What I’m Watching: Supergirl

Supergirl: Season 2, Episode 10 “We Can Be Heroes” (B+)

This show is reaching an interesting place that many other series with superheroes as their protagonists have visited, and that’s when those without powers try to act invincible and get told that they really shouldn’t try to be so heroic by those with the powers. It was inevitable that James’ double identity as the Guardian would be revealed eventually, and for Kara to discover it when he got knocked out trying to save the day was hardly the big reveal he had wanted – or dreaded. Having Mon-El show up without much of a clue and back Kara up in a way that wasn’t exactly what she needed didn’t help matters at all, and it’s a good thing that, by the end of the episode, things seemed to be much more on track between Kara and James, who can now be part of a crime-fighting team that can use a non-alien every once in a while. Livewire getting captured and exploited for her powers was another intriguing subplot, since this now puts Supergirl on par with the Flash, letting certain bad guys go and get a head start because she can appreciate that she’s not the worst criminal out there, and the generosity she shows her might in fact make her a better person, a la Leonard Snart. It’s good that Hank has now bonded with Megan, though the impending arrival of the White Martians is not promising news. Among the more entertaining lines of the hour were Mon-El’s question, “What’s a shark tank?” and Maggie forcing Alex to try vegan ice cream as the consequence of losing a bet.

What I’m Watching: Orange is the New Black

Orange is the New Black: Season 3, Episode 11 “We Can Be Heroes” (B+)

I always find it especially compelling when this show features a character who’s not an inmate for its flashbacks. Caputo has always been an oddly endearing member of this show’s ensemble, and seeing him as a young wrestler and then a kindhearted father-to-be doing what’s right for his family only supported that idea. Taking a job as a prison guard for the benefits was noble, but obviously he built up so much resentment about the sacrifices he made that when his wife left him he didn’t have anywhere else to go. His weekly sex sessions with Fig are a sign of his lack of direction and self-hatred. Taking charge of the union is a risky move given his tenuous position, but it obviously gives him a sense of purpose. Ending with a song from “Les Miserables” was appropriate after an hour that focused largely on the machinations of the prison, particularly Piper’s new business enterprise assisted by Red’s mobster experience. Piper is excited and power-hungry, and it’s a shame that she can’t see that Alex is trying to prevent her from going down a road she knows all too well. I like seeing Poussey and Crazy Eyes bond while Healy didn’t get the satisfaction he had hoped from seeing Berdie suspended because of what was going on in her class. Sophia facing transphobia was hard to watch, and it’s touching to see Big Boo doing her best to scare Pennsatucky straight and show her that what’s going on with Donuts is not okay. Leanne just won’t let things go with Soso, whose new haircut is sure to drive her over the edge if she’s not there already. Angie getting unexpectedly and accidentally released was a surprisingly serious exploration of what it means to be out of prison and really feel like there’s nowhere to go.