Supergirl Episode 3.03 "Far From the Tree" (SPOILERS)

[metaphysician]

I think the issue is not that the writers are political, but that they have all the subtlety and skill of a drunkard wielding a 2x4. Why allude or allegorize, when you can just throw in some out of context nonsensical quotes from the last news cycle?

It stands out more in this ep, because the subplot was already deeply political, and worked fine as such and as a piece of character development... and then they still feel the need for the 2x4, and a completely unrelated one at that.

 

[Frodo]

The show is very political. Then again, we live in a very divisive, political time ,as opposed to the 80s and the 90s.

Its not surprising to me that it bleeds into some shows because that's been the case in the past with other shows such as Star Trek and Twilight Zone in the 60s, though those were allegories while Supergirl is much more upfront with its politics.

I think the fact that Supergirl character and mythology is such a blank slate to most of the GA gives the writers of the show a heck of alot leeway to be so political as opposed to a character like Superman.

 

[Kelly]

I think the issue is not that the writers are political, but that they have all the subtlety and skill of a drunkard wielding a 2x4. Why allude or allegorize, when you can just throw in some out of context nonsensical quotes from the last news cycle?

It stands out more in this ep, because the subplot was already deeply political, and worked fine as such and as a piece of character development... and then they still feel the need for the 2x4, and a completely unrelated one at that.

When I wrote a note to the writers on Twitter, that is pretty much what I said....let the characters themselves and how they live their lives show feminism and allow Kara's desire to do the right thing, outside of the constraints of politics to show help, hope and compassion for EVERYONE. The ideals that they are wanting to put forth flows easily through all of that...

 

[Dr.]

When I wrote a note to the writers on Twitter, that is pretty much what I said....let the characters themselves and how they live their lives show feminism and allow Kara's desire to do the right thing, outside of the constraints of politics to show help, hope and compassion for EVERYONE. The ideals that they are wanting to put forth flows easily through all of that...

Cat Grant (as White House press secretary) affirming climate change was, I thought, mildly amusing. (Though, most of the credit probably goes to Flockhart’s delivery.) But if you wanted to argue that this moment was politically “heavy-handed,” I might agree. OTOH, the allusions to Trump-speak during Dad’s argument with Maggie struck me as much more natural and organic to context. Still political, to be sure; but rather better writing (IMO).

BTW, in more liberal circles, there have been complaints about how Supergirl has characterized the spectrum of prejudice. I.e., the white family (the Danvers) is fully accepting of homosexuality while the Hispanic one (Maggie’s Dad) is intolerant. It’s an interesting/debatable point. But to my knowledge, no one’s raised it here. Any critique of Mr. Trump, though, sure does get noticed.

 

[Kelly]

Cat Grant (as White House press secretary) affirming climate change was, I thought, mildly amusing. (Though, most of the credit probably goes to Flockhart’s delivery.) But if you wanted to argue that this moment was politically “heavy-handed,” I might agree. OTOH, the allusions to Trump-speak during Dad’s argument with Maggie struck me as much more natural and organic to context. Still political, to be sure; but rather better writing (IMO).

BTW, in more liberal circles, there have been complaints about how Supergirl has characterized the spectrum of prejudice. I.e., the white family (the Danvers) is fully accepting of homosexuality while the Hispanic one (Maggie’s Dad) is intolerant. It’s an interesting/debatable point. But to my knowledge, no one’s raised it here. Any critique of Mr. Trump, though, sure does get noticed.

I teach in a predominantly Hispanic HS, and have taught here going on 27 years.....in general, the Hispanic students that I teach, themselves are very open to the LGBQT community, their parents however are not as accepting. So, for me that characterization was very much what I see in the community where I teach. They are by far more Conservative, more Religious, etc....so it is not a huge stretch to think that her family would not be as accepting as a family of liberal thinking scientists....it's not about the skin tone, it has nothing to do with the color of their skin. I don't really see the argument. It sounds to me like people trying very hard to find fault in a show that for the most part has done a very good job of being diverse in many ways.

 

[haephestus]

This was a bit of an odd episode for me. Enjoyable, but odd. The cost cutting involved in the trip to Mars was pretty evident and disappointing. Perhaps the staff could have been hidden on Earth to save money?

I thought Supergirl killing so many White Martians was very disturbing. I’m going to pretend that it didn’t happen. Or the staff teleported the White Martians to the surface instead of disintegrating them.

I found Maggie’s dad to be confusing. I would have thought that people would be more concerned about aliens from other planets, as opposed to illegal immigrants or gays and lesbians, especially after the Daxamite invasion. Maybe old prejudices die hard? I also thought the wall comment was odd given that Wonder Woman is president of the USA. I’m not familiar enough with the US political system to understand how the wall would be built without the president’s approval.

 

[Kelly]

This was a bit of an odd episode for me. Enjoyable, but odd. The cost cutting involved in the trip to Mars was pretty evident and disappointing. Perhaps the staff could have been hidden on Earth to save money?

I thought Supergirl killing so many White Martians was very disturbing. I’m going to pretend that it didn’t happen. Or the staff teleported the White Martians to the surface instead of disintegrating them.

I found Maggie’s dad to be confusing. I would have thought that people would be more concerned about aliens from other planets, as opposed to illegal immigrants or gays and lesbians, especially after the Daxamite invasion. Maybe old prejudices die hard? I also thought the wall comment was odd given that Wonder Woman is president of the USA. I’m not familiar enough with the US political system to understand how the wall would be built without the president’s approval.

All of your reasons I can agree with, they were my problems as well....not so much the cost cutting stuff, Mars looked fine to me, I just wanted it fleshed out more and would have enjoyed the episode more with the Maggie stuff not in it. As far as killing the White Martians, I'm not sure what else could have been done...there was no way to capture them alive. Sometimes that just has to happen.....NOW, could have been Jonn using the staff, or his father? YES....SURE.....but having Supergirl do it was not a major problem for me. This is its own universe and therefore differentiating things from the comics etc...is fine with me. The wall thing, bothered me enough to write the writers about it on twitter.

 

[Vlyse]

I don't watch Arrowverse anymore, but I came for Mars and the MMH. I thought this episode was great start to finish. It was very standalone. Really loved the Mars stuff.

 

[Osiris-Rex]

All of your reasons I can agree with, they were my problems as well....not so much the cost cutting stuff, Mars looked fine to me, I just wanted it fleshed out more and would have enjoyed the episode more with the Maggie stuff not in it. As far as killing the White Martians, I'm not sure what else could have been done...there was no way to capture them alive. Sometimes that just has to happen.....NOW, could have been Jonn using the staff, or his father? YES....SURE.....but having Supergirl do it was not a major problem for me. This is its own universe and therefore differentiating things from the comics etc...is fine with me. The wall thing, bothered me enough to write the writers about it on twitter.

Apparently Supergirl killing normal humans is where the show draws the line. Killing sentient androids, a human/parasite symbiot, Maldorians, Daxamites, and White Martians are all fair game.
Of course Alex, J'onn and the rest of the DEO agents are free to kill whom ever gets in the way, because as Alex explained to Supergirl, this is war.