5 Takeaways from Supergirl Season 2 Episode 3: “Welcome to Earth”

These are the 5 things that kicked us in the parietal lobe (and sometimes in a good way) as we watched Supergirl Season 2 Episode 3: “Welcome to Earth.” And, our observations are a little “spoilery,” so…if you’re catching this tonight, I would bookmark this article and join us tomorrow morning. Still with us? Good, we’re always glad to have ya’.

1. Mon-Day

   

Now listen, and I’m talking to all my old school DC fans here: did you ever think you’d see Mon-El on prime time live-action TV? I mean Mon-El – from the Legion of Super-Heroes – on TV. And it’s played straight! This season, Berlanti and company kind of pushed James Olsen to the friend zone, so Kara is in need of a new romance, and I think Mon-El fits the bill. I know, guys; Supergirl loves Brainiac 5, but if Mon-El can be our entry point into future Legion appearances, that’s a win-win for everyone involved.

The addition of the Krypton prejudice against the Daxamites is a nice wrinkle to the Mon-El/ Supergirl dynamic. Let’s hope we get to see Mon-El fight side by side with Superman at some point, because the Silver Age part of my brain will just plotz.

2. Who’s that Girl?

So who was that leather clad, generic, red-headed fire villain supposed to be? Inferno? Volcana? It’s as if the episode needed a threat and the creators were all like, “I don’t know, have Kara fight some fire chick.” Boy, was she generic. At least give her a semblance of a backstory. Or even a name! I’m going with Volcana just because. I guess as long as Kara suspected Mon-El of attacking President Wonder Woman, the identity of Fire Lass didn’t really matter.

3. Generations of Wonder

   

If you’re like me (old), then back in the day you fondly wished for other DC heroines to show up on Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman. Batgirl, Supergirl, Black Canary, Huntress, Mera, any of them would do. This week, I got to live that dream: Supergirl and Wonder Woman (because Lynda Carter will always be Wonder Woman) sharing the screen.

The creators knew what fans wanted and gave them the requisite WW Easter eggs. Believe me, any fans over 35 yelped with glee when Kara did her little spin to put out a fire. Any DC comic loyalist of a certain age let out a little happy sound when President Amazon referenced her “other” jet. And there is more than just fan service (and a welcome little Trump dig) to President Magic Lasso. It is revealed that President Diana is actually an alien.

Can we be looking at the TV debut of the shapeshifting Durlans? Hey, when you start with Legion lore, why not keep going? Whatever the case, you just had to love having Lynda Carter on screen with Supergirl and J’onn J’onzz. A fan dream come true.

4. Maggie Sawyer

   

Maggie Sawyer is a tragically underused character in Superman lore. Starting in the John Byrne post-Crisis era, Sawyer basically became Superman’s version of James Gordon. Back in the day, the fact that this vital and important character was a lesbian was quite groundbreaking. Well, that tradition continues with the introduction of a new version of Sawyer on Supergirl. I’m a little disappointed that Sawyer isn’t a bit older as her maturity and street smart seasoning was a major part of her character, but Sawyer’s new-found friendship with Alex should lead to many great things for Kara’s sister. Was it just me, or were there a few sparks between Alex and Sawyer?

5. Where Everyone Knows Your Name

So evidently there’s a Mos Eisley Cantina in the middle of National City. I guess aliens are going to be analogous to mutants in the Supergirl-verse? For real though, that bar can be a story engine for the coming season and beyond, and the fact that Miss Martian works there means that this little watering hole is going to be very important moving forward. Lobo as the bouncer! Make it so!