Martin Carr reviews the fourth episode of Supergirl season 4…
Non-violent affirmative action is all well and good but implementing that, following that through and putting it into practice without repercussions is tricky. Trying to quell an uprising, underground movement or other extremist group in a time of civil unrest is a constant battle. This is the underlying lesson to be learned from episode four of Supergirl, where aliens are being enslaved hate groups are coming together and stability is threatened. For the blissfully ignorant there is an ever present smokescreen of relationship dramas, emotional crisis and moderately threatening circumstances to distract.
A clash of cultural standpoints underpinned by Jonn and his detachment from DEO affairs holds one key, while elsewhere Alex holds another as director. Meanwhile Kara’s lack of involvement causes a temporary rift as her principles get in the way of common sense. However it is the events which occur on the periphery which have the largest knock on affect this week. New arrivals in the form of Manchester Black a non-violent alien activist joins forces with Jonn to form an alliance with unclear objectives. Played by David Ajala using a provincial accent he injects some fresh blood into proceedings and gives David Harewood someone new to bounce off. His input and implied role reversal in the latter stages of this episode set things up nicely.
Aside from this there is the standard showdown between rival factions including DEO agents, a hermetically sealed in Supergirl and those Graves twins. Where the episode finally steps out of conventional territory is with call backs to Supergirl clones and public reactions to Guardian’s intervention. It is here that real drama materialises as social media throws Olsen under the bus and a Russian doppelganger double agent Supergirl promises more problems.
Unfortunately as much as this is a hopeful sign Supergirl is still lacking tangible threats. Cunning and conniving siblings were never cutting it while an armour shrouded big bad still feels insubstantial. They really need to bring something cataclysmic out of the woodwork before alien amnesty plotlines run dry. Matters concerning sisterly squabbles, desertion of faith or character broadening sub plots are not going to carry another eighteen episodes. What the writers have done here feels like padding with small amounts of pertinence. Everyone deserves something more dramatic to tussle with and soon, as knocking American administrations can only have a limited impact before audiences get bored.
Martin Carr
Originally published November 6, 2018. Updated January 8, 2019.
