Martin Carr reviews the third episode of Supergirl season 4…
This may yet be the bravest episode in the run so far. Jumping between timelines, back tracking through seasons and carrying a narrative line which is both unconventional and contentious. ‘Man of Steel’ may be a nice play on words but it has nothing to do with our man in spandex. This forty minutes and change is primarily about the flip side of a cultural turning point. There is minimal set piece action that is viewed from a positive perspective, while our female hero remains waylaid throughout.
Although the overarching undercurrent which permeates ‘Man of Steel’ may be xenophobia things remain interesting because there are no easy outs here. For the first time aliens including our hero are viewed as vermin who arrive and disrupt, negatively affect and leave things forever changed. This then is perhaps why the on-line response to this episode has not been favourable. Historically audiences have never responded well to downbeat endings or darker elements without a silver lining. ‘Man of Steel’ offers no such safety net and in fact follows a fairly continual downward trajectory until the end credits.
Using the past events and raiding previous episodes provides some historical basis giving credence to actions being carried out here. Race riots, technological progression and outmoded working practices all play a part in shaping this new protagonist. What this episode does above all things however is provide context which if anything makes Supergirl better. One sided hero worship and a perspective which fails to include the other is limiting. Entertainment should not be confined to what people consider acceptable, sanitary and safe. Sometimes the best and bravest films and television do something ground breaking by choosing to go out on a limb. What ‘Man of Steel’ has done is not only unmask our evil denizen but provided his perspective.
Lockwood is well educated and rational but a victim of circumstance. His viewpoint however off centre represents a culmination of events which have altered his opinion forever. Extremist groups happen in a similar fashion where strongly held beliefs are pushed somewhere dangerous by one final choice. Race relations, immigration and the current government stance on such things should not be overlooked in relation to this show. With the recent spate of pipe bombs being mailed and Neo Nazi marches in certain areas of America, it is not difficult to see where the inspiration came from. We live in dangerous and irrational times where people drive around in camper vans with clippings of allies and enemies tapped across the window.
Some might say that Supergirl has no business getting involved in such harsh realities and yet to ignore them makes you complicit. People need to use the platforms they have and get involved, otherwise this behaviour will continue and others will suffer. Sometimes acknowledging such things rather than blithely burying your head in the sand and sticking to script means more.
Martin Carr
Originally published October 30, 2018. Updated January 8, 2019.
