Resist (''Supergirl'')

"Resist" is the twenty-first episode of the second season from The CW television series Supergirl, which aired on May 15, 2017.

Plot

The massive invasion of Earth has the Daxamites in control of the planet's humanity as planned by Rhea, who informs Lena after she wakes up that she saved her from Supergirl, then tells Lena that she is destined for greatness. Back on Earth, The Daxamites are outnumbering the authorities, with Maggie forcing to take refuge, as does the DEO after they're invaded, with Kara saving Alex as the sisters along with Winn find a temporary location, which is the alien bar. Back at the Daxamites' ship, Rhea has informed Mon-El about her plans for New Daxam, which includes enslaving the Earthlings, as well as preparing for Mon-El to produce an heir, and notes Lena as the person who can be impregnated. Mon-El tells Rhea not to underestimate Kara, but Rhea is making sure that both the union of her son and Lena, as well as taking care of Kara, will be carried out.

Back at the bar, Kara, Alex, and Winn are soon joined by Maggie, James, and in a major surprise, Lillian. She wants to help Kara rescue Lena, but they turn Lillian down even though she leaves a cell phone just in case. Meanwhile, aboard Air Force One en route to National City, President Olivia Marsdin calls Rhea, demanding that she call off her invasion, but to no avail. Even Cat steps in to try to mediate. Unfortunately, Rhea has the plane attacked, and Kara races to save Cat, but the plane crashes and when Kara checks for survivors, she discovers that the president is actually a Durlan. The three return to the bar, where Olivia explains that she is a refugee from her home planet and a believer in refugee rights. However, as she orders Alex to use a laser to destroy the Daxamites' ship, Kara objects, but Alex says she'll go through with her orders. A furious Kara storms outside and has a talk with Cat, who tells her that she's not being selfish; she's just being human because she cares about Lena and Mon-El. This gives Kara a chance to go with another idea: find Lillian. Back on the ship, Rhea brings Mon-El and Lena to her throne, and threatens them with destroying a children's hospital if they don't go through with the wedding and produce an heir, which she can make using genetic sampling.

Kara brings Lillian and Hank back. Lillian comes up with a plan to use the Phantom Zone projector to send Hank to the Daxamites' ship as a way to get Kara on board. At the same time, Cat and Winn come up with a distraction, but not before Winn plants a device on Hank. While Rhea prepares for Mon-El and Lena's wedding, Kara, Lillian, and Hank enter the ship and as they fight back against the Daxamites. Cat and Winn take over the airwaves and television screens, urging the citizens of National City to "Resist" and the ploy works, with the citizens fighting back. On board, Hank alters the system and finds Lena while she and Mon-El try to escape, and as Alex prepares to fire the weapon on the ship Lillian and Hank take Lena into the transporter but Kara and Mon-El are left behind. Lillian then calls Alex to fire when Lena tells her stepmother to turn the portal back on, but Kara uses the device that Winn planted on Hank in order to control him. She has Mon-El transported so she can deal with Rhea personally. Back on Earth, the Daxamites attempt to kill Cat and Winn when Guardian shows up and stops them. Cat knew it was James behind the armor.

Back at the makeshift DEO, Alex is under pressure from Olivia to fire the weapon at the ship, but Mon-El tells her that Kara is on board the ship. Left with no choice but to take orders, Alex pushes the button, but out of nowhere someone fires heat vision on the weapon. Alex and Maggie are surprised by this. Back at the Daxamite ship, Kara confronts Rhea and asks her to give up peacefully. Unfortunately, Rhea isn't ready to do so, and she surprises Kara with a secret weapon of her own: Kara's cousin, Superman, who has gone rogue and attacks Kara out of nowhere under Rhea's orders.

Reception

This episode received mixed reviews. Cliff Wheatley of IGN gave the episode a 5.7/10: "It's upsetting to see Supergirl's second season going off the rails so close to the finish line. Unfortunately, all the fears about this year's finale recycling the beats of Season 1 look to be coming true. And while the return of Calista Flockhart's Cat Grant and the unlikely Supergirl/Lillian Luthor alliance were both welcome developments, ultimately this episode was bogged down by the familiar conflict and a one-note villain. Is it too late for the finale to turn things around?"^[1]

Caroline Siede of The A.V. Club gave the episode an A: "What impressed me most about “Resist” is the way writers Jessica Queller and Derek Simon are able to weave together the somewhat disparate storytelling of season two into something that feels far more unified. Pretty much every major element of the season comes into play in this episode, giving the show a retroactive sense of cohesion..." adding that "After an episode that showed off the strength of the ensemble around her, I’m hoping next week’s finale puts Kara even more front and center. But if “Resist” is the pinnacle of Supergirl’s second season storytelling, that wouldn’t be so bad either."^[2]

References