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Supergirl episode 311, titled 'Fort Rozz' came out this week and was an excellent mix of plot progression, character development, and continuity. I have been very impressed with the show leaning into the overall theme of Kara reclaiming and embracing her humanity as this season progresses. Here we see that again in full force. I love it. But for me, the best thing about this episode was how much it leaned into the show's history. I love it.
The overall plot is Kara heading to Fort Rozz in space to gather information about Reign. She'll be powerless and so needs to call on former enemies for aid. Of course, Reign is a killer and so Supergirl hopes that the enemies of her enemy will remain her friends, regardless of the past. In essence, she is calling on their humanity (there's that word again) leading to someone making an ultimate heroic sacrifice.
Fort Rozz was a key point in season one, so hearing about it again was a great callback. And bringing back Livewire and Psi to be Supergirl's squad was a great touch. Livewire's character actually has grown over the three seasons and that dedication to the supporting cast is one of the things I love about the show.
But it is Yael Grobglas' performance as Psi which shines the most. From tiny physical affectations to haughty villain lines, she steals the show.
The episode isn't perfect. Some plot points seem a little contrived. Brainiac 5 is really obnoxious in this episode, dimming the awkward chemistry I liked so much from last episode. And a Alex/Ruby subplot, while having a couple of nice moments, seemed a little needless and forced.
On to the show.
We start out in Alex's apartment. Laid up with her broken leg, she is seen watching an old movie, The Philadelphia Story. In walk, Kara, Sam, and Ruby.
Sam needs to go away on a business trip and the babysitter cancels. Kara is also called away. Suddenly Alex is up. She'll babysit even though in her past she showed a young Kara The Shining. Still, Alex is stir crazy and agrees, setting up this subplot.
The Philadelphia Story is an interesting choice by the writers to put in here. While it is a romantic comedy, it is basically about a couple who have split up (like Maggie and Alex). Cary Grant, the ex-husband, was an heavy drinker and had irreconcilable differences with his ex-wife Katherine Hepburn. She is now engaged to someone else. In the end (spoiler alert), they get back together when Hepburn sees the good in him. Perhaps this is wishful thinking by Alex, a split couple getting back together. And Grant being a heavy drinker could be the person Alex identifies with.
Meanwhile, the DEO realizes that the priestess Thomas Coville spoke about in a past episode could have been an inmate on Fort Rozz. There is one listed on the prisoner manifest, Jindah Kol Rozz. At the end of season one, Kara pushed Rozz into space. It now orbits a blue sun. Under a blue sun, Kara will be powerless. The sun also emits deadly radiation for males. Thus an all-female squad needs to be assembled, starting with Kara and Imra.
Needing more firepower, Supergirl tracks down Livewire who is working at a diner as 'Roseanne'. Supergirl admits that she has been 'keeping tabs' on Livewire, an interesting thought.
Whether Livewire has gone straight because of a change in her morals or because Reign is killing criminals is unclear. But she does hate Reign for killing some of her friends. And if this mission could lead to information to bring her down, she'll agree to help.
I love how Supergirl tells her she needs someone like Livewire, someone she knows, to watch her back on Rozz where she'll be powerless. That is a big risk. Livewire has brawled with Kara multiple times, appearing in three prior episodes. But she does seem to have changed ...
As usual, Brit Morgan plays Livewire with a sort of caustic sassiness, a 'no nonsense' cynical edge. But there is a glimmer of something better in her too. That couldn't be easy to pull off.
And then, the other person on the squad is brought in, complete with psionic dampener, Psi! Despite some protests from J'onn, Supergirl thinks Psi is worth the risk of bringing given the danger of the remaining prisoners on board.
I love the 'Squad Goals' look of this, a sort of 'The Right Stuff' walk towards the camera.
On the Legion cruiser, heading to Rozz, Livewire and Psi trade barbs. As I said, Psi's lines are a sort of haughty, almost Shakespearean in nature. And Grobglas delivers them in this aloof, cold style that is just delicious. Delicious!
Before Sam can head on her business trip, one of clear importance to Lena, she is called back to her Fortress. The ghost priestess there says that Supergirl is on Rozz and could learn of their plans. Reign jumps in her pod to intercept.
The scene opens with Reign saying that Sam's personality is stronger than expected ... what does that mean? Reign was a baby on Krypton. She didn't possess a human child. I don't think they are 'two personalities'. But this makes it seem like they are. Perhaps Reign 'going away' as described last episode means she is exorcised in some way by Supergirl?? I keep thinking that Staff of Kalor from Mars is going to play into this. Why bring in an all-powerful religious artifact and have it in the DEO armory without it being used later? The DCU version of Chekhov's gun?
But it still doesn't make sense to me. Isn't Reign/Sam the same person?
I just thought I'd share a shot of Rozz as the squad tries to track down the Priestess.
For me, the architecture reminded me a little about the jerry-rigged prison created by The Master Jailer way back in season one. I wonder if that was intentional. If so, nice continuity.
The eventually encounter a prisoner who attacks them. After all, Kara is wearing the S-shield, the crest of Judge Alura.
During the fight, I believe as an accidental reflex, Psi blasts Saturn Girl incapacitating the Legionnaire. Luckily Livewire blasts the prisoner so the heroes can regroup.
Realizing that Psi might be too twitchy to depend on, they put the psionic dampener back on. I love Grobglas' little physical affectation when the dampener is taken off, a sort of crane of the neck, like she can finally stretch a muscle.
And Livewire continues to needle Psi, scorching her for attacking 'Matilda', a funny nickname Leslie has given Imra.
The show cranks up the suspense a bit by having the Legion cruiser and the prison get struck by a flare which is dragging them both into the sun. Repairs have to be made to the cruiser so it can undock. But communications are out. Rozz falling into a blue sun reminded me of the original end to Argo City in the New 52.(Heck, the comic Supergirl even fights Reign there!)
Livewire and Kara decide to use the time to try and find the priestess. Meanwhile, Imra tries to fix the ship but doesn't know how.
On Earth, the DEO tries to figure out a way to repair communications but to Brainy the tech is archaic. Angrily, he demands time alone, rejecting all of Winn's ideas in a demeaning fashion. I get that Brainy can be intense. I am sure he is worried about Supergirl. But this put him in a bad light. If the show wants the everyday viewer to 'ship' Brainy and Kara, they need to make him more likable.
Livewire laughs, calling Supergirl Pollyanna in her views. After all, Livewire is only helping because of Reign. If not for the bigger threat, she'd kill Supergirl right there.
In an intense moment, completely sold by Melissa Benoist, Kara challenges Livewire to kill her then, right there. She doesn't think Leslie will do it. Supergirl got through to her in some way. Seriously, Benoist just kills it with her piercing stare there.
In fact, Kara continuing to call Livewire Leslie humanizes the villain. It shows how Kara is always reaching towards her enemies with an open hand, not always a closed fist.
Alex is floored when Maggie contacts her. Maggie left her passport in Alex's apartment. Suddenly Alex is struck again about her loss. We heard earlier that Ruby thinks Alex is the toughest person she knows.
When Ruby confesses that she is being cyberbullied, wondering if her life will ever be normal again, Alex takes matters into her hands. She confronts the girl, flashing an FBI badge, and threatening to arrest the mean girl. Thus endeth the bullying.
I was confused when Ruby then mentioned a girl who bullied her in kindergarten living nearby. Didn't Sam and Ruby just move to National City?
And Alex's multiuse badge hasn't been seen since Season One!
In space, Reign arrives at Rozz ratcheting up the action even more.
Finally, after some minor skirmishes, Kara makes it to Jindah Rozz, played by Superman alum Sarah Douglas! Rozz tells Supergirl that Kara will be defeated by her own uncertainty. There is darkness in all souls. And the other World Killers, Purity and Pestilence will rise as well, fighting for Reign.
Supergirl doesn't buy it, trying to say there is good in everyone. And that line about uncertainty is interesting given the internal emotional struggle Kara has been having this season.
But the debate is short. Reign comes and kills her own priestess. What a great shot here. And what a way to cement home that Reign is unhinged. This is the priestess, someone who worships Reign. But get in her way and you're toast. And Reign having powers proves that maybe she isn't fully Kryptonian. After all, she described herself as a bio-engineered weapon. Maybe she is like a wraith sent to Earth?
Still, two more World Killers exist!
Livewire shows up and she and Reign brawl. Surprisingly, Livewire is able to hold her own briefly. It is a very slick brawl.
Winn figures out a way to get a message through, perhaps putting Brainy in his place a bit. Imra and Brainy can now work together to save the ship. Psi is released from her dampener and heads into the prison to find Reign.
In the end, Livewire is defeated. Supergirl tries to reach Reign's human side and fails. But before Reign can land the killing blast on Kara, Livewire dives in the way, sacrificing herself.
You have to admit, Livewire as a character has grown on this show from episode to episode, finally being redeemed.
And then Psi arrives, putting the psychic whammy on Reign to see what is going on underneath that dark, dark shell!' I hope we see more Psi. Grobglas just slays!
That fear attack shows what Reign fears most ... it is losing Ruby. It is such a devastating attack that Reign snaps back into Ruby mode momentarily, ultimately running away. Perhaps there is some inner turmoil happening, something which can be exploited.
Of course, Supergirl reaching Reign's humanity has to be the key to defeating her in the end. I have to assume Ruby plays a part in that.
There is nothing left but the wrapup back on Earth.
Psi, back in her dampener, sympathizes with Supergirl for the loss of her friend Livewire. Supergirl in turn asks that Psi get a better cell. Perhaps there is a future ally there.
Mon-El talks to Kara about the perils of being a leader and heading into battle. How loss can occur. He speaks with personal knowledge, perhaps there is some Legion story we will hear about. But he also tells Kara how she helped Leslie, how inspirational she was. This is a more mature Mon-El.
Sam picks up Ruby only to realize she has lost a day to a blackout. She missed the LCorp meeting. Something is wrong.
And we get a sneak peek of Purity.
Okay. The 'male killing' blue sun seems like a silly way to force an all-female team to form but I'll allow it. Brainy being a jerk is off-putting but I suppose a bit in character. And Alex talking to a middle schooler about her failed romance seemed just a little weird.
But those are really background noise when I think of the Rozz storyline, the great continuity, and the superb acting we saw. I love how Livewire became a hero in the end. I love how Supergirl is relying on her humanity and her reaching out to Reign to win the day. And I loved Psi.
This season keeps rolling along1
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