What I’m Watching: Supergirl

Supergirl: Season 3, Episode 18 “Shelter from the Storm” (B-)

I don’t really get how this show’s time travel hypothesis works, with the heroes from the future traveling slowly back to their home with one passenger able to make a decision midway through the journey that he wanted to turn back and stay in the present. I’m not nearly as well-versed in these theories as I should be given my enthusiasm for time travel on television and in film, but it does seem that the ability to come back to another era to change history could be used more helpfully than it has been so far. I remember how on “Smallville” there was a “no tights, no flights” rule and that only in much later seasons did Clark actually become Superman, and I feel like the unfortunate equivalent here is the inexplicable obsession with cape tricks, turning Supergirl into a well-trained fighter and more than just a do-gooder hero. With Reign seemingly impervious to every possible thing they try against her, I’m not convinced that Kara tapping into her humanity is going to be enough to hold her off for a staggering five episodes left to go in this season. Alex going to find Ruby at Lex’s invisible mansion wasn’t a necessary step and in fact proved destructive since she left her cell phone for her to be able to call Sam, and now Ruby is going to be haunted by the sight of her mother’s face while she was possessed by Reign. At least M’yrnn got to contribute something positive to the fight, a win he could really use right now given his negative outlook on his future.