Stronger Together (Supergirl)
| "Stronger Together" | |
|---|---|
| Supergirl episode | |
| Episode no. |
Season 1 Episode 2 |
| Directed by | Glen Winter |
| Teleplay by |
Ali Adler Andrew Kreisberg |
| Story by |
Greg Berlanti Andrew Kreisberg |
| Production code | 4X7602 |
| Original air date | November 2, 2015 |
| Guest actors | |
| |
"Stronger Together" is the second episode in the first season of the CBS television series Supergirl, which aired on November 2, 2015. It was written by series developers/creators Greg Berlanti, Ali Adler and Andrew Kreisberg, and directed by Glen Winter. The episode centers on Kara's attempt to put a positive image on Supergirl as she attempts to capture a Kryptonian prisoner from Fort Rozz, while Cat pressure James' connection to Superman to get an interview with Supergirl.
Plotline
In the week after her exposure to world as the Girl of Steel, Kara is pushed to the limits in her role as Supergirl. First by the DEO through testing and training by Hank and Alex, then after Winn tells her about a fire at the port, Kara (despite being warned by Alex to slow down and not get excited) races to the location and attempts to stop a ship from exploding, which resulted in a massive oil spill in the ocean, and Kara is ridiculed by the media for taking on more than she could chew: "I went from superhero to eco-terrorist in a single bound!" as Kara puts it mildly. Her actions also receives condemnation from businessman Maxwell Lord, who blames Supergirl for bringing problems to National City. Meanwhile, in a staff meeting, Cat, who wants to get a handle on the Supergirl angle (even dubbing her as "#TerribleGirl"), has pressured James to use his connection to Superman to get her an interview with Supergirl. James is worried that doing this assignment would put Kara in an uncomfortable position, but sees it as an opportunity to build a positive image for Supergirl. Kara later tells James she'll do the interview.
Kara also continues her training at the DEO, with Alex challenging her physically in a room containing Kryptonite, where at a disadvantage Alex defeats Kara. Desperate to prove to National City that she is capable of handling any threat as her cousin after Cat grills her about Supergirl, Kara enlists James and Winn to help put a new spin on Supergirl by tackling smaller situations. The PR ploy works, but Alex is upset that Kara revealed herself to James and Winn. Alex then gets a call from the DEO after apologizing to Kara about training her too hard.
In a flashback, Kara's past with Alura is revealed, as she wishes she could spend more time with her mother, who is always working (having just sentenced another alien), but she also has a tremendous amount of respect for her, and aspires to be just like her some day. Kara asked her holographic device about what a Hellgrammite was, explaining that it is a giant insect that has a capacity to disguise itself and shoots venomous darts that look like icicles covered in poison. The information would come in handy for Kara back on Earth after she surveys a plant that was attacked by Hellgrammite, a escapee from Fort Rozz who is in need of DDT (his source of food) in order to survive. Alex is briefed on a plan to bait Hellgrammite by stealing a chemical from National City’s local plant via truck escort, but when they used the DDT to lure him out, Hellgrammite takes out the agents, abducts Alex, and takes the scientist to an abandoned warehouse where she came face-to-face with General Astra, who expressed her interest in killing Kara and taking over Earth, as she used Hellgrammite as part of her scheme to lure Kara.
Hank immediately calls Kara to tell her that Alex is missing, and she takes off as Kara frantically searches for Alex. When she suddenly hears her voice at the warehouse Kara is shocked to see Astra alive for the first time since Krypton's demise. Astra informs Kara that she plans on wiping out the entire population of Earth and reveals that Alura sentenced her to Fort Rozz for trying to speak the truth and trying to be a hero and save their world. Astra wants Kara to join her army, but Kara refuses and vows to stop Astra, leading the two Kryptonians to battle it out, while an injured Alex takes out Hellgrammite by killing the alien. Then Hank surprisingly shows up to stick a Kryptonite knife in Astra's arm so it can cripple her. Astra escapes with the stabbed knife, allowing Kara, Alex and Hank to get away in case she returns. Kara tells Alex that Astra has to be stopped.
As Alex is nursed back to health, the sisters share a moment together, with Alex giving Kara a gift, which turns out to be a place for Kara to communicate with a image of Alura via artificial intelligence. Kara is overcome with emotion. Meanwhile, it is revealed to the audience that Hank is apparently inhuman, as his eyes glow red, while Astra has her commander analyze the blade that stabbed her, expressing Supergirl is stronger than she had thought and that humanity has means of weakening Kryptonians, prompting her to hold off on the invasion for now. Later that evening, Cat, after threatening James with termination, gets the scoop she wanted as Kara (as Supergirl) meets Cat from above her car for an exclusive interview, telling Cat that this is "her story."
Reception
Ratings
The episode placed a 2.2/7 among 18-49s, with more than 8.87 million viewers tuned in to see the episode, a 29 percent drop from the debut episode, and once again tying it with NBC's Blindspot as the top scripted program of the evening.[1]
Reviews
The episode received positive reviews, mostly for adding more layers to the story's elements.
Jeff Jensen of Entertainment Weekly notes in his assessment of the review, "Stronger Together is strong follow-up to last week’s fun, albeit super-stuffed, series premiere that includes some great character development for Alex and starts to reveal what kind of a superhero Kara hopes to be."[2]
Cliff Wheatley of IGN gave the episode a 8, saying, “Stronger Together” is a great episode that gives us less of the stuff we didn’t love about the pilot and plenty more of the stuff we did. The show’s takes on Kara, Cat, and James are inventive and appealing, while the action remains fun and there are easter eggs aplenty. Also: was that Perd Hapley as the TV anchor?!.[3]
Caroline Siede of The A.V. Club gave the episode a positive review, giving it a B-.[4] In her assessment of the episode: "Though Supergirl may be a little shaky on the execution this week, much like its central hero, its heart is in the right place."[4]
Stacy Glanzman of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 5.0 out of 5 stars.[5]
References
- ↑ Porter, Rick (November 4, 2015). "Monday final ratings: ‘The Voice’ and ‘NCIS: LA’ adjust up, ‘Supergirl’ holds". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
- ↑ "Supergirl: Stronger Together" from Entertainment Weekly (November 2, 2015)
- ↑ Wheatley, Cliff (November 2, 2015). "SUPERGIRL: "Stronger Together" REVIEW". IGN. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
- 1 2 Siede, Caroline (November 2, 2015). "A clunky Supergirl makes smart choices". The A.V. Club. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
- ↑ "Supergirl Season 1 Episode 1 Review: Stronger Together" from TV Fanatic (November 2, 2015)