S3E9 "Reign" Discussion and Review

I'm probably in the minority but, I don't think that Lena should find out. I really don't see a necessity for it. Everything that has happened can either be excused or covered by J'onn. And with Lillian as her mother and Lex as her brother, Lena knowing would do more harm than good to Kara. It would just be another door opened to the Luthors and the rest of the world finding out and getting to Kara. Not to mention the fact that we still don't know how Lena is going to be down the road, if she will stay on the right side of morality or not.

***Editing this so I don't double post because I forgot to ask about Supergirl's suit. From the comics, is it supposed to have some type of special powers or is it reinforced in some way? The aftereffects of Reign's laser to her chest with the cloth ripped open but, the emblem still showing through underneath gave that impression.

I can picture Lena saying something like "Kara Danvers we will talk about why you didn't trust me but right now it's more important that we figure out how to beat this thing".

Yes, ma'am. That! Plus... Lena DOES tend to call Kara by her full "Earth" name when she feels Kara has been naughty. lol So, yeah... I'd be totally down for this being how Lena finds out.

Hmmmm....no, yes she would of course do everything she could to save her, but IMO, she wouldn't speak to her at all, she would just do what needed to be done. It has to hit deeper than that, to the point that she of course wants to save her, but she is hurt beyond compare at that time. So, no speaking to Kara only helping her.

I can picture Lena saying something like "Kara Danvers we will talk about why you didn't trust me but right now it's more important that we figure out how to beat this thing".

Yes, ma'am. That! Plus... Lena DOES tend to call Kara by her full "Earth" name when she feels Kara has been naughty. lol So, yeah... I'd be totally down for this being how Lena finds out.

Adding on to what Brierrose said...

The DEO wouldn't have been able to keep up. They were all over the city.

As for J'onn, it's entirely within the realm of possibility that he didn't realize how in trouble Kara was until the damage was done. She wasn't communicating with the DEO, and he can't read Kryptonian minds.

By the time the fight settled down to one area, Kara's downfall was pretty swift.

All this being said, I don't want Kara's next fight with Reign to be a 180. They should remain evenly matched. The fights need to be this quality with all their encounters. That doesn't mean Kara needs to be beaten within an inch of her life, every time. But the fights need to be the quality of the portion at the Christmas party. The back and forth between Supergirl and Reign was fantastic and incredibly well done.

Finally, a fight that didn't come down to heat vision between Kryptonians.

In the comics, she doesn't defeat Reign....Reign is afraid that Kara will kill all of her World killer buddies and they all take off for greener pastures....my paraphrase of course.

Adding on to what Brierrose said...

The DEO wouldn't have been able to keep up. They were all over the city.

As for J'onn, it's entirely within the realm of possibility that he didn't realize how in trouble Kara was until the damage was done. She wasn't communicating with the DEO, and he can't read Kryptonian minds.

By the time the fight settled down to one area, Kara's downfall was pretty swift.

All this being said, I don't want Kara's next fight with Reign to be a 180. They should remain evenly matched. The fights need to be this quality with all their encounters. That doesn't mean Kara needs to be beaten within an inch of her life, every time. But the fights need to be the quality of the portion at the Christmas party. The back and forth between Supergirl and Reign was fantastic and incredibly well done.

Finally, a fight that didn't come down to heat vision between Kryptonians.

1) IMO if anyone, with the possible exception of J'onn, had tried to step into the fight it would’ve just been an additional distraction for Kara. She was already distracted with the civilians at the Christmas party and on the street at the end. The one thing the DEO, James and even Lena could have done is get the civilians the heck away from the fight and then stay a safe distance away themselves.
2) I've decided here's how I want the timing to go in the next episode. Kara is awake by the end of the first scene but not at full strength physically or mentally until the very end of the second to last scene. The last scene is an action scene and her first public appearance to let Reign and the city know she's back. In between her friends and family could help her recover mentally while time heals her physically. If done correctly that should provide an acceptable amount of Melissa time. It would be great if Cat could be one of those people but realistically I know that's probably not happening. How awesome would it be to have Cat come waltzing into the DEO demanding to see Kara(pronouncing the name correctly). I also think it might provide an opportune time to clue Lena in. After seeing that fight Lena would naturally ask James if he knew how Supergirl was doing. She would also ask him if he knew where Kara is. James could tell Kara that he's covering for her at work but Lena’s worried about Supergirl. Kara could to give him the OK to bring Lena to the DEO to see her and during the visit tells Lena the truth. Lena might be frightened enough for her friend that it tempers her anger at Kara not telling her earlier. I can picture Lena saying something like "Kara Danvers we will talk about why you didn't trust me but right now it's more important that we figure out how to beat this thing".

One thing that I didn't like was to have James, the Guardian, just stand around watching and monitoring traffic. Obviously, he would never have beaten Reign, but I feel a true hero would have sacrificed himself in order to try to help Supergirl. And if it was a question of him not wanting to reveal himself, well, that's an even bigger issue.

I've seen a few people mention this, as well as, the DEO not helping. I haven't had a chance to watch it, again, just yet. But from what I remember, to me everyone just looked completely stunned at what they were watching. For the DEO...based on how long it seemed to take Alex to get to Kara (granted, it WAS in slow-mo...if I'm remembering correctly)...I don't think the DEO was actually on site at their final fighting area. I'm thinking they were having to relocate themselves. James was either just shocked, or knew Kara would want him to stay with Lena, or... He just knew he'd suck.

James would have done nothing against Reign. Him stepping in is no different to Alex or Winn stepping in. In fact Alex is better than him.

Yes, I'm not stating that it would have made any difference. It's that he didn't even make an attempt to help. I can guarantee you that if Alex was there, she would have done everything she could have to help even if it meant dying by doing so. James is a self-proclaimed hero, Superman's best bud and one of Kara's closest friends. All factors that should have pushed him into the fight. I don't think it's a James issue, just a writing issue. They just shouldn't have put him in that scene in the first place.

James would have done nothing against Reign. Him stepping in is no different to Alex or Winn stepping in. In fact Alex is better than him.

A couple of things that I thought that they did well on another watch were:

I liked how they had a great number of the DEO personnel standing around the outside of the emergency room that Supergirl was in when they brought her in after her fight. I thought that it showed how much of an impact that she has on them, after all, in addition to being their hero, she is also a co-worker.

I also thought it was interesting and very good added detail of Supergirl having sweat on her face during and after the fight. I'm pretty sure that that is not something she ever has to worry about, 99.9% of the time, even during a fight. So, to show it now leaves the impression of just how difficult the fight was and how hard her body was fighting to not shut-down afterwards because of her injuries.

One thing that I didn't like was to have James, the Guardian, just stand around watching and monitoring traffic. Obviously, he would never have beaten Reign, but I feel a true hero would have sacrificed himself in order to try to help Supergirl. And if it was a question of him not wanting to reveal himself, well, that's an even bigger issue.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE KARA RECOVERING THAT LONG. First 10 minutes showing everyone worried....done. but out of it before the 2nd commercial break.

Physical recovering till 1st commercial. But emotional might take till 2nd.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE KARA RECOVERING THAT LONG. First 10 minutes showing everyone worried....done. but out of it before the 2nd commercial break.

2) I really would be glad to see Cat Grant coming back for Kara right now.

Definitely, Jondix. With Kara's possible "demise" being broadcast, I could see Cat actually revealing to Alex that she's knows, and calls her so she can see Kara. And, I could see Alex agreeing to take Cat to Kara.

Kara could definitely use a Cat talk when she wakes up. Cat might not have Alex’s number unless she got it in the bar during S2E21. Cat could definitely call James or even Winn. I could see either James or Winn taking Cat to see a recovering Kara with Alex and J’onn’s blessing.

This is kinda off topic to the storyline but just curious too, does Tom Welling have a tattoo? I didn't think so, or at least never heard of it but then it did look like he had some round tattoo on his upper arm this episode? :/ Well the picture of what it was exactly, I couldn't really see; not a bruise the make up people trying to cover something? Hmm?

Tom Welling?????

Yeah he acts Ruby didn’t you know?

Does anyone here think that the final scene with Ruby is a hint that Reign will gradually look different down the line (i.e. comic book Reign)?

I'm thinking could be a couple of things....

1. Once the mask is removed it is shown that Kara did get some solid punches in and Sam is looking a little worse for wear after the battle.
or
2. It is the same as the bedroom scene when Ruby wakes her up, and there was this weird, like...split second look on Sam's face when she was about to let Ruby have it for letting her oversleep but then weirdly went into "it's pancakes......" or whatever she said in a fun way. I honestly thought though that she was about to totally go off on Ruby. This may be the same thing....

This is kinda off topic to the storyline but just curious too, does Tom Welling have a tattoo? I didn't think so, or at least never heard of it but then it did look like he had some round tattoo on his upper arm this episode? :/ Well the picture of what it was exactly, I couldn't really see; not a bruise the make up people trying to cover something? Hmm?

Tom Welling?????

2) I really would be glad to see Cat Grant coming back for Kara right now.

Definitely, Jondix. With Kara's possible "demise" being broadcast, I could see Cat actually revealing to Alex that she's knows, and calls her so she can see Kara. And, I could see Alex agreeing to take Cat to Kara.

Really great last fight scenes that makes the all episode for me. The looks Kara are given are amazing in it.
Melissa Benoist killed every scene she was in.
I'm still not a fan of Ruby in general. And i didn't really cared about the James / Lena field trip adventure.

1) It's maybe the occasion to make some changes in the Supergirl costume.
2) I really would be glad to see Cat Grant coming back for Kara right now.

This is kinda off topic to the storyline but just curious too, does Tom Welling have a tattoo? I didn't think so, or at least never heard of it but then it did look like he had some round tattoo on his upper arm this episode? :/ Well the picture of what it was exactly, I couldn't really see; not a bruise the make up people trying to cover something? Hmm?

Draftingafter is right. It is time for Kara’s Mon-El phase to fade. Kara’s current S3-Barry-mode must end soon, for she is a lot less compelling a character while it lasts. The distant and superior “not human” attitude and her lack of affection and warmth for anyone except Alex, Sam and Lena right now makes it extremely hard to root for her.

For its many flaws, S1 of the show drew me in mainly as Kara was a paragon of friendliness and understanding. She couldn’t be further from that at the moment.

I don't see that at all, I see that as real...apparently you haven't had to work beside someone that you are in love with, that once loved you, and now.....they don't. It has been literally less than 3 weeks since she found Mon-el and found out he was married. I'm ALL FOR, moving on....but I don't see the big problem here.

The only reason I don't want the whole Imra/Mon-el thing continuing too long has nothing to do with any kind of love triangle....I just don't want the Legion around that long. It is very much like Superman for me......come for a couple of episodes and then go back to your home and do your job there....this is Supergirl's show.