The third episode of Supergirl¸ “Fight or Flight,” delivers an entertaining combination of drama and action that keeps viewers hooked! It continues with the “will they or won’t they date” struggle that keeps fans on the edge of their seats just as Sam and Diane, Tony and Angela, and Ross and Rachel did in decades past. Supergirl adds a tug of war component that Vampire Diaries and the Twilight series teased fans with as Team Winn and Team James read into every smile, hug, and line. I started watching Supergirl for the action and superhero story, but I am not ashamed to admit that the romantic subplot has pinged my curiosity. As Truvy put it while teasing Shelby’s giant wedding hairdo, “that’s the part that really melts my butter.”
The show is not just flirty shy smiles and warm embraces. The action continues to be its strong suit. The rich superhero plot keeps Supergirl from becoming the next Felicity. Just as Kara attempts to prove herself as separate, but equal to Superman, the show Supergirl challenges itself weekly to prove itself as viable, strong, and independent of the Superman franchise. Kara takes on a villain that not even Superman has been able to defeat!
Reactron (Chris Browning) has a rich history rooted in comic books dating back to The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl #8 from June 1983. Reactron’s back story in the show has been updated and changed from that in the comics. In the show, it is revealed that Reactron started out as Ben Krull, a man who became disfigured and whose wife died during a nuclear reactor meltdown that involved Superman. Krull blamed Superman for his wife’s death and uses a suit with a nuclear core in its chest plate to nearly match his powers. Once Supergirl is thrust into the spotlight by Cat’s article, Reactron decides to avenge his wife’s death and seeks revenge by hurting Superman via killing Supergirl.
When she first faces off against Reactron in an attempt to save super rich tech entrepeneur Maxwell Lord (Peter Facinelli), Kara feels betrayed by James who uses his watch to signal Superman – who ultimately saves both Lord and Kara. Later in the episode, however, Kara is able to prove herself by defeating Reactron by removing the core from his chest plate and flying off with it safely in her hand that has been encased in lead by melting a statue. She even gets a cyber pat on the back from Clark via an Instant Message on her work computer, a move that seems a tad hokey and a bit dangerous for two individuals trying to protect secret identities.
As Kara’s professional and super hero lives continue to intertwine, Kara steps in and allows Cat to interview her when Cat pressures James to use his connection to Superman to allow her to cash in with exclusivity to Supergirl. Cat figures that they both are super heroes and wear the infamous “S” insignia so there must be a connection. During the interview, Cat is proven right when Supergirl accidentally reveals that she and Superman are cousins. When Cat publishes the interview, Kara is disheartened and upset that Cat has revealed her connection to Superman and has written a sensationalized and slanderous article.
For me, Cat is not a parallel for Perry White. If anything, it feels as though Cat is Calista Flockhart’s interpretation of Lois Lane. Cat is not a standalone character, she is Lois Lane if Perry White retired and she never became friends with or involved with Clark Kent/Superman. If anything, Cat is reminiscent of a Lifetime Movie Network interpretation of A Christmas Carol in which the story has been updated to include a shrew-like, back biting business woman who has fought tooth and nail to become in rich and successful in a man’s world, sacrificing her femininity and compassion. Characters like Cat have been played in countless television shows and movies. We are ready for some depth and dimension to be added to her.
Overall, Supergirl is finding its place among the DC prime time universe. If the writers can tighten up the scripts and be cautious to avoid overly cliché characters and writing, Supergirl could easily have some staying power.