Supergirl Season 2 Finale Thoughts & Easter Eggs

"Nevertheless, She Persisted"

Well, after a mixed to positive 2nd season run, we've finally hit the end point in our roller coaster ride of relationship drama, science-fiction storytelling, and fun character appearances. Surprisingly enough, after not being entirely onboard with the direction of the season regarding its central villain and entertainment value, the finale ended up being arguably the most spectacular episode of the series thus far. Nearly everything that I could ever ask for since the show's inception is offered up here in a more than satisfying fashion. So, let's quickly dive into the various positives and nitpicks that made this episode the shinning example of what an amazing Supergirl episode looks like.

Supergirl Vs. Superman

Seeing Supergirl take on a Kryptonian isn't necessarily something new for the series considering the previous season finale, but having her forced to take on a mind controlled Superman is a whole other level completely. You're talking about the protagonist of your show fending off against the most iconic superhero of all time which is something that no other TV series in the genre can even attempt to claim. It was awesome seeing the two clashing as Rhea confidently smirks in the background as it perfectly expressed her power over the situation. I also loved the idea of her using silver Kryptonite (a newly introduced element to the show) as a means to cause Clark to see his worst enemy, Zod, instead of Kara during their battle. Any small piece of lore being implimented on the show is a major win for me.

The fight scene itself was pretty engaging overall, especially during the more elevated moments with the two crashing through different settings and blasting away with their heat vision. These are the types of scenes to where the show proves yet again that the studio is indeed capable of delivering on some of the more wide scale visual FX driven action scenes that fans hope to see. Where the climactic feeling of the battle dies down a little is during the more hand to hand fight choreography focused segments. This is an area that Supergirl continues to struggle with ever since the series first premiered unfortunately.

My advice, as expensive as it is and I am aware of CW's tight budget with these shows, is to take a page out of Zack Synder's Man of Steel as the perfect visual reference for god-like beings punching the life out of each other. However, considering the implementation of Superman, Zod being brilliantly used as a tool for both character history and motivation, and the majority of the fight feeling exciting, this epic clash of heroes was an amazing way to kick off what is by far the most spectacular episode yet.

Supergirl's Power & Circle of Support

After the two Kryptonians awake inside of the Fortress of Solitude from their battle, Clark states that he was actually fighting at full strength implying that Supergirl is actually stronger than he is. This is a pretty significant line considering the popular debate that has circled around the series for quite a while now. Not only was it surprising for them to drop that little bomb on us showing that our protagonist is in fact the "top dog" in this universe's roster of heroes, but it was great seeing the Fortress of Solitude being put to use as Superman discovers a way to possibly end the war via the Kryptonian archives. As I've stated before, any piece of lore (in this case being Daxim lore) is a win for me as it presents a more rich and fully fleshed out universe to explore.

One of the things that I really admired about this episode, aside from the spectacle elements, is seeing everyone coming together to tackle one singular obstacle. It is through this cataclysmic event that you're able to truly witness Supergirl's trusty circle of support. For example, after Kara challenges Rhea to a trial by combat, it is Superman who fully backs her decision by both training with her physically and standing by her side for morale support as a seasoned hero humbled by her strength. There's a great speech that he gives to her about superheroes having the secret power of keeping their loved ones close to the heart during fighting which sparks her confidence even higher. This is the type of significant mentor-like role that I've always hoped to see given to Clark to which the finale executed perfectly . 

It's also important to note that Mon-El is the one who treats her decision to challenge Rhea with panic to which Supergirl has to actually encourage him to believe in her. This slight lack of confidence is boosted even further when an anti-Daximite weapon from the Luthors is inserted into the equation to which he immediately tells them to use no matter the cause. I find it just a tad bit annoying that the one person that you'd expect supporting Supergirl the most during a most hectic tme is the only one questioning her ability to succeed. Gotta love that Mon-El charm right? However, the writers do remedy this personal nitpick later in the episode as he chooses to stand alone beside her eventually helping save the city against the Daximite invaders. 

The Battle For Earth

Ah yes, now comes the climactic planet rescuing event that everyone has been anticipating. Just when I thought that the series wouldn't be able to top the previous finale's final fight against Non, we're given one the most epic moments in the entire Arrowverse. As Supergirl faces off against Rhea in their trial by combat with the planet's fate in mind, we see the entire city in chaos as more Daximite soldiers and ships rain down hell from the skies. This was the type of extinction-like event that I've been hoping to see the series tackle, so it's great to see the finale satisfy that personal dream of mine. Suffice to say, the visual FX are absolutely incredible during the majority of this battle sequence as is the balance of other characters being highlighted throughout.

The actual fight between Supergirl and Rhea was well executed showing the formidability of the Daximite queen. Throughout the season, we've seen Rhea utilize different resources to counter our heroes such as the white martian device against J'onn, silver kryptonite for Superman, and now kryptonite blood against Supergirl. It was a pretty cool reveal when she stated that Krypton's explosion caused her people to get poisoned by the element during the destructive debris giving her the edge in their fight. This is how you properly tie in a significant event, a villain's capability, and a hero's weakness all in one beautifully sealed package. Even more dramatically impactful is the fact that Kara still manages to continue fighting despite this twist as the rest of the team battles through the crumbling city.

As Megan and her White Martian friends surprisingly jumped into the fray to help J'onn while Mon-El and Superman fought through waves of Daximite soldiers, I found myself grinning from cheek to cheek with child-like excitement. This is exactly what a season finale should feel like for a show of this nature. It may be asking for much, but after seeing fantastic action scenes like these, you have to expect the producers to push the show even further in the future pulling these type of moments off more often than once a season. Let's hope for the best with Season 3's forthcoming extravagant moments to gaze upon in comic-book loving amazement.

The Beautiful But Bittersweet End

As I mentioned earlier, nearly everything that I could ever ask for within the show was offered up here in a more than satisfying fashion. There was the beautifully presented spectacle elements, a great show of supporting characters having a strong influence on the hero, and now finally, the emotional component hitting strong. When discussing the character drama on Supergirl, this is where things usually seem to switch around depending on the episode in question. With the finale however, I found myself genuinely taken back by Kara and Mon-El's scenes together during the end as Supergirl is forced to use the Luthors' anti-Daximite weapon. Showing Mon-El having to witness his mother's death with Kara knowing that she's about to loose him in the process definitely tugged at the heart strings.

If that wasn't enough to encourage a couple of tears, we get this emotionally powerful goodbye scene as Mon-El is forced to leave the planet due to the poisonous atmosphere. What makes this scene particularly stand out, aside from the phenomenal score, is the amazing performances by both Melissa Benoist and Chris Wood selling not only the chemistry but history that the characters have shared. This is honestly one of the rarest times where I've actually felt some form of a strong bond between the two that goes beyond good looks. And as for that Mon-El remedy that I mentioned earlier, they do give him a nice moment implying a greater future for himself as he tells Kara that he'll become a better person wherever he ends up. It's nice to see Kara having a strong influence on a potential future hero.

What makes this such a bittersweet end for the character is that, just when I started to feel hopeful for his place on the show, they decided to literally toss him into the unknown vacuum of space. Adding to that bittersweet feeling is the fact that we get this great scene of Superman telling a now emotionally shattered Kara that he could've never done what she did emphasizing yet again how much stronger she is as a hero than he can ever be. After several heartfelt speeches from her closest influential figures, we get another emotionally gripping scene with Supergirl flying above the city in tears as Mon-El gets forced into a portal in space. It's a captivating shot of our hero being in shambles even after such a great victory giving audiences something to stew over till the next season.

Overall Thoughts

Supergirl was admittedly a hit and miss for me this season with only a few strong episodes worth talking about and improvements being implimented. However, one of the biggest issues was the lack of a compelling villain and mission to look forward to until the final three episodes elevated the stakes. What makes this finale such a success is that it took virtually everything that the series is known to do right and highlighted those elements more than anything with a few surprises sprinkled in. The improvements in visual FX are well displayed, the strong character drama is perfectly delivered throughout, and the Sci-fi/comic book goodness that we expect is admirably spotlighted from beginning to end. This is what a high quality Supergirl episode looks and feels like. I now eagerly look forward to Season 3.

Bonus Content

1. General Zod

Although I was admittedly expecting Zod to show up as the cliffhanger villain tease for Season 3, I loved the idea that Superman's hallucinations implied a previous encounter with the Kryptonian villain. I do wonder if we'll ever get to see this historical battle now that the show has officially confirm its existence.

2. Megan & The White Martians

I thought it was an awesome idea to have Megan be the one to revive J'onn from his comatose state by telepathically waking him up. If that wasn't enough to show the character's significantly supporting role, she even brings down a few of her White Martian friends to help out in the war. This band of brutes is something that is surely to appear in future planet affecting conflicts.

3. Season 3's Villain Tease: Doomsday?

With tons of speculations swimming the online streams regarding who we possibly could have seen during the finale's brilliantly playful cliffhanger, my personal favorite has got to be Doomsday. The apocalyptic cult-like imagery surrounding the scenery as they seal the hidden baby with blood before shipping him to Earth had me excited for Kara possibly facing the same creature that would nearly end Superman's life. 

4. Silver Kryptonite 

It was previously alluded that Rhea held an arsenal of various alien weaponry from across the cosmos. Along with White Martian tech, we see silver Kryptonite being introduced as it is used to control Superman into facing is worst enemy. Superman states that Rhea's usage was his first time encountering the element.

5. Lex's Vault

Similiar to Rhea's royal arsenal, we've been hinted at (and even shown once) a vault of super weapons created by Lex Luthor himself. Season 2 has only shown off a couple thus far, but the sky is the limit considering his obsession with eliminating Superman and aliens in general. We just might get to see more of these gizmos in action with the upcoming season. Maybe even by the evil creator himself.

6. Warworld

Superman mentions learning a fighting maneuver on Warworld which, in the comics, was an alien mobile satellite built with a powerful set of cannons and nuclear missiles by a race called the Warzoons. It's always interesting to see Superman reference past missions as it teases a rich history of events in this universe.

7. Kelex Mention

During the Fortress of Solitude scene, Superman mentions that it would be easier to find information with Kelex around to which Supergirl apologizes for destroying him. It's nice for them to namedrop what was one of my favorite components of this iteration of the setting. Hopefully, we do get to see him return as I have a soft spot for innocent looking help bots.

8. Star City Mention

During the trial by combat, Rhea tells Supergirl that she will dominate not only National City but Star City as well. Star City is of course the setting to which the majority of Arrow takes place. Are we to believe that Supergirl's Earth also has their own version of the emerald archer running around? Talk about an awesome crossover waiting to happen.

9. Winn's Hilarious Reaction To Superman

In an easily missed over scene, Winn reacts to Superman's presence like a fan girl seeing her celebrity crush for the first time. To add to the pot of comedic gold, Winn quickly mouths the words "I love you" while Superman is looking the other way. This honestly had me laughing out and it makes absolute sense with the character.

10. Star Wars Homage

Not only does Star Wars get verbally mentioned during the episode, but the scene with Rhea looking over Supergirl and Superman's battle almost identically mirrors the iconic imagery from Episode VI. Both scenes involve an evil high ranked figure grinning over two individuals who probably shouldn't be fighting to the death as two of their laser powered weapons clash in a throne room setting. 

Episode Rating: 10/10