SUPERGIRL - Season 4.22

SUPERGIRL - SEASON 4, EP. 22:  "The Quest For Peace"

At the start of this season, I truly did believe we were going to get some HUGE politically charged drama with Ben Lockwood as the “big bad”, and I had WORRIED that this season would be dragged down because of it.  And after the first initial 10 or so episodes, I thought his story was waning thin---and the nature of the topic would send viewers to the hills.  Much to my surprise---this turned into perhaps the best season of the Girl of Steel EVER.  This last episode gave us all the goodies we wanted from a Supergirl show---drama, action, and best of all---Lex Luthor.  

His presence….over the entire season, mind you---without us even knowing---was sheer brilliance at the hands of the writers.  Kudos to them for giving us a story that had some serious build up, and a payoff that blew our socks off!  This is the stuff superhero shows are made of.  

Oh…and an interesting nod from the writers to name this last episode in honor of, perhaps, one of the WORST superhero movies ever made, and was one that perhaps caused the death of the genre until 1989 (it WAS the WORST Superman movie EVER…trust me on that).  This one hour episode ALONE destroyed that 2 hour garbage pile of celluloid.
Jon Cryer’s Lex….need we say more?  Damn, did he play this character to the full tilt---sadistic, maniacal, insane, calculating, intelligent---everything that Lex IS as a character, Cryer brought it full bore to the front.  He was entertaining as hell, and what with the Monitor reviving him, though Lena shot and killed him?  Yes…bring us more Lex.  We can NEVER get enough of him.  Cryer honored EVERY man who played the role WELL (except Jesse Eisenberg…who still sucks).  EVERYONE is expendable to Lex…and that’s what makes him such a great villain.  And the use of his cronies:  Eve Tessmacher, Mercy & Otis Graves…brilliant.  Sadly, we need more Mercy, but Eve served her purpose well, as did Otis.  
As for Eve…I have NO idea what more trouble SHE is in, now that she helped foil Lex’s plan for…the Monitor?  I’ll say this for that man…sure as hell knows how to play BOTH sides like he does in the comics.  Not sure what HIS game is with Eve, her old lady “handler”, or even J’Onn’s brother, but we’ll see as we approach the CRISIS.  

We got introduced to new characters this season:  The Dreamer, Kelly Olsen, Ben Lockwood, and…to some extent, Brianiac 5.  Lockwood was just a political and narrow-minded activist who THOUGHT that his beliefs were right, and that by committing terrorist acts, he’d be a hero of the people.  He was the prime example of how people can use the media, and various other platforms, to influence those who are easily led to fear by an idealism.  He gained that from his father, and then passed it along to his son…but the more he dragged his son into the fire, the more his son George saw that his father’s actions were NOT right, and that, even though they were aliens, doesn’t mean they were evil, or out to destroy the Earth.  George showed the TRUE maturity at the end of this episode.  Ben’s actions showed how an idealism backed by terrorist and radical acts, can come back to destroy you.

I was NOT on board with Colonel Haley at the start of the season…she was VERY by the book, and had a hardline stance on how the DEO should be handled.  But over the course of the season, we see her lighten up, and she ends up doing more in digging for the truth, eventually helping to exonerate Supergirl.  Her and Alex DO make a good team…so I’ve warmed up to her.

Brainy and Nia Nall were interesting this year.  Brainy trying to balance his Spcok-like emotional thing, while actually having feelings for Nia provided some humor. Nia herself was the one huge balance for this alien/human issue all season---since she was both.  On top of that, being a transgendered woman on top of that crazy sundae, and it made for a huge challenge for the character to step out into her own.  But she did---and she flourished.  She is now an essential member of the Super Friends, and we’ll see how her relationship with Brainy is going forward.

Alex was a mess this season.  Leading the DEO, having to face down Washington, Haley, Lockwood, and eventually Lex Luthor, she never had time to grieve her relationship with Maggie, never seemed to find her rhythm, and when she did…she had to give up her knowledge of Kara’s ID as Supergirl to save her.  It hampered her until she got her memory back.  Now even though she lost out of the adoption, we now have a new romance blooming between her and James’ sister Kelly.  Kelly will give her balance in a world where that is precious to begin with.

This season was a spiritual journey for J’Onn, as he tried to make peace with is father, his own soul, and his purpose in the universe.  It took him quite awhile being on the sidelines for a bit, but Manchester Black was a terrific catalyst to get him back into the game.  And when he finally was able to come to terms with his own identity, we got the Martian Manhunter we have been craving this entire series for.  It will be great to see him as the hero we KNOW he is going forward.  He was essential in making sure Lex’s final plot to destroy Argo was nixed, and he will be a character of strength and wisdom yet again, having found that balance in his life.

Thus, this brings us to Kara.  Our Girl of Steel endured many, many challenges this season, including getting her ass handed to her by her clone TWICE.  Having to deal with being public enemy #1 to entire planet, and having to go it alone against Lex  himself, while Kal was off planet on Argo with Lois worrying about the upcoming superbaby that will be in our midst.  But I will say this---the writers did a great job of showing the resiliency of her character---both as Supergirl AND as Kara, as she had to navigate avoiding telling Lena her secret ID, dealing with Lockwood, fighting Lex’s master plan, and getting close to throwing in the towel.  Her friends and family stuck by her, and she showed that she truly IS in the same class as Superman as far as being Earth’s defender.  Supergirl earned her big girl superhero stripes this season, and she also proved her intellectual mettle as Kara Danvers, in uncovering Lex’s mater plan when she couldn’t act in her superhero guise.  She showed great maturity, and has earned the respect of EVERYONE in the superhero community.  The Red Daugher may have beaten her physically, but NEVER mentally…AND, she never gave up on the Red Daughter---who’s story seemed so intriquing at first, only to find out she was nothing more than Lex’s puppet, to be disposed of later.  But, as predicted, she made the ultimate sacrifice to save Kara from Lex….learning her mistakes.  

The tragic figure in all of this season is Lena Luthor.  A woman who’s heart and idealisms were in the right place:  to right the wrongs of the family, and make the Luthor name respectable.  And she did that, to her greatest ability.  But sadly, as Lex showed her after she shot him---that she had been played and betrayed by all her friends----though they did it with, what THEY felt, was the noblest of intentions, only to make her feel the fool…the one dagger and card Lex HAD to play….hoping that she would “see the light”, and join the family.  Whether or not that truly worked is another story entirely.  However, it’s safe to say for this point in time, she is utterly destroyed, and emotionally distraught.  I feel she will be playing this close to the vest for now, but do NOT be surprised if she goes full Luthor next season, to exact revenge for their betrayal.
Okay…my ONE HUGE GRIPE about this season, and would’ve made it THAT much better had we gotten it:  is a Cat Grant appearance.  I don’t care if had been for 5 seconds….this show NEEDS at least ONE episode with some Cat Grant in it.  She is STILL an essential part of the show, even in the background.  There NEEDS to be more of her…at least ONE appearance per season…just to give us that influence.  


Overall, this season was a huge success, and if they can keep THIS kind of stuff up---NEXT season won’t be any different…but what with the CRISIS coming up…who knows what the fate of our Girl Of Steel will be.  After all….if you read the original min series in the comics---you KNOW the fate of Kara Zor-El (as well as Barry Allen).  So, I guess let the speculation begin!
Guys---it’s been a fantastic journey this season, and I’m so VERY glad you stuck by me through all this.  I appreciate all the subscriptions and any comments you may have on these episodes.  And remember, expect a different style of review when we reconvene in the fall.  
Until next season…Up, up, and away!