Perfectly said, SSAV. Keepin it classy, as always.

Well, to answer folks question about what people are missing; speaking for myself... I don't know if any of you have seen the show "Charmed"?

I don't want a three-character focus of course as in Charmed. I'd rather Kara remains the centre of her story. It's wonderful to see her grow.

But, in that show, that relationship was centre stage. I meant that.

I know that she has been acting as a mentor to Monel; but a lot of it has been about Monel himself finding his way as a hero owing to his feelings for Kara. It's about the growth of Monel. How does that add to the journey of Supergirl except to tell her that she misread his mind and actions? I know mentor storylines have that--the person being mentored growing; but, when you add the romance, it doesn't seem that way. It seems to be yet another story of a guy finding their way to herodom because he met a girl. Kara does struggle initially about mentoring a fully grown human with different values, but we had less time on that and more on how Monel is crushing on Kara.

Where is the Supergirl story in that?

The moments I loved best this season, other than Alex-Kara talks, and Alex-J'onn or J'onn-Kara talks have been the moments when Kara uses her idealism to change something (rather than her powers); and those have been few and far between. (Also, there was that one growth moment when she realises her parents were not paragons of virtue).

And then there is the Kara side. Her being a reporter is used whenever they need something to add to the plot; not as an opportunity for character development. Being a reporter is not easy. Especially for a rookie like Kara. And, yet we get so little of her struggles there.

I don't mean sweet sisterly moments RsChick. Neither do I mean a co-dependent relationship where Alex has no life outside Kara. I meant a consistency that showed you that it is still there.

Consistency in storylines.. consistency in relationships; and coherency in terms of character and story development; for example, while it was nice to see Kara talk to Aurora that one time about her struggles with being a reporter (which they later shelved), it would have been nice to see Alex and Kara have a talk about that too; instead of just about their romantic interests of the time. They could have fun in the bar like that one time when camera movement or shots made us all feel like we are in a "what is that ride thing in English that twists and turns and goes up and down and makes our heads spin?".

And... James-Winn; again, I know most people didn't like this storyline. So, I don't want to harp on it. But, it is yet another storyline of a guy struggling to be a hero. And lots of screen space have been devoted to it.

As folks have said before: Kara has become reactive in her own show. Things are happening to everyone else; and at some moment or other, their stories cross her path and she reacts. Is that how it happens for a title character?

I am not saying those stories shouldn't happen. I am not saying Monel couldn't have a crush on Kara (and viceversa) that Alex cannot have her coming out storyline (it was so very well-acted and well-written if a bit crunchy in terms of timeline) or that J'onn shouldn't be struggling with M'gann. But, shouldn't there be some merger as well between the storylines and characters? Not an occasional crossing but some reason why these additional characters--M'gann and Maggie exist in this world in addition to being romantic interests/same-species companions. Some connection to Supergirl. With Maggie especially, we are not seeing this. She seems brought in just to be Alex's love interest rather than as a person who needs to be there in the show for some in story reason.

Of course, I am going by my experience with reading speculative fiction (fantasy) where a core set of characters set out and develop storylines through the course of several books. Their developing romance or having side-adventures typically doesn't affect the dynamic between them; something like Harry Potter (although, that is for kids ).

And in any case, just as us folks who think something from season 1 is missing, there are others who love this season. And, that is great! I am glad you guys enjoy it.

And, I don't want to keep on saying this since it is possibly upsetting some of you. So, I will stop.

I didn't mean to say I will stop watching the show or that I don't enjoy moments of it. I do. I love Melissa Benoist. And, I am pretty sure I'd keep watching the show for her. I also love Chyler Leigh (as I did in Grey's). And I like Jeremy and David a lot.

And of course, over and above all that, I love all of their characters.

I'm enjoying the season myself. Kara and who she is, is the soul to me, and she at the core the same Kara as season 1, only more comfortable in her own skin as Kara. As Supergirl much more confident. As far as the other characters their journeys simply are not Kara centered this season, a d in my opinion that is very much based reality. The only character that seems to be adrift is James, and he was last season as well. They do not know what to do with Jimmy Oleson because, he has never been even close to who Jimmy Olsson is.

I am really enjoying the season, but I also find that I am rerunning as many episodes as I once did.

Argo

THIS right here, Argo. Same. The first one I re-watched in a very long time was last week's. Other than last week and the two Superman episodes, I haven't re-watched any of them this season. I WILL maybe re-watch particular scenes. But....Last season I would watch the first airing, take an hour break, and then re-watch again that night.

Guys, with all due respect, I think the show needs to regain its soul. I look at Season 1'again and I see and feel something is missing. Yes, I do like some of the characters in this season, but messing with sisters night is a mistake. I think the loss of Calista Flockhart and Peter Facinelli hurt the show. They have been unable to replace them with an obvious similar calibre of actor. I think Chris Wood and Katie McGrath are excellent additions. It would be great if they could shmoose someone of Calista's calibre and join the show as a regular.

I am really enjoying the season, but I also find that I am rerunning as many episodes as I once did. I am, however, looking forward to the great Sterling Gates' two episodes. He is the master and I expect a lot of fun from him.

Argo

not sure what you guys are looking for? there have been plenty of danver sister moments and space family moments.

Lets walk through the season shall we! I assume you know episodes well. Lets walk backwards

episode 10: I think we got 1 of the sweetest space family moments ever, space dad is unsure what he is about to go through but is sure it will be an emotional journey so he asks his daughters to be there for him.
episode 9: Kara says to Alex "you found us" to which Alex replies "always!". When Alex is about to go through the portal J'onn to Alex " bring our girl home". when they exit the portal J'onn is right there to hug Kara.
episode 8: Thanksgiving scene had some very fun sister beats. Later after finding out her dad created medusa Kara needs a reassuring pep talk and J'onn is right there for her. Also could anyone else on the planet ground supergirl like Alex can?
episode 7: light on Melissa Benoist scenes in total as she was filming crossover stuff.
episode 6: not 1, not 2, but 3 amazing sister couch scenes. cameo from space dad rolling his eyes at a drunk kara unable to go check out the scene of the crime.
episode 5. not much space family here as it was the beginning of Alex's journey
episode 4. the girls get J'onn to talk about M'gann. J'onn preferred to keep it close to the chest but Kara threatened to super pout and who could hold that off
episode 3: J'onn and Alex sort of laughing at Kara for her nerding out over meeting the president.
episode 2 and 1 were both intentionally light on space family to showcase Kara was unintentionally ignoring Alex with being to engrossed with Clark.

There are 2 major differences this season so far.
1: it is no longer episodic, sure there is a plot to each episode (livewire, parasite etc) but the character arcs, the relationship arcs take place over several episodes.
2: No Cat Grant. without Cat there isnt as much Catco thus not as much Kara being Kara. The Catco time has been replaced by sanvers or guardian.

I see lots of people saying Kara has no story. Kara's story is simple; you see her original purpose was to look after, mentor and take care of Clark and she is now getting to fulfill that need with Mon-El who needs someone as patient and caring as Kara. besides that almost every story will cross her path at some point. Look at guardian, while not a fan of the choice of the guardian/james arc it has kept an otherwise useless character relevant. While the arc started off in a total different place it is now in Kara's lane.

I suggest paying less attention to shipper fan echo chambers and find places that will give more balanced reviews and then venture into the shipping lanes and have some fun.

Respect to everyone's opinion who is frustrated that the season is different from the first. I'm with you Rschick I'm enjoying this season. She said it herself in E4 Kara's mission is to be Mon-El's mentor on Earth which BTW could be part of the reason she's reluctant to act on her feelings for him. Season one established how close Kara and Alex are almost to an unhealthy co-dependent level. They've found a healthier balance with sweat smaller moments rather than big ones. It's not necessary to keep hitting the viewers with how close the Danver sisters are. Kara's supporting her sister by letting her have new relationship time with a Maggie. The show is establishing how the new characters will relate to the established family. James is the outlier i'm not sure what's to be done with him.

But, well, I am kind of losing hope that the show will return to its season 1 essentials of strong friendships and familial relationships that held up the show

Hi SSAV, I enjoy reading your posts, you share some good insights.

Re your comment above, this has become quite noticeable, there must of been about 10+ members of this website make similar remarks this past week that the strong familial/friendship bond of Season 1 has been lost so far in Season 2. Not sure if will come back this season either as they're currently writing/shooting Episode 16. Maybe it will come back in Season 3.

I'm still enjoying the show though as I watch it predominately for the fantasy of Supergirl but like so many others am missing the family/close friendships that was such an enjoyable part of Season 1.

not sure what you guys are looking for? there have been plenty of danver sister moments and space family moments.

Lets walk through the season shall we! I assume you know episodes well. Lets walk backwards

episode 10: I think we got 1 of the sweetest space family moments ever, space dad is unsure what he is about to go through but is sure it will be an emotional journey so he asks his daughters to be there for him.
episode 9: Kara says to Alex "you found us" to which Alex replies "always!". When Alex is about to go through the portal J'onn to Alex " bring our girl home". when they exit the portal J'onn is right there to hug Kara.
episode 8: Thanksgiving scene had some very fun sister beats. Later after finding out her dad created medusa Kara needs a reassuring pep talk and J'onn is right there for her. Also could anyone else on the planet ground supergirl like Alex can?
episode 7: light on Melissa Benoist scenes in total as she was filming crossover stuff.
episode 6: not 1, not 2, but 3 amazing sister couch scenes. cameo from space dad rolling his eyes at a drunk kara unable to go check out the scene of the crime.
episode 5. not much space family here as it was the beginning of Alex's journey
episode 4. the girls get J'onn to talk about M'gann. J'onn preferred to keep it close to the chest but Kara threatened to super pout and who could hold that off
episode 3: J'onn and Alex sort of laughing at Kara for her nerding out over meeting the president.
episode 2 and 1 were both intentionally light on space family to showcase Kara was unintentionally ignoring Alex with being to engrossed with Clark.

There are 2 major differences this season so far.
1: it is no longer episodic, sure there is a plot to each episode (livewire, parasite etc) but the character arcs, the relationship arcs take place over several episodes.
2: No Cat Grant. without Cat there isnt as much Catco thus not as much Kara being Kara. The Catco time has been replaced by sanvers or guardian.

I see lots of people saying Kara has no story. Kara's story is simple; you see her original purpose was to look after, mentor and take care of Clark and she is now getting to fulfill that need with Mon-El who needs someone as patient and caring as Kara. besides that almost every story will cross her path at some point. Look at guardian, while not a fan of the choice of the guardian/james arc it has kept an otherwise useless character relevant. While the arc started off in a total different place it is now in Kara's lane.

I suggest paying less attention to shipper fan echo chambers and find places that will give more balanced reviews and then venture into the shipping lanes and have some fun.

But, well, I am kind of losing hope that the show will return to its season 1 essentials of strong friendships and familial relationships that held up the show

Hi SSAV, I enjoy reading your posts, you share some good insights.

Re your comment above, this has become quite noticeable, there must of been about 10+ members of this website make similar remarks this past week that the strong familial/friendship bond of Season 1 has been lost so far in Season 2. Not sure if will come back this season either as they're currently writing/shooting Episode 16. Maybe it will come back in Season 3.

I'm still enjoying the show though as I watch it predominately for the fantasy of Supergirl but like so many others am missing the family/close friendships that was such an enjoyable part of Season 1.

And it is highly amusing that in her interviews, Melissa keeps talking about how the show and this season is about women supporting each other, but the show has essentially been split into three parts were you have Kara supporting Monel (and viceversa), Maggie supporting Alex and Alex finding love, and J'onn growing to accept White Martians (again not treated with enough depth in my opinion) with the help of M'gann.

Oh and the fourth thread of James learning to be a hero for some reason with Winn's support.

The only women supporting each other thing I can find is Kara supporting Alex with the coming out. Well, there is some Kara-Lena as well, but it doesn't feel the same since the major chunk of the season and the storylines is devoted to the other threads mentioned above. Everyone is basically existing in silos.

Note: I am so sorry for sounding so negative. It has just been building up I guess. And, I am sure most of you enjoy the show very much for other reasons or may be the same reasons that I have issues with. And, I am not trying to take away from that. I hope you will continue to enjoy the show.

Well, I wasn’t trying to say Mon-El had to be at Kara’s level of self-sacrifice to be in an equal relationship. If that’s what you took away from my post that’s my bad. I should have been more clear.

This wasn't directed at you TheHolyHandGrenade (nice name! ). I was speaking about comments I have seen elsewhere about Monel. And also, the show's own treatment of his story (basically, the stress on his becoming a hero).

And anyways, I don't think the mistake was essentially Monel's. He has, afterall, no experience. I thought the issue was Kara's and J'onn's and Alex's in letting him take to the field in the first place when he was ill prepared, and when so many lives were in balance.

In fact, the whole operation seems to be ill thought out. Kara never even takes the time out to watch prison footage before dashing out. And yet, she has the time to take Monel out as support.

Also Alex! She didn't take the time out to talk Livewire out with Kara and discuss how she can be defeated; try to calm her other than say: "Kara, get a grip!", which I actually found rather rude and hurtful. (Alex is one of my favorite characters, but I can't take her side on this; and contrast this to how she reacted when Kara vented about Winn after his confession and her rejection). The show seems to think that once you have romance, you have everything (oh and romance is the point of life); and they trot out everything else just for some big drama (like episode 9) then forget all about it until the next big moment.

The thing is: relationships are as much about the little day-to-day moments as about the big ones. May be more so, because we don't get big moments all that often in our lives. However, this season, most of the little moments have been between Monel and Kara and Alex and Maggie and J'onn and M'gann with some rare Alex-Kara, J'onn-Kara moments thrown in. In a way, it is even racist (or speciest if that is a word) because you are essentially shipping people of the same species and are saying nobody can understand you better than people of your own kind. (I liked that scene last week where Monel and Kara talk about some toy or something; that added to the show.. and it makes sense for Kara and J'onn to need that. I am not saying it doesn't.)

And Winn, has mostly been playing side-kick to James. (I liked Winn-Alex scenes though).

I joked about it in my earlier comment (about Monel being white, straight and male); but, that is essentially folks' (folks who are against him, not those who like him) issue with Monel. I think that is also essentially folks' (the people who do have an issue) issue with Maggie. That both of them take time away from a Kara story; or an Alex-Kara story or a J'onn-Alex-Kara story.

I am not downplaying the importance of romance to people in real life (or in screen life), mind you. But, romance can take seasons. And they can develop in the background while still having the familial/platonic friendships front and centre.

May be the problem is they have so many storylines going together; there is no time to flesh out any one of them. And of course, with romance they are catering to the CW audience.

Note: I know it is weird that I am saying this when I have been trying to defend Alex-Maggie storyline and gay representation (and have signed up to this site for that) so far. And, I don't deny that it has helped a lot of gay people, especially kids. But, well, I am kind of losing hope that the show will return to its season 1 essentials of strong friendships and familial relationships that held up the show; and Kara learning to find her feet as an alien, a woman, a human and a mix of everything.

Note that even last time Kara faced Livewire last season she declined help from the DEO (Lucy offered) because Kara told Lucy that Livewire was just too deadly. Kara instead faced Livewire (and Banshee) with Barry/The Flash there to help her.

At the time J'onn and Alex were not there. And, I don't think Kara knew Lucy very well; and her ties to the DEO is essentially her ties to Alex and J'onn. So, no, the situation is not the same.

Even if they were, it just means Kara doesn't learn. Because that time with Barry, it was the humans who saved her. Not to mention, as you said, water cannons. *shakes head*

And besides, what categorised the previous season was that Alex, J'onn and Kara strategised. Even when, Kara was the only fighter.

In this episode, if only she had talked it over with J'onn and Alex, either of them would have pointed out that Monel was not ready for the field. (J'onn had Alex train for 2 years before she got out into the field.). No, instead we had two separate storylines: one J'onn's and other Kara and Monel's with Alex taking any spare time she had to bet with Maggie (although, I know at least this time around, she was backing up J'onn).

The two stories didn't seem to have any connection at all; which is very weird when the show is about Supergirl.

TV Fanatic - Supergirl Round Table: Shocking Revelations

Did they even watch the episode.....usually their roundtables are pretty good. This one in reference to the White Martians was like they missed an entire conversation at the end between MGann and Jonn..

TV Fanatic - Supergirl Round Table: Shocking Revelations

The mistake made by Mon-El was not to get the officers totally out of the building.

I like to call it.... "Take the high heels off and run idiot" syndrome.

No, Kara is not a door prize. We know that.. She needs to tell James and Mon El that. Here's hoping something similar is in the dialogue soon. I will be tickled to hear her say it.

Oh! I'd like to add that, as many in tumblr pointed out, Kara saying that "she doesn't have to work alone" but has "Mon El" to help her and support her was out of character.

She has DEO and Alex and J'onn. Did she forget that? They have always been her backup. She has rarely been alone in her fights.

I think she made that comment specifically because this was Livewire she was stressing out about, not because she has forgotten that she has the DEO, Alex, and J'onn to help her.

Livewire can kill humans (e.g, Alex and other DEO agents) easily and instantly, and as powerful as J'onn is, I don't think he's impervious to Livewire. So for Kara, having to deal with Livewire who is so deadly and also very willing to kill anyone she comes across, it probably feels like even if Alex, J'onn and the DEO were to be there as tactical support, there's little if anything they can do because Livewire's lightning-throw style of attack isn't one they are quite capable of protecting themselves against.

But having Mon-El as a partner, who seems to be closer to Kara's level of resilience when it comes to Livewire's type of superpower, made Kara feel better because she saw it as having someone there who had the power to help her fight Livewire (and still have a good chance of coming out of it alive) and also as someone that could protect others against Livewire's attacks while she could focus on fighting Livewire herself.

Note that even last time Kara faced Livewire last season she declined help from the DEO (Lucy offered) because Kara told Lucy that Livewire was just too deadly. Kara instead faced Livewire (and Banshee) with Barry/The Flash there to help her.

(Though, I don't know why Kara and the DEO don't just arm themselves with Nerf Super Soakers and take aim at Livewire. But maybe Earth-38 doesn't have water guns. *shrug*)

I don't agree that he has to be Kara's level of self-sacrificing to be in an equal relationship--be it friendship or something else--with her.

Well, I wasn’t trying to say Mon-El had to be at Kara’s level of self-sacrifice to be in an equal relationship. If that’s what you took away from my post that’s my bad. I should have been more clear.

I think they should have overall compatible or common values, but when I wrote that they should be on the "same page", I mean in understanding each others motivations. If Kara wants to throw herself into the Sun to save the planet, I’m not saying Mon-El should be just as willing to do the same. But Mon-El needs to understand why Kara would be willing to do that and Kara should get that not everyone, even if they have amazing superpowers similar to hers, is quite that altruistic.

And while I don't know the history of Daxam, I find it difficult to believe that every person in that planet is a hedonistic person, or that that is its one true value.

Yes, that’s why I qualified my remarks with “If everything we’ve been told of Daxam is true”. I realize I’m taking the show’s description of Daxam and it’s people at face value, but I think it’s helpful to put Mon-El into context because it makes it more understandable as to why he just can’t flip a switch and suddenly be the paragon of moral virtue and is instead slow on the uptake.

And... while it is true that theoretically, you can cut some slack for a person's upbringing, in real-life (and people learn from fiction for that), a person's mistake could still be very costly; if someone is killed, forgiving Mon El will not bring that person back. neither will upbraiding him; but you can make the call of not having him in your team until you are sure of his loyalties and priorities.

I don't disagree with the overall sentiment here, but I don’t think Mon-El’s mistake in this episode had anything to do with his “loyalties or priorities”.

Kara and James were fixated on the fact that Mon-El left his position with the cops to save Kara who was fighting 2:1 against the Livewire Wannabes (even though the cops were not in immediate danger at the moment because they were hunkered down behind a van). In this instance, I think Mon-El made a judgement call, but not a mistake. Put Alex or J’onn in Mon-El’s place in that moment and I argue they would’ve done the same thing because, at that moment, the only one in imminent mortal peril was Kara. Mon-El took a calculated risk.

I think Mon-El’s actual mistake came moments later when he was fighting one of the Wannabes and accidentally deflected the lighting towards one of the cops who had tripped while running for the exit. That mistake is exactly the same as what happened when Mon-El was training with Kara and he accidentally deflected a laser bolt at a cardboard cut-out and fried it. But that mistake has nothing to do with Mon-El’s motivations and everything to do with experience and technical readiness. Truth be told, I think Kara should've kept on training Mon-El until there were ZERO cardboard cutout casualties before taking him out into the field, but the plot wants what it wants.

Funnily enough, the fact that Jimmy was utterly fixated on Mon-El’s choice to leave his position with the cops to save Kara, and then threw that in Kara’s face as if it were the "Worst. Thing. Ever." to me is like a big, flashing green sign that says Jimmy’s issue has nothing to do with Mon-El's motivations being less than purely altruistic, and everything to do with jealousy.

If Jimmy were really concerned for the public, he could’ve have easily argued that Mon-El wasn’t ready because he was making technical errors that put people in danger. But no, Jimmy’s all derriere pained that Kara believes Mon-El is capable of being a superhero and partnering with Mon-El, but not so much with Jimmy himself, so Jimmy throws it in Kara’s face that Mon-El’s motivations aren’t as pure as the driven snow. You know, unlike Jimmy’s own motivations which are all 100% selfless.

Oh, Jimmy, Jimmy Jimmy. If hypocrisy and jealousy were a currency you’d be banking enough to rival Maxwell Lord.

Oh! I'd like to add that, as many in tumblr pointed out, Kara saying that "she doesn't have to work alone" but has "Mon El" to help her and support her was out of character.

She has DEO and Alex and J'onn. Did she forget that? They have always been her backup. She has rarely been alone in her fights.

For what it’s worth, I don’t think anyone deserves Kara because Kara’s not a door prize that someone wins at a fair.

Love is a gift freely given; not a reward or a prize you deserve. --Me (although, other people may have said it too).

But, for a relationship to work and be sustainable without causing emotional harm to either of the relationshippee, the emotional stakeholders must be on equal footing. Equal respect. Equivalent or compatable values. Equivalent power and so on.

Love does not equal a successful relationship.

I do agree with you on Mon El that he is a product of his times and people need to account for that. The difficulty some people may have in accounting for that is the fact that he wears the garb of a white straight male who also has quite a lot of money.

I don't agree that he has to be Kara's level of self-sacrificing to be in an equal relationship--be it friendship or something else--with her.

And while I don't know the history of Daxam, I find it difficult to believe that every person in that planet is a hedonistic person, or that that is its one true value. A planet or a community cannot flourish or sustain like that. There needs to be a sense of community, a willingness to work for the good of the planet rather than just for individuals. The fact that the planet never devolved into chaos and utter destruction is proof enough that common human values of "working together" and caring for others were there, and was probably thought of highly (Romans had that; and Greeks). In fact, his willingness to help J'onn and Kara can be taken in that light. To fight for his own, which he would have learned. But, that is philosophy and cultural evolution for you. I don't know if DC or the writers ever take that into account.

And... while it is true that theoretically, you can cut some slack for a person's upbringing, in real-life (and people learn from fiction for that), a person's mistake could still be very costly; if someone is killed, forgiving Mon El will not bring that person back. neither will upbraiding him; but you can make the call of not having him in your team until you are sure of his loyalties and priorities.

As for Kara's reaction, I agree that it was in character. She reacted the same way when Alex first told her that she worked for the DEO. I don't agree that she considers humans less for that. Which is why I don't think it was condescending (as in she thinks less of humans in general or James in particular because of their physical weakness). She just needs to learn that she cannot make people's choices for them and need to accept their right to put themselves in danger. Oh and near invulnerability shouldn't be a requirement there (after all, she does consistently put herself in danger where she could actually get killed too).

If the writers mean to put Kara wholly in the wrong and James wholly in the right, then that would be an injustice to Kara's character. And I am pretty sure there would be outcries. But, I think that is what a lot of people (including myself) fear.