ARROW - SEASON 8.7

REVIEW:  ARROW - SEASON 8, EP. 7:  "Purgatory"

This episode of our Emerald Archer is very aptly named.  It seems that's what our hero's entire life has been to an extent---a stay in Purgatory.  But now we go BACK to where is Purgatory began, along with is team AND kids---to finish a weapon for The Monitor, as CRISIS is close at hand.

We open with Ollie talking about Lian Yu, and how he never seemed to let go of the demons and incidents from the island.  He has carried that with him wherever he went.  From there we see them and this ARGUS camp, where they have all this equipment in cases...apparently the weapon that needs to be built at the Monitor's request.  Lyla says that the reason the need to build the weapon on Lian Yu, is because there have been massive energy spikes there, and it's the most optimal place to build it.  They need to harness those energy spikes, otherwise things will get worse.  Ollie asks just what the weapon is for---but Lyla has no idea, but she trusts the Monitor.

We get some personal time with Ollie, William, and Mia.  He tells them that he cannot avoid his fate.  He has to sacrifice himself, because it's the only way to save the Multiverse.  William has come to understand his father's mission, and his sacrifice.  Mia, however, isn't too keen on this idea, and feels that he's being selfish, and she never understood why he felt he had to be the hero more than a father.  

Diggle is going through his own frustrations with the situation, whereas the lying from Lyla about her association with the Monitor, to feeling of a no-win scenario, which irks him even more.  He and Lyla talk about when she and her unit were in Afghanistan, and they were wiped out, but she survived.  She said it was because of the Monitor.  He gave her a mission:  to gather a group of heroes, and prepare them for this Crisis.  

Dinah, Roy, and Rene are en route to Lian Yu via airplane.  Rene is surprised that Dinah can fly, for which she comments that she can fly, just not land very well.  They are carrying the plutonium, and connect with Diggle to inform him they're about to land.  Things go south quickly as a missle is launched and strikes the plane's wing.  Dinah tells the boys to strap in, it's going to be a VERY rough landing.  They disappear from the team's view, and they're quickly on the move to try and find out what happened.  Ollie and Laurel go hunting for the plutonium, while Diggle, Connor, and Lyla take off to search for Dinah, Roy, and Rene.  Mia opts to stay behind, much to everyone's surprise, and William stays behind with her.

Ollie and Laurel chat while on the path towards the plutonium, and she discusses his relationship with Mia.  She tells him to not leave things as they are, and don't regret not saying anything to her before this Crisis arrives.  Make the most of the time he has with her.  Mia is upset with him, and he needs to make her understand what he's doing.

William and Mia have a conversation about their father.  William tells how he was frustrated at first that their dad did't connect with him as much, because he was out saving the city and the world as Green Arrow.  But he has seen their father in action when he was in the bunker with Felicity, and he is a hero...he cares.  He's doing what he can to protect them.  Mia, however, feels like she was abandoned by him.  That he cared more about being a hero than he did being a father.  William tries to make her understand the other way, but she's still not with it.

While on the trail for the rest of the team, Diggle, Lyla, and Connor discuss family.  Connor feels grateful for how he was raised, and how loved he felt by both of them.  Lyla is happy that they were able to do right by him, but Diggle is still frustrated and in first gear about the whole situation.  Just then, a wounded Dinah shows up with a wounded Rene.  She says Roy is trapped, and the fuselage will explode if they don't get him out.  Lyla takes Rene back to camp, and Dinah, Diggle, and Connor race to go save Roy.  

Ollie and Laurel manage to find the plutonium in a steel case, and are about to take off, when one of Ollie's old enemies shows up:  Feirs, who had been on the island at the beginning of the series.  Feirs was killed before Ollie left the island, however.  So, this is kind of a freak out for Ollie, but him and Laurel have guns aimed at them, and Feirs wants the case.  He and Laurel, however, manage to turn the tide, and take out his guards.  Feirs takes off, and Ollie tells Laurel about who he is.  He and Wintergreen--which had been Slade Wilson's friend---had been on the island when Ollie was stranded here.  He needs to go after Feirs, and tells Laurel to head back to camp with the plutonium.  She tries to argue with him, but he's not having it.  As he's on the hunt for Fiers, he runs into an old friend who also died---Yao Feyh, who had helped train him and helped him survive.  Yao agrees to help him track down Feirs.  But he warns Ollie about the evils of the island, to which Ollie says he's prepared for it.

We get to Dinah, Diggle, and Connor head back to the crash, where we see Roy's arm pinned underneath one of the engines.  All three try to see if they can get it to move, but it's impossible.  Diggle refuses to give up, but the fuel leaking all over the ground will eventually ignite from the sparks flying, and and explosion WILL happen.  They need to act quickly.  plus---Feirs' men are about to surround them.  Just then, Laurel finds them, and tells them Ollie is off looking for Feirs, and company is coming.  Once again, they try using a part for a level to try and get Roy's arm out, but it's no use.  The only way to save Roy is to lop off his arm.  Diggle is against this, but eventually, Roy tells them to do it.  He says he'd rather lose an arm, than to die like this.  So, Connor, Diggle, and Dinah prep him...and Connor does the deed.  

Ollie and Yao Feyh eventually reach Feirs' camp, but it's empty, no one is there.  Ollie has a bad feeling, and---sure enough---he's right.  He and Yao step on a booby trap, and they're ensared in nets.

The team manages to get back to camp, and Mia asks where her dad is, and Laurel tells him that he's off taking care of one of his enemies.  Mia is still pissed off her dad ran off to do his thing, and is demanding to go after him. They tell her it's a bad idea, and to trust her dad.  She says she doesn't want to lose him all over again.  William pulls her aside, and says it's okay to be upset with him...but don't regret the things that were said.  He knows she cares, but trying to keep her level headed.

Diggle checks in on Roy, and feels like he failed him.  Roy tells him it's okay---heroes make sacrifices.  It's just what they do. .and he has no regrets joining back up with the team.  He felt better knowing that he could be a hero again, instead of just hiding from life and from who he really is.

While still trapped in the nets, Yao tries to tell Ollie to be patient, and that they need to be smarter about escaping.  Ollie starts cutting away at the net with his knife, thinking he'll get them out.  Yao uses his knife to get the sun to reflect off of it, and aiming it at the top of the net.  The head begins to make the rope burn, and eventually, it breaks away and they fall to the ground---and they're free.  

At this time, Feirs and his army are surrounding the camp, where they try to get the weapon to go.  They finally realize that because of the energy spikes, it's caused this weird thing to happen, where all the enemies of Ollie's past have returned, and only the weapon will stop them.  They all get ready to suit up and do battle.  

As the team heads out to fight, William, Lyla, and Roy are in the camp, trying to get the weapon to activate, but they're having no luck.  They believe that they need Ollie's genetic code to start it, so as the battle is raging outside, they contact Ollie, and ask him back to the camp in order to activate the weapon.  Ollie arrives, and holds it to activate it, but nothing happens.  It's then that they realize that it's Lyla's genetic signature that can activate it.  She touches it, and it comes on.  This is Lyla's sacrifice for the team.  And Diggle understands---it's her fate.  As the weapon is activated, the threat disappears.  Feirs, Yao, and Feirs' men are completely gone.  Lyla now understands her role now, and a breach opens...she looks back at Diggle, and walks through--gone.  

With the mission completed, Lyla had made sure that ARGUS sent transport to pick up the team.  Mia asks her father how long she has with him, and he replies that they don't have long.  Roy had wandered down into the cells for some alone time, when Ollie shows up.  Ollie thanks him for being there, and Roy was glad to help.  William shows up, and is ready to give the rock that had the Sign of Four on it to Roy for in the future.  But Roy tells him to keep it, it should stay in the family.  Roy takes off for the boat.  William and Ollie have one more final chat.  Ollie is proud of him, and vice versa.  William finally understands Ollie's mission.  He wants to give the rock thing to Ollie, but he tells his son to keep it.  One more embrace, and William heads to the boat.

Diggle and Ollie have one more final chat.  Ollie is glad Diggle has been there through all of this, and Diggle was proud to be a part of it.  He finally understands as well that Ollie has to make this sacrifice.  Ollie has a couple of requests for Diggle when they get back:  To get the kids back to 2040 before the Crisis....and to make sure that they are NOT separated.  He wants William to be with Mia and Felicity.  

We finally see Ollie at Shadow's gravesite when Mia shows up.  As with everyone else, Mia finally sees what her father has been trying to accomplish---to give her a world that they can live in...so that they can live.  She feels that all this time she was being selfish because he wasn't there.  His regret it that he wasn't.  But she says she's proud of him as well, and she just wants to live up to his legacy, and that she is grateful for the time she's got with him.  He tells her that she'll blaze her own path, and have  her own stories to tell, since his story as the Green Arrow wouldn't have happened had he not been on this island.  They know they have to prepare for Crisis when they get home, but suddenly, the sky turns red, and there's lightning crackling above.  They believe they know what it is, and a breach opens up, and there is Lyla, decked out in a new super suit.  She says she is the Harbinger of things to come---and that Crisis is here.

We once again go back to Central City, where we see the story play out as we did on Batwoman and Supergirl---where Nash gets sucked into the Monitor's realm by opening the door.  

This was another good episode!  We can see emotions are running high for the cast, as they prepare fo the final goodbye to Team Arrow.  This has been an emotional journey for everyone, and it's been a pretty good farewell gift to the fans.

We get to see Yao Feyh once again...offering Ollie one last bit of wisdom before his ultimate demise.  We also see Ollie have to face off against Feirs---one of the many demons from his past.  For the past 7 years, Ollie has carried the weight of what happened on the island with him, and let it shape him.  While he's always been a survivor, he's never really let go of the baggage of the past---which seems to be a common theme with the characters of this universe.  But, as the episode goes on, we see him shake off the shackles and come to terms as to what the island represents to him.  While he still has a bit of anger about it...he can finally let it go.  I thought him seeing Shadow's grave was a nice capper.  Too bad we couldn't get Shadow herself, but getting her father instead was a good substitute.  

The other aspect I liked is that Ollie was pretty much saying "goodbye" in this episode to most of the team.  He was actually grateful for Laurel's help, despite their differences.  It was a nice surprise to him AND us, but it means that---going forward---there's a chance to forge not just a stronger partnership, but perhaps a friendship---at least in a short amount of time they have left.  I love how they gave him a little time with most of the team for him to say his farewell, and how grateful he's been to all of them.  While they still feel they can save him, he knows better.  

Roy took the biggest hit of all this episode, having lost part of his arm.  But if they do what they did from the comics, he'll get a snazzy knew bionic arm courtesy of either ARGUS or even STAR Labs if they play their cards right.  Arsenal did get a replacement at one point, so I know Roy's superhero career won't be over yet.  

William and Mia have gotten a LOT tighter as brother and sister.  It's a great dynamic as we get prepared to have them jump off into heir own series.  It was so bittersweet for Ollie to have to say goodbye to his adult kids.  But he's gotten to see how they turned out, and had one last bit of influence on them...especially Mia.  It took HER the longest to truly understand what being a hero means, and why her father has made the sacrifices he's had to make.  For them.  So they actually DO get to grow up.  This is heartbreaking as well...because Ollie has LESS time with his children, whereas Barry and Iris got A LOT of quality time with Nora.  But in the end, Barry and Ollie will not be around to see their kids grow up.  It tears at you, because have seen the kind of fathers they can be.  And you feel even more for their children, who will miss out on them growing up.  

Diggle has been trying to adjust to the brevity of the situation, and is the one person who feels that there is ALWYAS a chance.  It's great optimism.  He's never a quitter, and he'll fight to the death.  But he always BELIEVES there's a way.  For him to have to watch Lyla fulfill her destiny and become Harbinger is hard enough...to know that his brother, his best friend, his teammate...will not survive this Crisis.  Hit hits John on a deep level.  To also see how Connor turned out, he is proud, but still doesn't want to see him grow up in a dark world.  I think it prepares John real nicely should the Guardians of the Universe come calling.  I think we ALL want to see that.

I'm very curious that, with the things Team Arrow did in the present, how much of history has been changed for the adult Mia and William, as well as Connor, when they eventaully DO get back to 2040?  Will it be the same, or will it be better?  I'm VERY curious what Team Arrow did to alter the history of these kids, for when they eventually go back home.  And not just from a Star City perspective...but from a personal one.  How will Mia and William's relationship be if Diggle fulfills Ollie's requests, and makes sure that they get to spend time together.  Will their relationship with Felicity change?  I'm hoping we have these answers after CRISIS.

It has been an emotional rollercoaster for this last season.  I'm glad we're on the ride, but I am extremely sad to see this show go.  So much more Ollie could do, and the things I would've liked to have seen as far as taking him in a lighter direction.  But we have to accept the reality that Ollie's story is done.  But I am thankful for this journey---it's been extremely fun.

I thank all of YOU who stop by this blog and check it out.  Do ME a favor, willya?  TELL people about it!  I'd greatly appreciate it!  Also, don't forget to subscribe and leave some comments.  I DO enjoy connecting with all of you.  

CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS is here...and we will prepare to say goodbye to Oliver Queen.

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

BLACK LIGHTNING - SEASON 3.8

REVIEW:  BLACK LIGHTNING - SEASON 3, EP. 8:  "The Book Of Resistance - Chapter Three:  The Battle of Franklin Terrace"


Things have begun to heat up in Freeland, and the battle lines are drawn.  The fight for the city is on, and it's going to be a knockdown, drag out fight to save it.  Meanwhile, Lynn has to continue to deal with not only her addiction, but deal with the manipulation and taunting of Tobias.  Jennifer is trying to learn more about Brandon, and the Resistance is looking to make another move to get the outside world on their side.

We begin this chapter with Tobias being tested, making sure that his progress is advancing.  As they're testing him, he's taunting them, telling them about how he will be free eventually, an that they can't hold him back.

Jefferson is asleep, having a dream where he's arguing with Lynn about his life as Black Lightning when he wakes up.  He looks at the side of the bed next to him, realizing she's not there.   He looks around the house, but she's not there.  He calls her cell, but all he gets is her voicemail.  

Down in Gambi's bunker, he's checking up on Anissa's progress.  She seems to have her full powers back, but still has the mark of the virus Painkiller gave her.  Gambi suggests rest and taking the antitoxin, but Anissa rebukes, saying she needs to be out there saving the people.  Gambi tells her that the ASA has incresed their activities, and has been able to silence the public outside of Freeland by saying the city has a SARS  warning, thus giving the outside world the perception that there's a nasty virus in the city.  As much as he has used the video of Jefferson's beating, and various other clips, it's not enough.  The signal is limited, and it would take a regular radio signal to get the word out.  Anissa tells him that she's got an idea to get the word out better.  

Tobias is wheeled back into Lynn's lab, and he doesn't take long to start working her nerve.  Boasting about how great she will be when she finds a cure of the metakids.  He tells her that he's been working with the ASA for a long time, and he knows their REAL plan--to make every metahuman a solider in their quest to take down the Markovians.  And, if need be, they will use all the Green Light they can get their hands on to turn people INTO metas, just so they can have soldiers.  This DEFINITELY gets Lynn's attention.  

We check in on Brandon, who's cooking when Jennifer shows up, who blasts him immediately, which has no effect on him.  He's slightly annoyed, but they both apologize for their behavior the last time they were together.  Jennifer and him smoke, and she says she uses it to relax herself, and to keep herself under control.  They discuss their powers, and Brandon says that her powers are electrical, and his powers are earth based.  It's as if he is able to ground Jennifer.  They begin to discuss his connection with Dr. Jace.

Moving over to the Resistance, we see that Jamillah has just finished a broadcast, when Blackbird shows up.  She commends Jamillah on doing what she can to get the word out.  But she has a plan to get the signal outside of the perimeter, and wants Jamillah to start digging up all the video clips that she can find that will show what exactly the ASA is actually up to.

Jefferson is at home cooking, when Henderson shows up.  They bicker a little, but realize they both need to be on the same page.  Henderson tells him that, when he saved the metakids, he made himself a part of the Resistance whether he liked it or not.  Jefferson isn't happy about Henderson's methods.  But it's then that Henderson drops the bomb on Jefferson that the ASA is looking to take over Jefferson's old apartment building on Franklin Terrace, and have kicked out all of the residents against one---their old 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Shepard.  Jefferson and him decide to go there to help her out before they storm the place and harm her.

Back with Brandon and Jennifer, as they continue to smoke pot, Brandon inquires at how Jennifer got her powers---she lies and said someone slipped Green Light into a drink she had one night.  He falls for it, and she asks how he got his.  It's here that he discusses how Dr. Jace had performed experiments on his mother WHILE she was pregnant with him.  However, one of her aides managed to have a little compassion, and helped her escape.  She gave birth, and as he grew, he had to take care of her until she ended up dying.  He then got tossed into foster care, until he discovered he could make diamonds with his powers.  So, he bailed, and has been on the hunt for Jace ever since.  He came to Freeland to kill her.  Jennifer can understand, recalling how her boyfriend Khalil had died at Tobias' hands.  Jennifer then informs Brandon that she has a lead on Jace's last whereabouts.

Col. Williams (where the hell has HE been?  Been MIA for the last couple of episodes), and his soldiers are at the front door of Franklin Terrace, demanding the door to be opened when Henderson and Jefferson arrive.  Jefferson says that kicking these people out of their homes is wrong, and Williams counters with this line about them "serving their country", but Jefferson says this is NOT protection, but an occupation, and the people are sick of it.  Williams can care less.  He says he will talk to Mrs. Shepherd, and Williams only gives him 5 minutes.  

We see Mrs. Shepherd tending to her plants---she's a pot dealer.  Jefferson knocks on the door, and she lets him in.  He tries to reason with her about leaving the apartment before she gets hurt, and that it's just an apartment.  However, she takes him to the window, and shows him the tree he used to climb when he was a kid, and another place where she met President Obama.  She said that she's been there most of her life...and remembers when the neighborhood was first allowed to have black people reside there.  She is not leaving, under any circumstance.  She will stand her ground, because this is her home.  She accepts her fate, and she says that nothing ever happens the way they're supposed to.  It's something that Jefferson takes to heart.  He understands, and calls Henderson to let him know she's staying...and that things are about to get charged up, because he's in.  He powers up, and it's go time.

Anissa and Gambi discover and old station on the outskirts of town that's been abandoned.  It will serve the purposes in getting the signal out.  Just as they're about to move the plan into motion, we hear the police scanner talk about Black Lightning facing off against the ASA.  Anissa knows she needs to help her dad, and Gambi suggests that it's time for Thunder to make a reappearance.  She suits up, and here we go.

Black Lightning is taking on the ASA, and holding the frontline off, as troops circle around the backside to be able to nail him.  One of the guards questions his superior, and actually asks that they're really doing this, and his superior tells him that orders are orders.  Thunder arrives, with the Resistance in tow.  Williams orders Henderson to stand down, and Henderson says he takes no orders from him anymore.  He goes to check on Mrs. Shepherd.

Gambi has made his way to the abandoned station, and goes to start things up, when he's locked inside the control room.  He recognizes the boy approaching him as Baron, who can control electronics.  He informs Gambi that he's stuck, and Gambi does his best to convince him that he's one of the good guys.  Baron eventually believes him, and releases him.

Lynn is using her access to check on Tobias' claims.  She does find out that the ASA has a HUGE storage of Green Light ready to go, confirming her fears.  She goes back to Tobias, and says that she is going to help her save the kids, and he says he can't help unless he can get free.  She thinks he's crazy, but he says that she needs HIM to save them.  He says that she can use one of the kids who's powers are the ability to camouflage.  If she splices her genes with his, he'd be of a bigger help.  

Brandon reads the information Jennifer provides him about Jace, and he begins to get upset, henceforth releasing his powers in greater strength, causing an earthquake, which freaks Jennifer out.  She tries to calm him down, but eventually, he mellows out, but ends up passing out.  When he awakens, Jennifer says that he had a power-flare.  Turns out, his powers are emotional based, just like hers.  

Baron, who was dubbed "Technocrat" by the ASA, and prefers to go by TC, says that he can communicate with electronic systems.  He'd been in the pod for 30 years.  However, with all the new technology out there, it was causing him great pain when he got out, and he had to get away, so he found the abandoned station on the far end of town to get some peace.  He does agree to help Gambi get the word out beyond the perimeter.

Thunder takes out the guards looking to kill Black Lightning, and they meet up, as she takes the Resistance into the building and tells them to position themselves and let no ASA member get in.  She goes through the building to check on everything, and bumps into Painkiller.  They end up doing battle, but something is a bit off---Painkiller isn't quite as bad ass as he once was.  Thunder is having her way with him in the fight, and then she nails him, and he flies back.  Once he gets up, he takes off his glasses, and shocks Thunder when she discovers it's actually Khalil.  He goes to attack her, and she blasts him out of the building.  Meanwhile, Col. Williams looks for an update, when his troops inform him that Painkiller is down.  He's had enough, and he begins to power up to take on Black Lightning.

Thunder then meets up with Gambi at the station, and she hands him a flash drive with all the video they need.  They know they have a small window to operate until the ASA finds them, and they begin broadcasting, but the signal gets jammed, and they feel they failed.  However, TC manages to fix the problem with his powers, and they actually get the information out.  The mission was a success.

Back at his bunker, Gambi  goes over the file he has on TC, when he sees that the ASA is locking down the Pit..meaning Lynn is going to be captured.  He contacts her, and lets her know that Jefferson has joined the Resistance, which pisses her off.  Gambi then guides her through the building to help her escape custody, but not before she grabs the cure----and loads up on Green Light in the process.  She's doing okay at one point, until she leaves a room too quickly and bumps into a guard.  He just stands there, and lets her by, when the other guards come running.  He says she had clearance, and they let him know it's been rescinded.  The deal with the Pierces is off.  She manages to get out of the building, and Gambi is there to meet her, but she drops her purse.  She says she needs her purse, but Gambi tells her to leave it, because they need to escape.  Lynn is upset as they take off.  

Back at Franklin Terrace, Williams is ready to throw down with Black Lightning, and they get into with their powers.  Williams believes he can get the best of Black Lightning, but it turns out that he can't handle Black Lightning's power, and he goes down.  The ASA falls back in Williams' defeat.  Mrs. Shepherd comes out, and thanks Black Lightning.  She then goes to check on her plants, as Black Lightning and Henderson now are on the same page---and ready to take down the ASA.



Another powerful episode!  We have the battle lines drawn finally, and Jefferson...after sitting on the fence for a good part of this season, has finally chosen a side.  Downside is...it makes the agreement with the ASA null and void.  This now makes the entire Pierce family a target.  Sadly, Jennifer is the one OUT of the loop on this.  And I wonder if  Col. Williams, Major Grace, or Odell when HE comes back will find a way to manipulate Jennifer to THEIR will, and turn on her family.  It's something to think about.  

Gotta hand it to Tobias---the man is slick as hell when pulling people's strings---and he KNOWS he's got Lynn on his hook.  Working her nerve is one thing, but to praise her work, knowing that she's only a pawn for the ASA's ultimate plan.  And while HE knows what the ASA has been up to, since he's been working with them for YEARS, but he makes sure he digs the needle of deception deep into Lynn, and it works.  Feed her a little truth, and she'll do whatever it takes to save the kids---even if it means working with the man who wants to kill her family.  Tobias ALWAYS has a plan...that's what is so great about hating him...but LIKING him at the same time.  Not sure if he got out during Lynn's escape, but we never got back to him after Lynn went and checked on his story about the Green Light.  

Jennifer and Brandon now see that BOTH their powers are driven by their emotions, and they both have to learn to control their emotions in order to use their powers, and keep them under control.  But we see that his power is pretty awesome.  I still wonder if HE is going to be the Geo-Force we haven't seen as yet, or will they still go the route with Brion Markov as the hero (we know virtually NOTHING about Markovia on this show outside of the fact that Jace worked for the government, and is with the Markovian Army).  Brandon's presence in this fight will be interesting to see down the road.  I DO, however, see him and Jennifer getting A LOT closer before this season ends.

Lynn again gets manipulated by Tobias some more, after having been manipulated by Odell to begin with.  Becoming a Green Light addict has not helped her cause either.  It's put a strain on her relationship with Jefferson, she's completely ignored her kids, because she's obsessed with saving the pod kids.  Plus, her indifference towards Jefferson's life as Black Lightning...she'll just NEVER accept him as a super hero.  After she finally came to terms with it within the first two seasons, she's taken a step back, character wise.  If there's one person I am NOT a fan of right now---it's Lynn and her holier-than-thou attitude.  But now that she's lost her stash of Green Light....I wonder how long it'll be before her family finds out about her addiction, and what's going to happen when she's in detox mode the next episode or so?  

It was awesome to finally have Anissa don the Thunder ID again.  I'm not sure if she's going to go back and forth between that guise or Blackbird, but I know that it's good to have her back to full power.  But one thing I'm wondering though?  Will she be forthcoming with the information she now possesses?  That she knows Painkiller is Khalil?  Will Lynn and Gambi manage to tell Anissa to keep it under wraps to Jennifer?  How long before THAT piece of information comes to light?  

Finally, it's great to see Henderson and Jefferson on the same page.  Now the Resistance has solid leadership and firepower to fight back against the ASA.  Things from here on out are going to get good.  But...we have to be mindful that the Markvoians are lurking in the background.

This show is hitting all the notes, and has an excellent rhythm.  We've got a solid storyline, and it's playing out well...with some twists and turns along the way.  It's been an amazingly fun ride thus far, and the pace hasn't slowed down.  

We got no CRISIS connection for this episode, but Black Lightning WILL be involved in this crossover.  I was bummed we didn't get any links to the crossover here, but nonetheless, looking forward to Black Lightning interacting with Flash, Green Arrow, Supergirl, and the Legends.  

That'll wrap up this week, and look forward to all of you subscribing, leaving a comment, and spreading the word about this little ol' blog.  

Until next time...the power is OUT.

SUPERGIRL - SEASON 5.8

REVIEW:  SUPERGIRL - SEASON 5, EP.8:  "The Wrath of Rama Khan"


We're getting close to the midseason point of our Girl of Steel, and we have seen a new menace creep up in the form of the group Leviathan.  They are the new threat to the world, and no easy pushovers.  This Rama Khan has been around a couple of million years, and seeks to defend the planet from the human species.  While we have Lena Luthor on HER end, looking to use Myriad to control the human populace and make sure they all play nice and are honest with each other.  This leaves Team Supergirl in quite a sticky situation as CRISIS looms only a few days away.


Starting this off this episode, Brainy and Alex have reached the Arctic North to try and find Supergirl, whom they last remember was at the Fortress of Solitude with Lena.  Problem is, as we saw last episode, Lena stabbed Supergirl in the back, took Myriad, and reversed the security protocol in the Fortress to trap Supergirl.  Alex and Brainy managed to find her, release her, and Supergirl reverses the protocols at the Fortress, while trying to find Lena.  She discovers Lena's location as one of Lex's old hideouts at Mount Marquay.  Before Alex and Brainy can breath, the Maid of Might is off like a shot towards Lena, trying to stop her before she uses Myriad on the populace.  Lena, at this moment, is with Hope/Eve preparing Myriad for global use.  As they prepare the countdown, Supergirl has arrived, looking to reach Lena and stop her.  Lena sees her, however, and so does Lex's security measures, which activate their own protocol to attack.  Lena isn't looking to kill Supergirl, but they can't quite get Lex's defenses to deactivate quickly enough.  The base launches missles at Supergirl, and she takes the hit, but is unharmed.  However, Lex's more deadlier protocol goes into effect, as the lasers from the mountainside base's cannons prepare to fire Kryptonite.  Lena and Hope see this, and are looking to shut it down.  Meanwhile, Supergirl hovers...and merely throws up her hands in surrender.  Lena and Hope get the system to shut off, and the lasers stop arming.  However, Supergirl takes off...vowing to stop Lena, but save her at the same time.

Back in their little hidey hole, Rama Khan and his female companion (of which we STILL have no name for, because I sure as hell didn't hear one), lament over his failing at stopping Supergirl, and reaquiring of the medallion that Andrea gave up to Lena.  Leviathan isn't quite happy about the events, but Rama Khan says that he and his female companion have been there for 2 million years, and they CAN save the planet from the humans.  The blonde companion has stated that she thought her technological prowess would've helped, but it turns out they need much more drastic measures.  So they need Andrea yet again, and he gets this staff with some red crystal in it that wields some kind of power, called the Krada, and he goes to start another Pompeii-like eruption in National City.

Back at the DEO, Kara drops the bomb on both Brainy and Alex that Lena has played them.  That she know her secret ID, and that Lex had been the one who told her, after she had shot him.  She reiterates that Lena is hurt and angry for having been lied to.  When they put their heads together, they realize what exactly Lena plans to do with the Myriad....use it to  control the minds and thoughts of people so that they won't lie or hurt one another.  Alex goes into leader mode, and orders Claymore to be put into plan, but Kara is not happy with that plan,  She feels there has to be another way.  Just at that moment, J'Onn arrives with his brother Malefic, offering assistance.

Malefic recounts how when the Phantom Zone projector was used hon him, it zapped him into Lena's lab.  J'Onn DID remind them that Lena helped them fix it.  He then goes on to say that Lena was using his ability to incept people as part of her plan.  Added with Myriad, and the populace won't have a chance.  Kara tries to be the voice of reason here but Alex is having nothing of it, seeing the immediate threat Lena has become with her actions.  She puts the Claymore Program into effect at Mount Marquay, and preparing for the worst.  

We see Andrea atop her balcony in deep thought, when Rama Khan shows up.  She says she's done, and wants nothing more to do with them.  She has lost Russell to her actions, but Rama Khan tells her she has one final job to do, and she WILL do it.  She asks if her father will be spared, and Rama says disgustingly that he gets to keep his riches.

Supergirl is still pleading her case to Alex about trying to get through to Lena to reason with her, using their hologram projector.  Once she does make contact with Lena, she tries desperately to tell Lena that she's sorry, that she thought she was protecting her, and that doing this will not make things better.  Lena feels that Kara treated her like a villain, because she carries the Luthor name.  But, Lena says she thanks Kara for inspiring her to pursue this project.  To do what she feels needs to be done.  With that, Lena cuts her off, as she goes back to make final preparations for the launch of her plan.

Alex and Kara have a real heart to heart, telling her that what she did..keeping her secret from Lena...was not done out of malice or contempt, it was done out of love.  Alex also goes to point out a few instances where Lena wasn't completely honest with Kara, such as making Kryptonite, and the fact that she knew where Lex was, but didn't tell her.  Lena is NOT an innocent, either.  Alex then tells her that while she was using the hologram, they got access to the Mount's security systems, and will shut them down, making sure Lena can't launch Myriad.  Kara is displeased that Alex went behind her back, and Alex said that while Lena is her friend too, she has to think with her head, and not her heart.  She has to see what Lena is doing as an imminent threat.  

At this time, Hope/Eve and Lena have all the final preparations made, and are about ready to launch.  Lena has a slight moment of hesitation, but has Hope/Eve proceed as planned.  Just as they're about ready to fire, the DEO's virus kicks in, stopping the launch.  Lena and Hope/Eve now have to try and get around the virus before the DEO comes knocking.  

Supergirl again pleads her case to Alex to find a less lethal means in handling Lena.  Supergirl then talks to J'Onn, and asks him to talk to Alex.  While J'Onn doesn't want lethal means to be used, either, he can't argue with Alex's logic.  Supergirl then has an idea.  Using Malefic's Q-Waves to attack Myriad and stopping it.  Malefic says it's a good idea, and it might work.  She brings her idea to Alex, who is not happy about it, but Supergirl manages to get through to her sister.  

Rama Khan and Andrea arrive in the city near Leviathan's headquarters, close to the tar pits, and he wants her to set off the volcano.  Knowing what he has planned, and the innocents that will die, she refuses.  He tells her that humanity's time has come, and they must pay the price for their destruction of the planet.  For him, it's time for a fresh start.  He sets off a wave of aftershocks, and she disappears in the bedlam, as people scatter to get to safety.  She uses her powers to shift to the DEO, trying to warn Team Supergirl of Rama Khan's plans, only to be sucked back to him before she could say more. He takes her below ground, where he uses the staff to capture her, and use her powers to initiate the volcano's eruption, which begins.  Team Supergirl at the DEO feels it.  They then realize that Rama Khan is about to work his mojo yet again in the form of another disasterous volcanic eruption, using this staff, which they researched.  Alex then orders Supergirl and J'Onn to head into National City to deal with Rama Khan, while she and Brainy will handle Lena's plan.  Alex tells J'Onn that it's tough making the hard decisions, and that she needs Kara to see that.  He says that while he knows trusting Malefic is risky, he says that they ALL must do better, and be given the chance.

Lena and Hope/Eve have been frantically trying to override the DEO's virus, which has knocked their satellites out of synch.  They know that the Claymore Program will be fired in about 20 minutes, so Lena is looking to reverse engineer the virus.  Hope/Eve offers to go out and manually override the satellites and set them up, but Lena knows that she will die, and she refuses to let that happen.  They feel the jolt from the eruption of the volcano, and it throws everything out of whack.  Hope/Eve says that the best way to get their plan to work, and to override Lex's security systems AS well as the virus of the DEO, is to let her go outside and see if she can manually fix it.  Lena refuses, saying she's the only friend she has, to which Hope/Eve informs her that she is, in fact, NOT her friend---but a creation of hers with a purpose.  And the fact that Eve herself is willing to do this for her.  With that, Lena understands and lets her go.

Supergirl and J'Onn arrive at the tarpits to try and stop Rama Khan with the sonic gun that she had from the Fortress.  The gun is useless as he destorys it, and they do battle.  She manages to locate the staff AND Andrea with her x-ray vision, and J'Onn goes to rescue her, while she buys him time with Rama Khan.  

Brainy has Malefic prepared to beat back Myriad, and Alex has guns on him at the ready just in case.  Everyone there has inhibitors on, in case he goes rogue to attack.  At that moment, Hope/Eve has made it to the satellite control panel, and they manage to bypass Lex's codes.  Lena is able to launch Myriad, and the rays begin to penetrate the Earth.  Malefic begins using his powers to beat the beam back, but he doesn't have enough power.  Brainy says that the inhibitors are limiting him, and that if they don't turn them off, he won't be able to stop it.  Alex is hesitant, but orders the inhibitors off.  There, Malefic uses his powers to stop the beam from heading to Earth...thus saving them from Myriad.

Supergirl, however, is buried and trapped under rubble by Rama Khan, who says it's humanity's time to die.  But Supergirl refuses to give up on them.  At that moment, J'Onn is able to finally yank the staff from the ground, ending the threat and saving Andrea.  Rama sees that his plan has failed, and Supergirl strikes him into the pit, and freezing it to capture him.  Just as they begin to relax in victory, Rama resurfaces, and grabs Andrea with him, and they disappear.  

Back at Lex's hideout, Lena is despondent that her plan failed.  And she turns to Hope/Eve...saying that it's true:  the good guys don't always win.

Rama and Andrea arrive at the Leviathan HQ, where Andrea finds her way to escaping, as soon as she arrives.  Rama wants to kill her, but he's got the staff imbedded in him, and his blonde companion says that he had his chance, and that Leviathan is displeased with him.  He feels it's not over, but she says it is.  It's her time now.

We go back to Lena and Hope/Eve, where Lena pulls out a gun, knowing she is going to be arrested by the DEO.  Hope/Eve understands what must be done, and as soon as the DEO arrives, Hope/Eve plays the role of the criminal mastermind, saying she was responsible, while Lena acts the innocent victim.  They arrest Hope/Eve, who smiles as she's led away, knowing she fulfilled her purpose.  Lena, of course, acts the act.  

Alex and Kara talk about the day's events.  Alex revealing the fact that Hope/Eve took the fall for Lena, and Kara knowing that there's more going on, and that Lena isn't finished yet.  On the bright side, Malefic lived up to his end of the bargain, and Kara said she was right about him...that he changed.  Alex invites Kara over for dinner with her and Kelly, but she says she needs time alone.  

Andrea arrives back at her office.  Sits down at her desk, and puts on the VR lenses, reliving her romance with Russell.  She tells him goodbye, and that it's over, wishing she could have saved him.

We see Kara and Lena...both alone and staring at same picture each of them have of them in it in happier times.  Lena takes a swig of her drink, while Kara just looks out the window, very forlorn.  The loss of their friendship finally weighing in on them both.

J'Onn and Malefic are walking and talking about how he's changed, and how he wants to make up for what he's done.  J'Onn tells him of a friend of his back on Mars...a white martian named M'gann, who is leading the resistance there.  J'Onn says that he can fix what's broken there, by not being a pariah, but by being a savior of TWO races.  Malefic accepts, and J'Onn gives him his car/spaceship---telling him not to scratch it.  The brothers embrace, and Malefic departs to save Mars.  Just then, the Monitor shows up, congratulating J'Onn on passing his test, which J'Onn inquires about.  The Monitor says that J'Onn's capacity for compassion was sought as a weakness, but it is his strength, and that he is needed for the Crisis.  

We head into this space where Lex Luthor is sitting, playing a version of chess when the Monitor arrives.  Lex wonders what he wants from him, and the Monitor says that he needs his mind for what's coming up.  Lex is ready to do his part, but first wants to know about his sister.  

We go back to the scene in the tunnels in Central City, where Nash Wells opens the Monitor's door, and gets sucked in.

Team Supergirl is now going into CRISIS.




This episode had A LOT to do in about 40 plus minutes of time...and it felt VERY rushed.  Considering CRISIS is just about to kick off next week, they felt the need to tie up SOME of these plotlines quickly, and I feel they missed out on the execution.  

The Lena/Kara storyline here had to have SOME conclusion to it, by having Lena drop the bomb on Kara last week, they had to have Lena put her plan into action.  The way they went about the execution, and failure of it, seemed like they dropped the ball a little bit.  It felt hurried and a bit unsatisfactory.  Having Hope/Eve take the fall is a very typical Luthor thing.  As much as Lena is TRYING to fight the stigma of the Luthor name, she keeps taking steps that her brother AND mother would take to achieve her altruistic goal.  She fancies herself the hero...in much the same way Lex does---as he again brings up to the Monitor tonight---but is willing to sacrifice people in the process.  In HER case, it's controlling their minds.  While she thinks she'll do away with lying and violence, thus creating some form of Utopia, no one benefits except her.  She won't have to live under that control.  Therefore, HER independent thought and choice remain, thus making her more and more the villain.  She puts that blame on Kara, but it is Lena herself that cannot see that the choices she's making PUT her in that position.  She's doing it to herself.  

Kara, for as much as we love our Girl of Steel, and tries to live up to Clark's vision of everyone's life being sacred, and that giving someone a chance to prove themselves to be the best of themselves...can be utterly naive.  She is far too more trusting than Clark is.  At some point, Kara is going to have to learn that NO Luthor can be trusted.  As much as she hid her identity from Lena, she felt she was doing it out of love, and to protect her from the threats she faces daily as Supergirl.  To Kara, this is her true best friend that isn't her sister Alex.  It's not James.  Lena is that one friend she made on her own.  This is crushing to her.  But as Alex points out this episode---Lena is no saint, and has lied to Kara before.  Kara, at some point, will have to make that tough choice that she doesn't want to make---that Lena is her family name---a Luthor.  And one that will be a threat down the road if Lena continues down this path.  And we KNOW Lena is NOT done by a longshot.  

So, while this story had a very rush, rush finish...for NOW.  We will see whether or not it gets any time in CRISIS...because I'm not sure if Lena will be a part of it or not, and whether or not she will help our intrepid heroes in saving the universe.  

Leviathan.  Still so much we DON'T know about this shadowy little organization, but we DO know that Rama Khan and his blond lady companion (If ANYONE caught her name, PLEASE leave a comment below...because I NEVER heard it), are two aliens who've been here for over 2 million years supposedly "protecting" the planet from humanity.  So, in short, all we know is that Leviathan are eco-terrorists.  Outside of that, nothing.  And using Andrea to use her power to their means, only for her to refuse, shows us that there IS good in her, and not wanting to slaughter millions shows she has a heart...beneath that dark exterior.  But I feel she knows she's on borrowed time.  Her love for Russell was her driving point, but he wasn't so consequential to US as viewers---he was just a pawn to make Leviathan seem more dangerous.  I felt this round of their story was also rushed.  They had been doing this slow build for so long, that I guess with CRISIS on the way, they felt they needed to hurry this story along, which I feel was a mistake.  The build was nice, and I was hoping for a bigger payoff, but what we got fell kinda flat.  Although, we don't know the REAL faces behind Leviathan, we're left with a sense of "Ok....so...?"  It is somewhat of a letdown.

The one GOOD thing about tonight, was the redemption of Malefic.  It was great to show, in contrast to Lena, that someone CAN do good after having done bad things.  Showing that we DO all have good in us, if only you're willing to bring it to the light.  Now, Malefic gets to make amends and restore peace on Mars.  It was cool we got a M'gann name drop this episode...she's been missed dearly.  I wonder if we might see her in CRISIS or not.  Cross your fingers.  We knew Malefic had been placed on Earth 38 by the Monitor, but now we know it was J'Onn's test to prepare him for what's to come....so NOW we FINALLY have an actual CRISIS tie-in on this show...which as avoided it like the plague all season up to this point...which, again, another letdown.  We KNEW CRISIS would play a big hand in Ollie's final quest, and it's also the HUGE focal point in Barry Allen's life, but we have NOT seen the effects of it for Kara Zor-El.  It's J'Onn J'Onzz who gets tapped for that honor.  Not complaining TOO much, mind you---but I feel that, at this moment, the upcoming CRISIS has kept Kara completely OUT of the loop---and she is INTEGRAL to this story.  So, for her to not have anymore interaction with the Monitor leading up to this crossover is a HUGE disappointment.

It's going to be interesting to see how they handle the stories they have coming OUT of CRISIS, and what they can do to salvage the season a bit.  As much as I have liked the Leviathan slow build, they rushed the end of this portion.  Lena's story kind of fell flat for now.  And another thing....with Andrea's actions---what the hell is the future of CatCo?  Does her father lose his money and die because she betrayed Leviathan?  And why No Nia this week?  THAT is a HUGE bummer!  Especially her powers as Dreamer, you'd THINK she'd have sensed the Monitor somehow.  Leaving HER out of the loop was a mistake this week as well.  But I WILL credit Melissa Benoist and Katy McGrath for THEIR performances in their storyline---you can feel the pain and anguish from both women...a credit to their acting.

Oh...and final props to Alex this week....for being the leader that she truly is.  Making the tough calls, and being the voice of reason.  Chyler Leigh continues to dazzle me with her performances week after week.

Very much a rush with this show to get to the crossover, but we're here.  We have reached the midseason finale of the Maid of Might's story for now, with CRISIS taking over for the final episodes before the holiday break.  I'm crossing my fingers that this crossover will be as epic as they have built it up to for the last 5-6 seasons.  

That's it for this week---we're in CRISIS Mode now!  Subscribe, comment, tell a friend--that's the Christmas gift I want most!  

Oh...and just so we don't leave our Girl of Steel out:  #IStandWithMelissa ---We love you, Melissa...you truly embody the essence of the word "hero".  

Until next time:  Worlds will live.  Worlds will die.  And the Universe will NEVER be the same!

Up, Up, and Away!

BATWOMAN - SEASON 1.8

REVIEW:  BATWOMAN - SEASON 1, EP. 8:  "A Mad Tea Party"


Things have certainly taken a turn for the worse for our Lady Crusader.  Her father and her are at odds about Alice, she can't seem to make a connection with Mary, her step sister, Catherine had lied to her about her sister's death, Sophie has nearly blown her secret ID...and Alice still has yet to enact her master plan.  What happens from here will tailspin into the rest of the season---BUT---we still have CRISIS hanging overhead.  What will be Gotham City's fate?  


We descend into Gotham City this week, where one of the Wonderland Gang is on the run, only to run into his pursuer---Batwoman.  She threatens him if he doesn't cough up his coat, which he does so to save himself from a beating.  She takes off with it just before the police arrive to arrest him.  Back at the Cave, Kate and Luke find a cell phone in his pocket, which they use to track Alice to her new location, which is at some undisclosed warehouse (seem to be A LOT of these between Star City, Central City, and Gotham).  Kate actually shows up to meet her sister, and Kate discusses whether or not Alice sent the Rifle to kill her, only to have Alice give her the piece of the weapon that WOULD have.  The cartridge that would've been able to pierce the Batsuit.  Kate tries to reason with Alice, wanting to help her.  But Alice has no interest, saying that ANY vestige of Beth is gone.  With that, Kate leaves.

Jacob is still upstate on whatever case he was working on, when he checks into Crow HQ, informing them of his return to Gotham.  However, Jacob doesn't get far as he's overtaken by members of the Wonderland Gang, who stun him and kidnap him.  

Kate is in her bar, pulling out glasses, when Mary walks in.  She let's Kate know that there's a Gala honoring her mother Catherine tonight, and she would like Kate to go.  But Kate is still sore that Catherine lied to her and her father, and she wouldn't betray her father like that.  Mary tells her that Jacob and Catherine are working it out.  Kate is in disbelief, and she just can't bring herself to go, which upsets Mary.  

Kate goes to see her father, and he tries to convince her that they're working on things.  It's not that he's totally forgiven her, but he's trying to meet her half way.  Kate can't simply do this (of course, what she DOESN'T know--as yet--is that Jacob is actually Mouse in disguise), and she bails.  

The real Jacob awakes in another location, cuffed up and confronting Alice.  She wants to get an apology from him....for not looking further into the case, for not checking on the bones that Catherine found.  He breaks down, and apologizes to her for failing her, for not doing his due diligence.  They discuss Catherine's actions, and she thanks her father for making her who she is.  When he asks what she's up to, she merely replies that it's time for her "Mad Tea Party".  Her plan is now going into action.  

Back at the Cave, Kate is talking with Luke on her father's willingness to forgive Catherine for what she did.  She feels something is off, and calls her dad again.  When she talks to him, she talks about the wedding he and Catherine had, and what time of the year it happened.  She said it was a cold winter, and he agreed.  Kate hangs up, and realizes it's not her father, since he and Catherine married in the middle of Summer.  She puts two and two together, and knows that it's Mouse impersonating Jacob.  

At the Crows' HQ, Sophie and Tyler are discussing her past relationship with Kate.  He's upset that he doesn't know more about it, and that she didn't tell him.  Just then, "Jacob" comes in to give out tactical instructions for the gala that night, and as he's discussing the plan, Kate texts Sophie, telling her that her father is really Mouse.  Sophie is onto it, but plays along.  Just as "Jacob" finishes his marching orders, he gets the jump on the two, and nails them with tranquilizers...thus taking them out of the equation for the time being. 

We next see the Kane family in a limo headed for the gala, where "Jacob" is handing out champagne to both Catherine and Mary, who drink it up, while Mary is blogging about the big night.  

Kate meets Alice once again, letting her know that she's onto her plan.  Kate also says that Alice keeps a picture of the both of them, so she can't possibly want to kill her.  She asks where their father is, and Alice tells her.  When Kate goes to get him, however, he's gone. 

Luke has eyes on the gala, and he sees "Jacob" enter, and a couple of the security men are actually members of the Wonderland Gang.  Alice's plan is now in action.  The host gives his speech about Catherine's work to make Gotham better, and invites her up for an award, and she begins to give her speech.  

Back at the Crows, Sophie and Tyler wake up, and begin to work on escaping the zip ties they're attatched to.  Meanwhile, Tyler again continues to discuss Sophie's relationship with Kate.  He needs to know more.  She finally gets free, and gets him free as well, as she tells him that all her life, she's tried to follow the rules, and Kate was the first time she broke them.   He wants to know if they have a future...because he wants a family.  She understands that.  But right now, they need to get to the gala.

Catherine is giving her speech, but as she's reading the teleprompter below her, she starts to see that Alice has rewritten it, revealing to Catherine that she's got gang members in the building, and lives are in danger.  She is to continue reading the speech, which she continues to explain that the real villains are not the Joker, or Penguin, or Riddler...it is THEM...and they're all around you.  Just then, her nose begins to bleed profusely, and she collapses...Mary rushing to her side.  The Wonderland Gang beings to herd everyone into the room to prevent them from escaping.  The host tries to get the crowd to not panic, but it's no use.

Batwoman has made it to the gala, and has to start fighting off Alice's gang.  As Mary is tending to Catherine, Alice shows up, decked out in a ball dress.  Alice confesses that their champagne was spiked with poison...a very fast acting one...that destroys the system.  Mary wants the antidote, but Alice says that her mother is the one responsible for creating the poison, but never got around to an antidote.  However...Alice just happens to have an alternative, which she puts into a cup of tea.  It's from a rare plant from a place called Coriana.  Alice goes on to explain that she wants an apology from Catherine, who does apologize, but Alice really isn't quite feeling it.  While Alice is looking for a real apology, Batwoman continues to wade her way through Alice's goons, trying to get to Catherine and Mary.  Catherine again apologizes...knowing she's dying.  Alice gives them the antidote, but there's just one problem---Mary is poisoned as well.  Alice informs them there's only enough for ONE of them to have the antidote.  Alice then recounts how she had someone impersonate Jacob, and had them poisoned.  Alice goes on to explain that this is about the choices we make in life...and the consequences they have.  She leaves Catherine and Mary to their fate, as she has other fish to fry.  

Mary tries to reason with her mother to drink half, then she'll drink half, and it should work.  But Catherine knows better.  She tells Mary that she knows about her underground clinic, which surprises her.  But Catherine admits pride at what Mary's doing.  Catherine knows that she has to make the ultimate sacrifice to save her daughter.  So, she urges Mary to drink the antidote..which she does.  Sadly, Catherine does not make it, as she dies, but not before she tells Mary that SHE is the one thing Catherine did right.

Jacob had been drugged and taken away somewhere else, as per Alice's orders.

Batwoman eventually catches up to Alice, asking where HER father is, to which Alice corrects her.  Alice doesn't cough it up, and Batwoman asks where Catherine and Mary are, and she say she poisoned them....because she wanted revenge.  This enrages Batwoman, who begins to start choking her sister out.  She continues to choke her, but ends up letting her go.  Alice knew Kate wouldn't kill her.  Before Batomwan can get more out of Alice, Mouse rams into her, pushing her off the balcony.  Alice and Mouse make their escape.  

Jacob awakes inside the driver's seat of a vehicle in a parking structure.  As he gathers his surroundings, he sees the cellphone in front of him, and calls Kate.  Kate makes sure she confirms his identity by asking him what he got her for her 6th birthday.  Once he confirms it's a bike, she asks where he's at.  But at that moment, the GCPD is surrounding the vehicle, guns out, aimed at him.  He's under arrest, and it doesn't help that they find the vial that had the poison Mouse used to kill Catherine.  We later see Vesper Fairchild reporting on Catherine's death and Jacob's arrest.  

Kate goes to see Mary in her clinic, who tells her about how many people she's saved in that clinic.  Kate tries to be comforting to Mary, but she's upset with her.  She tells her about how Catherine died, and asked Kate if Alice was worth the risk of saving...to which Kate nods "no".  Mary just doesn't want to be around her right now.

Sophie is on the phone trying to get ahold of the Commissioner in order to get Jacob out, but nothing's doing.  Her and Tyler talk again, and he reiterates that he wants a family with her, but he needs to know that she's on board with that, and that she wants to be there.  He flat out asks her if she is in love with him---and she doesn't know.  He tells her that when she settles her issues, he'll either be there or not.  

Kate looks upon the picture of her and Beth...and the anger she has at what her sister has done for simple revenge is too much.  She shatters the picture frame, and throws stuff off a desk, meanwhile, Mary does the same thing out of grief, and we see Sophie in a stairwell, crying.  Everything has fallen apart.  We then see Kate go and see her father, and she talks about giving up on Beth.  She is gone, only Alice remains.  She feels nothing for her anymore.  Jacob says good, and when he gets out, he's going to destroy her.  Kate won't stand in his way.

We later cut to Central City on December 9th, as Nash Wells is back in the tunnel, looking at the opening that has exposed a metal wall or sorts with heiroglyphics or something on it.  He hears a voice in his head telling him to "submit and be anew"...presumably from the Monitor.  He goes up to the inscriptions on the door, which are now glowing, and the touches them in a specific sequence.  We then see the door open with this bright light....and it immediately sucks Wells in, and the door closes.  

CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS has begun...



Man, did this episode come down on a bummer note!  Well, like a good story goes, at one point, everything has to go to hell before it gets better.  And this story focused on the choices we all make...or in THIS case...those of our denizens of Gotham City.  For Batwoman--- she wanted to save Beth.  But, in the wake of what happened...things are only BEGINNING to get worse!  CRISIS aside, her family has been ripped asunder thanks to the machinations of Alice and her Wonderland Gang.  We knew that once we found out Alice was Beth, her motivation was pure revenge.  Revenge against her father for giving up on finding her, for not double checking Catherine's investigation, and for the death of her mother.  She wanted revenge on Catherine for closing the investigation into her case to begin with.  She just basically hated Mary because she was Catherine's daughter, who got to grow up of a sort with Kate, and for the fact that she was doted on...and that Catherine dragged her into a marriage with her father, henceforth taking her place.  Alice has lost all sense of morality, but she hasn't killed Kate yet.  Not sure if she can honestly kill the one person who never truly gave up on finding her, but with things now accelerated in the wake of Catherine's death, and the fact that Kate was ready to kill HER...even though she didn't...the very THOUGHT of it has now put the two sisters on a collision course.  There is no going back.  

Catherine's choice:  She wanted to spare both Jacob AND Kate any further pain from Beth's loss.  In doing so, she tampered with the investigation, and closed it.  While her intentions were altruistic to HER...it's what set all of this in motion.  Jacob's refusal and ignorance to not double check the evidence is another thing that drove Beth to become Alice.  

Mary is the worse for wear here, now having no mother, and having a stepsister that didn't want to be supportive of her stepmother.  Mary is mad at Kate, and there really isn't much Kate can do about that right now.  Mary is going to lash out, she's going to make Kate miserable, and it might take Alice going after Mary again, that Kate ends up rescuing her, and thus revealing to her that she's Batwoman.  I still feel that day is coming regardless...doesn't matter HOW we get there.  Jacob finally got to have his day of remorse for failing his daughter.  And while Alice had several chances to kill her own father---her motivation is revenge.  Thus, framing him for killing Catherine is just as sweet.  He'll be on trial, possibly go to prison if convicted, and it will give her that satisfaction she craves.  However, she is still going to have that final showdown with Kate.

Sophie's and Tyler's marriage...to ME, anyway...has been nothing more than a boring joke and a ploy to create tension between Kate and her.  But it has been OVERTLY apparent that no matter HOW hard Sophie tries to hide her feelings, she can't.  She still loves Kate, and has pretty much admitted that to Tyler.  I can't blame him for not wanting to stick around, but the question is this:  where do we go from here?  What happens to this relationship?  Does Kate and Sophie have a chance, or will Kate's secret of being Batwoman...now that she's fooled Sophie...loom over any happiness they MIGHT have?  It's something that will be visited before the end of this season.  But I see it being doomed.  I think Kate will work past the loss, and be happy on her own.  She'll finally understand why Bruce NEVER had personal relationships outside of a VERY few.  It's something worth watching.

Well...as we saw at the extra scene after the title tonight at the end of the episode, Nash Wells got sucked into the void of whatever it is the Monitor hangs out after he used the markings on the door in sequence.  Does this mean he becomes Pariah?  I know we'll be finding THAT out shortly, as everything in the Arrowverse is now put on hold because CRISIS is here!  What happens in the wake of it...and what happens to Gotham City, Batwoman, Alice, Mary, Jacob, Sophie, and everyone else?  We'll have to find out in Janurary.  For now, this was our Fall Finale, because CRISIS is now doing to dominate our little DC Universe here for the next month and a half.  So, strap in, kids....the ride is about to take off!

That does it for this installment!  Subscribe, comment, and pass along the good word I'm here.

Until next time:  Worlds will live...worlds will die...and the Universe will NEVER be the same!

The signal is OFF!