Another week, another collection of superhero battles worth bingeing over the weekend. The Pop Break staff is here to let you know what you can expect from The CW’s DC series… take a look!
Supergirl — 4×03, “Man of Steel”
Supergirl picks up exactly where it left off last week, with a strong political agenda addressing everyday hate and discrimination in the real world. After the atmosphere was seeded with Kryptonite, Kara is down and out for the majority of the episode, which was a full blown origin story for Agent Liberty, with a fantastic performance from Sam Witwer. I don’t know which was better: Lockwood’s character arc (which found him transforming from an alien defender to a full blown alien murderer), or the episode’s call backs to past storylines, with cameos from Cat Grant and more.
One particular scene that stood out was when Lockwood revealed his prejudice in his classroom: while ranting about Nativism, he verbally attacks a student, in a moment that’s incredibly intense. The alien students great line, “This isn’t Nativism, it’s xenophobia,” really captured the whole point of the episode. The Big reveal this episode was that Lockwood became Agent Liberty, but for me the biggest surprise was that the Agent Liberty was actually Davis from Smallville! (Can we get Tom Wellilng in here next?)
I’ve said this every week thus far, the way this show really addresses real world political issues in a sci-fi world is pure genius. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been so genuinely intrigued by a show’s plot and real world agenda. Great message throughout and great comic book type storytelling. With Kara in a coma like state while encased in a Kryptonian type preservation suit, I’m more than excited to see what’s next.
—Rob Crowther IV, Staff Writer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBsBmIz3yaE
Arrow — 7×03, “Crossing Lines”
With Oliver and Felicity separated by several hundred miles and a big fence, John and Lyla assume the position as Arrow’s new central power couple. Not that I’m complaining, as Audrey Marie Anderson has always been someone I’ve wanted the Arrowverse to utilize more regularly. Their arc in “Crossing Lines” set up even more pieces for whatever the central conflict of the season is to be. Right now, all we know is a lot of money is changing hands, but exploring and developing the Diggles’ marriage is a good way to keep the momentum while simultaneously laying those breadcrumbs.
Meanwhile, Felicity is getting closer to falling off the deep end in her quest to bring down Diaz and no price is too high for her to do it, the latest casualty being Agent Watson’s career and reputation. But Sydelle Noel’s farewell provided a satisfying reconciliation between the two women, even if that goodbye feels impermanent. The CDC stakeout set piece felt doomed from the word go, but at least we got another silent fight scene with the Longbow Hunters.
The reveal that Felicity secretly captured Sofie (aka the Silencer) and is holding her prisoner came as a shock, and with Felicity on the war path, there may be little she is unwilling to do without Oliver there to balance her rage and common sense. Finally, Oliver learns how the social hierarchy of Seaside Prison works and that Brick controls more than he originally expected.
We were given a pseudonym of Diaz’s contact inside the prison and the fact that the only way Oliver will meet him is by getting himself sent to his level, reserved for “the worst of the worst.”
“Crossing Lines” pushes the series toward darker stories and characters and decisions made on their behalves. Whether it’s John and Lyla’s marriage, Felicity’s ruthlessness, Watson’s career or literal blood on Oliver’s hands to protect his family, the fractured team Arrow is taking bold steps there is no going back from that will undoubtedly test them, and may ultimately define them.
The imagery of wounded Seaside guards and Oliver’s blood-covered shiv in the episode’s opening seconds set a tone and expectation of violence and brutality that this season has had no hesitation about bringing. Whether Arrow pushing the limits of its TV-14 rating is the right move for it remains to be seen, because while not a terrible episode this was far from the strongest hour of Arrow (thanks but no thanks, Kirk Acevedo).
It appears that Arrow is focusing on the annoyingly dull Diaz plot before exploring the copycat Green Arrow further, and it cannot wrap the former up fast enough. Without any “island” flash forwards to make me temporarily forget about Diaz, I can only hope the show’s worst and longest-lasting villain is dispatched as quickly as Felicity does.
—Matt Gilbert, Staff Writer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afm2GE0Xa0c
Legends of Tomorrow— 4×02, “Witch Hunt”
Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Booooo. After last week’s disappointing start to the season, “Witch Hunt” suggests Legends will be maintaining this over-the-top trajectory for the remainder of the year. The more personal aspects of this episode, like Zari’s (Tala Ashe) continued desire to fight persecution even if it means altering the timeline, represent the best of what the series has to offer and are quite effective. But, like the season premiere, the episode is far too aware of and overly willing to thrust its absurdity into the spotlight.
As amusing as it is to see a Cinderella or Fairly Odd Parents style fairy godmother battle a group of time traveling superheroes, the concept feels too shoehorned in and reliant on its anticipated shock factor. Given the inclusion of Constantine (Matt Ryan) in this season, supernatural creatures like vampires and werewolves would be fairly organic additions to the show’s rogues gallery.
By starting the season with a unicorn and fairy godmother, Legends is beginning out too far in left field. Presenting these creatures later in the season would likely have made the pill easier to swallow, but this early introduction is just too dramatic of a tonal shift.
—Josh Sarnecky, Staff Writer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGEHiVzKMkg
The Flash— 5×04, “News Flash”
This season is still in its early stages, but one of the most intriguing elements thus far has been the unspoken tension between Iris (Candice Patton) and Nora (Jessica Parker Kennedy). After weeks of seeing Iris grapple with the issue, “News Flash” finally brought the matter to the forefront and revealed a reason for Nora’s icy relationship with her mother.
And that reveal did not disappoint. Secrets have been the bread and butter of Arrow and The Flash from the get-go and have been endlessly employed for their dramatic potential. Yet Nora’s resentment toward future Iris adds a new twist to the tired trope of “I have to keep secrets from the person I love to protect them.” The conflict works on so many levels and gives Patton and Parker Kennedy to really flex their acting muscles. Having Barry (Grant Gustin) stuck squarely in the middle is likewise a wonderful source of family drama and forces the speedster to pick sides in a conflict that he and his powers have no ability to solve.
Other than the part she plays in fueling the mother-daughter tension, this episode’s Meta of the Week is somewhat forgettable. Hypnosis and mind control are not new to the Arrowverse and have been executed better in the past. However, the twist that (spoiler alert) technology can develop meta abilities does lay the groundwork for some promising developments later in the season.
This show has been so dependent on introducing a new meta villain almost every week, and this revelation could be a nice way of changing up the formula. Once again, The Flash may actually be showing signs of somewhat reinventing itself.
—Josh Sarnecky
Next week: The Flash will be taking the week off (hopefully the Central City gang will be too busy voting), but you can expect reviews of Supergirl, Arrow, and Legends of Tomorrow next weekend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRdmzXjq6us
