Supergirl Episode 302: Triggers

 Last week, Supergirl season 3 started with a very solid premiere, sowing some plot seeds, introducing us to the big bads, and giving us excellent character moments for both Kara and the primary supporting cast. This week the second episode, 'Triggers', aired and built on that foundation. And we got old-school Supergirl villain Psi to come in to challenge the Girl of Steel. This season is truly off and running.

One thing that I very much liked about this episode was that the emotional anguish that Kara was feeling in the premiere is still present. Yes, she is working through her grief. But one night of apps at the alien bar (as last episode closed) isn't going to alleviate all her pain. This sadness and anger and (as it turns out) fear runs too deep to be so easily 'cured'. As usual, Melissa Benoist brings it, showing us all the emotions Supergirl is feeling. And as a bonus, we get extra Danvers sisters scenes. As I said last before, season 2 didn't  give us enough of these two. Benoist and Chyler Leigh have such easy, breezy chemistry. Why not take advantage.

But as much as I loved the character stuff, the fanboy in me squealed a bit to hear about Gayle Marsh from Skokie, Illinois. How far have we come as Supergirl fans that Psi and her particulars were on a television show?? And Yael Grobglas plays her with such a cold, calm, and cruel, observing all she does with just a hint of enjoyment.  It makes me happy.

On to the particulars.

We start the show with a nice montage of the early morning of some of the characters of the show. We get extreme close-ups of Alex and Maggie in bed, having breakfast, getting ready for work. We see Sam and Ruby doing the same. All these scenes have the characters filling the screen, both of them filling the camera.

And then, interspersed between those shots, we see Kara getting ready. In a nice contrast, the director gives us wide shots, showing Kara alone in wide spaces, highlighting that while others are starting their day with loved one, Kara is very very much alone.  In a 'see what we're doing here' moment, Kara finds Mon-El's copy of Romeo and Juliet with a line he underlined and wrote 'Kara' next to it. It wasn't needed! The establishing shots were enough. Nice use of contrasting shot approaches.

The workday eventually starts and in the biggest change of the season, Lena arrives at CatCo and announces she plans to be a big presence there. Someone else will run LCorp. She will be a roaming CEO at CatCo, taking a very active role.

You can tell by James' body language he isn't into this. He has run CatCo for a year. Lena isn't in the press. I guess he thought she would be a figurehead and she would still run things. This looks to be a very good plot for the season. James was the last one to trust Lena. He has the most problem with Luthors. My guess is some animosity will build. And throughout the show we see how icy this is becoming. Lena calls Miss Tessmacher 'Tess'. But James is 'Mister Olsen.'

And Lena being there also adds a layer of problem for Kara and her being Supergirl. Lena gives Kara a job to do but Kara says she can't because she is being called away (secretly for a Supergirl mission). Kara's constantly running off is going to be a problem.

At the DEO, we see a cute argument between Maggie and Alex where they debate DJ or band at their wedding. Hank weighs in on DJ. There is some snappy banter here.

Kara arrives to hear about a bank robber has been looting National City. She is a young blond woman who walks into banks, and the staff and patrons seem to fall to the ground cringing. Then she simply walks out. In a bit of coincidence, the bank robber strikes during the debriefing.

Kara streaks off and meets the villain Psi in the bank vault. Psi is cool and cocky. She tries to convince Kara to join her in these capers. But when it is clear it won't happen, Psi attacks Kara.

Suddenly Kara is reeling and clearly terrified. Again, in a nice shot, we get this sense of Kara being alone. We briefly see what she is seeing, a bright red sun.

Later at CatCo we hear that Lena is calling for meetings of departments without including James. This pressure is building. And once more Kara runs off for DEO business, ignoring Lena's requests.

Psi is once more robbing a bank. Kara had told the DEO about her claustrophobic feelings in that earlier attack (although Kara says those fears are 'human' problems, going back to last episode's issues).

Realizing Psi must be a psychic, J'onn sends Kara into action but will add some telepathic shields. But Psi blows through those shields, incapacitating Hank.

And then we see what Kara attacked again. We see what she is seeing. We relive her rocket taking off from Krypton. We see Alura saying goodbye to her daughter. The whole vision is shot in a first-person point of view. We see the rocket lift off. We see cities on fire. We see the planet exploding while the rocket spins. And in this shot there is no music. In fact, all you hear is the panicked breathing of Kara and explosions outside.

There is a different feel to this from those prior wide shots. This is very cramped and claustrophobic. But again, Kara is alone here. Just alone in a confined space.

I thought this was pretty cool, from the first person roller coaster ride feel to the audio choice.

Finally we hear the name Psi. J'onn says she is the most powerful telepath he has faced. Winn names her as Gayle Marsh from Skokie Illinois. We live in great times!

Away from the crowd, Kara confesses to Winn that Psi uses fear as her weapon. Kara discusses the quiet, about being cut off from everyone. It is probably doesn't help that Kara is probably living through that fear now.

And she doesn't want J'onn or Alex to know because 'they'll worry'. That seems a bit forced just to move the plot forward. Why would Kara hide that?

But seriously!

Gayle Marsh from Skokie! On the small screen!

Back at CatCo, Lena pushes Kara on her frequent disappearances. Lena assumes it is because of Mon-El.

In a line just loaded with potential, Lena says that she can tell when someone is lying to her.

While this conversation starts out with Lena reaching out, Kara ends up snapping at her friend. Suddenly Lena's defenses go up. She bristles and tells Kara that her behavior is unacceptable as an employee. This is a quick turn which reminded me that Luthor's don't like to be crossed.

Maybe we are going to get a some hints of a heel turn by Lena??

When Kara hears that Psi is robbing another bank, she runs into the elevator and gives is the classic shirt rip.

But in the confined space of the elevator, Kara panics. It reaches such a point that she has to bust through the elevator shaft to escape. (Hope she knows how to fix that stuff?)

It is an interesting scene. Psi isn't there. This is all Kara, a panic attack. It is triggered by the elevator, mirroring the small space of the rocket. That is fascinating.

At the DEO, Winn confirms that Psi wasn't responsible for Kara's reaction in the elevator.

When Kara leaves, Alex knows something is up. I love love love this scene. Without saying a word, Alex stalks Winn, staring at him, knowing Kara was saying something important to Winn in secret. Almost like a snake stalking prey, Alex burns her eyes into Winn until he cracks and spills his guts.

Seriously, I wish Chyler Leigh would get some Emmy notice. Just brilliant acting.

And part of that is her range.

Hearing about Kara's fears, she shows up at Kara's apartment. She hears Kara praying in Kryptonese. (Maybe it is a 'I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear' Atreides-like mantra?)

And then she gives Kara a little pep talk. Fears don't define you. Kara's actions define her. 

Kara talks again about how she feels this civilian life is broken. The Lena stuff is awful. And now if Supergirl is helpless, all feels lost.

Alex reminds her sister that they always have each other. They hug.

Oh my, I forgot how important these scenes are to the show. Thanks for bringing them back.

Eventually, Psi attacks again. A deus ex machina DEO telepathy shield doesn't work (thankfully! No easy answers here!).

And then we learn what Kara really fears. She fears that Mon-El is dead. She thinks she sent her love to his death. We head back into the rocket but now not in that first person view. We see Mon-El in the pod, battered by meteors, ultimately exploding. Benoist completely sells the anguish she is feeling.

Again, Alex arrives and tells Kara that she saved Mon-El. She didn't kill him. Armed with that knowledge, not fearing she killed him, Supergirl is able to face Psi, immune to those fear attacks, and headbutts the villain into unconsciousness.

I do like Psi's indulgent speech about how fear cripples everyone. Yael Grobglas really showed this restrained, smug malevolence. I hope we see her again.

Nothing left but the wrap-up.

I glossed over a subplot where Ruby thinks Sam has powers because of last episode's waterfront rescue. Sam shows she doesn't (at least not unless provoked). I wondered how the single, unemployed mother could afford an unbelievably spacious, impeccably decorated house in the burbs but it turns out she will be running LCorp while Lena is at CatCo. Lena introduces her to Kara.

I wonder if somehow Ruby is going to die and that will bring about the Reign transformation. I'd hate for a kid to die as a plot point.

Meanwhile, Kara and Lena patch things up.
James and Lena still act cold to each other.

And we see that Alex and Maggie have differing opinions about having kids. This is a big deal and something you would think they would have talked about before. It contrasts how the DJ/band argument from before ... played up as an almost deal-breaker ... is such small potatoes. I wonder if this is an excuse for Maggie to leave for a bit. Maybe she needs to think about things.

We end with another sister scene, this time watching the Wizard of Oz! I love that Kara loves old movies.

But the last shot is a great cliffhanger. J'onn gets a message from M'gann. He has to get his ass to Mars.

Overall this was another solid episode. There are great character moments. We have some hints about season plotlines, like James/Lena and Sam's powers. And Psi was delicious.

The big hook is the Kara character stuff, how she is still healing and still hurting. And the Alex stuff melds in just as well. These two need each other. I love their scenes.

Overall grade: A

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