Episode no. Season 1
Episode 2 Production code 4X7602 | Directed by Glen Winter | |
Story by Greg Berlanti
Andrew Kreisberg Teleplay by Ali Adler
Andrew Kreisberg Original air date November 2, 2015 (2015-11-02) | ||
"Stronger Together" is the second episode in the first season of the CBS television series Supergirl, which aired on November 2, 2015. It was written by series developers/creators Greg Berlanti, Ali Adler and Andrew Kreisberg, and directed by Glen Winter.
Contents
The episode centers on Kara's attempt to put a positive image on Supergirl as she attempts to capture a Kryptonian prisoner from Fort Rozz, while Cat pressure James' connection to Superman to get an interview with Supergirl.
Plot
In the week after her exposure to world as the Girl of Steel, Kara is pushed to the limits in her role as Supergirl. She races to the location of a fire and attempts to stop the ship from exploding, resulting in a massive oil spill in the ocean. Kara is ridiculed by the media for taking on more than she could chew. Her actions also receives condemnation from businessman Maxwell Lord, who blames Supergirl for bringing problems to National City. Meanwhile, Cat, who wants to get a handle on the Supergirl angle, pressures James to use his connection to Superman to get her an interview with Supergirl. James is worried that doing this assignment would put Kara in an uncomfortable position, but sees it as an opportunity to build a positive image for Supergirl; Kara agrees to the interview.
Kara continues her training at the DEO, with Alex challenging her physically in a room containing Kryptonite, where Alex defeats Kara. She enlists James and Winn to help put a new spin on Supergirl by tackling smaller situations, desperate to prove she is capable in handling any threat, like her cousin. It works, though Alex is upset that Kara revealed herself to James and Winn, and apologizes to Kara for the tough training.
In a flashback to Krypton, Kara wishes she could spend more time with her mother, Alura, who is always working; she has a tremendous amount of respect and aspires to be just like her some day. She learns about a Hellgrammite, an insect with a capacity to disguise itself that shoots icicle-like venomous darts, from her holographic device. In the present, Kara surveys a plant that was attacked by a Hellgrammite, an escapee from Fort Rozz, who is in need of DDT (his source of food) to survive. Alex and other agents plan to bait the Hellgrammite by taking DDT from National City's local plant via truck escort; but he knocks out the agents and abducts Alex, taking her to an abandoned warehouse. There she comes face-to-face with General Astra; Astra reveals she used the Hellgrammite to lure Kara, intending to kill her and take over Earth.
Hank informs Kara that Alex is missing and she takes off, frantically searching for her sister. At the warehouse, Kara is shocked to see Astra alive for the first time since Krypton's demise. Astra tells her she plans to wipe out Earth's entire population and reveals Alura sentenced her to Fort Rozz for attempting to speak the truth and save their world. Astra wishes for Kara to join her army, but Kara refuses and vows to stop her; they battle it out while an injured Alex kills the Hellgrammite. Hank suddenly shows up with a Kryptonite knife, stabbing Astra in the arm with it, crippling her. Astra escapes with the knife—Kara, Alex, and Hank leave in case she returns.
Alex is nursed back to health and gives Kara a gift; a room with an artificial intelligence in Alura's likeness, for Kara to communicate with, found in the pod she crashed in. Kara is overcome with emotion. Meanwhile, it is revealed to the audience that Hank is apparently inhuman, as his eyes glow red. Astra has her commander examine the blade that stabbed her, expressing that Supergirl is stronger than she had thought and that humanity has means of weakening Kryptonians, prompting her to hold off the invasion. Later that evening, Cat, after threatening James with termination, gets the scoop she wanted as Kara (as Supergirl) meets her from above her car for an exclusive interview, telling Cat that this is "her story."
Ratings
The episode placed a 2.2/7 among 18-49s, with more than 8.87 million viewers tuned in to see the episode, a 29 percent drop from the debut episode, and once again tying it with NBC's Blindspot as the top scripted program of the evening.
Reviews
The episode received positive reviews, mostly for adding more layers to the story's elements.
Jeff Jensen of Entertainment Weekly notes in his assessment of the review, "Stronger Together is strong follow-up to last week’s fun, albeit super-stuffed, series premiere that includes some great character development for Alex and starts to reveal what kind of a superhero Kara hopes to be."
Cliff Wheatley of IGN gave the episode a 8, saying, “Stronger Together” is a great episode that gives us less of the stuff we didn’t love about the pilot and plenty more of the stuff we did. The show’s takes on Kara, Cat, and James are inventive and appealing, while the action remains fun and there are easter eggs aplenty. Also: was that Perd Hapley as the TV anchor?!.
Caroline Siede of The A.V. Club gave the episode a positive review, giving it a B-. In her assessment of the episode: "Though Supergirl may be a little shaky on the execution this week, much like its central hero, its heart is in the right place."
Stacy Glanzman of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 5.0 out of 5 stars.