TV Review: Supergirl 2×16 “Star-Crossed”

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I have been rather vocal about how little I’ve cared about the inclusion of Mon El or his relationship with Kara, especially as it’s forced other storylines to be completely sidelined. While I still don’t love how other characters and narratives (especially the complete phasing out of James as a rational character), I think I finally have come around to the appeal of Chris Wood and the chemistry he shares with Melissa Benoist.

Begrudgingly, I must add.

Despite those shocking new developments, “Star-Crossed” is an entertaining if scattered episode, one that seems to set up Kara for her journey in tomorrows The Flash/Supergirl musical cross-over.

Here are some other thoughts.

Chris Wood worked for me this episode. Yeah, I don’t get it either. 

I know spoke about this above but it’s worth some further elaboration. The most shocking aspect of this is that the new development didn’t come from the introduction of his family, or even Kara’s realization that he’s been lying to her about being a prince on his home planet. Instead, it’s just finally come to a point where I buy his affection for Kara and if anything comes out of his parental introduction it’s his choice to ultimately stay on Earth, saying just being in proximity of Kara makes him a better person.

Him owning up to his own bullshit paves the way for a much more interesting character and Wood was very strong in his break up sequence with Kara. As long as he doesn’t continue to dominate every episode as he seemingly has then he’ll be someone worth rooting for.

It still doesn’t account for what a lousy job they’re doing with incorporating James this year (and yeah, I’m going to guess he bites it by the seasons end).

Winn has stuff to do and it’s okay. 

I had been complaining earlier this year about how poorly he and James (see above) were being written, both being given skills and/or character traits that fit the storyline rather than what we’d come to know of them after season one. Jeremy Jordan comes off much more effortless as a dramatic, casually funny actor that someone being shoehorned in to take the Cisco/Felicity role of quip ridden sidekick and with his newest relationship he’s allowed to meld both.

Too bad it was all in service as a juxtaposition between his relationship with Kara and Mon El. If there’s anything truly great about his storyline (which really doesn’t move us forward in any way, shape or form) was his shared screentime with Kara and James.

The episode gave off some strong Star Trek vibes. 

From the colorful backdrops, the elaborate costuming of Mon El’s parents, the angst ridden backstory of his planet, the detailed alien make up work to the clear political themes being dressed up in science fiction fare (um “Make Daxon Great Again” anyone?) and “Star-Crossed” felt straight out of Star Trek.

I mean that as the highest compliment and if I could pass along a note to the creators I’d tell them to keep up with it because it does wonders for the aesthetic of the series which could use even more of that levity.

We need a series that is happy to embrace the innate campy nature that comes along with a lead character whose spearheading the show while wearing a red cape, in a world where inter dimension traveling, world hopping aliens and Darren Criss’s mugging can all exist.

Strong but still lacking in focus which has plagued all of season two, at least we have The Flash this week to spend more time with Kara and see if her storyline improves.