regularlyleaded

I know, right. Well, it can't be said the writers aren't trying to find a way to get James to fit in the show instead of just immediately shuffling him off screen. "A" for effort??? (Look, I'm just trying to be positive about this even though this sounds like a terrible idea because, TBH, a guy trying to find his innner vigilante is not why I watch this show. That's what I have Arrow for, writers. ARROW.) Also, this bit of the article was interesting and I was nodding my head in agreement: Kreisberg says what I always thought about Kara/James: They just weren't working as a romantic couple. Two very nice people who worked as friends and thought it could be more discovered, nope, we're just good friends. I've actually had that happen in real life, so I'm actually really okay with how it's ended. Could the writers have handled it better? Yes, but I think it's because they spent so long trying to make it happen no matter what, almost as if they were duty bound to make Kara/James work - they were trying really hard to make 'fetch' happen - that it took new writers and fresh eyes for them to realize, "Guys, this just isn't going to work. They're good friends. That's all. Move. ON." So points to the writers for realizing it, accepting it, and bringing it to an end.

I actually really enjoyed this episode. It wasn’t perfect (sometimes they don’t know when to lay off the cheese), but I think what this show does really well is that it has a lot of heart, and that was wonderfully on full display. So as far as introducing the show on a new network, and therefore looking at this as a mini soft reboot of the show, I think this episode did a good job of establishing the spirit of the show and it’s characters. I admit to having had a goofy grin on my face during some moments simply from the sheer fun and wonderful camaraderie between the characters. I really, really liked Kara and Clark’s relationship. It was nice to see that they have a close, warm and sweet familial relationship. They almost felt more like siblings than cousins which I think worked great. Melissa and Tyler had good chemistry together and they worked so very well establishing Kara and Clark’s family dynamic. I’ve never seen Tyler Hoechlin in anything else before, and while I very much enjoyed his take on Clark Kent, I’m just not buying him as Superman and I have no idea why. There’s something about him that just feels off to me and I can’t put my finger on it. I just don’t see him in the suit and go “Oh, yeah! That’s Superman.” But with that said, I don’t consider it a deal breaker because I think the more important aspect of bringing Clark/Superman aboard - and that absolutely needed to work (for me) - was his relationship with Kara, and as far as that’s concerned I think it was well done. (Truth be told, being unable to figure out why Hoechlin doesn’t quite work for me as Superman annoys me more than the fact that I don’t buy him as Superman, hehe ;) I’m also really liking Katie McGrath as Lena Luthor, but I hope they don’t turn her Luthor Evil. Mostly because that seems rote and for as much guff as the show gets for being a gender bent Superman show (which is not wholly undeserved), that would only add more fuel to that fire. Lena could do well as a grey character and I think that’s something this show does need. The show already has the two opposing extremes of valiant superhero and mustache twirling villain aspects covered. IMO, they could use some characters that dwell in the grey area. Calista as Cat Grant is such a force on this show. She adds so much to the show and Cat’s relationship with Kara has become very special - which is something that (IMO) was very much underscored by this episode - that, for me, there will definitely be a Cat Grant sized hole in the show now that she’s set for only guest appearances. :( With regards to the abrupt end to Kara/James, I just can’t get myself worked up about it for several reasons. The chief reason is I think the writers/producers were seeing the start of the second season (it’s first on the CW network) as a soft reboot of sorts, and as such, I think they wanted to be able to set the characters into position on this new playground as quickly as possible so that they could hit the ground running. Because I think they had a lot of material to cover (and still do) all that setup involved quickly dropping previous story lines that they perhaps thought weren’t working, expediently moving characters into positions where they can potentially work better, and introducing several new characters and establishing those new dynamics. To do all of that in one episode was never going to be pretty. Things were going to fall by the wayside: Alex - whose sisterly relationship with Kara (IMO) is core to the show, it’s strongest relationship, and absolutely integral to the show - was pushed, to an extent, into the background in this episode to allow the show to establish Clark’s relationship with Kara. Winn is suddenly working at the DEO, and while I think it makes sense to move him there it was really sudden and with no setup (as was the sudden emergence of his skill at reading Kryptonion(Kryptonese?), which is only slightly less ridiculous than his instant ability to not only be able to read Kryptonian software code but to also write a piece of “malware” to destroy Indigo. *LOL.* As someone who worked as a software engineer for many years, I will never stop laughing at how ridiculous that is. Heehee! Oh, Show, you’re cute, but that’s not how that works. It’s okay, though. I still love you anyway because I accept that this is a comic book based show about an endearing superhero alien that can shoot laser beams out of her eyes and not a science/tech documentary.) And Kara/James were quickly ended. Do I think it was abrupt? Yes. But I think a counterargument is that if the writers decided over the summer to end the not-quite-yet-a-relationship this season anyway, I don’t think dragging it out for more episodes was going to make it any better. First, it could’ve come off as them stringing along viewers, and second why eat up story time on something you knew that was going nowhere instead of spending that time on other stories. Particularly, time that could be spent on stories in what seems to be a really stuffed season (what with Superman, the new characters, multiple crossovers with it’s sister shows (Arrow, Flash, and LoT) , and a musical episode, the writers are certainly feeling ambitious). For my two cents, I don’t think the writers have any intention of revisiting Kara/James and as a result basically ripped the band-aid off as soon as they could; they dropped Kara/James - hard - into the Friend Zone. Sure, there’s always the possibility the writers can try to rekindle them later on. The genre savvy argument that the show is only setting things up for a love triangle and that “it’s not absolutely, positively over between Kara/James until one of them is dead!” exists because it’s stuff we’ve seen before in other shows. But, with that said, I just don’t think that’s the case here, especially considering how the writers handled it all. If the writers really had an interest in pursuing Kara/James in the future it would’ve been all too easy for Kara to say “I’m not ready.” That still gives them a way of doing a love triangle/keeping the possibility of a relationship going. But that’s not what they did. To me it felt like they were dropping it for good. Either way, I think this matter could very well be closed for good in the next episode or two. While James was reasonably upset with how Kara ended things, if within the next episode or two he’s all “You know what? I get it. You’re right, we work better as friends” or something to that effect then I’m considering the matter closed, no more Kara/James. If on the other hand he’s still making gooey eyes at her and overtures of “If you change your mind, I’ll be here” then they’ve been back-burnered and not ended. Finally, about the criticism that the show is a gender bent Superman (a criticism not without merit and more so now that they’ve made Kara a reporter too ), I think this something they could alleviate if the show would lean in harder into what makes Kara’s story different from Kal-El/Clark’s. Namely, she has 13 years worth of memories of Krypton! She grew up there, lived there, had friends, family, schooling there. Kara didn’t land on Earth a blank slate. Kara should have a lot of knowledge of other worlds, technologies, and alien languages. Hell, unless her parents loaded her pod with Rosetta Stone Alien Edition, she had to learn an entirely new language when she landed here not to mention about a new world and culture with absolutely no context to work from. And even though she’s been on Earth for 12 years now and has integrated into this world, there will always be little things here that are foreign or even strange to her. So, IMO, the show really needs to lean on all of that. I’m not saying Kara should be the show factotum for all things alien, but (IMO) last season the show didn’t make enough use of her Kryptonian knowledge and I think that hurt the show a little bit because it started to make her story match too closely to Clark Kent/Superman’s. Hence, the gender bent Superman criticisms. For what it’s worth, I think this episode showed some good indications of leaning more into Kara’s kryptonian history so I’m hopeful that it’s something they’ll dig into more throughout the season.

Hehe, I seriously doubt that they'll be eloping. But we have to be fair and acknowledge that them eloping would be considered surprising by many and therefore fits some of the spoilers. ;-) But with that said, if I were in Vegas placing a bet, I’d put my money on a quick Kara/James break up (though they never really got started). This particular spoiler that @Kendra previously posted some ways upstream is what makes it a safe bet in my mind: “Some of the other romantic threads are sort of dismissed away and I can’t say I’m going to miss them terribly. I would have celebrated the coupling, but if it was just going to be an extended “will they or won’t they” anyway, we don’t need that distraction. I want Kara to be happy and find love but I trust the writers to decide when that’s the most dramatically viable.” Ya, I think they break-up. I agree with @Kendra that if that's what's going to happen, now is the best time just to get it over with quickly and move along. Rip the band-aid off, as it were.

Well, you never know. Assuming they put a quick end to Kara/James, they may not do a love triangle at all. The writers may just go for a quick, clean break between Kara/James so they can try selling the audience on a different love interest for Kara, and hope that it garners a more enthusiastic response from the overall audience than Kara/James did. While it's hard to imagine show writers not indulging in a love triangle, I'm cautiously optimistic (or being a total fool believing it) that that's not what will happen here because they already did that in season 1 to a certain degree -- first Kara being jealous of Lucy and then James being jealous of Barry -- and the response was, IMO, tepid at best. I'm not sure what the writers think they would achieve by trying it again. Wouldn't it be the definition of insanity, doing the same thing again (and again) but expecting a different result? Of course, that's never stopped writers before, so.... Perhaps that's what the reviewers considered "a surprising exchange" and "made of whole cloth"? Instead of Kara and James leaving the question of their relationship as a point of discussion for later (and with everything going would be reasonable), the writers chose to address it quickly and definitively right in the first episode of the season. The result is that it seemed to come out of nowhere and felt like BS to one of the reviewers.

Heh, that’s certainly an opaque comment from TVline. But between that and that other spoiler that said that there was “a pretty surprising exchange between Kara and James”, I can think of two scenarios that would be outlandish and surprising enough (IMO) to merit such commentary by different reviewers. 1. The writers decide to immediately put the kibosh on Kara and James’ not-quite-yet-a-relationship (perhaps after they have the world’s most uninspiring and awkward first date, and one that we never actually have to witness on screen) where they realize, “hmmm…we’re better as just friends. Friends are good. Yay! Friends!” OR 2. The writers double down on Kara and James’ not-quite-yet-a-relationship and decide to skip the adorable, honeymoon phase of dating and instead Kara and James elope in Vegas. “The Hangover” styled flashbacks ensue over the course of the episode with a bonus scene of Ken Jeong reprising his character of Mr. Chow and asking everyone, “But did you die??” Both scenarios would surprise me (one also has a lot of ROFL potential, IMHO), but I think one is more likely than the other. No, you're not the only one. For whatever happens between Kara and James to qualify as a "surprising exchange" and "a development [...] made of whole cloth" IMO needs to be fairly outlandish and really unexpected. Kara and James moving forward with a fledgling relationship doesn't sound outlandish or surprising because that's exactly what the show was setting up at the end of the first season. The show taking a hard 180 from that course would be surprising (as would going whole hog, e.g., they skipped dating and just got married.) Granted, this is all conjecture based on thin spoilers, so who knows what happens. It could also be that the "surprising exchange" is nothing but a silly plot point in the s2 premiere that caught the reviewers' attention but that in the end means nothing and Kara and James' romantic relationship does indeed move forward. Whatever it is, we'll all find out soon enough.

When I wrote “promos” I was referring to all the promotional materials, e.g., video, posters, print and mainstream media articles as it pertains to the new season of the show. (yes, I realize that the show can’t control what the entertainment news outlets choose to focus on as it pertains to the show, but nevertheless, it constitutes marketing in promotion of the show). I will amend my original post to clarify. But, if I may….because we do not all traffic the same exact websites, see the same ads, nor frequent the same events I doubt that we have all had the same ad experience. So if your perception is that there’s not that much promotion of Superman, then, sincerely, good for you. But, my experience is not yours. Of the varying ads I’ve seen for the new season of the show, the majority have featured Superman. For me, the video promo posted above was the straw that broke the camel’s back. It’s a slick and well crafted promotional video, and yet after all the other Superman laden show promotions I've seen, I’m experiencing a distinctly unpleasant “Superman” overdose, and the new season of Supergirl hasn’t even started. That there is so much Superman promotion going on for a show that's about Supergirl is irritating to me. But again, that’s simply my perception and my experience thus far. I’m not going to spend any time agonizing over this, I was simply venting.

I'm going to say this once simply to get it out of my system: Jeebus Cripes! Enough with the Superman promotions (video, ads, print, etc.) for a show about Supergirl! Congratulations, producers, now I'm annoyed -__- *deep cleansing breath* I get that The Powers That Be in charge of Supergirl are heavily promoting Superman to not only attract viewers to the show as it moves to The CW, but also, in all likelihood, because they are hoping for a good reception to the actor playing Superman, so they can then spinoff a Superman show as well. But JFC, enough! I'm usually fairly blasé about these things because I understand they are trying to promote their show to as many viewers as possible and especially to those who may have not have seen the show on CBS, but sheesh! They've managed to annoy me with this. (Not to mention I think they may be over doing it. If Hoechlin is only supposed to be in 2 or 3 episodes to begin with, they are running the danger of these Superman heavy promotional items coming off as a bait and switch, especially to someone who never saw season one of Supergirl and they are expecting Superman to be a regular, which as far as I know, he's not). Blerg....I'm just going to ignore all the promotional material from here on out. It's not like they are directed at me because I already watch the show and (for now) plan on watching the new season. But if I'm being honest, all the Superman going on is starting to really irritate me enough that if I see another promotion for Superman, I'm going to skip the first five episodes of season 2 just to be sure I don't see (or hear) Superman on my screen to spite the over promotion of Superman on a show called Supergirl. Thank you all for allowing this minor rant. I will see myself out now -- there are important things in the real world to worry about. :)

Probably an unpopular opinion: I like the Superman suit well enough, but I'm not buying the guy who is wearing the suit, Tyler Hoechlin*, as Superman. (* Not sure of the spelling of his last name. Apologies if it's wrong). I remember when I first saw promo pictures of Henry Cavill dressed as Superman (before I'd even seen "Man of Steel") I thought, "Yep, that's Superman. Good casting". And even Tom Welling sans suit, I recall thinking "Yes, that's a young Superman. Well cast." With this actor, even with the suit, my impression of him as Superman is "Meh, It's Comic Con cosplayer. Moving on..." I'm just not getting any of the excitement about the upcoming season and the intro of Superman that this promo picture is probably trying to engender. Don't misunderstand. I think he's a handsome man, but as "Superman"? Based on appearance alone and even with what I consider a good superman suit, for me he's missing the mark. I have several reasons in mind why, but heck, maybe it's just because of the permanent 5 o'clock shadow that others have also noted (which explains why he's in Teen Wolf. Based on looks alone, I would absolutely buy that he's a werewolf....of course, I'm assuming he plays one on Teen Wolf. But I've never seen that show, so maybe he doesn't! Hehe). Either way, I'm sorry, show runners. That's a nice super suit, but as of right now I'm not buying this guy as Superman. At all. "Meh" is the best I can muster at the moment. (It also doesn't help that IMO Mehcad Brooks looks like he could bench press him. Superman should not look like someone that Jimmy Olsen could bench press ) Hopefully, Tyler H. is a good actor and can sell me this iteration of Superman, and if he also clicks with Melissa and the Supergirl cast, I can (mostly try to ;-) ignore that he doesn't conform to my mental image of a Superman. And if not, well at least he's only in a few episodes....I hope.

Ah, I suspected as much. The name sounded goofy enough to me that I thought it might have been a direct lift from somewhere in the comicverse, but still. It just sounds very silly to me. I can't help but envision a fictitious segment of the kids show "Bill Nye The Science Guy" where they fact check science while dressed in absurd science police uniforms, armed with beakers and test tubes. It makes me laugh.

TBH, at first blush, this announcement of the addition of five new characters to the show gave me pause because at no point after the s1 finale did I ever think "Gee, what this show needs is a bigger cast!" I actually like that this show has a smaller cast, in comparison to many other shows, because (IMO) a smaller cast tends to lend itself to a better balance of screen time for each character. But, placed in the context of production moving to Vancouver from LA, then I see these characters more as replacements for characters the show is going to lose because of the production move. While it hasn't been confirmed one way or another, it's entirely possible that the show is losing Max Lord, Lucy Lane (I'll be really disappointed if we lose Lord and Lucy because I'd grown to like them.) and General Lane so they are going to have to fill those gaps. (Though, if the show is keeping all these characters and just adding five more then me no likey! That's serious cast bloat.) I can't say any of the announced characters intrigue me, but I don't think a casting announcement from any show has ever intrigued me so that's par for the course. I find casting calls generic. It's broad sweeps of a character which tell me nothing of how it will turn out once brought to life by an actor, placed within the story, and filmed. I gotta see it play out. I expected a character like The Doctor to appear in season 2 only because we already knew they were going to be dealing with the Project Cadmus storyline, so no surprise here. If they cast a good actor this has the potential to be a really fun villain (assuming the character is supposed to be a villain). As for Lena Luthor, well, I could do without anymore Luthors just because I think they've been overdone, but whatever. I'm happy to wait and see what they do with the character. I'm also going to take an optimistic perspective with the Nick Farrow character. I'm not one for love triangles, but if whatever guy they cast as Nick Farrow has at least as much chemistry with Benoist as she did with Jenner or Gustin, then I'll happily take him -- no matter what his name is -- and James Olson can go away to stare longingly at his art boards. Plus, there's no reason it has to turn into a love triangle. I seem to recall that on Arrow the writers were lining up Oliver and Laurel (because 'duh', Green Arrow & Black Canary) but then they cast Felicity Smoak and all that went out the window. So I'm hoping that's what happens here. Like I said, don't care if the dudes name is Nick Farrow or John Doe just please save us from the vacuum of James. As for the other characters: Meh. Don't care. Filler. Wait and see. Yadda. I just hope whatever characters they're adding don't take screen time away from the relationships on the show that I've come to love. (Kara, Alex, and J'onn better be on my screen, writers, pleaseandthankyou.) Oh, I almost forgot. The "Science Police"? Really? LMAO! I know this is a comic book based show, but, come on. The "SCIENCE POLICE"?!? I can't even type it without laughing. Please think of a better title for this organization, writers, because I can't take this seriously (and my silliness tolerance is pretty high). *giggles*Science Police? *lol*

Steve Rogers is what now?!? W.T.F.

Ya, since they've unabashedly used the LA skyline as part of the backdrop several times, which to me is easily recognizable, I always sort of head-canoned that the real life LA was just called "National City" in this alternate fictional universe. So I took the shows location to be alternate universe Southern California. I wonder if the production could simply get away with using footage they've already shot of the LA skyline to present the illusion that they are still in the same SoCal/National City from S1? And then when they do film scenes with their actors in outdoor locations try filming in locations that don't too obviously scream "We've moved the show into a completely different climate zone! Pay no attention to the endless expanse of firs and snow capped mountains where once there was desert, scrub, and fan palms!" I mean I don't know what they're gonna do. It'll be interesting to see if the show tries to explain it or away or just ignore it altogether.

With Supergirl production moving to Vancouver it occurs to me that Supergirl's uniform isn't exactly what I would call "winterized". I hope they invest in a lot of outdoor space heaters otherwise that's going to be some miserable outdoor shoots for poor Melissa when winter gets into swing in Vancouver. Nothing but a mere long sleeve top with tights and a short skirt to wear in the dead of winter? Yikes. That cape is going to be her best friend.

In partnership with WB, which owns DC Comics. So in my understanding (and someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong), no, there are no more licensing fees because WB is part owner of The CW and therefore doesn't have to pay to broadcast their own IP on a network they share ownership. CBS was previously paying licensing to WB because WB has no stake in the CBS network itself so for CBS to air a WB owned IP it had to license the property from them, hence the licensing fee.

You know, I've read in multiple articles that it cost about $3 million per episode to produce Supergirl. But that cost is actually below average of what networks paid in 2015 per episode for TV shows (the average was $3.5 million. Source here and infographic). According to that same report, Arrow and The Flash both cost 3.5 million per episode to make. So if it's to be believed that it cost $3 million per episode to make Supergirl (in LA) then I can't see that their budget would be hugely slashed by moving to The CW because the cost is already below Arrow and Flash budgets (which have lower ratings than Supergirl). And now that Supergirl filming is purportedly moving to Vancouver, it should be getting (up to) ~25% in tax credits for filming there (as opposed to LA) which lowers that $3 million per episode cost right off the bat (so to speak). Of course, all of the above is contingent on the information I've read to be accurate (or at least in the ballpark). Hmm. Yes, I see that TVline and Deadline haven't gotten official confirmation that Calista is onboard. That certainly gives me pause, but I went and re-checked the Hollywood Reporter article and it's pretty specific about it in their report. From THR "Following a strong take-off, the show co-starring Calista Flockhart — who, despite being adamant about working in L.A., agreed to remain on the series with its move to Vancouver [...]" As usual we'll have to wait for official details to be released. In the meantime, he's more info from David Harewood's Twitter "22 episode order. Vancouver. CW. Details to come."

I had been refusing to entertain any sort of wish list concerning season 2 without an actual season 2 confirmation. But, now that there's gonna be a season 2, I want to play along. I have but 3 items on my wish list (for now). 1. Better writing. I know it's been said, but I think the show has so many good things going for it and it can only be all the better if it tightened up the writing. It has a cast that can carry a smart, mature, superhero show with lots of heart, but the writing let's them down too often. That needs to be fixed. 2. I'd like to see some version of H'El from Supergirl (The New 52) comics or a storyline of that nature. Heck, TBH, I want H'El to be who's in the pod that was seen at the end of the season 1 finale. H'El was powerful, totally crazy pants, and he managed to really screw with Kara's mind on so many levels. I think Melissa could do wonders with material like that considering how well she did with "Falling" and (IMO) there's a lot of rich material that Chyler and Harewood could play with in the context of that story too. I want this storyline. I want it so bad. 3. Can we not with Kara and James? Do. Not. Want. Please stop trying to make that happen, writers. Please. Just no. NO. It's just not working (IMO). For me, the idea of Kara and James was DOA because IMO their personalities just don't mesh, and what makes it worse is that (IMO) I've seen Melissa have way, way, waaaaay better chemistry with other guys, notably Adam (okay, yes, Blake Jenner is Melissa's RL husband, so them working well on screen isn't unexpected, but still) and with Barry/Grant Gustin. So, please. I'm begging you, writers. Stop trying to make Kara and James a thing. Get those great casting directors that found you Melissa, Chyler, and David on the phone, and tell them to find Kara a love interest that, at minimum, has the same level of on-screen chemistry with Benoist as Grant Gustin or Blake Jenner did. Please? Pretty please?

So, with Supergirl's move to The CW, anyone have a guess as to what day of the week it will air? Or when because as I understand it The CW renewed everything in it's current line-up so when the heck (season or day of the week) would Supergirl air?

I feel ya. I don't mean my SoCal preference to be a slight towards Vancouver or BC in general, because I've visited that area and it's beautiful. But, I felt sunny SoCal just fit the personality of Supergirl and I'd be lying if I said I won't miss the SoCal locations. Well, I'm hoping that since the production team (showrunners, producers, writers) and cast is staying the same (because it's still produced by WBTV, so it's only changing where it airs and where it films) that it can improve on what it's already built and not degenerate into some sort of trite, schmoopy, pre-teen targeted mess. Ya...not gonna lie...I feel the same. I'm choosing to focus on the fact that Melissa, Chyler, Harewood, and Calista are still all aboard and relishing in that because, really, those are the characters I care about.

YAY! Supergirl got it's renewal, but with a caveat - It's moving to the The CW AND keeping everyone, including Calista (according to early reports). You can read more here: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/supergirl-season-two-cw-892629 For my part, it seems a shame to lose SoCal as the backdrop for the show (though I completely understand the budgetary reasoning for moving), but at least it's coming back with all my faves still aboard and that's really all I wanted. YASS!

CBS released some photos from the season finale episode "Better Angels". You can view them here (supergirl.tv), here (kryptonsite.com), or here on the CBS official press site (CBS Press Express).

I can understand how inconsistencies and nonsensical setups can put people off a show. God knows it's happened to me before with other shows that shall remain nameless. But personally, I will usually forgive a show a lot as long as they keep serving up emotional pay-off and emotionally resonant moments that let me connect with the characters and feel for them and with them. And for the most part, I think that’s something the writers and actors have done quite well (thus far) on this show. (It also doesn’t hurt that this show has had some really fun fight scenes and stunts. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of watching Kara, Alex, and Hank kicking ass :D). IMO, the show so far has done a solid job of addressing the characters’ headspace and let’s them actually talk to each other about how they’re feeling, what they’re thinking, where they’re coming from emotionally. Whether they’re pissed at each other, disappointed, freaked out, simply giving each other some emotional support, or whatever, the characters talk to each other and react to each other and it matters. Their emotions and the decisions derived from those emotions impact the story, and so for the most part* it doesn’t feel to me like the plot is driving the show. (*Obviously, the show isn’t perfect and there have been times where things have transpired Because PlotTM) I think this show has a great cast with fantastic chemistry, particularly between Melissa Benoist, Chyler Leigh, and David Harewood, and also Benoist and Calista Flockhart, and these relationships for me are the core of the show. So as long as the writers keep them talking to each other, connecting, and having meaningful conversations that let the characters and the story breathe (and not just spouting plot points at each other), and conversations that (to me) feel emotionally honest, then I’m going to let all those inconsistencies and setups that are total nonsense slide right off me. (And to be honest, there have been several head-scratchers, and “Hold up…that doesn’t compute” moments that I’ve been handwaving away.) So, in this episode where Lucy somehow regains her commission, is that realistic? Nope. Do I care? Meh, not really because despite that we got: 1) a (IMO) cool motorbike stunt scene with Kara, Alex, and Hank kicking ass, taking names and wiping memories; and 2) Kara and Alex have a really sweet moment after Alex and Hank have been sprung from the Cadmus Express and fugitives Alex and Hank are about to part from Team Supergirl. That Lucy was suddenly appointed, with no oversight and without a formal hearing, to run an elite and powerful organization doesn’t seem legit to me, but I’m choosing to let it go because, to be honest, it was a nice touch that Lucy, concerned about her new position, turned to Kara for help and Kara was just wonderfully supportive. Look at that, folks — Women in powerful positions supporting each other instead of trying to stab each other in the back. I’m here for that. Now, with all that said, the moment this show loses the characters as cornerstones and instead all of the show’s focus is on fueling a plot that runs roughshod over everything else, then I will take the show to task for the inconsistencies and plot points that don’t make sense, even for a fantasy show. I guess, right now, I'm happily forgiving the show a lot because I find Kara, Alex, and Hank (and even Cat in her own bitchy, snarky way at times) endearing and the writing focuses on them enough to keep me content and coming back for more. All in all, I’m really enjoying the show and especially the last two episodes, which I find have been really on point; both the writing and especially the actors have been skillfully executing some very poignant scenes (e.g., Benoist in last week’s episode, Falling, absolutely nailed her performance, as did Chyler Leigh). After this episode, my main concerns are that the writers not break up my band (Kara and Alex) because for me their relationship is the cornerstone of the show (Alex and Hank are coming back soon, right, writers? Right???) And also, I think the writers need to calm down — stop shifting the character dynamics so much — and let the character relationships settle into a rhythm first before mucking about with their interpersonal dynamics. I’ve noticed that over the course of the season the writers have shifted the dynamics between the characters hither and thither. And while that can be, in general, a good thing because it helps keep the story fresh, I think it works better when you’ve let the characters settle into a rhythm before you change things up. But that’s just my two cents. (And oh, I want Astra back. Yes, I know it’s not gonna happen, but I’m putting it out there in case the writers are ever taking input on that topic ;)

"Bang", indeed. Well played, Daredevil. That ending...I've never clicked "Play Next Episode" so fast :D

Oh, here's a thought: Maybe the clock isn't marking time, but instead it's counting "The Twelve Labours" they have to complete to demerge Storybrooke and the Underworld, shut the Hellmouth, and get Hook back. I'm not entirely up on my Greek mythology, but wasn't there something about the "The Twelve Labours" in Greek myth somewhere? If so, there are 12 hours (or 12 sets of 5 minute marks) on the clock face, so if the clocktower clock has moved forward by five minutes, then Emma and Co. have completed one of the 12 labours. Only 11 more to go, gang! ;) Again, my knowledge of Greek mythology is not great, so the basis of my speculation could be wrong.

Hehe, same. At this point I'm just entertaining myself by spinning insane and twisted theories because I don't think what we'll actually be getting will make any better sense. This show is plot spaghetti thrown against a wall by a blindfolded, demented, drunk leprechaun.

Dark Hook has been written as so off the reservation (in my estimate) and there's been almost no time between him going all evil -- killing Merlin and enacting the curse, and bringing all the Dark Ones back -- that I don't buy a long con (I don't entirely discount the possibility....but as it stands right now, I don't buy it and Colin's interviews (IMO) indicate nothing about a long con). IMO, if Hook ends up sacrificing himself it's either because he's had a last second lapse back into sanity because reasons or because he's been undarkened. I can actually see the writers taking Hook further down the evil rabbit hole and have Dark Hook killing Emma here, he is (and the writers are too) that far out of his mind (and the more twisted something is the greater the likelihood that it's what the writers will do). Since it's TS;TW;Calvinball, here's my crazy pants speculation: It's possible Emma manages to stuff all the darkness into herself, gets killed (taking the darkness with her) and sent to the Underworld (maybe Hook inflicts a mortal wound on her before the darkness is completely sucked out of him? (It is TS;TW, afterall) Or Regina kills her or Emma suicides, take your pick). Then an undarkened Hook has an "Oh, shit" moment and makes a deal with Hades that if he becomes Hades' minion Emma gets brought back. Or maybe if Emma dies a Dark One she can be brought back like Rumpel was, so Hook makes a deal with Hades? Or maybe that ring Hook gave Emma before he got darkened is a get out of the Underworld free pass? (I think those are possible explanations for that behind the scenes picture Jen tweeted of herself, in regular Emma attire, laying in a boat, which I'm assuming is Charon's boat -- Emma's coming back from the Underworld, not headed towards it.) Either way, Emma's back, alive, and she and Hook meet one last time for a tearful goodbye before he leaves for his new job as Hades' minion. I know everyone is assuming that Emma and Co. go to the Underworld (partly because of an unverified set stalker tweet), but I think it's possible that opening the Hellmouth somehow caused parts of the Underworld to merge into Storybrooke, and thus, we have Underbrooke. Maybe they opened the Hellmouth and aren't able to shut it. In that case, it's possible Emma and Co. never left Storybrooke and are actually trying to find a way to demerge the Underworld and Storybrooke, and shut the Hellmouth. Meanwhile, Hook's not dead, but a contracted Hades minion and Emma and Co. are also trying to figure out a way to get Hook out of that deal. (Or perhaps if Hook dies as a Dark One that's how they get around the "you can't bring back the dead" clause? They can bring Hook back because he died a Dark One (like Rumpel did) so there's a way to get him back, but they're trying to figure a way around the "a life for a life" clause and a way to bring him back undarkened?)