Supergirl Review: World’s Finest (Season 1 Episode 18)

As someone who’s never seen an episode of The Flash, I found this week’s Supergirl X The Flash crossover to be a complete and total delight.

The episode manages to tie the two universes together neatly, move Kara’s story forward, and keep us completely entertained for the full hour. Barry does a good job explaining how the multiverse theory works, and better yet how he broke it ending up in Kara’s world. He also sums up his world in a way that informs any viewer that hasn’t seen The Flash without overloading them with information, while probably exciting everyone who is a fan of both.

With double the heroes this week we also get double the villains: Siobahn tests out her new found powers (and discovers why she has them). Newly named Silver Banshee she teams up with Livewire, needing help to take out Supergirl and Cat to get to Kara.

Siobahn: The enemy of my enemy is my new partner.

I really enjoy that Cat isn’t Siobahn’s target because she fired her, she’s her target because Cat would do anything to protect Kara. Additionally, Cat continues to give Kara dating advice regardless of her desire to keep things between her and Kara strictly professional just a few episodes ago.

By the end of the episode, after Supergirl and The Flash rescue Cat from her captors, she reveals that she knew the entire time that Barry was The Flash. This moment just makes me wish, yet again, that Cat still knew about Kara. For now though, I am pleased that Cat’s relationships with both Kara and Supergirl are in a good place.

Cat: You four standing there? You look like the racially diverse, non-threatening cast of a CW show.

Barry is such a delightful addition to this episode that I wish we could keep him full time. He’s kind and funny and he gives Kara some excellent advice and a helping hand throughout the whole episode without ever taking the spotlight away from her. I may have to check out The Flash simply because of how well the character is portrayed during this crossover.

He advises Kara to just let her reputation with National City fix itself because the only thing that will help is time. Thankfully, once she hears those words it doesn’t actually take too much longer. Supergirl sacrifices herself in the battle against Silver Banshee and Livewire and in move that brings tears to my eyes, the civilians on the scene move to protect her when she falls.

Livewire: Yesterday you were ready to string her up, now you’re ready to die for her? Civilian: She was ready to die for us.

Emboldened by winning back her people and many encouraging words from both Cat and Barry, Kara decides to finally make her move with James as well. The scene is wonderful as she invites him over and starts making metaphors about the two of them being able to vibrate at the same frequency. The whole thing is awkward and adorable and we’ve watched James be jealous all episode, so when she finally kisses him we’re expecting everything to be sunshine and rainbows with these two for once.

Unfortunately, Supergirl chooses this exact moment to bring us back to the Non/Miriad plotline. Normally, I am all for weaving a common thread through the series and keeping up a greater story than the monster of the week, but Kara and James’ relationship has been drawn out all season. Couldn’t they have had one week to explore the thing between them before James goes into a zombie trance without even reacting to the kiss?

Other thoughts:

Barry: What do you say we step away from the nice lady and settle this like women?

• Frame this line, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever heard.
• Barry and Kara are honestly too cute for words, even their goodbye is adorable as they race each other go get him back home. All the donuts and ice cream for these sweet superheroes!
• Alex and Hank are missing from this episode, having gone rogue last week. I’m excited to see if they actually find Jeremiah Danvers.

What did you think of this episode of Supergirl? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Supergirl airs Mondays at 8/7c on CBS. Follow us on Twitter @TellTV