SUPERGIRL - Season 4.17

SUPERGIRL – Season 4, Ep. 17:  “All About Eve”

The Girl of Steel is in QUITE the predicament, as she deals from the fallout of Lex’s plans, and faces her toughest challenge yet…the Red Daughter! 

The DEO busts through the Luthor compound, and they find Lena unconscious.  Alex finds Lex’s letter.  Alex finds the letter, knows that Eve was his spy.  Lena awakens, and apologizes to Alex, but Alex assures her it’s not her fault.  Meanwhile, Supergirl and Martian Manhunter are searching for Lex, and can’t find him.  Supergirl feels bad that she has let Superman down.  Then, John tries to use his mental powers, but hear’s his father’s voice, and suddenly, he begins to fall…Supergirl saves him.  Back at Kara’s, he and she find out that he can’t use his powers, and he tells her about what happens when Martians lose themselves, because he doesn’t know who he is.  He feels that he needs to tap into the voice for guidance, but knows that he needs to help Kara find Lex, but he is too weak.  She tells him to rest.

James is finally being released from the hospital, and meets up with his sister.  A crashing wheelchair hits James’ senses.  She inquires about him, and he says he’s okay.  But he needs to get back to CatCo, because of Lockwood’s plan, and he needs to be reporting about it.

At the DEO, Col. Haley and Alex are preparing for the next Lockwood speech at the nation’s capital when Supergirl shows up, asking about their search for Lex.  They said they have to be in DC for the rally, and Supergirl reminds them that Lex has powers since she fought him, and he’s more dangerous than ever.  Alex offers to help Supergirl, and run point from the rally, but Haley says no, that Alex should work with Supergirl, but reminds the Maid of Might NOT to regret the decision.  She meets up with Brainy, and hands him back his Legion Flight Ring.

J’Onn is in his office trying to tap into the voice to talk to his father when the door to his office is being knocked on.  Upset he opens the door, only to find his father there, saying that they need to talk.

J’Onn is surprised to see his father there in front of him.  He expected a voice or something else.  J’Onn tells his father that he doesn’t know who he is, and he’s tried to follow his father’s example.  His father says that he failed, and that he’s taking the Sacred Spheres.  J’Onn says that he has them in his mind, but his father says that they’re on the table, and takes them and disappears.

Lena visits her mother in prison, and she says that she blew her chance to work with Lex, and that she mocks Lena for having a heart.  And then she pulls on Lena’s strings some more when she tells her that if her friends find out about what she’s been up to.  Lena says that Lex abandoned you, and her mother is quick to correct her that while she may be in prison, SHE is not the one that will be deserted.  Back at Lena’s office, Alex meets her there, and they talk about Eve Tessmacher, and how she is in love with Lex.  Alex lets her know that she’s working with Supergirl on this, and Lena says that Lex is more important than her differences for Supergirl.  They get a lead on Eve’s family, and head to her aunt’s house to talk to her.  It’s her cousin that answers the door.

Lockwood meets with one of the Senators about the Alien Repeal Act, and Lockwood says that she wants to tell him what a good job he’s doing.  But she decides to renege on her vote because she understands the problem that the repeal will cause.  She tells him welcome to Washington.  He leaves disappointed.

J’Onn wakes up, and his father is still there.  J’Onn wants to know why he is still there, and his father said that he stayed because he passed out.  J’Onn appeals to him to help him understand WHY the Spheres must be taken, and that IF his father does so, they will lose ALL of their memory of Mars.  His father suggests talking over coffee.

Supergirl, Kara, and Lena talk to Eve’s cousin, Bitsy.  She says that Lex is a bad person, and that Eve is very sweet.  The trio know she’s lying, because Supergirl can hear her heart beating really fast.  She goes to grab a cake, and takes it out of the oven, but they notice she grabbed it while it was hot, and she isn’t even harmed.  Turns out, her cousin was sick, and Eve came by to cure her before taking off.  She smashes her fist on the counter, breaking some of it.  Supergirl calms her down, and lets her know that they’re not there to hurt her, but that the longer Eve stays with Lex, the more trouble she will be in.  Eve’s cousin relents, and tells them that she used to work out of the National City University lab.

Meanwhile, Eve and the Red Daughter are in DC, and looking to execute part of Lex’s plan.  She tells the Red Daughter to go when she knocks out the security.  But she tells the Red Daughter to put on this garmet.  Eve says that she looks just like Supergirl.

Kelly is trying to get James to see a specialist.  Kelly is telling him that he can’t turn the TV’s on because he’ll see Lex on them.  She feels that Lex is some kind of trigger, and he says that Manchester Black shot him, that Lex has attacked him before to get to Superman.  He gets a little upset at her, but apologizes. 

Lena, Supergirl, and Alex enter Eve’s lab, and it’s mostly lined with lead.  Supergirl finds the Haurn-El.  She isn’t happy that Lena has hidden it from her.  Her and Lena argue about the consequences of having it.  Alex tells Supergirl the good it has done.  Supergirl apologizes to Lena, and says that she can’t afford to lose.  Her and Lena make up.

J’Onn and his father argue about his purpose.  His father tells him that he failed, and killed Manchester Black, and that he’s a killer.  J’Onn gets angry, and says that he’s going to protect this planet, no matter what.  His father says what does that make him, and J’Onn replies the Martian Manhunter.  His father says yes he is.

Lena, Supergirl, and Alex are in the lab, going over all the info they’ve gotten from the hard drive, and they find out Lex has been trying to use Cadmus tech to make Metallo soldiers, including Otis Graves, which is how he was brought back to life.  A Metallo creature then attacks the ladies, and have to find a way to destroy him, Supergirl holds him off as much as possible, and Lena uses a chemical thrown at him and Alex shoots it, causing an explosion and destroying the Metallo bot.

The trio are still in the lab, talking with Brainy about Luthor’s plan.  They figure out that Lex was behind Lockwood, and Supergirl offers to go talk to him, and Brainy also says that the bullet that shot James came from the Cadmus gun, indicating that Eve had shot James.  Supergirl says she will talk to him before he heads to DC.

J’Onn and his father talk some more, and his father says that he got him angry so that he would finally realize who he was.  His father goes on to explain that he never wanted him to become like him, but to embrace his own destiny.  J’Onn says he didn’t mean to fail his father, and his father said he didn’t.  He said that it is his job to protect the Earth, and that he made the right choice in having J’Onn hold onto the Spheres.  He goes onto remind J’Onn that he is an extentsion of his memory.  With that, he disappears.

At CatCo, Kara and James talk, and she tells him that Eve shot him.  So he figures out that Lex is behind Lockwood as well.  Just then, they’re interrupte by a reporter on TV, who lets them know that the Alien Amnesty Act has been repealed.  Kara sees that, and sees a woman who’s disguise is failing her, and it’s Eve Tessmacher.

Lena heads to the prison to see Lillian again, and hands her the blueprints on the prison, and she knows Lex is coming for her.  Lena tells her that Lex is going to kill her.  Lena gives her an option---tell her what she knows, or she can let Lex kill her.  Who will she believe---her or the psychopath?  Lena goes to leave, and Lillian says wait.

Supergirl is in DC, and overseeing the protest, and Lockwood asks the Senator why she changed her mind, she looks over at the disguised Eve, and then looks at Lockwood, and says to take the win.  James meets up with Lockwood, and informs him that Otis Graves is still alive and that Lex is behind everything.  Lockwood knows nothing about it.  Meanwhile, Supergirl catches up with Eve, but she’s a hologram, and she’s got the Lexsuit put on her, rendering her helpless.  Meanwhile, the Red Daughter, dressed as Supergirl, causes a minor quake, then heads into the Oval Office and uses her heat vision to kill everyone in the room.  James saves Lockwood, but freezes when he hears gunshots.  After the attack, the Red Daughter says to “let the people hate, so long as they fear”,  to Lockwood.  The Red Daughter leaves one last message as she takes off, while Supergirl struggles to get the Lexsuit off.  The Red Daughter looks at her work, and flies off.  Supergirl has been set up. 

The President comes onto TV, and talks about how the country was attacked because of the Alien Amnesty Act by Supergirl.  He says that he is enacting Martial Law, and that Supergirl is Public Enemy #1.  Lex got his wish.  Haley and Alex both agree this is not like Supergirl. 

James knocks on Kelly’s door, and says that he needs her help, and can she stick around.  She says she’s not going anywhere.  Kara is at home, while J’Onn leaves the planet.  Kara gets a call, and she shows up at Lena’s.  They agree to help her find out the truth. 

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Well, this show is setting up to have an interesting season finale.  Things have picked up steam, and we’re marching down the path at a rapid pace.

Lex’s plans have all been unveiled, and while he’s a hunted man, Eve continues to execute his plan to perfection, especially now that she got the Red Daughter to dress up like Supergirl, and attack the White House.  Supergirl is now in the crosshairs, and she will be hunted and destroyed.  Despite the efforts of Lena and Alex.  These three will have to work covertly to expose Lex’s plan to the masses, meanwhile, Martial Law is enacted, and alien citizens will now be at risk of attack by the Sons of Liberty.  It’s the powderkeg that Supergirl tried to avoid but can’t.  And thanks to Lex’s threats, the Alien Amnesty Act got repealed.  IF his plan comes to full fruition, he will be hailed as the hero once he decides to resurface. 

Lockwood has no idea he was played for a patsy, but he doesn’t care---his cause is now in full effect, and feels he has carte blanche to react.  This is going to cause a body count, and all Lex will do is smile from the sidelines. 

Eve has learned well from Lex, and is very crafty.  She will be hard to catch.  We’ll also see if Lena was able to save Lillian Luthor from Lex’s wrath. 

James is suffering from the effects of the Haurn-El.  Not sure if he’ll get powers from this, or his body is rejecting it.  Either way, he’s going to need help, and thankfully, his sister Kelly is there for the save.  He also seems to be suffering from PTSD.

Good to finally see Lena and Supergirl put aside their differences to battle a common cause.  They both know how Lex operates, and they will need to act as a team to get through this.

J’Onn finally has embraced his true self, and made peace with his father.  Now, what will he be doing leaving Earth?  Is he headed to Argo to grab Kal-El?  Whatever it is, let’s hope he returns quickly before things become catastrophic and the team is unable to stop Lex’s plans from becoming a full blown reality. 

Another solid episode, and now we’re getting to the thick of the plot, as it now has reached its epic tilt.  In a few weeks, we’ll see what happens when Supergirl becomes the hunted. 

That’s it for the next few weeks.  Hope you guys subscribe to the blog, leave a comment, and pass the good word around.  Thanks for checking me out!

Until April 21st…Up, up, and away!

IMPACT! WRESTLING - March 29, 2019

IMPACT! WRESTLING – March 29, 2019:  This week is being labeled “Against All Odds”, as we FINALLY see the ring debut of The Smokeshow herself, Scarlett Bordeaux, as she takes on Disco Inferno himself, Glenn Gilbertti.  Rosemary must enter the Undead Realm once more to try and rescue the soul of Allie, Killer Kross will look to finish off Brian Cage, Gail Kim’s future is in the hands of Tessa Blanchard, and Taya Valkyrie defends her Knockouts Championship against Jordynne Grace.

Back once again in Sin City for tonight’s installment of IMPACT Wrestling, with a full card dubbed “Against All Odds”.  We kick things off in HUGE fashion with The Lucha Brothers put up their Tag Team Titles against LAX in a street fight.  Konnan gets on the mic and isn’t mincing words before calling out Pentagon and Fenix.  They come out, and the brawl is on.  Officials send out security to break it up for some reason (WHY?!!  It’s a STREET FIGHT!).  Things look like they get under control, but the Luchas get sneaky and grab a bunch of chairs while LAX start tossing the security around.  The Luchas take LAX out with the chairs, and then bring out the tables.  The Luchas set up two tables on different turnbuckles, but it backfires as LAX crashes the Luchas through them.  LAX hold up the titles as they celebrate winning the fight, though the match didn’t officially start.

Mr. Disco Inferno himself, Glenn Gilbertti comes out to face off against The Smoke Show, Scarlett Bordeaux.  Disco takes it to Scarlett early, mocking her and tossing her around.  She gets some offense in, but he counters to drop the Village Elbow on her.  He only gets a two count on her.  She gets sent into the corner, and Disco goes to drill some fists into her head, but she nails him between the legs, and lands a powerbomb and a cover for the pin and the win.  Gilbertti runs off in embarrassment, while The Smoke Show is emotional in the win.

Backstage, Melissa interviews Taya Valkyrie and her husband Johnny Impact.  Melissa asks Taya about her Title Match tonight with Jordynne Grace, and she says Grace has little chance of becoming champion tonight.  Meanwhile, Johnny says he’s getting popcorn to watch Killer Kross destroy Brian Cage.  He hopes Cage suffers another concussion---so that it would spell the end of his career.

We see Gilbertti walking by Kiera Hogan and another knockout, and they’re laughing at him, calling him a loser…he yells out “show some respect!” as the laugh even more.

We return to see a promo for a new addition to the company named Josh Alexander.

We get a rehash of Gail Kim and Tessa Blanchard’s sordid story, as Gail has to come out tonight and apologize to Tessa Blanchard.  Backstage, Melissa catches up with Tessa, and tells her that Gail said she will do what she has to do.  Tessa spins her yarn about how she has Gail by the balls because her lawyers have set everything up.  She says Gail comes off like a legend, but she says legends come and go, but Diamonds are forever.  She then comes back and says, if Gail’s in the building, she’s heading to the ring to get her apology right now.

We get a full promo of the return of Madison Rayne.  The Queen Bee has made it known she isn’t done yet.  She makes her return next week.  We then cut to another promo where the Lucha Brothers are visibly upset, and Pentagon says if LAX wants the rematch after what happened tonight, they will get it.

Tessa Blanchard hits the ring, and says today is a great day, because today, she gets her justice from Gail Kim.  She calls Gail out to the ring, and Gail arrives.  Tessa mocks Gail, and Gail stands there and says nothing as Tessa expects her apology. Gail apologizes, and it’s not enough for Tessa.  Gail gives her full apology.  Now Tessa expects a bigger apology, which Gail does.  Tessa then expects Gail to resign, which Gail said earlier in the day, she did.  Tessa then mocks Gail’s career, and says that she’ll be happy that she’s NEVER going to have to see Gail again, and tells Gail to leave.  Gail goes to leave, but stops, turns around, and says that while she did retire, she did under ONE stipulation---she’s coming OUT of retirement, and kicking Tessa’s ass.  Gail then attacks Tessa, and mauls her on the inside of the ring and outside.  She tosses Tessa back into the ring, and goes after her, but Tessa rolls out of the ring in shock, but unhappy as the crowd cheers as Gail stands tall.

Back from the break, Josh and Don announce that the match between Gail Kim & Tessa Blanchard is official for REBELLION.  We then go to a promo package about the feud between Sami Callahan and Rich Swann.

We cut to the OVE introducing their new member, Mad Man Fulton. 

It’s time for the Knockouts Championship.  The match begins with a quick tie up, then both women trade some moves, as Jordynne gets the best of her with a tiny offensive flurry.  However, Taya gains the upper hand as Jordynne misses her in the corner.  Taya continues to put on the offense, as she plays to the crowd.  Taya tries to be a bit cavalier with Jordynne, but Grace reverses the maneuver, and hits a German Suplex.  Taya rolls out of the ring, Jordynne gives chase, but Taya catches her, and gives her a few chops on her back.  She rolls Jordynne back into the ring, and continues to beat her down.  Taya then drives a running knee maneuver into the corner, but only scores the two count.  Taya has dominated this match, and then proceeds to mock the crowd yet again.  Taya goes for another running movie into the corner, but Jordynne lifts up and rolls out of the way, tries to come off the ropes with a shoulder block, but is met with a spear by Taya as we head to break.

Back from the break, and Taya has still maintained control over Jordynne Grace, but as she takes her time on Jordynne, Jordynne lands a snap suplex.  Kicks Taya, and sends her to the opposite corner and lands a huge kick to the face.  Jordynne goes for another kick, but Taya avoids by rolling out of the way, but Grace lands a splash, but only gets a two count.  She tries for a musclebuster, but Taya fights her off.  Taya goes for a moonsault, but misses.  Grace goes for her finisher, but Taya fights out of it.  Taya stays on the outside of the ring, faking a rib injury as Johnny comes out to help her.  Taya has had enough as the ref counts Taya out.  Jordynne wins by DQ.  She’s not happy.  Just as the power couple heads up the ramp, Brian Cage comes out to the ring, startling them.  However, Killer Kross comes out and shoves Cage into the ring post.

We come back from break, and it's Main Event time already in progress, as Kross is laying the punishment down on Cage, taking advantage of the brutal attack at the end of the Grace/Valkyrie match.  Sending Cage into the turnbuckle, pounding on him, and then getting him down on the mat and working him over.  Kross is dominating this match.  Cage starts mounting a comeback.  As he’s ready to hit the F5, Taya and Johnny come out to interfere.  While Cage is distracted, Taya lowblows Cage again.  Johnny then tries to use a chair Taya threw in to destroy his arm, but Cage fights him off.  Then, Johnny gives him a knee.  Johnny then sets up Cage’s arm again in the chair, then nails him with another chair.  Johnny and Taya laugh in the ring as Cage is injured. The Power Couple asserts their control. 

Finally, it’s time for Rosemary to enter the Undead Realm to reclaim Allie’s soul.  Rosemary has a cleaver and Dark Allie chained up. Dark Allie and Rosemary enter the Undead Realm.  Unknown to the both of them, Kiera Hogan has followed them.  We see James Mitchell addressing the denizens of the Undead Realm.  They get into each others’ faces, and Rosemary brandishes her cleaver as she has to face these denizens of the Undead Realm.  As soon as the first one is down, she goes after the rest with the pipe wrench.  She gets knocked down, but grabs her cleaver, as the next poor soul comes at her with a katana blade.  She slices him, and then Su Yung and her bridesmaids appear.  Just then, Kiera tosses her the katana blade, and she goes and slices them up Kill Bill style.  The bridesmaids are done, and Su comes back into the ring, looking at Allie.  Su and Allie attack, and Allie tries to stab Rosemary, which Rosemary begs her, but can’t.  She pushes Allie off, and goes for Su Yung, only to have James tell her to stop, as James has Kiera hostage.  Just then, Kevin Sullivan arrives and tells her to that all she is a serpent, and that she knows how this will end.   Just as Su Yung goes after Rosemary with a clawed hand, Allie throws herself into the path and is impaled in the throat.  Allie’s soul is back, but Allie is gone.  Kiera and Rosemary watch Allie disappear for good.  The show ends.  Goodbye Allie.

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This was a pretty decent show with some decent matches on it, but more stories being told tonight.

What a way to kick it off, though, with an all-out brawl and street fight from the Luchas and LAX.  The family is falling apart as these brothers are now allowing ego and pride get the best of them.  The rivalry has now reached a boiling point, and I see the Heavy Metal Match they have planned for REBELLION to be epic.  These two teams bring out the best in each other.

Johnny’s upping the ante on wiping out Brian Cage.  Is it out of fear?  It seems that the faction of Johnny, Taya, and Kross are out to destroy him once and for all.  Cage was dominated most of the match by Kross after being attacked from behind by Kross.  I think it’s safe to say, Johnny is terrified a little of facing Cage, and wants to gain every advantage he has before REBELLION.  Also, the Power Couple also used a fake out, as Taya feigned a rib injury in her match against Jordynne Grace, as Grace was about to mount a comeback.  Taya and Jordynne are FAAAR from done.  My question is this:  where does Moose fit into all of this?  He seems like the odd man out right now.  How long before Kross and Johnny stab HIM in the back and leave him for dead? 

Gail Kim did what I KNEW she would do---come out of retirement and square off against Tessa Blanchard at REBELLION.  I didn’t expect her to apologize or resign…but hey---if she’s coming out for this match against one of the best wrestlers in the industry right now, sign my ass up!  This match is going to be gooooood!

Don’t know who Josh Alexander is, but he looks like a tough customer, and we’ll see what he does when he debuts.

OVE finally introduces us to their newest member, Mad Man Fulton.  Dude is a BEAST.  Will be interesting to see how Willie Mack and Rich Swann fare against this guy, now that he is the pure muscle of the team. 

Tonight, though…it was ALL about the women, and they did a DAMN FINE JOB!  Taya and Jordynne put on a great match…one that I know we’ll get MORE of as their feud heats up as Grace chases the Knockouts Championship.  Gail and Tessa…as I mentioned….I saw that match coming, and we’re gonna get it.  And yes, we finally got our dose of The Smoke Show…and it was worth the wait!  She held her own against Disco, and delivered a great powerbomb and cover to win her first IMPACT match!  She’s going to make the Knockouts Division THAT much better with the talent they have now.  And we’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about the return of the Queen Bee herself – Madison Rayne.  Coming back home to take her place upon the Knockouts throne once again.  But she still has some scores to settle…and I believe Su Yung is top of the list. 

Finally…the Undead Saga has ended…at least for Allie.  The Bunny has departed the IMPACT plane, and is now gone for greener pastures.  The Demon Bunny will be missed on IMPACT, but we know that with the Multiverse…NOTHING is forever.  Now, will this mean that Kiera is now under the protective eye of The Shadow?  Will Rosemary seek revenge against James Mitchell, Su Yung, and….surprise!  KEVIN SULLIVAN?!  That was a nice face to pull out of the darkness---and NO ONE has dabbled in it more than him.  So, this makes this story a tad more interesting, should it continue.  But Allie’s journey has ended on IMPACT, and we wish the Bunny well…in whatever life she’s living in AEW.

That’s all for now, kids!  Please leave a comment, subscribe, and pass the good word along, willya?

Until next week…

ARROW - Season 7.17

ARROW – Season 7, Ep. 17: “Inheritance”

Laurel has gotten some intel on Emiko, and says that Ollie’s sister is not the hero she makes herself out to be.  Ollie invites her to investigate, making Felicity happy.  However, Felicity WILL have to make a choice between Laurel and the team. 

We open up with a young Emiko walking down the hall, while she hears her father and mother argue.  He tells her mother that she has to go, otherwise Moira will cut him off.  He walks out of the room, where Emiko confronts him, and asks him what’s going on.  He says that her and her mom will have to live elsewhere, and she protests. But her father says they can’t always get what they want.  We flash forward to Oliver and Emiko training, and talking about how they were trained. 

We later see Laurel tracking Emiko, but Emiko grazes her with an arrow to send a message to her to back off. 

Felicity has tracked down her old pal Alena Whitlock to help her develop the ARCHER program.  Alena is down with it.

Later, we see Oliver in the kitchen when Laurel shows up, and talks to Ollie about his sister NOT being who she says she is.  She informs Ollie that Ben Turner said that Emiko killed Diaz that night, and that there is NO record of her past the age of 15.  Ollie says she deserves the benefit of the doubt.

Ollie follows her to Palmer Technologies, where her and Dante walk into a lab, looking for some weapons, and they get what they want.  Dante then hits the lab tech, and puts a bomb in the room as he walks out.  Ollie goes in to try and save her, but the bomb goes off.  He tries to save her, but it looks like it’s too late. 

The team is at the lair, when they find out that Dante is a part of the Ninth Circle, and they wonder what to do with Emiko.  The team isn’t sure on listening to what Laurel said about her, but Felicity defends her.  Ollie decides he’ll talk to her, while they work on trying to take down the Ninth Circle. 

At the SCPD, Laurel and Dinah talk about a few cases Laurel’s worked on where she’s bent the rules to try and get charges to stick.  Dinah says that if she continues to do that, she will end up having those cases overturned, and all that work will be for nothing.  She gives Laurel a new case, and wants the charges to stick to them the right way. 

Ollie and Emiko talk, and Ollie tells her that he followed her and Dante into Palmer Tech the other night, and she admits that Dante trained her when she was 11, and that she’s indebted to the Ninth Circle.  Ollie says he can help, but she says that it’s not a good idea, it will end bad for both of them.

Flashing back in Emiko’s memory, we see her stealing Dante’s watch.  He catches her, and tells her that he will teach her how to steal and fight. 

The team convenes back at the Lair, where they get a lead on where the Ninth Circle will be hitting next.  Emiko and Dante arrive at their next hit, only to be met by Team Arrow.  Dante nails Emiko, and says that she led them here, when she says she did no such thing.  He goes to have her captured, but Ollie saves her. 

Once more at the Lair, they try to get a bead on Dante and the Ninth Circle, but ARCHER is down, and they cannot track him.  They try to find out the hard way, and split up before the Ninth Circle complete their weapon.  Emiko is hurt and Rene goes to tend to her.  They chat, and she asks why he never asked about her, and he said he learned not to pry, and that she let him be a part of the team despite her reservations. 

Flashing back yet again, and we see Emiko doing more training with Dante.  He tells her she’s not working hard enough, and she says she is.  She also still think about her father, and he asks why….he abandoned her.  He said that the Ninth Circle is her family, and that he has a gift for her.

We’re at the SCPD yet again, as Dinah and Laurel are about to interrogate a man called Hernandez, and want his boss.  The guy ends up playing on Laurel’s emotions, especially when it comes to Captain Lance.  She gets upset, and Dinah comes in to save her before she goes Black Siren on the guy.

Once more at the Lair, Felicity is still frustrated that ARCHER is down, and they’re still trying to find a way to determine what the Ninth Circle is doing in trying to obtain uranium.  Felicity is going to see if she can reboot the system, but she knows she will have to rebuild it.  Ollie goes to help her, and finds a device hidden.  He comes back saying that he found out what was gumming up the works, when he’s confronted by Emiko.  She’s been playing him all along, and they fight.  Ollie has her dead to rights after a brief battle, but hesitates.  She escapes his grasp and blinds him, escaping.

Laurel and Dinah have a chat about the man Hernandez, who got killed not that long ago after being released from custody.  Laurel said she played by the book, and Dinah isn’t quite buying it.  Laurel says she’s been working her ass off to redeem herself, but it doesn’t seem like it’s enough.  Dinah apologizes, but says that maybe Laurel doesn’t quite know who she is herself.

Flashback to Emiko meeting her father, with a business plan to help Queen Consolidated, and thinks she can help them increase profit, and be a part of the company.  But he says that the company is for Oliver.  She says what is she to do, since he abandoned her and did nothing for her mother.  He says he has to leave on a trip to South China aboard the Queen’s Gambit.  We see Emiko and Dante talk, discussing the ruse they played on Oliver.

The Lair is where we end up, as the team congregates in the aftermath of Emiko’s betrayal.  Ollie is frustrated, and the team has struck out in being able to locate the Ninth Circle, or their next hit on locating some uranium, until they realize that maybe the uranium is just a ruse, and they’re looking for something else.  They figure out that they’re looking to combine chemicals to make a gas, using drones to scatter it over the city.  Ollie and Diggle talk about family betrayal, and how he needs to treat Emiko as the enemy, whether she likes it or not.

They’re off to stop the drones from scattering the gas over the city, and when Dante says that maybe they should hold off on the test, but Emiko tells them the test goes on, and to stop Team Arrow.  The battle ensues, and Rene runs into Emiko, who tells him to go away.  She ends up facing Oliver again, and she orders her underlings to attack.  Ollie ends up fighting off the lackeys, but Emiko makes off. 

Felicity returns home where Alena has continued working on rebuilding the ARCHER program, and they discuss the ways they can improve it, but it will require hacking into systems that would be considered illegal.  Felicity says they need to get to work.

The team once again discusses what happened, in regards to the drones going off, but only hitting empty targets.  They realize it’s just a test, and have to prepare for the real thing.

Emiko and Dante talk, and he says that her distractions have not been able to lead the Ninth Circle.  She says that she is their leader, and they will follow her.  She also says that she has a way to increase their plan, by getting Felicity’s ARCHER program.  Dante isn’t sure about this.  But Emiko says that if he questions her authority again, she will kill him.

We see Laurel in her office when she hears a news report about her and Diaz, and questioning her as a criminal.  Emiko shows up, and it turns out SHE killed Hernandez, and leaked the info to the press about Laurel’s association with Diaz.  Laurel is pissed.  But Emiko says now they know the truth, and that she’s possibly set her free.

One more flashback into Emiko’s memory, as we hear the newscast about the Queen’s Gambit being destroyed and Robert Queen killed.  We see the picture Dante gave Emiko, with the specs of the Queen’s Gambit in her hand, she sets it on fire as the episode ends.

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More drama and some action unfolded in this installment, and it wasn’t bad….but it WAS a bit predictable on the betrayal by Emiko part---kinda saw that coming, so it took the edge of the episode off a little. 

Emiko has been completely two-faced the entire time, and it was easy to tell from when she first appeared on the canvas.  Outside of her revenge on her mother’s death, which, as we saw at the end of the episode, the person responsible was her own father.  Now, he didn’t exactly pull any trigger on a gun, or have her ordered killed…it was his simple abandonment of her AND Emiko that led to her mother’s death.  At least that is MY working theory.  That has been her revenge all along, by my deduction.  Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s still the issue of her looking for the killer, but I wonder if that’s just been a red herring.  Her whole plan was to infiltrate the city, earn Ollie’s trust, then kill him when he had the chance.  She knows Ollie is about protecting the city, and she’s there to lay waste to it.  Her on an equal level with Dante and being the ACTUAL leader of the Ninth Circle makes her close to the actual “big bad” of this season. 

Laurel has tried and tried to be the “good girl” and work on her redemption…for Quentin’s sake.  But, her cutting corners, and Emiko finally exposing her association with Diaz, it looks like the Black Siren is going to have to make a return in order to save herself.  The team still doubting her after all she has done only makes it worse.  But what will really hurt is the relationship she’s built with Felicity will suffer…even though Felicity’s the ONLY one who’s seen her redemption and stood by her. 

Oliver.  Well…once again, betrayed by someone he loves.  First, his father, then his mother, now Emiko.  Guy CANNOT catch a break!  Despite all the bad HE has done, he has done his best to try and do what is right…only to get jerked around by those he loved at every turn.  Now, he’s got to stop his sister from going on a killing spree on an entire city, plus HOPE he can reach Emiko and find a way to get to HER redemption.  But THAT will be a VERY hard sell….I’d almost say IMPOSSIBLE.  I see that the ONLY way Emiko has ANY redemption…is in death.  And I feel that is where this final battle is building up towards…a final confrontation between Ollie and Emiko, where she will have NO problem killing him with extreme prejudice….but can HE?  Will he make that lethal decision should it be the ONLY way to stop her AND the Ninth Circle from destroying Star City?

It was good to see Alena back.  Felicity’s hacking partner is there to help her get the ARCHER project off the ground.  We see what the consequences are in the future with this program, but we’re seeing the genesis of it now.  My question is this:  Felicity creates it and develops it….but what happens to Alena in the future?  Does she die over it? 

It was a solid episode, and we got to see in flashbacks Emiko’s animosity build towards her father…which isn’t TOTALLY unjustified, but to outwardly seek revenge to the point of killing the man and all his family is off kilter.  But Robert Queen did himself no favors by engaging in an affair with her mother.  Moira caught him in the act, and Emiko and her mother suffered the consequences.  Ollie wants to restore the Queen name, but he may have to give up on that, and there is no way he will be able to redeem it in Emiko’s eyes.  The Ninth Circle is a new group of terrorists to invade Star City, and will they be able to succeed where others could not?  The story is really beginning to take shape, and we’ll see what happens next time. 

We got some time off between now and mid-April before we get the next episode.  But please feel free to subscribe, leave a comment, and pass along this great page to everyone willya?  It’s better than fast food!

Until mid April, kiddies----keep your sights on the bullseye!

SUPERGIRL - Episode 4.16

SUPERGIRL – Season 4, Ep. 16:  “The House Of L”

This episode is pretty much taking us on a journey over the past couple of years, as we see how Lex Luthor manipulated things from behind the scenes, and how his evil machinations have affected his sister Lena, and our Girl of Steel.

We pick up where we left off last episode, where Lex confronted Supergirl.  He jumps out of the helicopter, and has a suit that he flies off to escape in and heads towards the Daily Planet, with Supergirl in tow.  They battle and Supergirl finds out that Lex has powers.  He strikes her down.  Then grabs the Planet statue and drops it on her.

We got back three years in court, where James and Lena testify against Lex about the crimes he committed against Superman and the rest of the world.  When the judge is about ready to sentence him, he is seen writing Kryptonian on a legal pad.  He gets up and professes that aliens live among them, and that Superman made him do what he did.  He goes on to say that there are two times:  Before Superman, and After Superman.  Aliens will soon populate the planet, and he feels that what HE is doing is for the sake of the Earth.  The judge then is ready to pass sentence, but she has trouble getting the sentence out, as she is coughing and choking.  Soon, everyone is coughing and choking, dying.  Lex is taken into custody and James and Lena leave the courtroom in a haste.  As Lex is being led to prison, we see Eve Tessmacher and Otis Graves watching and talking to each other. 

Lex is then visited by Eve Tessmacher in this posh visitation room (Lex obviously has pulled A LOT of strings), and she tells him what she’s capable of, but he then has a plan for her.  He wants her to start working for CatCo, because James is there, and he’s close to Supergirl.  She agrees.  He then gets a visit from the warden, who thanks him for the basketball tickets, and the prisoners enjoyed the lobster.  He says he’s been teaching the inmates chess.  The phone rings in the visitation room, and it’s the Minister from Kaznia, who tells him they have found a clone of Supergirl.  They need him there as soon as possible.  Lex says he needs to go for 72 hours to the warden, but the warden isn’t going to let him go.  Lex threatens the warden with his family, and secures his release for those 72 hours.  As he’s leaving for his trip, he’s calling out chess moves to the inmates.  We also see a hologram of Lex appear in his cell to cover the ruse. 

In Kaznia, we see the Kara clone being discovered by the Kaznian Army.  The Minister recognizes her as the clone of Supergirl.  She keeps calling out “Alex”, but that’s all she knows.  We see a montage of how they begin to train and teach her in their ways, and how to use her powers.  But she still has trouble controlling them.  She then hears a child in pain, and she ends up saving the child.  She still doesn’t have full control of her powers.  Eventually, Lex discovers her.  She again calls out “Alex”, and  Lex says “sure”.

Lex and Kara talk, and he says he can help her with her powers, but she must learn everything about the Kaznian way.  He then talks to Miss Tessmacher and Otis as he has to leave to go back to prison.  Miss Tessmacher informs Lex that Lena is close to the Harun-El formula, and he informs her to help her finish.  As for Otis, he informs him that the needs to have America and Kaznia at war with each other, so that when Kaznia invades and tries to destroy America, Lex will be the savior.  He tells Otis to find a radical, a “hero” to drive people to hate against aliens, and Otis knows a guy…Ben Lockwood.  Otis gives him the pamphlet for the Sons of Liberty.  Lex starts putting things in motion from prison, because he’s going to need an alibi for all his plans.

Once again, we had back to Kaznia, where the Kara clone is reading their propaganda.  Lex wonders why she keeps liking The Great Gatsby.  She says she likes it, but he tells her to read it again, to get the message HE wants her to understand.  The brainwashing begins.

Once more, we see Lex return again, and they’re having dinner with the boy Mikhail that she saved.  Lex asks the boy why he was attacked.  He said they were thieves, and that his father was a bad man, that is why it is only his mom and himself.  The Kara clone says she will try to visit more, and has formed a bond with the boy.  Lex then takes her back to the Kaznian Military complex, and reveals to her that she is Kryptonian, and brainwashes her to believe that America is evil, and they are protected by Supergirl.  She wants to know more.  Lex agrees.

Four Months ago, Lex and the Kara clone arrive in National City, and she’s in disguise as “Linda Lee”.  She sees an AmeriTech logo.  He tells her that they make weapons.  They then visit Kara’s apartment, and the Kara Clone surveys it, and Lex tells her that Kara lives here on a reporter’s salary.  Just then, Alex pops in and asks her what she’s doing there, she thought she was in Smallville on vacation.  The Kara Clone, thinking quickly, made up a story about needing her journal.  Alex says okay, and takes off.  Lex has to go back to prison, and tells her to go back to Kaznia.  She ends up sticking around a little bit and reading Kara’s journal.  She then sees the entry about Lena, and goes to visit her at L-Corp.  She bumps into Lena and Miss Tessmacher.  She plays the part, and Lena then leaves the elevator.  Miss Tessmacher knows that it’s the Kara Clone, and tells her to go back to Kaznia, and she refuses, saying she wants to know more about Kara’s life.  Miss Tessmacher contacts Lex and tells him that the clone is going rogue.  Lex says that they’ll get her back by taking what she cherishes most away from her.  They target the boy’s house in Kaznia, and they destroy it using AmeriTech weapons. 

As the house is being destroyed, the clone hears Mikhail's voice, and races back home to Kaznia to save him, but the house is destroyed, and she can’t find the boy anywhere.  She is upset.  She then heads to the AmeriTech ship and plans on killing the men responsible.  Lex shows up to stop her, and they get into an argument, because she’s been exposed, and now he has to clean up her mess.  He then takes off.

We then see Otis talking to Mikhail, who is very much alive, and says that if you see a bald man, learn to play dead.  Three months later,  we go through the training montage for the Red Daughter, including the point where she stopped the drone, but got weakened because of it.  The Minister than calls Lex to let him know she’s in trouble.  Lex talks to Miss Tessmacher about getting the Black Kryptonite in order to save the Kara Clone, but Miss Tessmacher says that it’s not ready.  Lex then realizes that the only way he can get it is by giving himself cancer, which Miss Tessmacher is VERY much against.  He shuts himself inside a radioactive containment unit in order to douse himself.  He later appears as a hologram to Lena, and lets her know he's dying.  

Again, we see another montage of the events from last episode that led up to the current situation, with Lex’s plan unfolding before us.  Lex takes off, and Kara tries to give chase but he’s gone.  She flies to the hospital where Alex is with James, to let Alex know that Lex is loose, and she lost him.  Alex says she headed to the DEO to get info, and for Supergirl to find J’Onn and find Luthor.

We finally go back to Kaznia, where Lex is by the Kara Clone’s bedside.  He gives her the serum, and she eventually awakens.  Lex says he was angry with her, but he wanted to help her.  She was a gift.  She says she was wrong for what she did, and she will listen to him, and destroy Supergirl.  It’s then Lex presents her with her new uniform, and calls her his “Red Daughter”.

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This was pretty much a recap episode, with nothing REALLY new to uncover, other than how Lex had put what essentially has been the entire season thus far in motion.  The amping up of Lockwood’s Sons of Liberty crusade, Lena’s research, and the plot to brainwash the Kara clone to Kaznia’s political ideologies in order to make her hate Supergirl AND America….all to set HIMSELF up as the hero.  It’s been a pretty intricate plan, and well thought out---for Lex, anyway.  Now we see what happens now that the Red Daughter is in America, and looking to kill The Girl of Steel. 

We get to see how he met Miss Tessmacher and Otis Graves…and how they end up joining his group as his underlings in order to carry out his plans.  We see the Kaznian Government have a clone of Supergirl, with whom they’re brainwashing---with Lex’s help---to their mindset.  We also see the lengths Lex is willing to go through in order to carry out his master plan---even giving himself cancer.  THAT is a devoted supervillain.  Cryer has brought a much needed depth and psychosis to Lex that quite possibly hasn’t been seen in quite some time (and apologies to Michael Rosenbaum…but I’m starting to like Cryer’s portrayal MUCH better).  And the Lex suit---AWESOME that they brought that into play.  Lex is a lot like Tony Stark:  Brilliant, creative, narcissistic…but only sociopathic.  It’s a brilliant rendition, and I’m loving the hell out of it.

We see the little aspects of Kara’s personality manifest in her clone, but Lex is quick to wipe those out with the continued brainwashing in order to carry out his master plan.  Her confrontation with Supergirl WILL be epic.  Can we get a steel cage match?  Well…I suppose it’ll be more along the lines of “Last Woman Standing” and “Falls Count Anywhere” stipulations. It IS interesting, however, that the only memory she has when she's found is Alex....Kara's sister.  It will be a plot point I feel will be used in the future, I bet.  And props to Melissa Benoist for showing the innocence of a power woman being manipulated by a crazy man, and how she balanced that with being driven after Mikhail's supposed "death".

I wonder if the boy will reappear at some point to be the slight little foil in Lex’s plans?  That’s just ONE of the little things I’m curious about before the season ends.  Also…does James get powers?  We see he’s still laid up and recovering in this episode, so who knows when he’ll be back on his feet.

The one thing I also wanted to point out is how easily it was for Lex to influence someone who doesn’t understand the world around them, and was able to bend her will to his own.  It’s a big lesson about how propaganda and believing in something so strong, you’re willing to die for it can have dire consequences---such as a loss of self.  Maybe that’s just MY perspective on it, but it’s easy to see how believing in something someone tells you without finding out for yourself is how puppets and sheeple are made in the world.  But that’s a discussion for another time. 

All in all, this episode helps explain A LOT, and shows how much influence ONE man, with enough power and resources at his disposal---and Lex has PLENTY---to influence many to do his bidding, and for him to carry out his master plan.  He is maniacal, insane, crafty, and a freakin’ genius.  It’s amazing how well he could leave prison on a whim, brainwash the Red Daughter, help influence a revolution against the alien races inhabiting the planet, and help his sister find a cure while using the Harun-El to do it. 

That’s it for this week, and we get one more week before the show takes yet another short hiatus.  Subscribe, leave a comment, and hope to hear from you soon.

Oh, and PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE check out my friends Jocelyn, Luis, and Geo’s website, www.theeverydaynerdpodcast.com.  They talk about comics, movies, anything else geeky, and I’m lucky to have a link to THIS blog on there.  So give them some love, check out there podcasts, and subscribe to them…you’ll enjoy it!

Until next week….Up, up, and away!