SUPERGIRL - Season 4.19

SUPERGIRL – Season 4, Ep. 19:  “American Dreamer”

The pressure is on for The Girl of Steel as she now has to lie low in order to clear her name, while Dreamer tries to hold it down on the streets, Alex, Lena, and Kelly look to help James with his new problem stemming from his PTSD and the Harun-El, and J’Onn has been M.I.A.  All the while…Lockwood and the Sons of Liberty are empowered…

We kick of this episode with Kara back at CatCo, pouring over all the information she has on Lex and trying to find a way to not only expose him, but to clear Supergirl’s name.

On the streets, we see alien citizens being chased by the deputized Sons of Liberty for violating curfew as President Baker initiated Martial Law the week before.  Just as the aliens try to find sanctuary, and are trapped, Dreamer appears and sends the Sons packing.  She then meets up with Brainy, who tells her that she needs to lie low, because the President is looking for ANY cape to take down.  Dreamereels obligated to protect the aliens no matter the cost.

At Lena’s lab, James is hooked up to machines, while her, Alex, Kelly, and Brainy try to get to the bottom of James’ panic attacks, and the emergence of his powers.  They feel that with every panic attack, a new power surfaces as the Harun-El continues to work through his system.  Brainy suggests a mind meld like technique, but it could be risky.  James says for him to do it.

Kara is continuing her research on Lex, and finds out that he’s connected to Amertek…Lockwood’s father’s company.  Kara comes across another staffer of CatCo called Franklin, who’s been in contact with his sister Edna, who works in the HR department of Amertek.  Kara urges Franklin to have Edna meet with her to talk.  Nia catches up with Kara to talk to her about having Supergirl reappear on the streets and get the Super Friends together.  Kara says she can’t as long as she’s been accused of attacking the White House.  She feels she’d be doing more harm than good.  Nia understands, and says that Dreamer will continue to patrol the streets and keep people safe.

Back at Lena’s lab, Brainy explains the procedure to James, and tells him that with each panic attack, he’ll teach him how to control it…and thus, his powers.

We see Lockwood and the Sons invade the home of yet another alien family, taking away the father, and threatening the mother and her children if she intervenes.  His son, George, is witness to all this, and it looks like he’s starting to have doubts.  When he questions his father about it, Lockwood has one of his soldiers take George away and how him how things are done.

Kara meets up with Franklin’s sister, Edna.  She’s skittish, and Kara asks her about coming forward and helping take Lex Luthor down.  Edna agrees to sneak Kara into Amertek to look into the files.

Brainy begins the procedure, and enters James’ mind.  His memories are out of sorts, and Brainy says they’re folding in on each other.  He sees a casket with his father in it, and suddenly has a panic attack.  In the outside world, James’ freaks out and shoots out heat vision.  

Kara and Edna are at Amertek in the file room, where Kara is looking through files that would connect them to Lex Luthor.  She comes across a file with some financial transfers in large sums to a man named Sebastian Melmoth, who is NOT on the Amertek payroll.  Kara wants Edna to hack into the HR files to find info on Melmoth, but she’s too scared she’ll be found out, and as the guards are patrolling the floor they’re on, Edna gets scared, and says she can’t come forward, and takes off.  

Lena’s in her office, visibly frustrated because she cannot find a way to stop James’ attacks, and slow down the Harun-El.  She looks at the contraption in her hand, and sees the Amertek logo.  Something clicks.

Back in James’ mind, Brainy and him realize it’s the funeral for his father.  James had mentioned he’d never went to the funeral…that he was across the street in the bathroom of a diner, and stayed there until the ceremony was over.  In the real world, Kelly, who wasn’t completely on board with this process, talks to Alex about the funeral for their Dad.  She said James had promised he’d be there for her after their Dad had passed.  She says she had to stay with their Mom, and she was almost ready to die herself.  Alex reassures her that whatever happened, she can get through it, just like she’ll get through this.

We see Kara once more at CatCo, working a case board, with all the clues written on it….trying to figure out the connection between Amertek and Lex.  Lena comes in, and her and Kara talk.  Kara asks if she knows anything about Amertek, and an L-Corp connection, and Lena shoots her down quick.  Lena then lays into Kara about not being there for James, or for herself.  She says that lately, Supergirl has been there for her, not Kara.  Kara tries to explain away that she is trying to take down Lex, but Lena dismisses her.  

Dreamer’s out on patrol again, and stumbles upon a warehouse where some aliens have set up shop as sanctuary from the Sons of Liberty.  Just then, the Sons arrive, and Dreamer is ready to defend the alien citizens.  She starts taking down the Sons, as some of the aliens try to escape.  Some aren’t lucky, and one of them George Lockwood recognizes as a friend from school.  George asks him why he didn’t tell him, his friend said he didn’t ask.  George lets him escape.  After the Sons make a retreat after taking a beating from Dreamer, George is at home, talking with his mother.  He asks if maybe what his dad is doing ISN’T the right thing.  His mother reassures him that he is, and that he’s protecting the country.  We see George text his friend later on, saying that he is there if his friend needs him. 

At CatCo, Kara and Nia discuss their frustration about not being able to protect the citizens…alien and human alike…without having them feel like they’re making matters worse.  They want to not only clear Kara’s name, but find a way to get a message out that not all aliens are bad.  Nia says that being half human and half alien doesn’t seem to help, and that’s when it hits Kara.  An interview with Nia herself because she IS half human, and half alien.  Kara plans on introducing the world to the Dreamer.

Back into James’ mind we go, and we find out the truth behind the trauma of his father’s death:  he was bullied by a couple of boys, and suppressed the memory.  James is stuck in this memory, and can’t seem to break through it.  Brainy is having trouble helping him, when Kelly offers to enter his memory with Brainy.  Once there, she sees the reason behind his trauma.  He’s ashamed of the memory, but his sister helps him pull through.  She urges him to fight back and he does.  He then awakens, floating above the bed.  Brainy let’s Lena know that James has recovered.

Kara and Nia do the interview as the Dreamer.  Kara asks about her past, where she came from.  Dreamer discusses her alien mother and her Earthling father.  She also tells the world that not only is she half of those, but a trans-woman as well.  She discusses her likes and dislikes.  The feed has been hacked into various media outlets, and Lockwood gets a full view of Dreamer’s story---and he wants her BAD.

Lena and Brainy catch the interview as well, and Lena feels sorrow for letting everyone down, and Brainy gets emotional as well watching Nia tell her story…possibly even falling in love with her, perhaps?  He tells Lena to NOT close herself off from her loved ones, just because she’s Lex’s sister.

Lockwood and the Sons are armed for bear and storm CatCo, demanding Dreamer surrender herself.  Just as they’re about to take her down, the lights go out, courtesy of Alex, and a fight breaks out.  Kara does her Supergirl part while in the dark, taking down some of the soldiers.  Kara and Dreamer go to make their escape when Lockwood catches them, aiming a gun at them.  Just then, a hand reaches out and crushes the gun.  It’s James, using his new powers to stop the attack.  He tells Lockwood that he has no place there, and that they’re just exercising their First Amendment rights.  He orders Lockwood to leave immediately.  Lockwood complies, but tells Dreamer he WILL get her.

Afterwards, as they straighten up the office, Edna shows up to talk to Kara.  She says that in light of what happened, she is willing to come forth and tell her story, and blow the whistle on Amertek.  She also hands the file to Kara that contains information about Sebastian Melmot.
Lena and Kara have a heart-to-heart, and she reveals she had helped Lex get better because he had cancer, and she had tried to save him because it’s her brother.  She feels ashamed she let her friends down.  Kara hugs her and understands, and holds no ill will towards her.  Lena agrees to help Kara do whatever it takes to bring Lex down.  They then go over the information that Kara uncovered about Lex, Sebastian Melmot, and Amertek.  It’s then Lena discovers that Sebastian Melmot is just an alias Lex used from an Oscar Wilde novel.  It’s yet another Lex code.  When deciphered, Kara and Lena discover that he was siphoning Amertek money to Kaznia.  That’s where both of them are headed next.

George now has serious doubts about the cause, and reaches out to his alien pal, letting him know he’s there for him.

Lockwood returns home frustrated, only to find his wife on the floor…apparently dead.

We finally see J’Onn, as he is back on Mars in the Desert of T’ozz.  It’s there he sees an image of his father yet again, a la Luke seeing Obi Wan on Hoth.  His father congratulates him, and tells him to go home and help his friends.


More family themed drama as we kick off this week’s worth of superhero fun, starting with the Maid of Might.  We see a couple more things come to light, and we got a J’Onn sighting after being gone for a week while he did his Odyssey.  

Kara having to be more Kara Danvers than Kara Zor-El was a nice twist this week, and adds depth to the character…showing that Supergirl can be just as super and resourceful in her secret identity, as well as flying around the city.  She really had to tap into her inner Clark Kent to uncover more of Lex’s trail to Kaznia, and while she DID manage to throw in some Supergirl heroics in there a little bit, this episode allowed her to use her more human aspects to uncover more of the story.  Her little tiff with Lena was brief, but still effective in showing that Kara CAN have tunnel vision.  It’s interesting that the dynamic turned between them two.  At first, it was SUPERGIRL that had the issue with Lena, and caused THEIR rift, while Kara was allowed to be friends with Lena…now the reverse happened.  But while Kara and Lena mended fences, it still doesn’t chase away the elephant in the room….which is when Lena eventually discovers Kara and Supergirl are the same.  When THAT happens, will their friendship survive?  In the meantime, it’s great to see them working in cohesion to uncover more of Lex’s devious plot.

James’ and Kelly’s story.  We get the reason WHY James had been absent from his father’s funeral, all his issues with Lex, and with his sister’s help, pull through the traumas, and come out the other side.  It strengthens their relationship.  Also…we continue to see Kelly and Alex bond---the romance will come, people…trust me.

The wheels are starting to come off Lockwood’s train a little….but on a personal level.  His crusade is at its apex right now, because he has federal backing.  However, his tactics are questionable, and he has no regards for rights or due process.  And having George witness to how he handles business…and watching alien families or human/alien families torn apart---one of which is a friend of his from school, has him now seriously questioning the cause his father presses on with in extreme fashion.  He’s beginning to see that his father ISN’T right, and because his mother is on board without question, makes him doubt that his family is right.  Her supposed death (I believe it is), will be a catalyst for him to go full boar, and all out warfare with the alien populace, which only serves Lex’s plan perfectly.  Lockwood has no idea that he had played right into Luthor’s hands brilliantly.

Nia’s story is that of love, loss, and acceptance.  If ANYONE has had a rough road to get to where they’re at…it’s Nia.  Kara’s plan to bring Dreamer to the light and tell her story is a brilliant one.  Because if only ONE person believes in Nia’s story…they believe it can cause a groundswell of support, and maybe---just MAYBE---prevent a disaster.  I credit Nicole Maines for her acting in this episode---especially reminding the world that she is, in fact, a trans-woman.  For ANYONE of the LGBTQ community, it’s NEVER easy coming out and admitting who you really are, knowing the consequences and ridicule that will follow.  But for the character of Nia Nahl…as well as Maines herself..it’s a credit to not only her acting ability, but to her confidence and belief in herself.  I clap my hands.  And it’s great to FINALLY see Brainy show some emotion.  I know for a fact he’s enamored with Nia….just needed a little push.

Finally got to the bottom of why J’Onn disappeared.  And it appears his quest is over.  Now, we get the Martian Manhunter back to help battle Luthor…because the team needs him now more than ever.  

Overall, another quality episode.  It had a nice balance, fitting all the pieces in, and allowing some room for several character’s stories to continue to unfold.  We get to see how methodical Lex’s plan was thought out, how Lena and Kara have managed to uncover the trail, James and Kelly’s story, Nia’s coming out party, and Lockwood’s son starting to see that his dad’s cause is NOT what he thought it was, and the consequences that follow.  We are in the home stretch, and things SHOULD be thrust into high gear, now that Kara and Lena are going to Kaznia…and Kara’s eventual battle with, essentially, herself.  What will James do now that he has powers?  Will he jump into the fray, or will he stay on the sidelines?  What will happen with Alex and the DEO?  More fun stuff to come in the final few episodes.

That’s it for this edition, and I thank you all for following me up to this point, though admittedly, the last month has been a difficult one for personal reasons.  But nonetheless, I wanted to make every effort possible to finish these season reviews off.  I owe it to not only you, but to myself….so I can feel a sense of accomplishment for providing some material for you guys to sink your teeth in.  As always, if you haven’t subscribed, please do.  And pass the word along.  And, of course, DON’T be afraid to comment!  I’d love to hear YOUR thoughts on the shows, and YOUR theories and ideas!  This is what this is about, guys and gals!  

Until next time----Up, up, and away!

THE FLASH - Season 5.19

THE FLASH - SEASON 5, EP. 19:  "Snow Pack"


We're back with the Fastest Man Alive, and things seem to go from bad to worse for our boy Barry.  So many beteayals, and this latest one, his own daughter Nora, who confessed to working with his most hated foe, Eobard Thawne, has him hurt, angry, and frustrated enough to take Nora back home, warning her to never return.  But Nora has other ideas.   After getting a glimpse into HER life last week, we see how determined she is to save her dad and live up to his legacy.  Plus...we have a future Grace running around as the new Cicada, and now has possession of her younger self.

We begin as Barry and Iris argue in the Pipeline about what he did with Nora.  Iris is visibly ticked off with him for taking her back home, and not allowing her to say goodbye.   Barry defends his decision,  and Iris has heard enough...she storms off.  This marriage looks rocky.

In 2049, Nora and Eobard talk about the events, and how she can't travel back in time, because Barry will sense her in the Speed Force.  Eobard tells her about how he created his own Speed Force...using negative energy.  Nora is interested in learning.

Back in 2019, Barry informs the team of his decision about Nora.  They're NOT pleased at all.  They also feel that Sherloque has done enough.  Feels are bitter all around. 

Barry and Joe are at the hospital, where they discover Grace has been kidnapped.  And Cicada is off the radar, and can't find her.

We see Carla Tannhausen working in her lab when the Icicle appears, looking for a machine she created, and makes off with it.

Barry and Joe appear on the scene after the theft investigating what happened.   Caitlin is there also, and immediately gets into it with her mom about her dad.  Turns out, the Icicle made off with something called a Cryogenic Atomizer.

Cecile, Ralph, and Iris are back in the lab, and Iris just isn't into it.  She is thinking about Nora, what Barry did, and is thinking that her and Barry need time apart.  Cecile tries to console her.  Iris gets the idea to use Eobard's time capsule to go to the future, and make amends with her daughter.   She talks to Gideon ti confirm it can be done, and Ralph stumbles into the secret room, and agrees to help her.

In 2049, we see Eobard trying to train Nora in tapping into the Negative Speed Force. However, she fails in her attempt.   Back in the present, Ralph helps send Iris off.

Caitlin and Carla continue to argue about family while trying to figure out what the Icicle wants with the Atomizer.  He then attacks the lab, and manages to incapacitate Barry and Killer Frost.   He kidnaps them.  At STAR Labs, Sherloque is about to bid farewell, but an alert sounds, and Barry is in touble.  Joe can't revive him.  Sherloque breaches to the lab just in time to help Joe revive Barry. 

Caitlin and Carla wake up prisoners of Thomas Snow.  They bicker some more about how things fell apart in their family.  The Icicle comes in and gets Carla's blood sample, as well as Caitlin's.  They figure out that the Icicle plans to use the Atomizer to turn Carla into one of them.  His own "Snow Pack".

Iris...with Ralph in tow, invade the prison to find Eobard.   Ralph disguises himself as the guard while Iris sneaks in to see Eobard, and hopefully find Nora.  It's there that Nora has learned to build up her rage so she can travel back in time, and Iris tries to reason with her, and let her know that her dad was wrong.   However, it was to no avail, as Nora built up enough rage and speeds off.  Iris warns Eobard to stay away from her.  Eobard says with a look of concern in his eye that he needs to find Nora quickly.  And when they save her...they need to do it as a family unit, or all will be lost.

While still trapped, Caitlin and Carla reach an understanding.  It's then that the Icicle takes Carla away to begin her transformation.  Meanwhile, Barry, Joe, and Sherloque get a lead on where Caitlin and Carla are being held.

Somehow, when the Icicle froze Caitlin's hands, it deactivated the cuffs, and Killer Frost was free!  She gives chase to the Icicle as she has Flash save Carla.  With Joe and Sheroque's help, Flash vibrates and phases through the container and saves her.  While that is happening, both Frost and Icicle battle, but he manages to stab her.  He leaps for the kill, but Thomas resurfaces, and saves Caitlin.  Thomas is back.

As the Snow family reunites, Cicada shows up.  Her and Frost battle, but she beats Frost.  Just as Cicada is about to deal the death blow, Thomas sacrifices himself to save his daughter.  He dies a hero.

Back at STAR Labs, Caitlin's test reveals that there is no trace of any meta gene in her system.  Their relationship is on the mend.  As they leave, Caitlin tosses the sample into a hazardous waste container.  Inside, we see thr sample turn white.  Looks like Carla is infected after all.

Sherloque is about ready to leave, but Ralph urges him to stay.  He's a part of the family now.

Barry and Iris talk about her trip to the future,  and what she knows what Nora did.  They both apologized for making decisions without consulting each other.  Iris commented that when she talked to Eobard, it's as if he genuinely cares about her.  Both agreed they need to find her fast.

Nora reappears in 2019...in a blur of purple, white, and red lightning, and eyes glowing red.  Full anger mode.

We finally see the still comatose young Grace being watched over by her older self....saying "soon", as she looks over at the Atomizer.


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Another powerful episode with a heavy dose of  emotional exposition.  Family again a theme that ties it all together.

Barry and Iris have had serious issues at times with communication, and getting on the same page.  With both not telling the other their intentions on dealing with Nora, it caused a brief rift, and that rift now has a consequence:  a very pissed off and emotionally torn daughter.  This will come back to haunt them if they don't get to Nora quick.  They're still in a young marriage, but even then...gotta work better at it.  And it's your KID...one who had been sheltered from all the evil you faced...at some point...gotta cut her SOME slack.

Caitlin and Carla.  Mother and daughter who'd been at odds all these years because of a simple misunderstanding....throw in a duo personality father...makes it hard to have quality family time.  But it was LONG overdue for Caitlin's story to be told.  Good to see the fence mended...though it DID cost Caitlin her father's life...but he gains redemption in the process.  Now...with Carla's powers lying underneath, we get an interesting new wrinkle to Caitlin's story.

Thanks to Ralph, Sherloque feels he has a home now, despite blowing the lid on Nora's secret.

Eobard...on borrowed time, either has put this grand plan into place to tear the Allen family apart...or he truly does care for Nora after getting to know her.  We shall see in the last few episodes where he stands.

What does Grace have in store with the Atomizer?  This has to be her endgame, as she will use it to probably kill all metahumans.  Again,  we have 3 more episodes to find out.

That does it for this round of our DC heroes.  Check back in next week as we begin to see everything into the final homestretch.  As always, subscribe and pass the good word along, and leave a comment.

Until next time...keep on running!

ARROW - Season 7.19

ARROW - SEASON 7, EP. 19:  "Spartan"

Things are tough all over for Team Arrow.  The Ninth Circle is plotting to destroy Star City, tensions are high between the SCPD and the team, Ollie is dealing with having to face off with Emiko, his half sister running the Ninth Circle.  Felicity has created a new security program, but problems with the Archer Program loom, as well as her impending birth to their child...and now Diggle has a new problem to deal with:  his stepfather, a decorated general with whom he must work with, and has issues with.  And lest we forget the kids in the future...Mia and Connor trying to save the city with Felicity.

We open up with a deal going down in Chinatown, as a man named Virgil is looking to sell a hard drive obtained from ARGUS to sell to the Ninth Circle.  Ollie and Diggle spoil the sale as they jump into the fray, looking for Emiko.  A fight ensues, and Virgil...who's a rogue ARGUS agent, escapes. However,  Ollie and Diggle manage to obtain the drive, which they actually discover belongs to the Department of Defense.  Diggle knows someone there, and they decide to pay the DoD a visit 

They meet with a General Stewart, and ask him what's on the drive, but he stonewalls them by saying it's classified. There's some tension between General Stewart and Dig, Ollie notices.  The meeting is a bust, and our heroes depart. 

We check in with our future, as Felicity is having issues with the helmet they got from Laurel.  She can't access the information off of it without a certain piece of tech.  Connor and Mia take up the task of getting it.

Felicity and Alena are still struggling to get ARCHER fully operational, and Alena suggests a meeting with Wil Magnus, a prominent roboticist whom Felicity couldn't get a meeting with, but Alena has an inroad with him.  Just then, Virgil and his crew invade Felicity's house, looking for the hard drive, but they are rescued by the military.  However,  Virgil makes off with Felicity's pad, which has the control of the ARCHER Program on it.

At the Arrow Lair, the team meets with General Stewart, and he says that the drive has a list of assets in the field who have vital information.  They discover that Virgil is indeed a rogue ARGUS agent who sold out to the Ninth Circle.

Ollie has a heart to heart with Diggle about the General, and John fesses up that he is John's stepfather.  He isn't happy with him due to a mission years ago where he felt Stewart got his father killed by abandoning his unit.  John wanted to know more, but the mission has been sealed.

We catch back up with Connor and Mia as they are on their quest to find their codebreaker for the helmet.  Connor knows of a man named JJ, who is part of the underworld.  When Mia asks how, Connor reveals that JJ is his brother.

Rene and Dinah are chatting about the whole situation regarding the Ninth Circle,  and Rene is still convinced Emiko is totally evil.  He talks about the last fight,  and how she told him to bail.  

With some work, the team finds out that all the assets listed on the drive are accounted for but one.  The team goes to rescue him. John and General Stewart lead the effort, and find the agent, only to fall into a trap set up by Dante.  They are captured. The team is now trying to find out where they are.

Dante begins to torture John and the Geneal, looking for information on a weapon they're looking for.  Eventually, General Stewart gives in and tells them.  After they leave, General Stewart manages to free himself and John, and they make their escape.   John sees that General Stewart is a hero, and would never leave anyone behind.  They now have to stop the Ninth Circle from obtaining the weapon known as Signus X-1.

Back at the Lair, the team figues out that the Ninth Circle is planning on using the ARCHER Program to activate the Signus X-1.  Signus is an experimental weapon they shelved because it was too dangerous.  Before they leave to stop the Ninth Circle,  Ollie and Dig talk about family, and Ollie gives the file on his Dad's mission that was classified.  Dig learns that the General didn't abandon the unit...his father did.  General Stewart lied to protect Dig.

We catch up with Connor and Mia having a heart to heart about their lives, and how lies were told to Mia to protect her.  They are still awaiting to hear from JJ, when his goons come out, ready to deliver JJ's message, and they open fire on the duo.  They make their escape, obtaining their tech barely.

The team finally discovers where the Ninth Circle are located, and gear up to reclaim the weapon. 

A new battle ensues, but the Ninth Circle manage to get Signus.  But in the process of having to salvage the day, Felicity makes the painful decision to delete the ARCHER Program. Ollie and Emiko go for Round 2, and as Dante escapes, Ollie reveals to her that it was Dante who murdered her mother.  Emiko hesitates, trying to process that info, when Dante tosses a flashbomb to distract Ollie as him an Emiko make their escape. 

Team Archer loses this round, unfortunately.  However, General Stewart and Dig make amends, as he heads to the DoD to let them know about Signus and the Ninth Circle. 

Back in her office, Felicity decides to junk the ARCHER Program, seeing what a threat it could've been.  She didn't want being Overwatch to be her legacy.  Alena assures her that it won't be.  As Felicity goes to think about her future and that of the company, Alena looks at what is left of the ARCHER Program. 

Flashing forward, Felicity, using the piece of tech she obtained, hacks into the helmet.  They discover that Galaxy One is using the ARCHER Program to build and army of super soldiers using that technology to wipe out the Canarys.

As the Ninth Circle load Signus into a truck, and prepare to depart, Dante and Emiko talk.  She tells Dante that Ollie informed her that HE was responsible for her mother's death.  He admits to it, because he needed her mind clear to join the Ninth Circle.   She shoots him with a few arrows, and kills him.

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I'm beginning to see a pattern here with this week's crop of episodes:  family, tension,  and relationships.  Our installment of the Emerald Archer offers quite a bit of that.

First of all...pieces have fallen into place for us with our dear Spartan.  Turns out that his stepfather protected him from knowing about his father's actions during a mission they were on.  That information,  unknown to John at the time, caused a rift between him and the Geneal for many years.  But General Stewart showed his valor this episode, and managed to prove to Dig that he was NOT the man Dig made him out to be.  And being that this is General STEWART...you may now drop your easter eggs and let your Green Lantern theories run wild (though I DO hope that we get a Hal Jordan appearance SOMETIME!).

Ollie and Emiko.  Yeah, there's a final showdown coming.  Question is....will Emiko fulfill the Ninth Circle mission and exact revenge on a city and family she felt abandoned by, or will her brother finally break through to her?  Have a feeling it gets messy from here on out.  Expect this war to kick into high gear with only 3 episodes left.

Felicity's legacy.   She destroys her life's work to save the city, but she worries that she will only be remembered as being Overwatch.  Alena believes in her AND the ARCHER Program.   The end of this episode indicates that Alena might find a way to get it back online, which we see in the future.  My thought is that Alena got it back up and running...and possibly paid thd price for it.  OR...SHE is a part of Galaxy One...and also has Will Magnus working with her?  She's a former illegal hacker who worked for The Calculator, so it would NOT surprise me.

Mia and Connor continue to learn more about each other.  And seems like they're getting closer.

Another quality episode as we hit the home stretch of the next to the final season....and the departure of Emily Bett Rickards.  Not sure how the final 10 episodes will be without Felicity Smoak...but we know that this season will show us her final fate prior to...and after...CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS.

Okay guys!  Hope you enjoyed the review, and please subscribe and leave a comment.

Until next week...keep your sights on the bullseye!

DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW - Season 4.12

DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW:  Season 4, Ep. 12:  "The Eggplant, The Witch, and the Wardrobe"

After missing out on blogging about our wild time travelling bunch, we're back to drop in on our ragtag band of heroes, and see what trouble they've managed to land themselves in.  And -- as usual -- it's a lot!  Death, demons, and relationship woes surround our team as we dive into this week's installment.

Picking up from last couple of episodes, we start off with the team...Nate especially...reeling from the loss of Hank Heywood, who was killed by the demon Neron, who found out Hank reneged on a deal to supply him with magical creatures for an army.  Neron has been occupying John's flame Dez as a host.  He's been looking for a new one for his girlfriend Tabitha, and decided Ava was a good option, so he took her, and stowed her away.  They need help tracking her, and Ray suggests Norah Dhark.  Constantie's against the idea, but Sara is desperate, so she's on board with the idea.

With Norah's help, they manage to find out that Ava is squirreled away in some off the beaten path inn.  They manage to track her down and get her, but she's not in good shape.  Almost as if she's in a trance or coma.  

Ray heads back to the Bureau, where they're picking up the pieces in the wake of the magical creatures being loose, and Hank's death.  Ray informs Nate that Neron and Hank had a deal about the creatures, but Hank balked at the deal, and instead, had set up a place about dragons.  Nate and Ray head to this site to check it out.

While Ava is physically found, her mind and soul are lost, and Sara wants to save her.  John is not thrilled about the idea, but Sara insists.  John then helps her enter Ava's "purgatory ".

John assembles the team for a pow wow, and Gary says he'll volunteer to stay behind with Sara and Ava to keep watch, while the rest of the team head off to take down Neron.

Nate and Ray arrive at this construction site, where they talk to the foreman about Hank and Neron's deal.  The foreman tells Nate that Hank was working on a theme park.  Nate realizes that it's based on his artwork as a kid.  Feeling distraught, Nate tells the foreman to tear it down.

Back at the ship, Mona is bugging Zari about Zari's crush on Nate.  Zari's been trying to ask him out, but is having trouble.  Mick offers help as well with his own prose, but Zari rejects the idea.  Charlie tells her to just tell him.

Sara arrives in Ava's purgatory, which is reminiscent of a Ikea store.  Ava has a plant and is in the checkout line when Sara stops her.  She tells Ava that if she checks out, she'll die.  They look for an escape out, and run into Gary who is dressed like a clerk.  He informs them that the "store" is about to close, and Tabitha, the "manager" will NOT like having anyone being around "after hours ".  It spurs the couple on to find a way out before Tabitha takes possession of Ava.

At the inn, Neron arrives to get Ava, but it's Charlie morphed into Ava, and she and John manage to capture the demon.  Back on the ship, the team weighs their options, and Norah and John argue about how to handle him, and her losing control, all the while Neron is trying to get into their heads...especially Norah's.  They take a break, but continue to plan.

Back in Ava's purgatory,  she and Sara argue about their relationship.  Ava begins to share her fears while trying to build a door.  After a failed attempt,  they manage to work together and get it done.  The door opens and they head through into the next step of her purgatory. 

Nate and Ray chat about Hank, and Nate's relationship with him.  They find out that Neron has been captured, and Nate is all fired up about him killing his Dad.  Neron then reveals his plan with Hank...about Hank using the Bureau to gain control of all these magical creatures so he could control the Earth.  But Hank backed out of the deal, so Neron killed him.  He also talks about his plans for Tabitha to take over Ava's body.   He also continues to psychically toy and manipulate Norah.

Sara and Ava are at Stage 2 of her purgatory, where they are in a home setting, and--again--both women deal with their fears about their future together.  They manage to work through yet another issue between them, and Sara walks through yet another door.

Neron again tries to manipulate Norah,  and she finally caves, and heads into his spell woven "cell" to confront him.

In Ava's purgatory, the time is ticking, as the "store" is closing, and Sara is in an aisle where there are several different Ava dolls, and Gary says she needs to choose one before Tabitha closes up shop.

Norah blocks everyone out of the room as her and Neron chat.  He tries to persuade her to his side, even going so far as to tempting her by reviving Damian Dhark.

Sara rushes through the asile, but says NONE of them are Ava.  She eventually finds the real Ava, and they make their escape from her purgatory.  

While Neron thinks he's got Norah to his sode, she turns the tables, and John and her separate Dez from Neron.  As Neron is trapped, and looking at Norah as a host, Ray sees what's going on, and heads the rescue.  However, his distraction causes Neron to get free, and Norah uses her power to destroy him.  Norah is out of it.

In the wake of the mess, Zari had sent the text to Nate to ask him out, but regrets it.  She goes to ask him about it, but he says he hadn't read it.  When he implies what it's about, she comments that it's nothing.  Nate then heads back out to the park site, and says to the foreman to build it.  It's one way for him to honor and remember his dad.

John and Dez have a heartbreaking parting of the ways.  Back on the ship, Ray watches over Norah...everyone knowing how he feels about her, as she lies comatose.  After he leaves, John sits vigil by her bedside,  promising that he left her once, but promises to not do it again.

The episode ends as Ray leaves the Bureau...whistling as he goes.  Just as Dez did earlier while possessed by Neron.

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This episode came off almost like a rom-com...without a lot of side-splitting jokes that we've come to have with this show.  It tries to pull at your heartstrings a little, but still doesn't go overboard.

Sara and Ava's relationship has been a huge part of the story this season, as they have tried to navigate a romance while being apart, but also dealing with two very headstrong personalities that have had VERY different ideas on what they expected out this relationship.  Ava craves security and something long term, while Sara has always flown by the seat of her pants.  Ava is orderly and precise, while Sara wings it.  This episode forced them to deal with both their insecurities, and what they both wanted from this relationship.   I still feel they have to work out the kinks, and some issues to navigate,  but it seems that we'll see Sara to get Ava lighten ip and let loose a little more, and Ava gives Sara something she's never had: an honest relationship.

John seems to be on his path to redemption after rescuing Dez from hell, and saving him from Neron.  While some relationships are beginning to bloom...some end bitterly.  Dez's desire to never want to see John again is a harsh reminder that the work heroes to comes at a cost.  But for John...he owns it.  Plus, in the wake of Norah's sacrifice,  he's now got a chance to save HER as well.

Speaking of Norah, there is no doubt that her and Ray are getting closer, no doubt Ray is in love with her.  But now with Ray possessed by Neron...THAT problem still lingers.  Neron may have his shot at her yet.

Nate and Zari...something new coming out of all this.  This was the cute part of the episode, and I thought it was sweet at seeing Zari like a high school girl trying to talk to her crush.  Mona, Charlie, and Mick add nice comic relief this episode.  

And finally....Nate.  Throughout this whole season, we've witnessed the up and down relationship between father and son.  In the end...with Nate finding out about Hank's quasi "Jurrasic Park" based on Nate's drawings as a kid...it truly shows just how much Hank truly loved his son.  It was very touching.

So...what we've learned this week is that relationships require work, communication,  and understanding.  We got a little of ALL of that.

Feels good to blog, but feels BETTER to touch base with all of YOU who've continued to stick by me...I appreciate it.  Hey...if you all can...spread the good word and leave a comment!

Until next time...

SUPERGIRL - Season 4.18

SUPERGIRL – Season 4, Ep. 18:  “Crime & Punishment”


The Maid of Might returns from her short break---and so do I!  So, when last we left our gal, she was made a patsy for the murder of several journalists and politicians in the Oval Office, thanks to the Red Daughter, who is under the HEAVY influence of Lex Luthor, and the President has ordered her Enemy #1 and wants to turn herself in.  Alex and Lena are on her side, knowing she was framed.  Meanwhile, James is beginning treatment for his PTSD…

We open up with President Baker having a nationwide press conference, instructing the nation that he is putting it on lockdown with a mandatory curfew.  All aliens will be dealt with on site, as he has repealed the Alien Amnesty Act.  He also urges Supergirl to give up and turn herself in.  Martial Law is in full effect.  
Supergirl, Alex, and Lena see this, and promise to help clear her name, but she hears a call for help, and says she’s going to help, and if they want to stop her, let them try.  She arrives at a car wreck scene, and tries to get the man out of the overturned vehicle.  She is approached by a few citizens who fire on her, with no effect whatsoever.  She explains to them that she’s trying to help the man out of the car, but they fire on her nonetheless and call her a traitor.  She stops the bullets, but one hits the car, and causes it to explode.  She manages to get the driver to safety, only to be chastised by him, saying that his daughter looked up to her, and now he doesn’t know what to tell her.

Lena, Alex, and Supergirl discover some clues that indicate that Lex had someone on the inside allowing him free roam to get out of the prison at will.  They discover that it’s the warden, and head to Stryker’s to pay him a visit, and search Lex’s cell.  They let him know that they found out he was on the take, and that Lex threatened his family, for which Lena says he does that to everyone.  They also discovered his offshore account that Lex paid into, and said that they could tell his husband, and he lets up.  The ladies then head to Lex’s cell to find some clues as to how he set all this in motion.  In his cell, Lena discovers the chess board, and says to Supergirl that they used to leave notes in the pieces as kids.  She finds a piece, opens it, and discovers a picture of the volunteer patient that she treated with the Haurn-El, and died.  There was a date on the back, and Lena discovers it’s a pattern.  She puts several pieces on the board, and manages to open a secret box, showing all of Lex’s journals.  They start pouring through them to find a clue.

Lockwood comes to the DEO to commandeer some weaponry in order to capture Supergirl.  Haley and Alex both say that he needs a Congressional Order to obtain them.  When he gets into Haley’s face, she tells him she does things by the book, so go get the order.  He tells her they need to contact Supergirl.  Haley says she doesn’t like it, but she must follow orders, and so does Alex.  Alex gives her the signal watch, and says to press it twice to contact her, as Brainy looks on.  Haley leaves, and Brainy notes to Alex that she said to Haley to press it twice, indicating that pressing it ONCE would contact Supergirl, and TWICE informs the Girl of Steel that it’s a trap.  Alex then tells Brainy to wipe the database of all aliens on record, but to do it in a clandestine manner…for which he has to yell about how clandestine he’ll be.

James and his sister Kelly arrive at the hospital for James’ session with the therapist for his PTSD.  She assures him he’s got this, and tells him that their Dad would be proud.  He sheds a tear, and thanks her as he heads off to his session.  She gets a call from Alex to meet her.

Alex and Kelly meet, and Alex asks her for advice in regards to Haley.  She says that Haley does everything by the book, and feels that it’s not the way this situation should be handled, and wondered what she could do.  Kelly recalls a somewhat similar situation when she was serving, and says that she appealed to her commanding officer’s humanity---by finding out what’s most important to them.  Kelly said she hoped it wasn’t bad that Alex called her, and Alex actually said she actually appreciates Kelly showing up.  Romance blooming?

Back in Lex’s cell, both Supergirl and Lena are frustrated, and Lena especially, since she’s disgusted reading Lex’s diary, and Supergirl as well, reading about how much hatred Lex has for her cousin.  But what they DO notice is a man in glasses spying on them with a mirror.  They both decide that HE may be able to shed some light on Lex’s comings and goings.

We see James at his session, and the therapist is helping him trying and work through is problem.  He remembers being shot, and it causes a panic attack in him, she tries to get him to calm down, and he does.  She tells him it will take time, but she’s there for him.  Meanwhile, we begin to see the effects of the Harun-El being to take effect in James, as it courses through his veins.

We see Brainy in the mainframe, meanwhile, going through the process of deleting all the files on the database when he begins to question himself as to whether or not he’s doing the right thing.  He’s having a conflict, and can’t decide what to do.

Supergirl goes to talk to the inmate, whom she finds out is named Steve, and he was once a reporter who was trying to expose the DEO, but ended up in prison for his troubles. She tries to appeal to his conscious, but to no avail.  He feels she’s just as bad as the DEO is.  He tells her that everything she touches, she ruins.  Supergirl returns to Lena dejected.

Alex approaches Haley about this decision with Lockwood and letting him capture and nail Supergirl.  She uses Haley’s daughter as a means to an inroad, but is met with an icy response from Haley, knowing that Alex is trying to manipulate her.  She reprimands her, and Alex leaves.  

Brainy visits Nia, and asks her to use her powers to see whether or not he erases the database, and she takes offense when it’s okay for HIM to seek her powers for future events, but not for Nia herself.  He begs her out of desperation, and she relents.  Sits in the chair, closes her eyes, and tells him he does.  So, she actually helps him make up his own mind about what the right thing to do is…without using her powers.

Lena and Supergirl are distraught, having ransacked everything in Lex’s cell, but coming up empty.  Just then, Otis Graves shows up and surprises the Warden, whom he kills.  He then gets on the PA system and says it’s time to let the kids play, and releases all the inmates, hoping they’ll kill Supergirl. Lena hands her a Kryptonite shield to protect her, knowing Otis will have Kryptonite on him.  She then keeps Lena safe, and has Lena continue to find a clue, while she goes and stops the prison riot.  The prisoners come at her, but she easily stops them.  She heads to the Warden’s office, but finds him dead.

Supergirl and Otis square off, and he uses the Kryptonite chest plate to attack her, but the K Shield she has holds him off.  They brawl through the prison, and Otis manages to crack the shield, thus exposing the Maid of Might to Kryptonite.  Otis blasts her, and she takes off.  As he goes to search for her, he bumps into a woman…it’s Kara in her secret ID.  She manages to fool him by saying she’s a reporter doing a story on prison reform.  He takes off, and as she is about to leave, heads to the window to absorb some sun in order to get rid of the Kryptonite in her system.  As she does that, she’s attacked by Steve’s bodyguard.  Steve recognizes her as Kara Danvers of CatCo, and she informs him she’s here to do a story on Lex Luthor.  Steve says he’s got stories to tell, but before she can get anything out of him, the military arrives and plans on attacking if Supergirl doesn’t give herself up.  She takes off and leaves Steve and his bodyguard behind, and goes to take off, stopping the prisoners and Otis before the soldiers tear gas the prison.  She makes her way back to Lex’s cell, where Lena had finally found Lex’s secret passage and lab.

Supergirl arrives and ends up seeing what Lex’s lab had eyes everywhere in the prison.  They then see Otis in Lex’s lab.  Otis relays the message to Lex that they did indeed ransack the cell.  Lex tells Otis to stand in the middle of the cell.  His chest plate starts flashing, and Supergirl says they need to bail, because he’s about to destroy her by detonating Otis’ chest plate…which he does.  Supergirl and Lena manage to avoid the gas and make their escape.

James is back in his office at CatCo, when one of the TV’s talking about the prison situation has a gunshot go off, sparking James’ PTSD yet again…only NOW, the Harun-El in his system amplifies EVERY sense in his body.  He ends up squeezing a lamp with his bare hands and bends it.  He recovers, but knows something is VERY wrong.  

Nia wakes up from a dream, and immediately calls Brainy, asking him if he destroyed the database.  At first he said he didn’t, which was a relief to her, because her dream was a bad one involving him had he deleted it.  He then told her he DID delete it, but made a backup which is now in his memory banks.

Lockwood shows up at the DEO, and procures the weapons he needs to capture Supergirl.  He asks Haley to call her, and Haley hits the watch twice…informing the Girl of Steel that it’s a trap.  Supergirl doesn’t show up, and Lockwood is upset.  He asks what Haley did, and she said she followed orders.  He then takes the weapons and takes off.  Haley comments to Alex that she doesn’t like being manipulated either by her OR Lockwood…but then she tells Alex that her daughter’s favorite teacher is an alien, and is now in hiding.  She realizes that the situation has gotten worse.  While back at the White House, Lockwood rants to the President about how the DEO failed to call Supergirl.  The President then deputizes the Sons of Liberty, and gives them carte blanche to do what’s necessary.

Back at Lena’s, the trio of Supergirl, Alex, and Lena try to figure out another plan of attack to clear the Girl of Steel’s name, but Supergirl realizes that it’s time for her to lie low, and takes off.  

Otis wakes up to see Eve, and she says that they put him back together again…another Metallo.

James gets ahold of his sister Kelly, and tells him he had another attack, but it was more intense.  Kelly tries to pass it off as normal, but he doesn’t agree.  He shows her the bent lamp, and says he needs to talk to Lena.

Kara appears at the prison to talk to Steve, and he decides he’s going to help her in her story about Lex to hopefully take him down.  Kara appreciates that, and he gives her a flash drive, saying that Lex wasn’t completely smart about his computer searches.  He’s happy that the power of the press is going to find a way to tell the truth, and Kara responds that the power can help…possibly more than a cape.

______________________________________________


First of all…let me start off by apologizing for my absence this month---I’ve had A LOT of upheaval in my personal life, and have had to relocate where wifi service has been spotty, so I am doing my best here to keep this blog going, and doing what I can to keep up with these shows.  So, I also apologize for missing out on last week’s installments of Arrow, The Flash, and the last two weeks of Legends…but I’ll will work my ass off to correct it.  Now that MY personal crap is out of the way, let’s get to this episode, shall we?

Well, this show has certainly picked up the steam since Lex’s appearance, and we’re starting to see the strings he pulled tight slightly unravel…but not quite enough to where he STILL isn’t a step or two ahead of our hero.  He knew he wouldn’t be able to keep his tracks covered for long, but knowing Lex’s incredible intellect, and his calculating mind, it was also by design.  Remember, the man’s ego is his biggest fault, and he WANTS the world to know he brought the Kryptonians down.  But he’s NOT going to make it easy for them, and while the clues are being discovered, it’s also taking an effect on the emotions and psyche of both Supergirl AND Lena.  But we see how great a team both ladies are, and they know they’re getting closer.  However, with Otis blowing up and nearly killing Supergirl with Kryptonite gas, they had to bail on the evidence they needed, and won’t be able to obtain it.  THANKFULLY, Steve is a guy who isn’t a big Lex fan, and Kara’s approach as KARA will prove to be a better path to expose Lex and prove her innocence than using her cape and powers.  She knows it’s a sacrifice she DOESN’T want to take, but feels that---at this juncture---she has no option.

Kudos to Alex this week for, yet again, finding a way to get to Haley, and saving the day…at least for Supergirl.  Also, Kelly Olsen gets an assist for helping Alex reach Haley, and get her to see that playing by the book isn’t always the way to go.  And Kelly and Alex…a possible romance blooming there?  Guess we’ll have to see…especially since Kelly is sticking around in Season 5.  It’s also nice to see Haley start to come around a little bit.  Alex just needs to keep chipping at that armor.

Looks like President Baker as initiated a bit of Martial Law now…especially for aliens, who’re now in danger from the attack of the now Deputized Sons of Liberty.  Expect Lockwood to show NO mercy to ANY alien citizen, and use a bodycount in order to draw Supergirl back out.  

To see Brainy have a crisis of conscious shows he’s becoming more humanized by the day.  Him seeking out Nia’s advice showed desperation.  Her faking the use of her powers to help him to his decision was kind of cute, but helpful in showing his human side.  The REAL dream came later, but thankfully, Brainy was able to put her at ease.

James’ reaction to his PTSD, and the Harun-El is manifesting, and we can only wonder what is going to happen once that takes effect, and what kind of powers he’s going to have.  We got an example of heightened senses…and some super strength.  What else will happen?  And will it cause him to lose his marbles?  His story is worth keeping tabs on as we head towards the last few episodes of this season.

That’s it for this week.  As always, I TRULY appreciate all of you that have checked out this blog.  Pass the good word, subscribe, and leave a comment if you can!  Thanks to you all for your patience during the last few weeks.  It’s been a rollercoaster, but I’m finding my way back.

Until next week….Up, up, and away!