Supergirl Season 5, Episode 17: "Deus Lex Machina" (SPOILERS)

[LL2K2]

Supergirl's directorial debut!

"MELISSA BENOIST MAKES HER DIRECTORIAL DEBUT – Lex (guest star Jon Cryer) proceeds to lay an intricate plan to bring Lena (Katie McGrath) closer to him, defeat Leviathan’s latest attack, and pit Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) and team against Leviathan. It is also revealed how Lex came into power after Crisis. Melissa Benoist directed the episode with story by Lindsay Sturman and teleplay by Katie Rose Rogers & Brooke Pohl (#517). Original airdate 5/3/2020."

EDIT: Airdate pushed back to April 26 due to COVID-19 pandemic.

EDIT 2: Pushed back yet another week to May 3.

Sheesh.

 

[flickchick85]

Looking forward to this one.

 

[Dark Raven]

I'm guessing this will be Kara-lite in this one and pretty much focusing on Lex. How come he's agreed to so many episodes this season? He's now practically a regular.

 

[vantheman77]

This would be the equivalent to last season, where we found out about Lex and Red Daughter during Children of Liberty and Elseworlds. Here we would see Lex’s post-Crisis history.

 

[flickchick85]

Promo:

 

[Brierrose]

Nice promo, this looks like a good one. It’s very cool that Melissa got the opportunity to direct. It seemed like she had a blast doing it.

 

[Dr.]

EDIT: Airdate pushed back to April 26 due to COVID-19 pandemic.

It seems this episode has been pushed back again - to May 3rd.

 

[Mysteryman]

Pity.

 

[Dark Raven]

It seems this episode has been pushed back again - to May 3rd.

Is that now when the next episode of Supergirl will air? So nothing at all in April?

 

[flickchick85]

Is that now when the next episode of Supergirl will air? So nothing at all in April?

Correct.

Also, the pics just released from this episode spoil a fairly major character's return.

Spoiler

I wonder of Miss Martian will stick around at all this time.

 

[SV Fan]

It seems this episode has been pushed back again - to May 3rd.

This is weird why would they play Batwoman tonight but not Supergirl?

 

[Brierrose]

This is weird why would they play Batwoman tonight but not Supergirl?

Unlike Supergirl or Flash Batwoman may have finished filming episode 20 before everything stopped. Nicole said Supergirl was three days short of finishing filming episode 20. Batwoman is the least VFX heavy of the three unfinished Arrowverse shows, LoT and Black Lightning were finished filming and weren't effected, so it makes sense to me that it takes a bit less time to film an episode of Batwoman. Other things like location or guest star availability could've been in play too. Little bits of time saved or spent add up.

 

[SV Fan]

Unlike Supergirl or Flash Batwoman may have finished filming episode 20 before everything stopped. Nicole said Supergirl was three days short of finishing filming episode 20. Batwoman is the least VFX heavy of the three unfinished Arrowverse shows, LoT and Black Lightning were finished filming and weren't effected, so it makes sense to me that it takes a bit less time to film an episode of Batwoman. Other things like location or guest star availability could've been in play too. Little bits of time saved or spent add up.

So that means we don't get the final episode? No cliff hanger?

 

[Brierrose]

So that means we don't get the final episode? No cliff hanger?

There will be a season finale, they took all the footage from the everything filmed from the last few episodes including what would’ve been the 20th and made one. It won’t be what was originally intended, Jon Cryer has said Lex’s fate was changed, but apparently there will be closer. In that respect Supergirl is better off than other shows, Flash will be short three episodes and Batwoman will be short two whereas Supergirl will be short one and they had a lot of footage to work with.

 

[Brierrose]

Some interviews with Melissa about her directing experience.

Melissa Benoist on the 'daunting' challenge of directing Lex-centric 'Supergirl' hour

Supergirl's Melissa Benoist Talks the Sheer Terror Of Directing
She bought some new wardrobe for directing because she felt she should dress the part. Normally actors wear sweats to the set because they’re going to be changing anyway.

Melissa Benoist Shares the Secrets of Her 'Supergirl' Directorial Debut
She’s feeling good but evaded on how far along she is. Based on when the announcement was made and that they knew that they’re having a boy I’m thinking end of July to early August.

E! Online: Behind The Scenes On Melissa's Supergirl Directorial Debut
BTS shots of Director Benoist.

 

[flickchick85]

I'm always a sucker for the Luthors so this is hardly a surprise, but I'm really enjoying this episode. Melissa's directing has been on-point, imo.

Also, Lena's condolences were actually genuine? Huh. Honestly didn't expect that.

But why on Earth did Alex refer to Jeremiah by his first name? He's her dad ffs, and she's always referred to him as such.

 

[flickchick85]

The Sun-Eater.

 

[vantheman77]

Great return episode of Supergirl and it’s nice to see the Sun Eater.

 

[flickchick85]

My one big complaint is that the "one step forward, two steps back" thing with Lena is beyond tired at this point. Either have her forgive Kara or not, but dangling that forgiveness in one scene only to be like "I thought Supergirl was sincere but she was tricking me!" is a card they've played too damn many times this season. Give it a rest.

Also, that one bit were there was a notice to the public to escape into VR while the sun was being eaten was dumb, lol.

Otherwise, this was a rather enjoyable episode, as I'd expect any episode carried by Cryer's Lex would be.

 

[SupermanFan]

Wow amazing episode.

I am gonna sound a little hypocritical as I have been complaining about episodes not focusing on Kara however, this one wasn’t a crappy filler. It was a plot focused episode. A Lex Luthor one at that and it was done Masterfully. Hands down for me now Jon Cryer is the best version of Lex Luthor we’ve ever had in live action. He totally understands how to play a charming smarmy bastard. He even adds a layer of comedy to his performance but it never devolves into campiness.

I don’t think it was quite as good as the S4 Lex episode where we found out Lex was behind so much of what had happened throughout the series but it was very much in the spirit of that. Lex’s arc from the first day after Crisis to now was so well done. I love that he was behind the death or Jeremiah, and like Lex should, yes he’s the smartest guy in the world but his hatred of Kryptonians often clouds his judgement. I give the writers of this show a lot of crap (a lot of it justified) but when they write Lex Luthor they nail it 10 times out of 10. I really really want to see Cryer’s Lex square off against Hoechlin’s Superman. I have fingers crossed for everything.

On that topic that’s probably my only issue with this week’s episode. Surely when a Sun Eater is about to eat the Sun Superman would show up? I sometimes wish they could get him in for a little cameo here & there. I wonder why they don’t get him to film a few extra bits when they have him.

 

[Thome216]

A very nice return! Lex is always a great villain, esp with Cryer. I will agree about the back/forth with Lena and Kara. Really hoping they patch this up by the end of the season. That scene where she offered her condolences was very nice, though that Lex would then warp it to his own ends was true to form for him.

Some things I didn't like was the beginning with Kara being dumbfounded by Lex being considered a hero. By this point, she knows he's playing the system in all the ways that he can, so being surprised like that is more season 1 rather than season 5. The other is of course the Lena/Kara tug of war.

But a real good episode!

 

[Lencho01]

This might end up my favorite episode of the season. The baby Sun-Eater!

I did laugh at Lex "quesitoning" Lena about her seeing Kara as if he didn't know. Also when J'onn and M'gann were talking in space with their mouths.

 

[Holy Slapper]

That was a very good episode. Best ever description of what an evil genius Lex is. Jon Cryer is already the best Lex. I cracked up hard when he was a bartender with the wig. A pretty impressive directorial debut for Benoist.

 

[SupermanFan]

That was a very good episode. Best ever description of what an evil genius Lex is. Jon Cryer is already the best Lex. I cracked up hard when he was a bartender with the wig. A pretty impressive directorial debut for Benoist.

OMG that wasn’t hilarious

 

[Lantern Venom]

That was a very good episode. Best ever description of what an evil genius Lex is. Jon Cryer is already the best Lex. I cracked up hard when he was a bartender with the wig. A pretty impressive directorial debut for Benoist.

I've been far more impressed with him than I ever was with Hackman, Spacey, or the Chihuahua.