SUPERGIRL - SEASON 5.7

REVIEW:  SUPERGIRL - SEASON 5, EP. 7:  "Tremors"


Well...the title for this week's episode of our Girl of Steel is rather appropriate--both literally AND figuratively.  We finally get to meet those behind Leviathan, which causes a LITERAL shakeup for Team Supergirl...and a literal one---where the moment we were anguishing over finally happens.

We begin by watching a sequence of J'Onn and Supergirl training, getting prepared to face whatever Leviathan is.  However, it seems that our duo is a tad off their game---obviously distracted by other things.  For J'Onn--the guilt over his brother Malefic, and for Kara---having stressed over hiding her secret ID from Lena.  While discussing their mutual woes, J'Onn gets hit with a mental surge and collapses.  

We check in with Lena, who is at home, with the medallion now around her neck, when the lady known as Margo from Leviathan enters the premises, looking to re-acquire the medallion from Lena, but as she goes to shoot Lena, she hits a shield that Lena has constructed in her home to protect her from threats.  Hope helps send Margo packing, and warns Lena about what Leviathan is capable of.  Lena is unfazed, and wants them to come---after all---she'll have Supergirl save her.

Alex and Brainy check on J'Onn back at the DEO, and offer to have Kelly help him, but J'Onn refuses.  Says he feels Malefic, and must be able to deal with this guilt, and will do so the Martian way.  He heads off.

Margo returns to Leviathan, and reports that she failed in her mission, that Lena is smarter than she looks.  The man in charge---a man named Rama Khan, who's been around for centuries and had come to Earth and swore to defend it from those who would try to destroy it ecologically, gave a gift to humanity, who in turn squandered it.  He wants the medallion back.  He has a blonde lady companion who offers up her help with the technology she has at her disposal, but he feels he needs to do the job himself.

We then see Lena atop a mountain area, discussing an L-Corp initiative to ensure the environmental safety of the area, and preserving it when Rama attacks, seeking the medallion.  As he begins shifting the earth beneath him, Lena uses her signal watch to contact Supergirl, who is at the DEO.  Lena leaps off the cliff, and Supergirl arrives in time to nab her.  Rama attacks them, as Supergirl tries to ward him off with heat vision, but to no avail.  They make their escape.  

Back at the DEO, the team goes over what they just experienced, and Brainy discovers that he knows who Rama Khan is.  He's been responsible for some of the world's greatest disasters such as Pompeii and the like.  His name is rampant throughout religious texts, but not scientific ones.  They discuss how they could stop him, and Lena suggests that some of Lex's weapons designed to kill Superman are at the Fort, but Supergirl says some of Lex's more lethal ones are at the Fortress of Solitude, of which Lena has never heard of, but is obviously curious.  Supergirl agrees to take her there to find the weapon to stop Rama Khan, while the others try to pinpoint his location.  

J'Onn is at home, performing a Martian Ritual to bring his father's spirit to him.  They discuss J'Onn's transgressions against Malefic, and his father understands.  He says that J'Onn has two options---either banish Malefic to the Phantom Zone forever---or try to save his soul.  He tells his father that he feels he's close, but that can't be because of the Phantom Zone.  His father reveals that Malefic is actually close by.  When J'Onn asks where, his father says he needs to find out for himself.

Alex and Brainy track a lead that leads them to a pier, where they find the dead body of Riproar...however, he's wired with explosives, and they barely avoid getting killed.  Brainy suffers a cut, which hits one of his cortexes, but he manages to fix it.  Alex, however, suffers and injury and collapses.  

Supergirl and Lena arrive at the Fortress, and immediately upon entering, Lena is contained because she is a Luthor, and the Fortress has a protocol to destroy Luthors.  Supergirl deactivates it, and apologizes.  Lena says she understands, regarding the relationship between Superman and Lex.  She also takes time to point out how she used to save Kara before she knew she was Supergirl (kind of jabbing at her a little bit).  They begin to head towards the armory to find a weapon to help take down Rama Khan.

Alex wakes up in the infirmary of the DEO.  Kelly is there, visibly upset.  Alex tries to reassure her that she will be okay.  She suffered a concussion.  Alex wants to get back to work, but Kelly says she will do no such thing, she needs to rest.  Alex relents and agrees.

While going to the armory, Lena continues to plot her little jabs at Supergirl, and they finally make the armory, with the various weapons Superman took from Lex over the years.  But Lena spots another weapon, and asks what it is.  Supergirl tells her it's a weapon called the Myriad that her Aunt Astra created to control people.  It gets Lena's curiosity up real fast, but switches over to finding a weapon that will instead take down Rama once and for all...one that will disrupt his atoms and keep him off balance.  When they find what they look for, Supergirl goes to contact Brainy and Alex, but Lena wishes to do it.  Supergirl...all too trusting...let's her.  Lena does her thing, and they're off.  

Meanwhile, Rama isn't thrilled that he failed in his attempt to get the medallion.  He also can't find Lena nor Supergirl anywhere.  His companion offers up her technological expertise yet again, but he figures out that they're not on actual earth soil.  He now knows where there is alien soil.  At the Fortress of Solitude, Supergirl sends information the Fortress has on Rama to the DEO.  It tells of a planet that was a sister planet to Krypton but was destroyed before Krypton.  And the one alien that came to Earth, had the ability to bend the planet to his will.  That is Rama Khan.  

J'Onn...having anguished over the decision he's had to make in regards to his brother Malefic's future, grabs the Phantom Zone projector, and finds his brother contained in Lena Luthor's lab.  His brother sees him with it, and figures he's there to finish the job.  But J'Onn sets it down, instead pleading with his brother for forgiveness, expressing his guilt and sadness over having betrayed his brother---out of fear.  He tells his brother to look into his mind, and see that he is speaking the truth.  At first, Malefic wants nothing more than to kill J'Onn...send him into the Phantom Zone, so J'Onn could experience the pain and suffering Malefic did.  As Malefic looks into his mind, he sees J'Onn's thoughts---seeing that his brother is, indeed, speaking the truth.  He pulls back, seeing the look on his brother's face, and Malefic understands.  He sees the guilt, the pain, the anguish that J'Onn is experiencing for having done what he did.  He relents, and the brothers embrace.

Brainy, trying to locate Leviathan's HQ, has something of a glitch going on...but he corrects it, and instantly has a breakthrough as he pieces together the metal from Riproar's body and outfit together to get the Leviathan seal...and helps him locate where their base of operations are at.  From there, he contacts Alex, who has to go, even though Kelly is about to tell her that she can't handle Alex's dangerous life, and wants to break it off with her.  She tells Alex to go, and Alex promises to be back.  Brainy and Alex arrive at the location, which looks like a rundown home from the outside, but has a secret elevator once inside.  Brainy and Alex make their way down into this tunnel, as the blonde haired woman uses her magic to see Alex and Brainy snooping around, having had security measures in place.  

Rama makes his way to the North Pole to the Fortress of Solitude, where he and Supergirl do battle.  And while he says he can bend the Earth, he forgets that the Fortress isn't from the Earth---it's Kryptonian, thus Supergirl has the "home field advantage".  She fights him off, and freezes him.  And just as he's about to use his powers on her, Lena comes out and blasts him with the weapon she said would alter his body.  Supergirl blasts him with super breath again, but he escapes.  As Supergirl goes to check on Lena, she sees that Lena has the Myriad.  It is here that Lena finally reveals to Supergirl that she played her--faking the friendship the whole time.  She talks about how she killed Lex, and that, as he was dying, told him the truth that Kara and Supergirl were one.  She reveals that she trusted no one when she came to National City, but Kara opened her heart---only to crush it by betraying her by lying.  Supergirl tries to reason with her, and make her understand, but Lena presses the button on the console, and initiates the protocol to trap Supergirl.  She reversed it.  As Supergirl is trapped, she asks Lena why she didn't expose her at the awards ceremony---Lena says she wanted her to suffer like she did.  She's not a killer, or a villain---but Kara made her out to be one.  With that, Lena portals herself out of the Fortess...leaving Supergirl to weep, while trapped.

Alex returns to Kelly, and Kelly expresses her fears about Alex and her life.  Alex totally understands, and tells her that when they met, she was getting over someone, and then she came along and fixed her.  Alex wants to help Kelly get over her anguish.  She feels at home with Kelly, and Kelly expresses the same, and they kiss and embrace.

We end with one last look at Supergirl....trapped, sullen, and crying in the Fortress alone.


Well...another episode with an emotional tear jerking at the end.  I liked that we finally got some answers to Leviathan, and their intentions.  We finally know the man's name from last episode.  Rama Khan seems to be a tough cookie to crumble, and a being that the team will have to face once again.  We know know the old woman's name, Margo, who's been the go-between for Riproar and for Andrea.  The intentions of this group is A LOT more clearer now:  eradication of humanity for destroying the Earth.  

Kelly looked like she was about to bail on Alex, thus having yet ANOTHER relationship fall by the wayside here on the show.  Bad enough Kara's been through James and Mon-El, Lena and James, and the issues from time to time with Brainy and Nia.  But for Alex to have another girlfriend bail on her like Maggie is just lazy, and rather unfair.  So, I'm glad that Alex was able to reason with Kelly, and their relationship stands on firmer ground.

J'Onn's relationship with his brother Malefic.  Is it finally repaired, or is Malefic willing to string J'Onn along until he exacts his revenge?  It seems that, after going into J'Onn's mind, that he discovers the truth, and the feelings J'Onn has over the affair.  And it seems that while Malefic is finally willing to accept J'Onn's apology, how much of it is truth?  Hard for me to trust Malefic right now.  Another couple of questions stem from this situation as well:  Will Malefic tell J'Onn about the Monitor, and what's going on?  We have had ZERO references to CRISIS on Supergirl, and I feel that, with the crossover about to happen very soon, that we need to start getting some traction on this from the Maid of Might's end.  We have Ollie running around doing the Monitor's errands, Barry having the Monitor tell him of his fate, but NOTHING from Supergirl.  It's been rather disappointing from that aspect.  The other question I have is this:  J'Onn found his brother in Lena's lab as her pet monkey---does he relay this information to the rest of the team?  Will Malefic tell J'Onn of Lena's master plan?  Questions that I hope are answered in two weeks.  

Finally...Lena plays her hand, and right at the Kryptonian doorstep.  If it's one thing that Kara Zor-El is---is naive.  I know that, like her cousin Kal, she wants to see the good in everyone.  But Lena pulled the Luthor Special---gain the trust of those around you, and manipulate them to your will and do your deeds---until they become expendable.  In Lena's case...her anger over a white lie, that had good intentions, causes her to go into revenge mode, and put her master plan into place.  For all her bluster about betrayal and not being the one who was hurt, she didn't even want to listen to Kara's explanation.  Didn't want to discuss it---because it didn't matter.  The revenge....the willingness to make Kara feel as she did, is more important than being rational...the sign of a true villain.  They said this season was the fight for Lena's soul---and that fight begins NOW.  Lena has her final puzzle piece to complete her plan of controlling the evil, violent, and horrible attributes of mankind, but it means practically enslaving the race to do it.  She feels she is doing this for the good of humanity...that she is not a killer NOR a villain.  This is why she refused to kill Supergirl.  She just wants her to suffer---and have her OUT of the way while she initiates her plan to fruition.  Once Kara DOES get free....she's going to have to make a tough choice---in much the same way J'Onn did---risk possible exposure of her double life, risk her very life, because I feel Lena will put her in that position, take her friend down LIKE a criminal...or do everything in her power to try and make Lena understand her side.  Lena, for all her strength an assuredness as a woman and person...is still fragile emotionally.  And she reacts negatively when she feels hurt or betrayed.  She doesn't allow logic and reasoning to enter into her head.  Once you wrong her, you're either OUT of her life for good, or she's going to get her pound of flesh.  

Either way, we get another good episode, and hopefully, will resolve some of these issues before CRISIS---and we NEED the Monitor to pop his head into Earth 38 before this crossover kicks off.  

That's it for this installment.  Please subscribe will ya?  I'd love that!  Also...leave a comment or question if you have 'em...and be sure to let everyone you know within earshot about this little place in cyberspace.

Until next time....Up, up, and AWAY!

BATWOMAN - SEASON 1.7

REVIEW:  BATWOMAN - SEASON 1, EP. 7:  "Tell Me The Truth"


Honesty is not something that goes hand in hand with our Lady Crusader, whether it be lying to her family and ex-girlfriend about her life as Batwoman, to Alice stringing her family along for awhile, Catherine lying to the family about Alice/Beth, and Sophie lying to Kate about her feelings.  It all makes the car crash of truth that much more painful when it happens...for the most part.  This week's episode takes us on a journey into WHEN to tell those you love and close to the truth---or whether or not you can trust them enough WITH the truth.

The episode descends upon us with a gunman looking at a restaurant, seeking his target.  He finds him in a young man having dinner.  As readies himself to take out his target, he's wrapped up by Batwoman, and he's hung upside down, and shooting at her, and gunshots are fired at the restaurant as well.  The young man escapes the melee.  She leaves him hanging and bails, as she runs into Sophie, who's on the scene.  They have a brief convo, where Sophie reveals to Batwoman that she knows she's Kate.  She informs her that she either fesses up to her father about who she is, or she's going to get hurt.  With that, Batwoman is off.  However, the gunman has been forgotten and makes his escape.  

We hear Vesper recapping the evening's activities, talking about how Batwoman thwarted the assassin's agenda.  Luke walks into the cave while Kate is practicing, informing her about the shooter's target, who happened to work for Catherine, and also discusses her father's recent divorce proceedings with Catherine as well.  He's on a case upstate, so he's not around at the moment.  They know they need to protect this scientist before the shooter finds him again.

Sophie is at headquarters, and wanted to talk to Jacob about a private matter (we know she wants to tell him about Kate/Batwoman), and her husband Tyler inquires about whether or ot she knows who Batwoman is---she denies it, but he shows her the security footage of their conversation.  She still lies to him about what she knows, and he doesn't press further.  She said she'll tell him later.

Mary is with her mother Catherine, as they are driving to Hamilton Industries.  Mary is upset with her mother still, and discussing about how she's losing out on having a relationship with her sister Kate because of what Catherine did involving Beth/Alice.  Catherine tries to reason with her, but gets a call from work about the missing weapon that was taken.  She can't understand, considering it was in "Level Five" security.  She wants Deveraux questioned, but she's told he's dead.  She needs to investigate.

Batwoman is on stakeout for the scientist who's been threatened, when the shooter shows up again, looking to finish the job.  She takes him down again, only to be met by a hooded female looking for the shooter as well.  They both fight, and the shooter once again escapes, as well as the scientist.  Batwoman takes down the woman, only for the woman to reveal that she knows she's Kate.  Kate knows her as Julia Pennyworth---Alfred's daughter.  Sadly, the young scientist doesn't get far, as he's met up by Mouse, who promptly stabs him to death.  Alice applauds him for his first real hands on kill.  He inquires why she ordered him dead, and she says that he was the only other man besides Deveraux that knew about how the weapon was made and what it could do.

Kate and Julia catch up, and there's some tension between the two.  Julia had worked with Kate awhile back, and lied to her about what she did.  Apparently, they had some sort of romantic relationship.  Luke also arrives, and catches up with Julia (though he had no idea Kate and Julia were familiar with each other).  Julia informs Kate and Luke that the shooter is a man who goes by the name The Rifle---and she has been chasing him all over the globe.  They decide to team up and figure out just what he's up to, and what's his connection to Hamilton employees (or former employees in the case of this kid that just got gutted).  

Kate has flashbacks of her relationship with Sophie, as she chats with Luke about whether or not to confirm Sophie's suspicions.  We see how they were happy, but violated the military school's laws.  Sophie never revealed her bisexuality to her mother.  Sophie is at headquarters when she gets a text from Kate, asking to meet her.  Sophie goes, much to her husband's suspicion.  They meet at the restaurant that was shot up earlier in the episode (and, ironically enough, the owner said Batwoman could eat there for free), and the same owner is upset that Kate is there with Sophie...seeing that they were indeed close.  He uses the excuse of the dress code.  Kate is willing to reveal her ID, but with the owner showing his prejudice, and Kate leaves.  Sophie tries to console her, but Kate isn't having it.  Sophie then reveals the real reason why she didn't leave the school---she got a second her opinion from Jacob.  In flashback, we see how Jacob reveals that Kate is rebellious, and will do her thing, but Sophie has a choice...considering she never told her mother about Kate.  He says she will lose everything.  That's when Sophie decided that instead of running off with Kate as planned, she didn't want to risk all she worked for to be with Kate.  Kate takes offense to that and walks off.  

We see Sophie then fess up to her husband about her relationship with Kate.  He's not happy she kept that from him, and she said that it was a long time ago, and wanted it to go away,  He asks her is that really true.

Kate, Julia, and Luke formulate a plan to stop The Rifle from using the weapon.  Just as they're about to brainstorm into the cave, Mary walks in, visibly upset, and complaining to Kate about the dissolution of their family.  At this time, Catherine goes to talk to Jacob, who had apparently just returned from his case up north.  He tells her he can talk to his lawyer, but she reveals to him about the stolen weapon, and what it was designed for---to pierce Batman's suit, but they shelved it once he disappeared, only to re-light the project when Batwoman appeared.  She says it's got a chip that can be tracked, but he says they don't have that kind of technology.  Sophie interrupts and says that they do thanks to ARGUS.  They go about trying to find The Rifle and the weapon as well.  As Catherine leaves, Jacob is told by Sophie that it can kill Batwoman, to which he can care less---until Sophie tells him that Kate is Batwoman.

Rifle returns to Alice's hideout with what she wanted.  She gives him the weapon to which to destroy Batwoman with.  He heads out to complete the job, and Sophie is also looking to find Batwoman to warn her.  We see yet another flashback of Sophie going through the halls of the school, and seeing one of the soldiers taking the sharpshooter award Kate won out of the display case, saying she isn't here anymore, and it's like she didn't exist.  She rips into the guy, saying how Kate was hammered when she won it.  Kate had been intoxicated, and STILL hit the target with pinpoint accuracy.  She tells him that while they can remove Kate's accomplishments from their records, they can't erase what she did for the school, and snatches Kate's medal.

Catherine and Jacob meet again...and she says that she feels guilty about what she did, but she thought she was doing it for his sake and Kate's.  She reminds them that they've been through worse, and that they can get through this together.  

Sophie meets up with Batwoman, and admits to her that she told Jacob about her secret ID.  At that moment, Kate shows up, giving Sophie instant doubts as to who Batwoman is.  Just then, a shot is fired at Batwoman, and she crashes through a wall to the street.  Kate and Sophie go to see if she is okay, but the Crows take her into custody.  Jacob is informed, and wants to see Batwoman for himself.  Kate takes Sophie's gun, and goes after Batwoman.  She manages to shoot out the tires on the wagon, and cause it to crash.  The guards are promptly taken out, and Kate rescues Batwoman---who is just Julia under the hood.  

Rifle returns to Alice, pissed off that she played him.  He thought the Coil Accelerator was supposed to kill Batwoman, but Alice took the cartridge out before he took it and used it.  She has a plan for Batwoman, and he's had his fill.  She doesn't like her orders questioned, and he's done, so she gives him the weapon, and he's off.  

Julia and Kate have another chat, as Kate bandages Julia up.  Julia apologizes to Kate about how she mistreated her, and Kate is cool with it.  They talk about how Bruce trusted no one outside of Lucius and Julia's father...but tells Kate to be her own person.  Luke informs them that The Rifle is gone from Gotham, and that he's on the move.  Julia takes that as her sign to take off, as she goes to hunt him down.  She and Kate wish each other luck.

Kate walks into an abandoned building, lamenting in voice over to Bruce about relationships and trust with those closest to him.  Bruce never showed the "human" side of him...the Bruce Wayne side.  She realizes that she might not be able to do that with everyone.  Sophie walks in, and Kate shows off her new acquisition for her new "company".  She plans on turning it into a gay bar, since it's right across the street from the restaurant.  Sophie and her talk, and Kate reveals that she still loves her.  Sophie says they can't go back, and gives Kate her medal.  She leaves, and Kate ends up crying over finally having lost Sophie.  Sophie returns to Tyler, and says that her life with Kate is long over---it's him that she loves.

Mary shows up at Kate's new building, and they chat, as she decides to help Kate get her new bar established.  While upstate, Jacob is driving and gets off the phone with Catherine, assuring her that things will be okay.  We later see him meet up with Alice---only to find out that, once again, it's Mouse in disguise, laying yet another layer to Alice's plan---her ultimate "Tea Party" for Gotham.  By making sure Catherine, Jacob, and Batwoman are all present.


Another solid installment of the Lady Crusader, as things are now settling in for Alice's master plan.  We also see that Kate is finally done struggling with her identity.  It was good we got Sophie and Kate's relationship out of the way.  I think that the less people know that Kate is Batwoman, the better.  Luke is one thing---he's her voice of reason.  I feel at some point, Mary will get involved as well, but having Sophie out of the loop, or at least her being fooled about Kate's secret, ID is good.  While supportive of Batwoman, she doesn't have to know that it's really Kate.  It allows Kate to move freely, and do what she does without Sophie tailing her all the time, trying to figure out who she is.  Kate now can keep an emotional distance...something Bruce was an expert on.  While she's made some headway with her father, she still feels the need to be her own person, and not attatched to him, either.

I get that Lucius Fox had time to have a kid in Luke---but I have to ask:  when and where in the hell did ALFRED have time to have kids?!  Don't get me wrong---having a Bat-related superhero show WITH a Pennyworth involved--even in a guest capacity---is good.  HOWEVER...just when in the hell did Alfred EVER have the time to hook up with ANYONE...much less get them pregnant, and have an offspring.

The Rifle was a "meh" kind of villain, and another one of those "one and done" guys.  He seems to be more Julia's problem.  But him having the weapon IS a problem, and something that Julia will have to deal with.  Alice, on the other hand, is still keeping HER cards close to the vest, but we see her manipulating her father even moreso now, what with Mouse's abililty to be disguised and use his abilities to fool Catherine into a reconciliation, thus making sure the family stays close knit, until Alice can execute her master plan for them AND Gotham.  

I do enjoy Kate's voice-overs.  It gives perspective from our heroine's point of view, and can set the tone for the show.  Also with the flashbacks, we finally have those gaps filled as far as what happened between Kate and Sophie, while in military school.  There's conflict there, and Sophie reminisces in order to put the past to bed...and Kate feels betrayed when she finds out WHY Sophie backed out of their deal.  It was selfish on Sophie's part, and I think now it can finally allow Kate to move on, and focus on the mission at hand.  I know it will still be a line of contention throughout the show, but this is the start of Kate's healing...and ability to shift focus and move on.  I would like to see Kate's relationship with Mary improve...I like that dynamic.

That does it for this week.  Subscribe, comment, and tell everybody I'm here!  

Until next time...the Signal is OFF!

BLACK LIGHTNING - SEASON 3.5

REVIEW:  BLACK LIGHTNING - SEASON 3, EP. 5:  "The Book Of Occupation - Chapter 5:  Requiem For Tavon"

It's safe to say that this season of Black Lightning as been getting better and better.  We're really beginning to see the story pick up, our characters facing new threats, and even a couple of more twists and turns to keep us on our toes.  Most of all---watching Agent Odell of the ASA pull everyone's strings like the puppeteer that he is.  

This week's episode (which was delayed from last week), starts off with Tavon, who's been squirreled away with the Perdi, seeking refuge from the ASA because they think he's a meta.  He's making a video blog to his parents about where he is, and how he's been treated.  But he misses them and wants to go home.  

Odell is on the hunt for Blackbird, as she has been a thorn in his side long enough.  He's been trying to figure out just HOW she is getting the metas OUT of his custody.  He goes over surveillance cameras to try and get facial recognition.  He uses her height and weight to come up with possible candidates.  Turns out.. Anissa is one of them.

Painkiller is awaiting two new sparring partners.  They enter and spar, and he handles them easily, using his poison powers on one of them.  Odell interrupts the exercise to inform Painkiller of his new mission:  take care of Blackbird.  

We see Lynn working with a female meta who appears bulletproof with her powers.  They stop the test for a minute, then start up again, with Lynn increasing the intensity.  The young girl, however, can't handle the pressure, and her body incinerates, killing her.  Lynn wakes up, to notice it's a nightmare.  She gets up and reaches in her purse for the Green Light pills she's now hooked on.  Jefferson wakes up when he finds out she's out of bed.  He asks what's wrong, and she says she has to go back to the lab.  He's not pleased that she's constantly gone, but eventually goes back to sleep.  She takes her pill, and off to the lab she goes.

Anissa is at home in her secret room, listening to a man named Truth Teller Johnson lay down what's been going on in the streets of Freeland, and Blackbird's activities.  

Jefferson is making breakfast for Jen, when she says she isn't feeling good.  Her powers are wigging out, and it's making her ill and weak.  She insists that she needs a sick day, but Jefferson feels her head, and forces her to school.

Lynn is hard a work in the lab, when Odell interrupts.  She explains to him how she has found a way to stablize the meta gene, but she needs a marrow sample from Patient 49.  Odell says he can make that happen.  

Inspector Henderson, meanwhile, is calling for the arrest for Blackbird.  Asks the crowd that if they see something, SAY something.  One of the citizens throws a tomato at him, and laughs.  Henderson just takes it in stride, and ends the press conference.

Tavon's parents go to Jefferson, and appeal for his help.  They are worried about him, and Jefferson explains that Tavon was tagged as a meta.  But that's impossible, according to his parents, because he took the test, and he passed.  So, it appears someone set him up.  Jefferson promises he will do all he can to bring Tavon home.

Anissa gives the meta vaccine to Grace to keep her safe.  She still is uneasy about everything, and Anissa puts her at ease again.  She knows what's been going on with the ASA, her activities as Blackbird, and even her father have made Grace scared, but she's going to protect her.  She calls Gambi to sit with Grace, while she delivers more of the vaccine.  

Jennifer is in class when her powers start acting up against her will.  She asks the new kid Brandon for his coat to mask her powers, but she ends up shorting out the lab.  She is deeply concerned.

Odell brings in Patient 49 for Lynn---it's Tobias!  As she preps him to get his bone marrow sample, he does his best to goad her.  She injects him with the serum that gave him his powers, because he needs to be at optimum health to get his bone marrow.  He still promises to kill Black Lightning AND Jefferson Pierce...but swears that he'll never harm Lynn or her daughters.  Lynn is disgusted with him regardless, an injects the needle to extract the bone marrow sample without a numbing agent...just to show Tobias she isn't intimidated.

Blackbird is making the rounds, giving some of the vaccine to Reverent Holt, as he says he's not sure how much longer he can do this.  She tells him patience.  She then delivers more of the vaccine to the Perdi, whose leader still doesn't like Anissa.  Anissa then gets a call from her dad about taking Tavon back to his parents.  He informs her of the set up, and says his parents are worried sick.  She doesn't like the idea, and feels it's too risky, but she agrees to do it.  She informs Tavon, and off they go.

While Blackbird and Tavon make their way back to Freeland, Painkiller is on stakeout, figuring out where she's getting in and out of the perimeter.  Once they have an idea how she does it...he lays in wait for her to arrive.  She does get back in with Tavon, but is met by Painkiller.  She urges Tavon to run, and her and Painkiller battle, with him getting the upper hand.  Tavon hits him from behind, and pays for it, by getting nailed with Painkiller's poison.  Blackbird calls out to Gambi and her dad that she's in trouble, and Jefferson is on the way.  She manages to take down Painkiller briefly, so that her and Tavon can escape, but he's in bad shape.

Odell pays a visit to Anissa's where he inquires about her activities.  She responds sheepishly that she's been at home during curfew.  He tries to go upstairs, looking for anything unusual.  Meanwhile, in Anissa's secret room, Gambi waits with a gun, while watch the conversation on her security cameras.  Anissa convinces Odell that she's been home, as he realizes that Blackbird is being confronted right now.  He excuses himself, and--once gone---Anissa shapeshifts to Grace, who covered for her.  

Inspector Henderson, at this time, pays a visit to the man who tossed the tomato at him...a bar owner named Two-Bits.  He arrests him, and also goes to pay a visit to the Reverend Hold as well---and arrests him when he feels he's been harboring refugees.

Once Tobias is done taunting Lynn...he's escorted away, and Lynn is visibly pissed off at Odell that he did not inform her who Patient 49 was.  She says that once she gets what she needs...she wants Tobias dealt with.

Black Lightning and Gambi meet Blackbird and Tavon in the tunnels.  He's dying, and there isn't anything Jefferson can do to save him.  Jefferson then later takes his parents to see him, and they're distraught that they lost their son.  Jefferson apologizes, saying the ASA had attacked him and were responsible.

The next school day, word of Tavon's death reaches his classmates, and they begin to protest against the ASA guards, who then get rough with one of the kids standing up to them.  Jefferson steps in and chastises them for their behavior towards a kid.  They belt him for his supposed insubordination, and continue to beat on him, as the students watch in horror.  Jennifer goes to see what's wrong, and sees her dad about ready to use his powers, but holds back and takes the beating.  She begins to power up, but Brandon pulls her aside and absorbs her power.  HE is the metahuman that set up Tavon it looks like.  She then goes and has a talk with Odell, ticked off at HIS guards for their behavior.  He says they acted of their own accord.  She puts it on him, still.  He then asks her if she wants to go for a ride.  We then see those same guards hanging out, and playing cards, when the door gets busted open, and there's Jennifer, in full costume, with a big grin on her face.

We see the police van holding Two-Bits and the Reverend Holt come to a stop out in the middle of the woods.  When they get out, they see Henderson, who reveals he's been part of the resistance against the ASA for awhile.  Blackbird shows up with the others, and Henderson shows them the incident at the school involving Jefferson's beatdown, and says that NOW that they have the city ready to fight...it's time to work together to take down the ASA, and get their city back.  Two-Bits and Henderson shake hands, sealing the pact.  

Another stellar episode!  This one had some emotional feels in it, tragedy, some action, and certainly paints a picture of power gone awry.  Odell has kept his cards close to the vest, and almost got to Anissa.  He's inching closer to her secret ID as Blackbird, and she took one on the chin against Painkiller.  He is Odell's perfect soldier...no moral code or humanity whatsoever.  Just a killing machine looking to complete a mission.  As much philosophy as he reads and disperses out before battle...he's become utterly heartless...much like Odell.  To Odell...EVERYONE is a means to an end.  And he continues to string the Pierce family along for his own machinations, though only Jefferson appears to really be somewhat immune to it, and Anissa is using the Blackbird ID to her own agenda.  

Getting Tobias back to 100% will create another problem down the road for Black Lightning and family, but for Odell himself once he gets free---and trust me---Tobias WILL get free.  He's got A LOT of payback he feels he's due, and he's going to do all he can to get his pound of flesh. He pushes Lynn's buttons a lot this episode, trying to find her breaking point....but to her credit, she holds her own.  Even as the Green Light is beginning to effect her greatly, she's still a strong woman.   She also managed to finally see what Dr. Jace had been up to in order to get to the results needed to create a serum to stablize the metas.  

Anissa now has an even bigger target on her back, what with Painkiller on her tail now.  Odell is still suspicious of Anissa, but thankfully, Grace managed to fool him this time.  Not sure how much longer before Grace gets pulled into this war, probably against her wishes.  But her and Anissa have a good thing going, and I would hate to see it destroyed because of Odell.  Jennifer, on the other hand...her powers are starting to rule her again, and is having a hard time containing them.  Not sure if this is the work of Odell, or just something happening with her naturally.  But had it not been for Brandon--whom I had suspected as the metahuman, but set up Tavon to cover his ass--she wouldn't have been able to contain herself.  Now HE has A LOT of explaining to do.

The heartbreak this episode was Tavon---and innocent kid who became the victim of Odell's war on metas and (supposedly) the Markovians.  Mistaken as a meta, all he did was believe that IF the humans and metas worked TOGETHER, they could restore Freeland to they way it was...or even better.  He saw the good in ALL of them, and paid the ultimate price for that.  However, because of his death...and Jefferson's beatdown to spare the students from the ASA guards....Tavon has become the martyr the town needed to rise up.  With Henderson actually working on the inside, the troops will rally, so-to-speak, and the REAL war will begin.

There was nothing on the Markovian front this week---and sadly, that's the ONE part of this story we're not getting enough of.  Where is Dr. Jace, what is going on with them, and what's their interest with the meatahumans outside of creating an army?  

This show just keeps improving, and the story is solid.  They're telling it at a wonderful pace, and there's not much down time.  It's keeping you on your toes, and looking forward to what happens next.  They're building to the crescendo, and it's going to be great once we get there.  Let's not also forget, kids....CRISIS is coming, and Jefferson will be sucked right into it.  

That does it for this edition.  Thanks for reading, and please subscribe, inform everyone else I'm here, and leave a comment!

Until next time...the power is OUT!

SUPERGIRL - SEASON 5.6

REVIEW:  SUPERGIRL - SEASON 5, EP. 6: "Confidence Women"


So far this season on Supergirl, we have gotten introduced to a woman named Andrea Rojas, who has taken over CatCo, and turned it into a clickbait site, taken over her family's business, and developed something called Obsidian VR Lenses.  Now, there have been a few theories as to what she's about.  From her family being involved in organized crime, to her acrimonious relationship with Lena Luthor.  We haven't really gotten to know just what skeletons this woman has in her closet.  This week's edition of the Girl of Steel peels back the layers, and shows us just how Lena and Andrea have gotten to where they're at.  Plus...our secret society known as Leviathan is showing a bit of their hand.

We start off with William having been invited to the DEO at Supergirl's behest, as they want to use him to get through to Russell, and figure out just WHO hired him.  However, that plan is cut short as the Shadow figure we saw a few weeks back reappears, looking to get to Riproar.  Supergirl manages to send this shadow figure away.  When we see the shadow figure reappear, she is in a mask, only to discover that the shadow figure is really Andrea Rojas.  She then looks to Lena for help, explaining that she needs to get Russell out of the DEO.  Lena inquires, and Andrea admits that it's the man she loves.  

We Flashback to 15 years ago to a female boarding school, where Andrea and Lena Luthor meet.  They talk about their respective families, and Lena discusses her goal of obtaining the power of the Shadow from an amulet that's only found in South America.  Andrea says it sounds like an adventure, so she's in whenever Lena wants to go.

Jumping head to 5 years ago, we see how each woman's lives are turning out:  Lena is with Lex and LexCorp, and showing her his plans to destroy Superman.  She's not on board with it, so he fires her.  Andrea, meanwhile, is with her father in Argentina, where he has a tech company that's about to go belly up, because Lord Industries (watch for that name later on), has developed a new chip to make their devices better.  He is weak, and feels that the company is lost, so he is letting Andrea go.  Lena contacts her, and says she found the location of this element she needs to stop Lex from destroying Superman.  Andrea is a bit reluctant to go, but finally agrees to head out on this excursion with Lena.  They manage to find the area where this element is supposed to be, and Andrea falls into a hole.  As Lena goes to find her a way out, Andrea discovers the medallion that Lena has been looking for.  While down there, she is approached by an old man, who tells her to take the medallion.  She says she wants it for Lena, the old man says that he can help her father, because he knows that if she doesn't agree...her father will kill himself.  He says that his group Leviathan will contact her when she is needed.  Lena makes her way down after the old man disappeared, and Andrea lies to her about finding the medallion.  Lena is crushed.

We scoot ahead in time once again to 4 years ago, and we see the scene from last season, where we see Lex arrested thanks to Lena's work in stopping his reign of terror.  Lena's boyfriend at the time feels it's better for her to leave Metropolis for the time being, and head to London with him.  She agrees.  Sometime later, she bumps into Andrea, whom she hadn't seen in awhile, and while catching up, she notices the medallion around Andrea's neck.  Andrea said she couldn't tell her that she lied, and Lena is upset, and promptly ends their friendship.

Skipping ahead once more with the flashbacks, and we meet up with Lena from 2 months later after Lex's arrest, as the news talks about the trial of her brother.  She tells her boyfriend that she can head LexCorp's offices being set up in National City.  She feels the Luthor influence there won't be as bad, and she can restore the name.  He isn't happy about it, but she's going nonetheless.  We jump into a flashback from 3 years ago when Lena and Kara first meet.  Kara wants to make friends with Lena, but knowing how she's been burned by friends in the past, Lena wants to keep it strictly business.  Kara won't give up trying.  Meanwhile, Andrea and Russell are happily in love, but he notices something off about her.  She passes it off as nothing, but he persists.  When he finds the medallion, he questions her about it, but then people from Leviathan show up with a job for her.  She doesn't want to do it, and threaten to kill Russell.  They state that their plans and secrecy mean more than any human life.  After bargaining for Russell's life, saying he would be an asset.  They decide to keep him around, while she goes and executes a prominent senator, per their wishes.  We then see him about to be experimented on using his biotechnology skills to turn him into a killing machine.  He says to Andrea it will be okay.  

We skip to the events of twelve weeks ago, where Lena is helping Supergirl take down Lex, only to have Lex show her that Supergirl and her friends lied to her.  She is going over the book that she used to track down the medallion.  She feels she doesn't need friends---that is---unless they're useful to her in some way.

Eight weeks ago, Lena calls a meeting with Andrea, and that's when she decided to sell CatCo to Andrea...to help her out.  But she's only using Andrea as a means to an end---by having access to her company's technology.  So, Andrea agrees to buy CatCo.

We reach present day, where we see Andrea has finished telling her story to Lena...filling in the gaps, and looking to see if Lena can help her get into the DEO to rescue Riproar.  Lena says she can, but it's going to cost her.  Andrea shows her how the power of the medallion works, and reminds Lena that the power is a curse...not a gift.  Lena puts a plan into place to help Andrea out, by luring Supergirl away from the DEO to give Andrea clean access.

Back at the DEO, Supergirl is trying to appeal to Riproar, and it's there that her compassion opens him up enough to reveal the name Leviathan to her.  But before she can get more answers, she has to respond to the call Lena sent her.  She's off, and meets Lena at her apartment, who fakes having been hurt in order to buy Andrea time to grab Riproar.   Andrea enters the DEO, and Lena has used her new technology with the lenses, combined with Malefic's powers, to freeze everyone there, thus J'Onn sensing his brother's presence.  Alex has managed to avoid being subdued and manages to catch Andrea, but with Brainy under Lena's control, he attacks, Alex, who has to take him down.  Supergirl, at Lena's, hears Alex's cries, and races off to the rescue.  Supergirl arrives to try and stop Andrea, but she and Riproar manage to escape.  

Lena wants the medallion as payment for services rendered.  Andrea hands it over, seeing as how it has caused her nothing but pain in her life, and she missed her friend.  Lena feels her friendship was a mistake, and takes the medallion.  Andrea then takes off with Russell, hoping to get him to safety before Leviathan shows up.  However, it's all for naught, as Russell is shot and killed on their way onto boarding a plane to fly away.  The old man shows up again, and tells her that they will not tolerate insubordination.  She's bound to Leviathan for all they did for her and her family.  She says she doesn't have the medallion anymore, and the old man says that the power of the Shadow did NOT come from the medallion...it only released the power eminating from her own dark soul.

Lena is in the VR simulation with her mother, seeing the happiness she once had.  Hope tells her that the medallion holds no true power, its properties gone.  Lena can care less, and has Hope translate the scribe on the medallion, which translates to LEVIATHAN.  Lena then wants Hope to access Eve Tessmacher's memories to learn all about it.  


This was a fairly solid episode---we finally get into the relationship between Andrera and Lena---and it started out good enough, but Andrea's desire to help her father from killing himself led her to betray Lena---something she has gotten used to.  We also find out just how the relationship soured, and how Russell came to be Riproar.  

Lena is another story.  She has severe trust issues, and when hurt, won't accept the reasons WHY.  From Andrea trying to save her father and their company, to Kara simply trying to protect her from harm when she's Supergirl, and even when Lex goes off the deep end (though he was ALWAYS off the deep end---she just didn't grasp it until later), with his plans to kill Superman.  She has always felt like her trust didn't matter...that she was taken advantage of.  That is what drives her now---the wrongs of her friends motivates her to want to control the thought processes of people so that they won't hurt or lie to each other.  But that's a path she's taking where more harm than good will come of it...she just doesn't realize it.  She is a very "one and done" person with friendships.  Betrayals...even lies...little WHITE lies...is not acceptable to her.  Those closest to her are not allowed to make mistakes or decisions that they feel would be in HER best interests.  Fool me once, shame on me as far as Lena goes.

Andrea comes off a TAD more sympathetic here---she's a woman desperate to save her father and their company, and later on---save the love of her life.  But in the process, she betrayed her best friend, and sold her boyfriend up the river to Leviathan to spare his life.  While HE is a bit more forgiving, she riding her own guilt here.  She never wanted to lose Lena's friendship, but HER wants and needs superceded Lena's---who wanted to have the medallion to stop Lex.  Andrea has always seemed to put her own needs first, even if the cause isn't as, shall we say, noble as someone else's.  She knows that getting into bed with Leviathan has been a curse, the power has been a curse, but she also...as the old man pointed out...a "dark soul".  So, while she may BELIEVE all her intentions were for good reasons...they're still selfish.  And now with Leviathan watching her more closely...she's going to have to eventually have a showdown with Supergirl on the horizon...providing she doesn't resist Leviathan again, and they go after her.  

We get a little more insight about Leviathan.  They've had their nose in world dominating affairs for awhile now.  They used Eve to get to Lex and carry out HIS master plan, only to have it fail because of Supergirl.  Now, they expect to have Andrea do the same.  When she resisted in killing Riproar, they did the job for her.  These are callous people, who have no interest in human life over THEIR anonymity.  What the DEO and Team Supergirl do with this information we shall have to see.

And does Leviathan tie in at all with the Monitor?  We know he likes to play both sides of the coin.  He's doing it with Ollie, he's doing it with Barry...why not Kara?  He revived Lex, so it's curious to see just what his intentions are.  CRISIS is not that far off, and I'm interested to see some movement on it from Supergirl's perspective.  

That does it for this week.  Subscribe...drop a line, and pass the word along...cheaper than a doctor visit.

Until next time...Up, up, and AWAY!

BATWOMAN - SEASON 1.6

REVIEW:  BATWOMAN - SEASON 1, EP. 6:  "I'll Be Judge, I'll Be Jury"


We begin to go further and further down the rabbit hole with our Lady Crusader, and the stakes get to be a bit higher with Alice wanting a very special weapon from Hamilton Industries, Jacob Kane and the Crows looking to find Alice before she kills again, and Kate trying to gain acceptance as Batwoman.  This episode gives us a bit more of Alice's plan for Kate, Kate trying to not only reconcile with her father, but to try and save her sister.  And all the while---Sophie wants to know more about our new resident hero of the night.  But...we also have someone lurking the streets---picking off high officials of the justice system.

This installment begins as a prominent prosecutor named  Angus Stanton is heading to his car, while on a phone call.  A power line gets cut down onto his vehicle.  There's a masked man who throws water onto the ground, and it comes into contact with the powerlines, thus charging the water.  Stanton tries to escape up a chain-link fence, only to be electrocuted.

Jacob, at this time, is on the hunt for a Dr. Marcus Cartwright, Mouse's father from the last episode.  Turns out the man has been missing for awhile, and wants to find him in order to bring him to justice for what he did to Beth.  They get the call about Stanton's death, and view the video footage of the new villain they dub "The Executioner", and go after him.  Meanwhile, Sophie wants permission from Jacob to go after Batwoman.

Speaking of our Bat-Lady, she is working with Luke in the Cave searching for this Executioner as well, considering the lawyer was the man who put Lucius Fox's killer in prison.  He also was responsible for imprisoning Jack Napier---The Joker.  They see the Batsignal in the sky, and Luke tells Kate that they need Batwoman..so, with his help, they find out that a man who goes by the name "The Fist" had issues with Stanton, and could be the Executioner...and she's off to capture him.

Alice, meanwhile, has been making a new skin mask for Mouse.  It is her intention to use him as a member of Catherine Hamilton's research team, Dean Deveraux, to go into Hamilton Dynamics, and steal the weapon she so desperately desires.  Mouse, however, is still not happy about Alice's relationship with Kate.

Batwoman and the Crows are on different paths to find The Fist.  He's barricaded himself inside a warehouse, waiting for a Det. Donnelly, who had put him away.  Donnelly goes to enter the premesis on his own, much to the Crows' and the GCPD's wishes, while Batwoman has taken the back way in, only to run into Sophie, who gets the drop on her.  They head into the warehouse, where they hear a woman screaming while Donnelly heads in through the front, finding only speakers broadcasting the scream.  It's a trap. Donnelly trips a laser detector, thus setting off the boobytrap that appears---guns blazing.  Not only is Donnelly killed, but Sophie gets shot in the process.  Just before she passes out, she reveals to Batwoman that she knows she's Kate.  Batwoman then rushes Sophie to Mary's underground clinic, where she has her patch up Sophie, and orders her NOT to let her leave.

Mouse, as Deveraux, enters Hamilton Dynamics, and he comes upon Catherine and the rest of the team, as the congratulate him on the weapon he created.  He plays the part well, as Catherine states that they created a weapon to pierce through Bat-armor.  He manages to procure the weapon, and return to Alice.

Kate and Luke are back at the cave, where Kate informs Luke that Sophie knows who she is.  He's been doing some digging on the Executioner, and it turns out that he was a former executioner who worked at Blackgate Prison.  He had steady work, with Capital Punishment initiated by Mayor Cobblepot.  They figure that is his motive, and Kate moves with this information.  She enters another warehouse where some weapons are stored, and talks to the highly annoying security guard who apparently hasn't gotten any in a good long time, trying to hook up with our Lady Crusader.  He's proven worthless, as she continues to scour the warehouse.  The Executioner shows up by busting through the entrance in a truck, running over Batwoman in the process.  He makes off with some hydrogen cyanide, and makes his escape.  

The Fist, meanwhile, is on the run, trying to escape the law and the Crows, but is captured by Jacob, who isn't in the best of moods..considering he doesn't want Batwoman on the streets ANYWHERE.  

Sophie wakes up, cuffed to the bed, and she discovers that she's in Mary's underground clinic...Mary having been putting on an act for her father.  Mary tells her that Batwoman brought her there, and Sophie needs to go, but Mary reiterates that she was told by Batwoman to keep her there, and that Batwoman scares her more than Sophie does.

Batwoman heads to the Executioner's hideout once her and Luke located it.  He's not there, but she finds the cyanide bottle he lifted earlier, and when she opens it...she finds something---a flashdrive.  Her and Luke then take a look at it, and the Executioner confesses his crimes, saying that he realized that the people he killed...they weren't always guilty.  He did some digging, only to discover that there were three people all involved:  Stanton, Donnelly, and a Judge named Calveric.  

As the Crows are taking The Fist to the GCPD, Jacob is telling them to call HIS guys before flashing the Batsignal.  Just then, Batwoman rescues The Fist from custody, and batarangs the flashdrive to Jacob.  He's then back at headquarters observing the flashdrive, not wanting to believe the Executioner's confession.  Just then, Kate shows up, and they have a heated argument about Batwoman.  He blames Batman for his family falling apart.  Kate says that wasn't it---it was the fact that HE gave up looking for Beth, when SHE didn't.  Batman had nothing to do with it, but he feels that he did.  All the crazies came out BECAUSE of Batman he feels.  So, indirectly, he hates anything with a Bat symbol.

Alice is playing checkers with Deveraux when Mouse returns.  He's not a happy camper.  He plays a trick on Alice by calling her as Kate---using his talent to fool her.  He verifies that she has Kate's number on her phone.  He doesn't want Kate around, and Alice tries to console him, and tell him that she is her sister.  He kills Deveraux, and tells her to see if she can fix THAT mess.  

Vesper Fairchild is all over the airwaves, throwing Batwoman under the bus, while Sophie eventually escapes the cuffs, and goes to head out and find Kate.  Mary stops her, and Sophie says she knows who Batwoman is.  Mary isn't interested, because it's not her business.  But she isn't happy that, while Batwoman saved her, she's going to throw her under the bus and betray her, just like she did Kate all those years ago.  It's not like Mary didn't notice.  Sophie takes off.

Judge Calavic is seen burning incriminating documents when Batwoman shows up.  Just as she arrives, the Executioner arrives as well.  They finally do battle, and the Judge escapes.  As the Executioner has Batwoman dead to rights, he is shot by Jacob Kane.  The Executioner is taken out to custody, and the Commander has Batwoman at gunpoint, when she strips him of the gun, and they scuffle, only for the room to be sealed shut.  Gas starts blowing in, as this was the Executioner's plan for the Judge.  Oxygen is slowing going away, and Luke is in contact with Batwoman, while she's trying to keep her and her father alive.  Luke remembers the hydrogen cyanide, and they can use it, but only at a certain point.  Batwoman tries to keep Kane alive by having him focus on his hatred of the bat symbol, and what it represents.  He confesses that if he doesn't hate it....he'll hate himself, and blame himself.  Batwoman released the hydrogen cyanide just in time to burn off the gas, thus saving them both.

We hear Vesper again, admitting she was wrong about Batwoman, and that the Judge and his cases were going to be reopened.  That means the case of Lucius Fox, as Luke looks upon his father's file.  Kate goes to see her father, and they realize they're both to blame for not doing what they could to save Beth.  They share an embrace as Jacob promises Kate that he will NOT give up this time in saving Beth.  Sophie catches them in an embrace, then leaves after making eye contact with Kate.

Batwoman goes to see Mary, and she thanks her for taking care of Sophie.  She mentions to Batwoman that Sophie knows who she is...but she didn't tell her.

We finally see Mouse sitting in the street, looking up at Wayne Tower, as Alice meets him.  He is still not happy with having Kate involved, since he wants her all to himself.  He talks about how he took care of her, and that Kate never did.  Alice says she needs Kate, and Kate is her sister.  And Kate will join her "party".  And Mouse asks that if Kate refuses, then Alice replies to him that they will use the gun he obtained, which she trades him a tiny Mr. Pandy doll for it.  


I'll say this about Batman villains---they're all unhinged in some sort of way.  As the Joker once said:  "All it takes is ONE BAD DAY".  What we got tonight was another decent installment of the show, with everyone starting to settle into their roles.  And a few easter eggs to boot as well.  

This week's villain---The Executioner---became disenfranchised with the system once he found out that the Judge, lead Detective, and the District Attorney we're all doctoring evidence in order to convict those THEY felt were guilty, and made themselves look good in the process.  It's corruption of that type that tends to dilute our justice system, so this plot wasn't improbable, as it has happened in real life.  And for a man who THOUGHT he was ridding the earth of the scum of humanity---only to realize that he killed possibly innocent people, sent him over the edge.  So...revenge became his tool, and his warped sense of justice.

Betrayal has been a common theme running through this series, and it's not just with the Executioner, but with Alice, Kate, Mary, AND Sophie.  Kate has felt betrayed by TWO people:  her father Jacob and Sophie.  Her father because he gave up on looking for Beth, when it was Catherine who doctored evidence to make Beth "dead", so that they would get on with their lives.  So, Jacob felt betrayed by his wife.  Mary feels that same betrayal, because her mother lied to her all this time, as well as Kate and Jacob.  Kate also feels betrayed by Sophie, because Sophie chose her career over Kate, and that's a love sting that doesn't quite go away.  Now, with Sophie married, it muddies the water even more.  When Sophie calls Batwoman "Kate", we know she wants to know the truth...but at what price?  Kate's anonymity?  Sophie's intentions MIGHT be good---trying to protect Kate from her own father, but--as Mary points out---what good would it do to betray her?  To stomp out the one symbol Gotham needs, for the sake of "protection".  Mary does well in rubbing a little salt in the wound with Sophie when she tells her that doing this to Batwoman would be like betraying Kate, as she had done years ago.  Sophie now has to walk that fine line between doing her job, and knowing what Kate is up to as Batwoman.

Jacob also feels betrayal from anything with a Bat symbol.  He hates Batman, Batwoman, and anything to do with a bat, mainly because it shows HIS shortcomings, and he'd much rather reflect his anger elsewhere.  That came into good use when Kate was trapped with him.  

Betrayal is also something that has been driving Alice the whole time, and is her focus for revenge.  But, she also had to deal with how Mouse felt SHE betrayed HIM.  She didn't make much conversation to him about Kate, and is extremely jealous of her.  He wants his relationship with Alice all to herself, but she has MUCH bigger plans in store.  I have a feeling that Mouse feeling betrayed by Alice won't be the last time.  Sadly, knowing how screwloose Alice is---he's a means to an end---and expendable.

We did get TWO big bombshells dropped on us tonight.  Well...for ME, I wasn't sure I had caught in the earlier episodes about HOW Lucius Fox died---but he was murdered.  While Luke had thought his father's case was closed, the end of the episode was proven that it's now a reopened wound for him.  And the killer might NOT be who it was...or rather would be tough to re-try the case.  But we DO find out that Oswald Cobblepot was the MAYOR of Gotham.  For those of you just new to Batman lore:  Cobblepot is the real name of The Penguin.  And the even bigger bombshell was in finding out that Jack Napier had been brought down by Stanton.  Jack Napier was the name of Jack Nicholson's version of The Joker in the Tim Burton Batman movie from 1989.  Now, I know I have heard RUMORS about THAT Batman universe being used in CRISIS, but to what extent, I am not sure (though ANOTHER rumor states that Helena Kyle from the Birds Of Prey TV show, is from that universe).  But we NOW know that both the Penguin AND Joker do exist in the Arrowverse.  Now...don't get your hopes up we'll see EITHER of them.  Much like Batman himself, not exactly characters you will see on TV---more than likely NONE of Bats' MAJOR villians will appear.  Remains to be seen.  However...it's nice we're getting some mentions, though.

All in all, a decent episode.  The plot is moving along, and I'm wondering how much longer it will be before Mary finds out that Kate & Batwoman are one and the same?  Keep waiting for that one.  Plus...will be curious as to WHEN we start getting some CRISIS references, since we are inching ever closer to our huge crossover.

Thanks for checking out the blog!  Subscribe, comment, and pass the word along that I'm here!

Until next time...the Signal is OFF!

MUSIC REVIEW: THE PIXIES - "BENEATH THE EYRIE"

MUSIC REVIEW:  THE PIXIES - BENEATH THE EYRIE


This is the first time for me writing a music review, so do bear with me.  But having been a former radio disc jockey (and still feel I am to this day, regardless of whether or not I'm actually on the radio), music has been my big passion.  I love to share music with everyone...especially if it catches my ear.  But this is the first time I have decided to write a review of an album.  I'm not expert, but I'm going to to the best I can to convey what I think and feel here.

One of the bands---if not my favorite band of all time---the Pixies, have been back at it, creating new music after having been on their "Reunion Tour" of sorts over a near 10 year period between 2004 and 2013.  It was then that they produced their first NEW real music since cutting the Kim Deal penned "Bam Thwok" just after reuniting.  Indie Cindy - released in 2013, was an album released by the band just after the departure of Kim Deal (who had decided to work on her own material, and a new Breeders album), was an uneven mixed bag of sorts.  It seemed more of a straightforward rock album than what people were used to from the band.  However, Kim's departure kind of left a void in the album's sound, and while the late Kim Schattuk had filled in during the band's touring, she wasn't the perfect fit to fill in Deal's shoes.  Many fans have ripped the band for the album, and refuse to get on board with any new material, feeling the band's dynamic "died" once Kim Deal left.  But, as Black Francis stated, she left of her own accord prior to them heading into the studio.  The album is not considered their best, and left many fans wanting.

However, things did look up once bassist Paz Lenchantin joined the band as a permanent member, and I have to say---her and Charles (that's Black Francis to all of you), seem to have developed quite a good rapport and chemistry with one another.  She's as good--if not better--a musician than Kim...and can match the vocal range, if not exceed it to certain extents, than Kim Deal.  When the band reconvened for 2016's Head Carrier, we saw a band a bit more crisp, a bit more focused, and the sound slightly improved.  It had more of that "Pixies feel" that we were used to, while still giving us a more mature sound from a group that has learned its craft over time...honing it.  While the album didn't achieve critical acclaim, it was still better than its predecessor, and allowed us to get more of Paz involved in the creative process.

Which brings us to this year's release---the band's third in the last 6 years---Beneath The Eyrie.  This album, unlike ITS predecessor, steers itself more into a mellower pop direction.  The album tends to have a somber tone at times...almost a gothic feel, like in the songs "In the Arms of Mrs. Mark of Cain" and the first single "On Graveyard Hill", which was penned by both Francis and Lenchantin.  "Catfish Kate" the second single off the album, is also a catchy tune that really shows off the synchronicity of Charles' and Paz's vocal harmony.  We also get to hear a bit of rockabilly in songs such as "This Is My Fate" and "Bird of Prey".  We harken back to Bossanova a little with "Long Rider" and "Los Surfers Muertos", and "St. Nazaire"

The album tends to mellow out at the end with "Daniel Boone" and the acoustic "Death Horizon".  This is Charles doing what he does best:  writing songs about surfing, death, heartbreak, and anything weird that comes along.  The album really follows no formal format (no Pixies album ever has), and the thing that really amazed me was the bigger contribution lyrically from Paz Lenchantin.  Kim Deal, for the contributions she did make to the band, her songwriting credits were limited (considering this was always Charles' band, honestly).  To see Charles open up more---and the band as a WHOLE---more involved as a team creatively, we have a more polished, mature sound than the grittiness of some of their earlier work.

I feel you get a bit of all the penchants of the band's influences on this album, and it harkens back to some of their earlier albums such as Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde, to an extent.  Paz and Charles' harmonies are hauntingly beautiful, especially when Paz's voice is echoed like a ghost in the room, but still brilliantly shines through.  Dave Lovering is solid as always keeping the beat and setting the tone, and Joey Santiago continues to prove why he is one of the most underrated rock guitarists.  He's flexible, experimental, and willing to go places many don't.  He captures the feel for the song for whatever Charles is looking to go lyrically.  This album is about a band continuing to mature, sound wise, and those loyalists will hear pieces of their past on this album, but also introduces them to new aspects that have not been explored.  For a good chunk of the band's fanbase.....they will turn away from it, because it will never measure up to anything they put out between 1987's Come On, Pilgrim, and 1991's Trompe Le Monde.  

This is a band that continues to explore their new boundaries, and maturing in sound.  It's not an album for everybody, but it's one that IF you are a die-hard fan, and you are willing to go where they go, and follow on their path with them, you will enjoy this album.  I did.  It's difficult for bands to create new material without the longtime fans willing to shit on anything new because it doesn't sound EXACTLY like their previous work.  Bands mature, and so do their sounds.  It's a process of growing older, and having new influences musically enter their consciousness, thus influencing how they write and create.  The Pixies are not the reckless youths anymore---they're a seasoned band with a more focused direction.  While they'll stretch themselves out, there are still the fair share of elements that have gained the band legendary cult status.  

Beneath The Eyrie is definitely a more polished, albeit a tad darker sound, at times, and definitely separates itself sonically from Head Carrier, which had a very Surfer Rosa aspect of it.  And it definitely outshines Indie Cindy.  It's worth checking out.  Make your own assessment of it, but I enjoyed it.

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