After a lengthy spring hiatus, it’s time for Supergirl to get back to work — literally. Monday’s episode saw Kara save her BFF Lena Luthor, defeat the tragic villain Jack Spheer (iZombie’s Rahul Kohli), and, yes, get her job a CatCo back.
Spoilers for Supergirl Season 2, Episode 18 below.
Every job is horrendously misrepresented on television. Doctors watch Grey’s Anatomy and fume about how poorly the medical profession is represented, while real architects grit their teeth while How I Met Your Mother’s Ted Mosby does whatever he does. The only difference with journalism is that journalists watch shows misrepresent their field, and then write about how they’ve been wrongly portrayed for their job, so apologies in advance for the following criticism.
Throughout Supergirl’s sophomore season, Kara’s editor Snapper Carr has been cast almost as a villain. He’s a balding obstacle who stands in Kara’s way as she tries to write about the Truth. Problem is, even though Snapper’s a little bit of an asshole, with a reductive view of the internet and a somewhat misogynistic streak… he’s not wrong. Kara deserved to be fired after she went rogue and published a story without proper vetting — and that’s not even the worst mistake she’s made all season. We know that Kara’s got the right information since we’re privy to her superhero second life, and we know her heart is in the right place, but these journalistic safeguards exist for a reason, and Kara’s bound to get herself (or worse, someone else) in serious trouble if she keeps it up.
It’s nice then that “Ace Reporter” gives Kara a chance to show off her actual reporting chops and instincts while also letting her show a little bit of humility. Supergirl may work with the D.E.O., but superheroes tend to be vigilantes who fight for justice without being part of the system. The other half of Kara’s life, as a recently re-hired journalist, will see her writing for justice — with Snapper Carr as a grumpy but well-meaning editor helping to make sure she does it the right way, within the system.
Snapper Carr is a dick, yes, but he's also not wrong when it comes to journalism.
It’s a good thing she’s got another outlet to pursue truth, justice, and the American way, because it looks like there’s yet another chance that Lena Luthor will turn evil like the rest of her family. We’ve gotten to know Lena well enough by now that we know she’s a good person, but good people have breaking points. For Lena, having to kill her ex to save Supergirl, even though he was himself an innocent victim, might be the seed of a future vendetta. Especially when Mon-El’s mom comes looking for an ally in her fight against the Kryptonian her son chose over his people.
Supergirl airs Mondays at 8 p.m. Eastern on The CW. The Season 2 finale will broadcast on May 22.
