Supergirl S3 E6 "Midvale": Discussion and Review

Another great episode, the best one of season 6 so far. Better Snellville than Snellville. There was one minor continuity flaw, though. Early in the flasbac scenes, Eliza says Jeremiah is at work, but John shoes up in disguise to speak to Kara. Did the DEO tell Eliza that her husband had died, is this before or after MM took Hank Henshaws place?

Even if I'm not concerned about the ratings, I'm also happy Supergirl is steady.

I'd think those who were vocal about "quitting" the show are most likely the same people who don't watch and just keep talking trash hoping it helps getting the show cancelled.

For all the ranting and raving that Sanvers shippers were quitting the show, and that people were boycotting Supergirl due to the Kreisberg fiasco, the ratings actually had a small uptick this week.

Makes me happy.

She may find it too backward to be interested in it. History/Reporting/Writing etc. on the other hand would be just as challenging as it would have been on her planet, so I can see her going for it. I was a bit surprised she was not more interested in Earth history; but I think she was still dealing with her loss and hating on Earth at the time.

Yes, I think her lack of desire to learn Earth's history, more specifically, American history is based on the fact that she didn't feel a connection with Earth, humans or the United States. She was a foreigner, angry at the world and was determined not to form any type of bond with the place that she didn't want to be.

Why did the sheriff try to kill Alex and Kara with the car? Sure, they were investigating, but at that point in the story he didn't know about the laptop, and Alex and Kara thought it was the teacher, so what was his motive?

Good point. The "who done it" was not that difficult to figure out early on but, this episode wasn't really supposed to be a murder mystery, just a mystery within a drama portion of a superhero show .

Perhaps we need a flashback episode of Kara's first meeting with Kelly so she can be properly remembered.

A moment of silence for Kenny pls. The guy was legend

Hey, we didn't get a moment of silence for "Kelly" and she had far more screen time.

Ugh. Poor Kelly. I STILL haven't fully gotten over the sting.

I'm still in therapy.....

For all the ranting and raving that Sanvers shippers were quitting the show, and that people were boycotting Supergirl due to the Kreisberg fiasco, the ratings actually had a small uptick this week.

Makes me happy.

I thought that this was a nice episode. The writing was pretty solid. There didn't seem to be any glaring inconsistencies, weak dialogue or rushed scenes that took away from the overall story. Instead, it was an episode in which the viewer could just sit back and enjoy.

It's a good problem to have but, it's really hard to pinpoint a favorite scene because there were lots of little touches that I enjoyed in the episode. I liked seeing normal sources of sister conflict happen between Kara and Alex. I loved the scene in which we first see Alex's resentment of Kara when she told her that gaining Kara as a sister was in no way an equal replacement for the loss of family that Alex felt by losing her dad.

I also really liked the conversation between Eliza and Kara regarding Kara locking up her emotions. I think it was a pivotal conversation that shows how Kara is torn between distancing herself from emotional pain by keeping people at an arm's length and allowing people in by showing her emotional vulnerability.

I think it was a nice introduction to the sister's past but, I also believe that the writers left the door open enough to show the continuing development of the sister relationship in future episodes.

The only thing that I would like to have seen in this first flashback of the season, was more of an interaction between the flashback and the current time period. But, as it was done, it didn't damper the experience.

rip Kelly

A moment of silence for Kenny pls. The guy was legend

Hey, we didn't get a moment of silence for "Kelly" and she had far more screen time.

Ugh. Poor Kelly. I STILL haven't fully gotten over the sting.

A moment of silence for Kenny pls. The guy was legend

Hey, we didn't get a moment of silence for "Kelly" and she had far more screen time.

The Buffy musical episode is widely considered the standard for TV musical episodes and I think “Midvale” will become the standard for TV flashback episodes.

Bravo to Olivia and Izabela, it’s very hard to come in and play a different age version of an already established character. These young women are very talented and clearly did their homework in order to do what they did, remember their names folks they’re going to be around for years to come if they chose to be. I’m sure Melissa and Chyler happily answered any questions and couldn’t be prouder of their young counterparts. The casting department at Berlanti productions deserves a raise for not only finding actresses that physically resembled their adult counterparts but have similar acting chops.

I loved Eliza and Kara’s talk, more for Kara to think about that I’m sure will come into play later. Very cool that Eliza was reading a book by Cat. Alex was totally right to call Kara a hypocrite for saying that she should talk about her feelings only hours after breaking off an engagement. I’m glad that Kara didn’t seriously fight back on that or anything else Alex said, as Kara said it was Alex’s turn. Awesome that Alex knew her sister would come to save her, it reminded me of her literal leap of faith in “resist”.

I think Eliza just thought the FBI showed up because Kara used her powers. If J’onn had shown up looking like Hank Eliza would’ve NEVER let him alone with Kara. I do think it was kinda mean of J’onn to show up as Alura, he could’ve just been a female FBI agent and probably had the same impact, I suppose PTB want to use Erica as much as possible. That’s twice he’s shown up as a long lost parent.

I get how some people didn’t understand how Alex could go from being angry with Kara to not the next morning, here’s my thought on that. Alex was drunk the night before and things do tend to look different in the sober light of morning. Alex did in fact get the good night sleep that she didn’t realize she needed, Kara was right about that much. Both sisters have some things to think about and I was happy the left Midvale with lighter hearts singing to Gwen Stefani.

Question for you all:

Why did the sheriff try to kill Alex and Kara with the car? Sure, they were investigating, but at that point in the story he didn't know about the laptop, and Alex and Kara thought it was the teacher, so what was his motive? Surely more kids showing turning up dead would bring a lot more heat.

Ohhhh...good observation!!

Question for you all:

Why did the sheriff try to kill Alex and Kara with the car? Sure, they were investigating, but at that point in the story he didn't know about the laptop, and Alex and Kara thought it was the teacher, so what was his motive? Surely more kids showing turning up dead would bring a lot more heat.

Okay enough of that. My no. 1 favorite thing. I am so HAPPY to see that we finally get a confirmation of Kara’s Mathematical and Science abilities. Something that has always made zero sense to me considering Kara grew up to 12 yrs old in a society light years ahead of Earth.

I my mind, I always thought that Kara was just pretending to be rubbish at maths and sciences. And I made up this head cannon that being she was sensitive to Alex’ resentment of her abilities, so knowing that Alex was attracted to science, Kara walked away from it, the way she walked away from her powers to protect them. So she would'nt be taking that away from Alex too. And I’m still sticking to that. It makes no sense that Kara would be bad at science with her Kryptonian background.

I don’t think they’ve ever said Kara is “bad” at math and science just that she wasn’t interested in them. On Krypton she was a typical student and learned calculus at four but that doesn’t mean she was a math wiz on her home planet or that she particularly enjoyed math and science there. Kara already knew all the Earth math most people do and she’s just not interested in learning PHD level stuff. Given how competitive the girls were I don’t think Kara would’ve heald back in school.

I my mind, I always thought that Kara was just pretending to be rubbish at maths and sciences. And I made up this head cannon that being she was sensitive to Alex’ resentment of her abilities, so knowing that Alex was attracted to science, Kara walked away from it, the way she walked away from her powers to protect them. So she would'nt be taking that away from Alex too. And I’m still sticking to that. It makes no sense that Kara would be bad at science with her Kryptonian background.

You know I like the reference to Kara being science/math whiz too. But, I would not like her having sacrificed science/math for Alex because that would be too much that Kara has sacrificed for Alex.

That makes their relationship unbalanced and unfair.

However, Kara may still find Earth science difficult just like how an experimental physicist or atomic physicist would find it difficult to work with the day and times of 3rd century BC science; say science in Aristotle's times. It's not just about knowing the basics. It's also about not having the right tools to prove something or work beyond something. Rediscovering the wheel is not probably fun for someone who can fly.

She may find it too backward to be interested in it. History/Reporting/Writing etc. on the other hand would be just as challenging as it would have been on her planet, so I can see her going for it. I was a bit surprised she was not more interested in Earth history; but I think she was still dealing with her loss and hating on Earth at the time.

The whole I want to live with Clark and be a superhero thing was amusing.

I was a bit surprised Alex needed help from someone on Math; Ah! Well, she chose genetics for a reason.

I liked this episode even if there was not as much Melissa and Chyler (and adult Kara and Alex) in it as I would have liked.

And I liked that we got J'onn. I don't know why I am so pleased with this; but I am. I was not expecting it.

And we got an Eliza-Kara conversation.

That was a nice vacation from the main arc. I really don’t need every episode to be all about taking down villains. It gives the series a chance to explore character dimensions, so I’m all for these side trips now and then. Especially when we get to see more Danvers family interaction.

I have 2 favorite things in this episode. I finally get a real interaction between Kara and Eliza. Something I’ve been craving for since day 1. It’s a start, but I need more. It seems every time we have an Eliza ep, she has been there to get Alex thru her difficulties, hence, I’ve always felt the Mother, daughter relationship for Alex and Eliza, but I’ve never seen or felt it for Kara and Eliza. Only been told it. So, I really hope they will give Melissa and Helen more scenes in the future. Melissa made me tear up in the porch scene. She‘s just so great at all those myriads of subtle expressions. And they’re so understated that I forget that this is an actor who is acting. She just ‘is’.

Okay enough of that. My no. 1 favorite thing. I am so HAPPY to see that we finally get a confirmation of Kara’s Mathematical and Science abilities. Something that has always made zero sense to me considering Kara grew up to 12 yrs old in a society light years ahead of Earth.

I my mind, I always thought that Kara was just pretending to be rubbish at maths and sciences. And I made up this head cannon that being she was sensitive to Alex’ resentment of her abilities, so knowing that Alex was attracted to science, Kara walked away from it, the way she walked away from her powers to protect them. So she would'nt be taking that away from Alex too. And I’m still sticking to that. It makes no sense that Kara would be bad at science with her Kryptonian background.

A moment of silence for Kenny pls. The guy was legend

My only critique was very little happened during present day to justify why Alex and Kara felt better in the end.

Yeah. Wonky writing, again. Originally they were suppose to be there a few days. Made it seem like they were there only overnight when Alex went to take the keys from Kara.

"You didn't have a problem with me driving yesterday."

"Well, yesterday getting in an accident didn't seem so bad."

But other than that, would have loved more modern day scenes because the ones we got were fantastic, with the car key scene being one of my fAvorites from 3 seasons.

P.s... Felt young Alex portrayed several of Chyler's Alex's mannerisms very well.

It seems that no one caught the easter egg name of the FBI agent that Erica Durance portrayed. She said her name was agent Noelle Neil. .... ring a bell .... Noelle Neil was the actress that played Lois Lane is the 1950's Superman TV show. Two former Lois Lane's with one scene. Kudos on that one.

The past segments were very well done. Good job on the young actors.

My only critique was very little happened during present day to justify why Alex and Kara felt better in the end.