Supergirl (TV Series) The Martian Chronicles (2017) User Reviews

Bring on the White Martians

[ThomasDrufke · 7/10 · 6 February 2017]

The one thing Supergirl has always done well is writing family relationships. Kara & Alex' bond together is easily one of the highlights of this show and definitely this season. 'The Martian Chronicles' definitely adds to that bond and brings full circle the connection that Jonn Jonnz and M'gann had together as well.

The writers took full advantage of having Martians on the show by turning the episode into a legit throwback monster tribute. Was I the only one who saw a direct correlation between the episode and 1979's Alien film? Most of it worked. I especially enjoyed the whole "who is it" aspect to the Martians aboard the D.E.O's headquarters. Perhaps taken a little too seriously as some members looked legitimately worried by putting their hand up to the fire as a 'White Martian' test. Why were any of them worried, including Jonn? Don't they know that they aren't the White Martian anyway?

The Martian conflict provided ample time to flesh out M'gann as a character. Of course, she chose to leave by episode's end, but I'm now much more inclined to hope for her return. Sharon Leal and David Harewood had nice chemistry together and hopefully that will continue once she deals with her people back on Mars. Not dissimilarly, Alex & Kara had a bit of a squabble as the former chose to take Maggie up on a concert offer instead of celebrating "earth birthday" with Kara. Again, the dispute is very trivial and ultimately inconsequential, but I think both of them have built up enough trust with viewers where something like this doesn't necessarily bother them. It's not the most creative way to have an argument, but it worked enough for me.

Luckily, the romantic stuff was put on the back burner this week with Mon-El and James taking minimal roles. It's inevitable that Mon and Kara will be together at some point, and the end of the episode did nothing but confirm that to me. Why are we going through the same spiel as we did with James last year? Lucy was in Kara's way with James and now she has the same problem with Eve. That just seems like too much CW clichéd romantic stuff for me.

So in all, I was much more pleased with tonight's Supergirl adventure than last week's. Putting aside the romantic clichés, it was a well strung and well written entry for season 2.

+Kara & Alex are delightful together

+Alien-like monster episode

+Miss Martian getting a proper full episode treatment

-Mon-El with Eve, really?

7.9/10

Supergirl - S02E11 The Martian Chronicles

[j_forbesy · 6/10 · 6 February 2017]

After a pretty disappointing return last week, I was interested to see how Supergirl would bounce back. The sign of a good show is that after a down episode, they are able to back it up and pull you back on board. Unfortunately for Supergirl, this wasn't that episode.

When I first discovered that this was a martian themed episode, my expectations rose high. I love what they have done with the martians so far and I like learning more and more about what happened on Mars. The martian stuff during last weeks episode was the shining light that came through. I however did have a slight problem with how they went about doing this martian storyline. This is now the second time this season that I've been watching a Supergirl episode and I can't stop making story connections to a similar story that one of the other CW superhero shows had just done. First it was the parrelles between Guardian and Vigilante on Arrow, and this week shone parrelles between last week's episode of The Flash where Gypsy is sent to collect HR and return him back to Earth 19. While the stories aren't identical, they are just too similar to each other to be played out over consecutive weeks.

While saying that however, I did like the stuff they did to differently to The Flash. I really loved how they made it a who is who mystery and we got to see the tension amongst the DEO officers. For them then to flip it and not only make Winn a white martian (which wasn't that big of a reveal) but to have Alex be one too was a really smart play.

While still on the topics of the martians, I thought that Megan's decision to return stunk of cast availability or budget cuts. I understand these are big things that the creators have to consider when making a show, however it gives the writers an opportunity to be creative as to why they have left. This episode did not do that. For Megan and everyone else to fight hard against the white martians, only for her to turn around and say that she is leaving anyway just doesn't make sense. That would of been like if HR on The Flash went with Gypsy after Cisco risked his life for him. It seems so out of character and was a really poorly written moment.

There was only one other theme that ran through this episode that I think it worth mentioning, and not for good reasons. I don't want this to become a relationship drama. While I'm okay with having some love stories in shows like this, I don't want the will they/won't they relationship drama to hit the front foot. This is what we got in Arrow and because of it, seasons 3 and 4 didn't turn out so well. The Flash is one of my favourite shows and it is because they are able to have this relationship, will they/won't they drama present in the show, but turned so mildly down that it only sits in the background rather than it being the "issue of the week".

Overall, the more I think about this episode, the more down I feel on it. While it had some cool action set pieces and everything else, I'm scared that this show is starting to be dragged into that girly, CW drama genre. With the show getting the return of Lena Luthor next week and The Flash musical crossover is coming up in the near future, I haven't written off this season yet, but a few more episodes like this weeks, and it's going to be left sitting next to Arrow season 3 and 4.

6/10

Good premise, good build up. Weak resolution.

[thisemailisforcrap · 7/10 · 6 February 2017]

I want to say that focusing on Mgann and Jonn this episode was its saving grace. These two characters are (or were) among the most interesting in the series, and had so much potential. Mgann trying to deny her Martian roots, being accepted by Jonn, facing guilt over the actions of her people - the show could have explored this so much more deeply. Jonn, who's felt so isolated and alone, finally having someone to talk to from Mars - a "friend", as expressed in the last episode.

Then they went and absolutely ruined that by 1. starting a romance between Jonn and Mgann, which had zero build-up. I want to see them connecting, see how their past affects their relationship, and then maybe have it reach that point. But to have it happen so suddenly is a disservice. And 2. Sending Mgann away? Really? She's barely had an arc in this show and somehow the writers felt that closing the chapter on her character was the best decision?

And let's talk about Kara. Kara, who is isolated, feels her sister pulling away, has her friends risking their lives. Kara, who in the beginning of the episode makes it clear that she's not interested in Mon-El, but somehow at the end of the episode realizes she actually is? With no build-up? No support? Her character does a 180 in this episode for absolutely no reason and her arc, once again, revolves around Mon-El. Instead of exploring further the discussion in the DEO about feeling abandoned (which I thought was well-done), the end scene shifts to make it all about Mon-El once again. Jesus.

Some good points to the episode: I liked the suspense within the DEO as they were trying to figure out who the white martians were. (Although having Alex and Kara fight each other gets old after like the 4th time). I loved white martian-controlled Winn - I think that would be a great thing to explore further. Actually give Winn characterization that isn't nerdy/awkward tech support.

I also wish they'd actually given some screen time to Kara realizing that she needed to give Winn and James the freedom to make their own decisions re: Guardian. She kinda just does a 180 at the end with no support.

Basically, there was so much potential for this episode. It could have been so good. It was pretty good, in the beginning and middle parts, but it felt so hastily wrapped-up and out of character towards the end. They needed to spend more time on Kara, since this is her show.

And I don't even want to mention Mon-El and Kara's relationship. Are we really going to do this cliché 'he's dating someone else so she's jealous/sad whatever and they eventually get together' all over again? Did the writers completely forget that Season 1 even happened? At least James was a decently good character (or he could have been, if they didn't sabotage his development this season).

Just, please, give Kara back her show. And her arc. And develop the actually interesting characters instead of sending them away.