 2 or preferably never at all.

I kind of fall in the opposite camp. I felt this episode established something really important about Kara. She is who she is not because she is strong or bulletproof or shoots heat rays from her eyes. Her powers allow her to do things far beyond the power of mortal men, but she is defined by her compassion and determination to do right as she sees it.

Honestly, anyone could go out and talk down a gunman in a convenience store if they're invulnerable. It takes a hero to do it when a single panicked gunshot would end your life. Kara cared about those lives so much at that moment, she was willing to trade literally everything else she could ever do afterward for their sake. Because that's who she is.

(plus wearing a pretty costume ) .

Season 1 - 4 is pretty, season 5 not so

I remembered an interview where Melissa briefly gives her own view on this episode at 1:40

Human for a Day is a great episode, but it's not my favorite episode of Season 1. Still, it was enthralling to see Supergirl wrestle with how it feels to want to help people but to be unable to do so. One of the most riveting scenes in t his episode to me is when she tries so hard to use her xray vision to see inside the man in the alley who is dying. Melissa did a fantastic job of getting those emotions across to her audience!
One of my favorite scenes in this episode is when Supergirl comes flying up the elevator with James in her arms and the moment right before that, when we see that she has her powers back. When I first watched this episode, I'll bet I was just like almost every other viewer, watching so closely to see when those powers would return. Supergirl at her all-powerful best enthralls me.
The music is not to be discounted, for sure! I don't think the music for the seasons after Season 1 is as good in general as the music was for Season 1. At least, I don't seem to notice it as much, although I do catch it when they play Kara's theme.
Once again, though, note that this episode centers around Kara and Supergirl. The supporting cast is absolutely fantastic, but they are in supporting roles. I think so far if we can take anything from Season 1, it's the superb focus on Supergirl herself.

Once again, though, note that this episode centers around Kara and Supergirl. The supporting cast is absolutely fantastic, but they are in supporting roles. I think so far if we can take anything from Season 1, it's the superb focus on Supergirl herself.

This is really true. I hadn't realized it until we started doing these re-viewings, but Supergirl is at the center of each episode.

I was thinking about Human for a Day again, and it occurred to me that even when Supergirl had no powers, she didn't have anyone else jump in to rescue her. Instead, she was very focused on continuing to help others as much as she could without her powers. It seems like in subsequent seasons, Team Supergirl rushes to hide Supergirl when she loses her powers. Maybe the supersuit is an exception.
This reminds me somewhat of the episode in Season 4 when Supergirl has to climb the wall of the room where they have her imprisoned on Shelley Island. Manchester Black ultimately releases her from the room, but she has to summon her own strength to climb that wall. It's a fantastic scene. I would rather she had somehow freed herself, though, just to showcase her powers again.

I hope the writers for the show are reading our analyses, or at least someone is telling them about them. These are good ideas for upcoming seasons!

I was thinking about Human for a Day again, and it occurred to me that even when Supergirl had no powers, she didn't have anyone else jump in to rescue her. Instead, she was very focused on continuing to help others as much as she could without her powers. It seems like in subsequent seasons, Team Supergirl rushes to hide Supergirl when she loses her powers. Maybe the supersuit is an exception.
This reminds me somewhat of the episode in Season 4 when Supergirl has to climb the wall of the room where they have her imprisoned on Shelley Island. Manchester Black ultimately releases her from the room, but she has to summon her own strength to climb that wall. It's a fantastic scene. I would rather she had somehow freed herself, though, just to showcase her powers again.

She is quite impressive in season 1 and having to work out problems to a large extent by herself as we will see even while being relatively new to the whole superhero business.

Ep. 109: Blood Bonds

Lots to like in this episode, even though it was more "talky" than action. I feel it really set up the story arc for the remainder of the season; I know it is not a linear progression, but much of what followed can be traced back to this episode for its origins.

Melissa really was in top form. A few examples:

• Her panic when Cat suspects she is Supergirl, spilling the coffee etc. Hilarious!
  

• In the sequence of meetings with Cat, Kara progresses from laughing it off initially, to wariness when told to sit in Cat's chair, to concern, sadness, and finally resignation. Outstanding range of emotions, expressions, and body language.[list]
  
• The fierce look in her eyes after finding out that Max Lord injured James, as she told Winn "get out of my way." Wow! Kudos to Winn for standing his ground and talking her down. The subsequent scene of the three of them on the couch was touching.
  

[/list]
I liked the initial scene of SG and Non fighting and evading the airplane. That was a cool effect. I wonder if the pilot reported a UFO. lol. I also wonder what rank the one officer held after defying Gen. Lane during the prisoner transfer.

Calista was fantastic as Cat used all the tricks in her arsenal to get Kara to admit she is Supergirl.

Laura Benanti also was great as Astra. I especially liked the "faith" talk with Kara. You can see that Astra is conflicted.

The last scene where Supergirl and Kara appear to Cat simultaneously is a classic. Cat's reaction is priceless. Like many, I would love to see a reappearance of Cat Grant at some point. Calista owns that role.

Episode 108: Hostile Takeover

This episode featured the first of many great balcony scenes between Cat and Kara/Supergirl. Cat had connected the dots and figured out that Kara was Supergirl (something Lena never was able to do). Even though in subsequent episodes this knowledge was refuted, I don't really believe that Cat ever stopped thinking she had it right the first time. Either way, a great scene.

Other highlights: Fantastic flying scenes, especially the fight with Astra in the skies over National City; the sparring session between Supergirl and Alex showed how much SG had improved since earlier episodes; Kara using her super hearing to eavesdrop on Dirk's conversation; and the rage and heartbreak Supergirl felt when confronting Alura about Astra. Another great example of Melissa's range.

I had never noticed in previous viewings that when Kara brings boxes of Cat's emails to James to read through, he strains to lift one of them. But Kara just takes it from him with no effort whatsoever. Easily overlooked moment, but well worth a chuckle.

Hostile Takeover; Well, of course I'm behind! I'll try to catch back up soon. The Fall semester is gearing up, and I have a lot of class design to do!
Just a few thoughts about "Hostile Takeover," which we watched last week:
1. The scene with Kara and Cat on the balcony, where Cat has Kara remove her glasses and recognizes her as Supergirl, is one of the best scenes of the entire series. Note that the first thing Cat does is thank Supergirl for saving her life and all of her help. We see the best of both characters in that scene, I think. When I first saw that scene during Season 1, I rewatched it over and over because I just love it so much. I haven't seen a scene yet that stands up to it, although there are obviously other excellent scenes throughout the series.
2. Cat with the members of the board: There are so many little snippets in the conversation that are fantastic, such as Cat smirking a bit when she remembers calling Dirk the personification of white male privilege. Cat certainly holds her own, and yet, we also see a bit of her vulnerable side.
3. I actually liked Lucy Lane in Season 1, and I missed her in subsequent seasons. I wonder if we could get her back, but I suppose she has no purpose without James. Nonetheless, she was a very strong character. Maybe if we could get General Lane back sometime, we could get Lucy. Then again, I'm sure the writers could bring Lucy back with a purpose.
4. I love it when Kara overhears Dirk's conversation in the elevator. I really like it when we see Kara using Supergirl's powers. It's always fun to see how she reacts and covers it up.

Until next time, everyone!

Firstly something I didn't get to mention about the previous episode was I liked how Maxwell Lord was genuinely trying to help that woman's father, and the exasperation when he realizes he can't save him. I know we were focusing on Kara in that scene but it was great moment also for this character. I like villains who have that kind of side to them. I preferred the Lex Luthor of the Smallville series who could show that kind of side too.

I had never noticed in previous viewings that when Kara brings boxes of Cat's emails to James to read through, he strains to lift one of them. But Kara just takes it from him with no effort whatsoever. Easily overlooked moment, but well worth a chuckle.

It was a good little moment. Possibly this scene could have been more amusing had both James and Winn had difficulty lifting the boxes and when Kara lifts them or they get passed to her she just lifts them with ease.

- I loved the way Cat challenged Kara about being Supergirl, she worked out so beautifully and left Kara speechless. This for me was Calista's best acting in her time on the series.

- Really liked Supergirl taking a break from her fight with Astra to go and save all the people from getting killed by the falling building debris.

Certainly one of the most memorable scenes in the series. Was anyone expecting that would happen when you first saw this episode? Cat finding out Kara is SG ?

I like how she combined the events. The debris fall from the building, Kara sees this and stops the confrontation. She quickly flies towards those below catching part of that really artificial looking wall and throws it at Astra. Kaboom!

Was anyone expecting that would happen when you first saw this episode? Cat finding out Kara is SG ?

I assumed Cat would figure it out eventually, but I was surprised that she confronted Kara so soon. More specifically, I was surprised that the show's writers would do this in only the eighth episode of the series. I had figured they would drag it out, with Cat dropping hints, but not openly confronting Kara, for at least the rest of the season, and possibly longer (remember, at this time we had no reason to think Cat would leave after S1).
That scene on the balcony is still my favorite scene of the entire series.