RacerHo7

Excellent breakdown, and totally on point, especially your second paragraph. Hoorah for J'onn because he's been missed in the action this season. Yes, about Sanvers and Maggie. They need to flesh her out (aka read the comics, because they don't know who she is). Also, like you, I'm still waiting for the protagonist, the character that the show is named for, to actually have a real storyline this season. Turning an 'arrogant frat boy' into a 'good enough person' to be your boyfriend isn't a story line, and that's pretty much what they've given the hero this season. It would never happen to a male superhero, so it shouldn't be happening to Supergirl.

Kara has been written horribly 2 dimensional and even OOC this season, since the first episode of the season. It was the first thing that I noticed that had me concerned, and it's gotten progressively worse over the season. When you have a complex character like Kara Zor El (and she was more complex last season), being written in such a manner, then you have a character who has regressed. Kara wasn't perfect last season, and did some dumb things then as well. However, there was at least a reason that made sense other than 'plot demands it,' which seems to be the 'go to' for most things this season. Kara this season isn't really Kara Zor El. I don't know who she is, but I'd like the other Kara back (and even moreseo, I would love for these show runner to spend some time with actual Supergirl comics so they can learn something about the character). Kara isn't the only one to suffer though. Hank is the MM, and he's being written in the most head scratching way this season as well. They've all been dumbed down (or the writers forget their abilities), and I don't know if that's a reflection of the new network, and change of focus, but it is annoying and sloppy. When I've got children asking questions about why adults they know on this show are doing 'dumb things,' that the kids can figure out rather quickly, then writers really need to think about what they are putting onscreen.

Yes. He lied, which from his POV makes sense. The truth isn't so nice. It's not surprising that he lied. M'gann lied too to hide that she was a White Martian when J'onn first met her. They both lied to cover their past to people who they believed would harshly judge those pasts. I get the initial lying. With M'gann though, we saw her guilt that was basically destroying her, and she helped, even though she knew it would cost her. With Mon-el, we didn't see any guilt or concern for his people or his world, even when he was just by himself. Maybe if they had shown him having guilt over what he had done, and portrayed him differently (not as the arrogant frat boy), then I would have seen him differently as a character. As he stands now on the show, I just see him as selfish and immature, still thinking about his own wants and needs.

In the comics, Daxam is a xenophobic race that actually looks down on other aliens. Kryptonians are not. They are open and welcoming and came to that place after their own messed up history. So the idea that we're supposed to see Kara's prejudices would probably make people like me, who know, and like the comics that these stories are supposed to reflect, rage a bit. Daxam was part of the Dominator invasion of Earth (until they decided they were being used). Daxam engaged in countless wars. Also, this isn't even Lar Gand/Mon-el/Valor. This guy is some random creation with the same name as one of the most powerful families of Krypton (because whoever wrote the story didn't know why Valor had the name Mon-el). The show runners know they're getting criticism for screwing up Valor, because they've mentioned it.

I agree with everything in this post, especially the contrast to M'gann, because she was engaging in true horrors, and made a choice. She didn't just run away, she helped to free people, and then left. Then, we have her going back to try and make things better. She didn't do it to 'impress someone.' She did it because it was the right thing to do. That's a true redemption arc. She tried to help the people that she was brought up to believe that she should destroy. How many slaves did Mon-el try to free? How many times did he try to help Kara or anyone else, just because he felt a need to do what was right, rather than just to impress the girl? The problem with Mon-el's story and it being tied to Kara, is that they are diminishing her as a Superhero. Where is her moral outrage that he didn't do something to help his people before he left, and doesn't seem to care about helping them now? What about what was done (a person was killed), so that he could selfishly leave Daxam, and again his general lack of concern? If he were truly 'redeemed,' he would have told his story to her, instead of being caught in a lie. Of course, Kara seems more concerned about him lying about being the prince, and doesn't seem concerned about his past, or present behavior all that much (since she forgives him so easily). This is Kara Zor-el, not just some random woman. Would they have Superman be with Lois if she was like Mon-el? Would they have Barry be with Iris on the Flash, if she was like Mon-el? I don't think so. Both of those women would be considered unworthy of those men. But you can have a man behave like Mon-el, and we're supposed to believe that he is worthy of Supergirl. They didn't have to write him this way. They chose to (since tv Mon-el is nothing like comic book Mon-el who is actually a very likable character). Why would they think a selfish 'frat boy" is a good love story for one of the most iconic female superheroes?

I don't think it was intentional . Remember when he was supposed to learn the lesson of what heroism was truly all about episodes ago? Remember Slaver's Moon? Remember even back before that? How many different types of lessons does he need, and why does he need to be repeatedly taught them episode after episode? That's the problem. He should want to do the right thing, because it's the right thing to do. James was inspired to help, because he just wanted to help people. That's what heroism is. You don't want to be a hero to "get the girl." That's being selfish, not selfless, and not at all heroic. Plus, Mon-el does not take responsibility for his behavior, and laughs it off repeatedly. He can't even blame it on "growing up a rich royal", because Kara grew up a rich royal. Mon-el has Supergirl (who he has seen be heroic over and over and over again) as his girlfriend. By now, he should have been interested in doing better, not because he wanted to impress a girl, but because he just wanted to be a better person. Plus, he should have told her the truth, long before now, and if he wasn't forced to, he might never have been honest. At this point, he's exhausting to me as a character, because he's a man who behaves too much like a child. I have a teen boy, and Mon-El reminds me of a teenager, not a man. As for his parents, I doubt that we've seen the worst of them. I expect more thing to come out about them.

Yup, it's almost painful to watch at this point. As someone whose love of Supergirl started with the comics when I was a kid, it's pretty awful to see the strong, confident, intelligent woman that we met in season 1, be reduced to the girlfriend who has to deal with the selfish, lying, arrogant, man-child, that for some reason she thinks is worthy of being her boyfriend. Where in the heck is Kara Zor-El? Because honestly, I miss her.

This AV Club review excerpt pretty much sums up my feelings perfectly. av club review

Yes. The surgery on a child (when even on this show they've said many times over the years how pediatric surgery is highly specialized) was crazy. Arizona is a general surgeon, plus she is a pediatric and fetal surgeon (adults, kids, and fetuses). When did Minnick learn so much about surgery on children that she could tell one of the best pediatric surgeons in the country (as per the show), that she could only observe? It was absurd. Then she made that child's death about her, not Stephanie, and not that child's family. Even when they are trying to 'soften' Minnick, they do it, by showing her to be selfish. That's not going to make me like her or want her around. Every episode she's in, just makes me like her less. I'm pretty sure, I'm supposed to be liking her more. I think it's clearly the writing, but also the acting.

How does Kara know Mon-El's heart is in the right place? What has he done that has shown this....other than nothing? Trying to save her because he likes her, but ignoring people who need help? Drinking club soda? Talking about Kara while on a date with someone else? That "heart is in the right place" isn't real on this show because it hasn't actually happened. He's arrogant and entitled (remember how he acted when Kara rejected him). That's not how you behave if "your heart is in the right place." You don't try to make the person who rejected you feel guilty for that. The old Kara would know the difference. The dialogue doesn't match what's actually happened on the show. The show was better for Kara on CBS. She had real story lines all season long in season 1, and the relationships between the main characters were a focus. The CW version is full of cliches and sexist tropes. They also seem less interested in the relationships among the core characters. It's a noticeable difference. I watch the Flash and this show with my husband and son. They both can not stand Mon-El. My husband asks every single episode, "Why is he here when he's making Supergirl less awesome?" Plus, my son can see the sexist tropes they are using. If a 13 yr old boy can see the sexist tropes, then they're obvious. As for Lena, I like her being a gray character. I love Brenda Strong as Lillian, and I wish we had seen more of her all season long. She plays an awesome villain.

Yes, this is part of why none of it makes any sense. She actually called Mon-El an arrogant dudebro, and then was basicaly like "whatevs, I still want to kiss you" lol. He's an arrogant dudebro, that Kara would never have romantic interest in. They're lowering Kara's standards for what is important to her to justify her interest in Mon-El, and that's not cool. I liked Kara last season. She doesn't need to change or lower her standards just so they can try and pair her with a guy who isn't really worthy of Supergirl.