S3E9 "Reign" Discussion and Review

I really think this episode was well done from the slow burn beginning to the epic fight. I view Mon-El as a temporary distraction. Kara has a heart and it still struggles after 7 months. I don’t mind the scenario because it sets us up for the Legion. Remember this is ancient history for them and they know what will happen. Imra does say Kara will be alright.

I am not so worried about the shipping; it’s just a sidebar to the real action. This season is about Kara truly finding herself and I believe she will. I’ll make a wild prediction: both Colville and Ruby are the keys to this season. They will be the catalysts for solving the Reign problem.

As for Odette Annable, she is fantastic and I look forward to part 2 in January. I have no idea what her fate will be, but if there is someone who deserves to be a a regular cast member, it is she. Also my hat’s off to Garcia. Great to have you back. I’ve missed you.

Argo

I don't have much to say on this one other than I just absolutely loved everything about that fight. I agree with Kiwi... Glad it was a REAL fight... with Kara hangin in there for a bit, then BAM... it reigned!

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)?

That she will start to show her true face later in the season? We can hope so. Great episode again. Excellent fight scenes. We need more fight scenes this season. Are the shows producers going for the Game Of Thrones approach, few fight scenes, but when they have them, their done really well?

It's a bit hard to focus on the rest of the episode when they ended with that fight that was so well done. The fight, SG being a hero and a smaller portion of relationship exploration, should be the template that they utilize from this point on. It puts SG on a different level.

I liked the setup to Reign. Thought they did a pretty good job showing some of her power early and throughout the episode. The way she took down that gang without even being seen gave the appearance of her having a high level of powers. It will be interesting to see where they go with the whole mythology of being a god, the devil and Kryptonian history. Obviously, Coville believes and Hank seems to think there is something to the story but, neither Kara nor Reign believe that they are deities.

I liked the Christmas party, loved the interaction between Winn, Hank and Hank's dad. The only part that I didn't enjoy was Kara's comment about her good buddies, Lena and Sam. Kara's comment about never having best friends like Lena and Sam degrades her relationship with Winn and James, who were considered close enough to be called family in season 1. I'm a firm supporter of girl power but, not to the extent of tossing out history or forcing female relationships that haven't had time to develop yet. as in the case of Sam, who Kara has known for about 3 months.

Mon-el and Irma are okay. Glad to see that Mon-el has moved on, as he should have after 7 years, and that he is happy. Yes, Kara has to have time to adjust to the fact that he is alive, he's back and he's married. Won't happen over night and if Mon-el wasn't in her face, it would be much easier for her to do. I really do hope that the writers don't keep pushing this issue. Don't continue to create love conflict just to have conflict and allow Kara the space to adjust.

I'm not a fan of romantic relationships on the show, and honestly, for awhile I thought this was going to be the Lena and James mid-season finale. That said, the two have just as much chemistry as every other character that they've shoved together and in about the same amount of time. I like that James now seems to have a purpose beyond trying to be a hero, however feeble it is. Question - does he have some kind of power to just call that shield into existence?

Overall- best episode of the season for me thus far. Probably one of my top 10 of all at the moment.

I gave up questioning the logic of these shows when Oliver showed up with a kryptonite arrow last week. Also Coville ....So there are other kryptonians that Kara didn’t catch from fort rozz still living on earth. Wonder if some of them are actually trying to live human lives. Also wonder if Kara will run into the priestess coville found later on

I saw Kara telling them that she never had best friends, meant female best friends. A female friend, best friend, etc....is far different than a male best friend. No matter how much Kara sees Winn and James as her friends, there will ALWAYS be that block in the relationship of.....you said you loved me from Winn, and I thought I loved you to James....that right there keeps their friendships in a far different place as far as a deep relationship.

One of the things that I see that some are having a problem with is that some are not use to seeing strong female intimate friendships that are real and yet aren't anything but a strong, intimate friendship. It is a different friendship than a girl and a guy will have....

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.

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?

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.

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.

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?????

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?????

Yeah he acts Ruby didn’t you know?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.