Supergirl Review: Triggers (Season 3 Episode 2)

Where do I even begin? Supergirl Season 3 Episode 2 “Triggers” is a hamfisted attempt at portraying depression and anxiety. Supergirl has become someone I barely even recognize, her characterization is nothing like the Kara Danvers from either of the previous seasons (both of which are different from each other as well).

Part of the problem with “Triggers” is that each of the concurrent storylines in this episode need more focus than what they’re given.

The B story of Samantha and Ruby isn’t revealed to be connected to the main plot until the final moments of the episode. This choice, while good for a surprise reveal, leads to their story being more of a frustrating distraction, rather than a heartfelt introduction.

Moreover, Ruby’s motivations for putting herself in danger and acting out at school are just poorly written. I see what the Supergirl writers were trying to do with this story, but it just fell short of convincing. I’m very interested in this plot line and what it could be, hopefully the writing will improve from here.

Ruby: I thought you would save me.

Samantha: Baby, if I had superpowers I would have swept you right out of there. But I don’t.

Kara’s story is as usual the central story, but it suffers from a lack of development or focus, in addition to forgetful writing and characterization. This story would be so much better if it wasn’t centered around the romanticized fallout of an unhealthy relationship.

Kara and Mon-El were together for less time than he’s been gone, and she’s been through much more traumatic events, this spiral just doesn’t make sense. Before he left, Mon-El and Kara had a brief relationship that was fraught with conflict.

It’s understandable for Kara to need sometime to recover from making the choice to send him away, but it should not have broken her to this degree. Sadly the writers are continuing their choice from Supergirl Season 2 to wreck Kara’s life for the sake of a boy who could barely even show respect for her, in the name of love.

Kara: I put him in there and he died. I killed him, I killed him.  

I don’t buy for one minute that Kara Danver’s worst fear is the death of a boy she dated for a month. It’s just so out of character when one of the most fundamental things that we know about Kara is that Alex is the most important person to her; when she has family and friends who mean more, who she’s known longer, who actually care about her.

We do get some quality Danvers sisters bonding moments in this episode, but this deep PTSD isn’t going to make me care for Kara’s relationship with Mon-El. You can’t fix a poorly written story with revisionist history. I will say that the portrayal of Kara’s panic attacks is one of the few things that is well done in “Triggers.”  

And just because Cat Grant has a new job, the Supergirl writers seem to think that they can pretend she doesn’t exist for several episodes as long as they throw her onto a background television every once in awhile.

Cat Grant had nothing to say about the sell and acquisition of her company to Lena Luthor? Really? I can suspend my disbelief long enough to understand that maybe Kara isn’t high enough on her priority list to merit weekly check-ins, but I can’t accept that she’d have absolutely no part in the changes going on at the top of her own company.

Cat built CatCo from the ground up, it’s her legacy, but you wouldn’t know that from “Triggers.”

On the tertiary level, we begin to see the Supergirl writers planting conflict in Maggie and Alex’s relationship. If it hadn’t already come out that Floriana Lima will be leaving the show, this conflict would be interesting instead of just disappointing.

Maggie: I didn’t know you had such a way with kids.

Alex: It’s a secret talent, you’ll thank me one day when we have kids.

Lots of couples face the “will we have kids” discussion, it’s absolutely a thing that should be discussed in romantic relationships. I deeply want Supergirl to continue this story with the grace and dignity that it started with; I don’t think that’s an unreasonable ask, but I’m not sure it will be met either.  

OTHER THOUGHTS:

• James’ attitude, much like Kara’s, changes on a dime these days. Last week he seemed to be good friends with Lena, having a great deal of respect for her and a good working relationship. But now with her at CatCo there’s an unnecessary tension and conflict between the two of them apparently based in James feeling like he’s being usurped.
• I can see them sewing the seeds of a romance between these two, and if it weren’t so clearly to get fans to stop shipping them both with Kara I might have been into it.
• I’m glad that Lena doesn’t let Kara walk all over her at work, or behave like a terrible employee. This relationship is one of the best on the show and it, at least, is being handled really well.
• Domestic Maggie and Alex is 100% the best thing about this episode.
• The music in “Triggers” is really excellent. “California” by GRIMES and “Thursday Girl” by MITSKI are going right into my spotify library! 
• Who fixes the elevator Kara just rips through at CatCo? And the roof? What to do the other people that work there think of that completely random destruction? Technically, James is the only one there who knows she’s Supergirl, but do the rest of them just not notice physical damage happening to their workplace in the middle of the day?  
• Yael Grobglas makes a fantastic villain, I just wish they’d brought her in for a more well written episode.
• Since we do know that Samantha will become Reign, how do you think her powers will come to fruition? What will trigger, it if you will?
• M’Gann calls upon J’onn at the last second, asking him to join her on Mars. What do you think has happened since she left?

 

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Supergirl airs Mondays at 8/9c on The CW.

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