Series: Supergirl
Episode: 107 "Human For A Day"
Previous Episode Review: "Red Faced"
REVIEW
As I mentioned in my previous review, last week's episode was awful. It showed just how low Supergirl could sink, which is why an episode like "Human For A Day" was severely needed. That's the reason I was shocked by how good the episode was. With the series' mid-season finale set to air soon, I only hope that it can be at least close to how good this episode was.
The episode follows up on last week's cliffhanger, which revealed that Supergirl has been depowered. This week's episode elaborates on this by revealing that her powers are gone because she used them for too long. Normally I would be pondering "Wait, since when do Superman and Supergirl have a limit on their powers?" However, this is the sort of thing we have come to expect from a largely mediocre series like this. The episode also flips back and forth as to whether Supergirl has lost her powers for a single day or multiple days, an amateurish continuity error.
Regardless of the questions that it raises, Supergirl losing her powers is an interesting set up for the episode. We get to see Supergirl in a very vulnerable place in a time of unrelenting crisis, even putting Supergirl in a position where she is forced to let someone die. It's situations like this where we learn who our heroes really are, and "Human For A Day" does not disappoint. The episode brilliantly delves into Supergirl as a character. And, for once in a blue moon, the reactions of the public are realistic. Maxwell Lord's position on Supergirl actually makes sense, and the public was right to ask where she was when she was needed the most. Sadly, Supergirl sidesteps that question but because Cat Grant received a compliment, Grant is automatically okay with it. Despite that, this episode successfully explores whether or not powers make the hero, all in a manner that other stories have failed.
Another thing I like about this episode is that, now that Supergirl is powerless, she has to use her head to solve problems in clever ways. This was very intriguing to watch, even if it was resolved in a lazily written manner by the end of the episode. Supergirl got her powers back just in time to save "James" Olsen rather than having to think of a solution. Deus ex machina, much?
Meanwhile, tensions grow as a quarantined DEO must deal with a supervillain that was freed from containment. The villainous alien, Jemm, is the first villain of the series to be truly menacing, and his confrontation with Alex Danvers will have many viewers on the edge of their seats. The subplot is appropriately creepy as it leads to Danvers learning the truth about Hank Henshaw, all culminating in an exciting reveal.
Side Notes:
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Supergirl's accepted pizzas as a reward for stopping a robbery? Either the series is trying to differentiate Kara from her cousin, or this is 100% out of character.
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What if the real Hank Henshaw is alive but vengeful...or perhaps Zor-El will become Cyborg Superman in the end.
VERDICT
Score: 8/10
"Human For A Day" is a surprisingly great entry in an inconsistent series. This will go down as one of the best episodes of the season for sure. If only Supergirl could actually maintain this level of quality.
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