Supergirl‘s second season has come to an end, and we discuss what worked and didn't work for us in the final five episodes. Here's the scoop: we really enjoyed “Ace Reporter” as well as the wonderfully different and complex older female characters who were around at the end of the season. Unfortunately, we cannot get behind the writers' attempt to transform Mon-El into a hero, and we are disappointed that so many characters played by people of color seemed to be shuffled to the side to make room for his storyline.

What Worked for Us

Lena Luthor

• So much so, that we dedicated five episodes to her. Check out episodes 33-37 for some ridiculous fangirling.
  • Let's Talk Lena! (2×18 “Ace Reporter”) — Episode 33
  • Let's Talk Lena! (2×19 “Alex”) — Episode 34
  • Let's Talk Lena! (2×20 “City of Lost Children”) — Episode 35
  • Let's Talk Lena! (2×21 “Resist”) — Episode 36
  • Let's Talk Lena! (2×22 “Nevertheless She Persisted”) — Episode 37
• We're not sure how to interpret That Look Lena gives Supergirl when she mentioned Mon-El is dating Kara. Was she testing her because she's suspicious that Kara is Supergirl? Does Lena think Mon-El might be cheating on Kara with Supergirl? Or is she merely expressing concern for her good friend Kara?
• We feel like there should have been more of a reaction from Lena when she runs into Supergirl, Lillian, and Hank on the Daxamite ship.

“Ace Reporter”

• The storyline focused on Lena without excluding Kara.
• The villain of the week was creepy.
• Rahul Kohli was a great guest star.
• Mon-El was used well as a goofy sidekick to Kara.

“City of Lost Children”

• This episode worked more for Stephanie than it did for Kris.
• James acting like the James we loved in Season 1! And actually getting some gosh darn screentime!
• Some affecting moments, such as Marcus touching James's face, and Marcus saying that he thought Earth would be different
• J'onn mentoring James! More of that please! More of J'onn mentoring everyone.

Kara being Kara

• Of course, she took the risk and worked with Lillian & Hank to save the person (fine, people) she loves.
• But she wasn't a dupe! She anticipated Lillian's ultimate betrayal.
• She tried everything she could before attacking the Daxamites en masse.
• Even though Mon-El leaving was happy-making for us, Melissa Benoist made us sad for Kara.
• Also, Kara has the best cardigan ever, and Kris is pining for it.

Alex and Maggie

• They're sweet, right? They're sweet!
• Alex and Maggie said they loved each other. Sorry! Alex Danvers and Maggie Sawyer said that they loved each other. And they might get a dog named Gertrude. (They better!)
• And then Alex proposed?!? Hang on, kids! How long have y'all been dating again?
• Alex and Maggie breaking into the DEO together was pretty cute. Maggie made a great entrance, and her comment about their relationship coming full circle made Stephanie smile.

Cat returning!

• Cat definitely added a burst of energy to “Resist,” and her reactions to the reveal that Pres. Marsdin is an alien were fantastic.
• She had two good mentoring scenes with Kara, which is how we think Cat is best used.
• She totally knows that Kara is Supergirl (but why did she pretend not to in “Resist”?) and spotted James as Guardian immediately.

Rhea

• Though we had reservations about Mon-El's mom being the Big Bad, Rhea had some good stuff.
• In particular, her mentoring of Lena gave them both a good storyline, even though it ended in betrayal and heartbreak for dear Lena.
• The reveal that Rhea's blood had been infused with kryptonite worked for Stephanie. It made Rhea's motivations come into focus.

Lillian Luthor

• Brenda Strong is great, and Lillian is so vile yet compelling.
• Does she love Lena? Maybe. But we know she won't ever stop manipulating her. Stay away, Lena!
• Having her and Lena work together on the lead dispenser thingy was a good interaction for them, but we wish we'd gotten an ending beat of some kind on that storyline in the finale.

Calista Flockhart, Teri Hatcher, Brenda Strong & Lynda Carter

• How amazing to have four women in their 50s or older in one episode!
• And none of them were there just to be someone's mother or to prop up the storyline of a male character.

M’gann!!!

• BRING HER BACK
• LET HER STAY!

Superman

• Again, he was a great SUPPORTING CHARACTER. Please come back to hang out with Kara and help her find confidence in herself.
• The exchange between Clark and Kara about Kalex was pretty cute.

Sending Mon-El into space!!!

• We realize he’s probably going to be back next season (ugh), but we’re glad they evicted him at the end of the season so that we can enjoy the hiatus.

What Didn't Work for Us

• Reluctant hero vs indifferent hero — We're not sure the show knows the difference, even though they demonstrated it pretty clearly with M’gann and Mon-El, respectively.
• Mon-El in any episode that wasn’t “Ace Reporter”
• “Alex” — especially altering characterizations to suit the plot the writers decided to tell
• Some of Cat’s lines — we know the writers think they’re being cute and clever, but they make us cringe
• The abusive scene between Winn and Lyra getting swept under the rug like it was nothing. And what was she going to call James before she stopped herself?!?
• The writers’ failure to take advantage of so many opportunities they had this season.
• The shuffling aside of characters played by people of color

Questions

• In “Ace Reporter,” Kara’s shirt was burned just so that the House of El crest was visible. However, no one actually seemed to realize Kara was Supergirl in that moment, so why did they do that?
• Someone else made it off of Krypton! Is it Lor-Zod/Chris Kent/Nightwing? Or maybe Doomsday?
• Alex's proposal went unanswered, though Maggie didn't seem likely to say no. But Floriana Lima apparently isn't going to be a series regular next season, so what will that mean for Alex and Maggie's relationship?
• How much is Cat going to be around? She seemed like she was back at CatCo, but will they write another exit for her at the beginning of next season? We're happy about the possibility of her being around more in Season 3, even if she's not as present as she was in Season 1.
• What's the status of James as The Guardian? He was helping out in a big crisis in the last two episodes, but will be still be vigilante-ing it up in Season 3?

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