Supergirl Review: Falling (Season 1 Episode 16)
This week’s episode of Supergirl is comparable to an emotional roller coaster. National City is turned upside down as Supergirl gets an attitude problem thanks to a run in with some funky red kryptonite created by everyone’s least favorite villain, Max Lord.
All of Kara’s relationships are affected when the red kryptonite turns her into the meanest version of herself–allowing every vicious thought she’s ever had to come to the surface. However, the central relationship in “Falling” is between Kara and Cat, or Supergirl and Cat since Cat doesn’t actually know who she is (yes, I’m still annoyed about it.) Cat has been singing Supergirl’s praises since she first revealed her powers and this week begins no differently.
Cat: Supergirl is everything you think she is; she’s strong, she’s brave, but the most remarkable thing about Supergirl is that she is the kindest person I’ve ever known.
Cat cares so deeply for Supergirl and believes in her so genuinely that she resists breaking the story about Supergirl going bad. Unfortunately, Cat is forced to report that Supergirl has become a threat after she toys with her life in an obnoxious display of power.
Cat: It’s not easy being let down by our idols. Having someone who embodies our heroic ideals helps us believe we can be heroes too, but sometimes heroes fall.
In a lot of ways this episode is difficult to watch. The audience has fallen for Kara because of her kindness and her desire to save everyone around her. Seeing her become a human wrecking ball for her own life is devastating. Her harsh words to Alex cut the deepest, as these two were already on rocky territory after Alex revealed that she killed Astra. But she may have done the most lasting damage with Jimmy, who decides to distance himself from her in the midst of his break up with Lucy.
Kara’s remorse for her actions while she was under the effects of the red kryptonite is heartbreaking and beautiful. Melissa Benoist does a wonderful job of showing her own emotional range in this episode. Supergirl apologizes to Cat, and we learn that Cat never really lost faith in her–she still believes that she is a real hero.
“Falling” does highlight a few of the shows weak points as well as some of the things that make the viewer tilt their head in confusion. Understandably Supergirl is still finding its footing and figuring out the overall story it’s trying to tell. Sadly, that leads to a lot of alien/threat of the week storytelling that feels more disjointed than a more unified plot that progresses with each episode.
Additionally, Supergirl has developed this habit of bringing in a new minor or background character, only two write them off again almost immediately. Lucy, Adam, and Siobahn have all been dismissed the moment their stories have progressed or made any kind of connection with the viewer. Why make us care about them only to have them leave as soon as we do? Why waste time with their stories at all if they aren’t going to stick around, instead of focusing on telling Kara’s story?
Other thoughts:
Winn: She killed Ms. Grant?!
Max: No, Cat has nine lives, she’s fine.
- Why do we keep letting Max Lord exist? He keeps creating things that do harm, only to be brought back because “he’s the only one that can fix it.”
- Hank shifted into Jonn to save Alex and Kara and then allowed himself to be arrested and confined at the DEO in order to keep them safe. Such a dad move, more of this please.
What did you think of this episode of Supergirl? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Reviewer Rating:
User Rating:
Supergirl airs Monday at 8/7c on CBS.
Samantha Coley
Samantha (she/her) is a social media specialist by day and a sci-fi junkie by night. As a freelance writer and podcaster, she also enjoys live-tweeting, blogging, good music, and better television. Her current favorite television shows include Star Trek (yes, all of them), Riverdale, and Stranger Things and there will always be a place in her heart for Battlestar Galactica, Leverage, and The West Wing.