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But I watch the show for Supergirl.So I was thrilled about this. The title Ace Reporter is an appropriate one since the search for truth is a key part of the plot. And one of the things that I have noticed this season is that Supergirl is feeling good about herself lately. She has a swagger that makes me worry that she is heading for a fall. This story also played on that a bit.
But, in some ways, this was just as much a Lena episode as it was a Kara one. Lena has been sort of on the periphery of the show. We learned a lot about her early on in the season and during the 'Luthors' episode. But in many ways she is something of an enigma. We hear that she and Kara are best friends but we haven't really seen how that relationship came about. We see how Lena worries about whether she will descend into the megalomania her family is so well known for. But she is a mystery. Every episode she is in ends with me thinking 'is she a bad guy or a good guy?' We see much more of that up front here. There are some ominous overtones to the arc. And I can't help that there is some foreshadowing to an eventual confrontation between Supergirl and Lena. I have to add that Katie McGrath is stunningly beautiful in this episode.
There is a fine subplot with Winn, James, and Lyra.Mon-El is funny and helpful here. We get a lot of Snapper here. There is a great cliffhanger.
But the main focus is Kara and Lena. And that made for a great episode.
The issue starts with Kara flying circles around National City smiling. She heads into the DEO and spouts something that confidence. She is 'ready to take on the world, kick ass, and do it with an endearing smile.' There isn't much for the DEO to do. Hank will review budgets. Alex will practice knife fighting. And Kara can go back home to be unemployed and fail at baking. (I do love that Kara doesn't need to use oven mitts!)
Luckily Lena shows up. After a jab about 'grief baking', Lena says she needs Kara for support. Lena's ex, Jack Spheer, a technological whiz, is having a press conference to reveal his latest breakthrough. After 5 years as work partners and 2 years as romantic partners, the break-up was tough. Lena needs a friend to be there to help her get through it. As she says, Jack is her Kryptonite.
But the most potent line is Kara saying she will always be there for Lena. That's easy to say as friends. But something that absolute is troublesome. I fear there will be a time she won't be there ... and Lena won't forget.
This is a press conference meaning there are plenty of reporters there, including Snapper Carr. He isn't too happy to see Kara there. In his mind, she isn't a real reporter. She is a millenial falling for clickbait. The two sass each other until Spheer takes the stage.
Spheer's announcement is for Biomax, a cloud of nanobots that can heal wounds, cure diseases, even perform surgery. To prove it, he cuts his hand on stage and has the bots take care of the injury.
This is a press conference though and Kara (representing KaraDanvers.com ... a site which doesn't go anywhere in real life) asks a probing question about FDA approval. Not bad for a blobber.
Afterwards, it is clear that Spheer and Lena still have feelings for each other. The chemistry between guest star Rahul Kohli and Katie McGrath is excellent. A lot of sizzle being held back!
As the presser winds down, a former Spheerical worker finds Kara and says he needs to talk to her in private that night. She posted about the aliens because she wanted to help them. He can trust her. That is a nice nod towards her character!
That night, while in his car in an abandoned lot, the worker says the human trials for Biomax were faked. There is no evidence of them ever having happened.
But then, the nanobots come in cloud formation and blow up the car killing him. Kara is able to escape but there is this nice visual of her S-shield appearing in her burning clothes.
There is a lot for me to unpack in this scene.
First, the nanobots remind me of the microbot cloud in Big Hero Six.
Second, a bomb going off right next to Kara that kills someone. It definitely reminded me of the congress court room scene in Batman v Superman. I wonder if that was intentional. And will Kara get excoriated like Superman has been by fans who dislike that movie (I was one of them).
But lastly, this shot reminded me of the Linda Danvers Earth Angel Supergirl. I know ... that is my bias showing.
As I said, there is great chemistry between Lena and Spheer. He arrives at her office to woo her into having dinner. We hear more about how she left to lead L-Corp. There was something of a relationship ultimatum and both seem to regret the outcome.
McGrath can kill with a raised eyebrow. And her performance throughout the episode is nuanced. Vulnerable. Strong. Nervous. Passionate. The whole spectrum
As for the subplot, Lyra is back and Winn has her join the Guardian team.
In the episode, a young kid is caught stealing from a liquor store and she absolutely thrashes him. James has to intercede so she doesn't seriously injure the kid. I guess the Guardian hopes the kid is scared straight because he lets him go.
It becomes clear that Lyra, who has always been a bit over the top, can't reel it in. Winn tells her she can't fight alongside Guardian anymore and she snaps. She talks of ripping of James' jaw and essentially breaks it off.
I guess Winn has his type.
As for Kara, she tries to have James report the Biomax incident but Snapper says that it would be a conflict of interest which would threaten CatCo. Anyways, Snapper has his own source. Luckily Kara overheard it.
When Snapper heads to that person's apartment, the source says he will state that even though he was listed as a human trial member for Biomax, he never was involved in testing.
The Nanobot cloud arrives and even Supergirl's timely arrival doesn't stop them from literally consuming the guy. There is nothing left of him but a haze.
In a cool sequence, Kara delays the cloud from attacking her and Snapper by freezing them. This was a nice wrap-around shot of that power in action.
That's two people who got killed with Kara right next to them.
The only lead left is Spheer himself. She decides to grab Mon-El and crash the Lena/Jack date. It is 'stalking' or 'creepy journalism' according to Mon-El who is at his most supportive and charming this episode.
At the dinner, Spheer is unbelievably charming. He says it was Lena who provided him the metaphorical clue to program the nanobots. She is a starling. He also looks at Mon and says that he paid extra to be the most handsome guy in the restaurant. It's cute.
Seeing the romance bubbling, Mon-El says that he and Kara are leaving. He hugs Spheer, saying they have a 'man-nection'. But that is all a ruse! He picked the guys pocket and stole his work passkey! Slick!
At the Spheerical headquarters, they guess Jack's password 'Starling'). (Mon-El mutters 'that romantic bastard!' - funny). They find evidence that Spheer injected himself with the nanites and became the cloud himself. He is the killer.
Kara heads straight to L-Corp and shows Lena the video. You can see how crushed Lena is but she also says she is glad Kara shared the video and doesn't want her to bury the news. That is surprisingly noble of her.
Then Kara heads to CatCo and turns over all her info to Snapper to put into his story exposing Spheerical. She apologizes for not respecting the rules of journalism. He accepts her apology and is impressed with her work as an ace reporter.
I liked this scene. It shows Kara's growth in this role of journalist. It shows her respect for Snapper's experience. It isn't quite the Kara/Kat level of mentoring but I was glad to see it.
In the end, Lena decides to confront Jack. He seems oblivious to her accusations. It turns out the nanites in his system robbed him of his free will. He is being controlled by Spheerical's evil CFO who plans to enslave the planet with them! And if controlling the CEO if Spheerical is good, controlling the CEO of L-Corp as well is even better.
Supergirl shows up but the nanobots have learned and end up pinning her to a Kirby-crucifix looking thing.
As for Lena, she says she has never stood behind a man and she is unimpressed with the CFO's black belt. After all, Lena is a Luthor. She beats the snot out of the woman and smashes the control device.
Now in some weird comic book way, smashing that controller makes Jack become wracked with pain. Only overriding the mainframe will stop the nanites and free Jack and Supergirl. But that override ends up killing Jack.
Smashing the controller hurts him? Stopping the nanites kills him? I guess that is just comic book science.
The wrap-up was my favorite part of the show, mostly for the Lena/Kara denouement.
All along fans have wondered if Lena is going to go dark. And this scene makes me think she is. She says that her family doesn't do well with loss. She feels cold and calm, like Lillian did when Lex was arrested. She only feels warmth when she thinks of the CFO dying in jail. Chilling. And then, like at the beginning, Kara says she will always be Lena's friend and always protect her. This can't end well. They may as well flash 'foreshadowing' on the screen!! McGrath and Benoist just crush it in this scene. Lena seems so disconnected ... it's eerie.
The Snapper gives Kara her job back, praising her as a reporter willing to risk it all to pursue the truth.
And James says Winn is his best friend, just like Clark was, and invites a toned down Lyra back into the fold.
Nice wrap-ups ... but wait there's more.
Queen Rhea!
Yesss!!!
In comic book talk, this would be a rest issue or a 'day in the life' issue. We didn't get much progression of the season's big story. But there was progression in characterization. I loved Lena most in this issue. Her arc covered all the emotional beats. And it was good to see Kara get rewarded for her work. I also liked the James/Winn friendship get a big boost with the Clark reference.
With all this behind us, onto Daxam and Cadmus!
Rhea
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