Martin Carr reviews the fourteenth episode of Supergirl season 4…
Few programmes can lay claim to underpinning their plot lines with politics. Fewer still cast off the illusion of prime time scheduling and refuse to dilute down their message, pander to sponsorship and censor while delivering a body blow at an administration level. Supergirl has irrevocably changed the landscape for superhero franchises with this episode, which advocates affirmative action, dissects immigration issues and addresses national unrest beneath a thin veil of misdirection.
There is such a tangible sense of tension ingrained into Stand and Deliver that towards its latter stages this feels more like a thriller than anything approaching light entertainment. With factions breaking off inciting civil unrest and humans in riot mode Supergirl is building towards something to rival season three. Between Menagerie, Manchester Black and the remaining Elite we are witnessing a formidable force of charismatic villainy with focus and drive. Combine that with the manipulative Lockwood who is influencing public opinion for his own ends and episode fourteen continues pushing that envelope.
Character wise there is more subtlety, broader writing and braver choices being made. J’onn, Kara and Brainiac are amongst those who experience noticeable direction changes this week, as one re-harnesses his anger, another moves beyond mere symbolism, while a third experiences an identity defining moment. Elsewhere that sense of reality and fiction overlapping continues before things take a progressive turn. Homages come from musical cues, film references and snippets of dialogue all within context and more importantly relevant.
In a world defined by mass media and influenced by politicians with little consideration for a wider world this clash of fictional ideologies, belief systems and spiralling tensions makes for exciting television. Primed, ready, carefully constructed but ultimately lethal this powder keg of programming is worth a watch.
Martin Carr
