'Supergirl' Season 5 Episode 12 Review: The original Toyman's redemption doesn't add up amid the chaos
The CW's 'Supergirl' returned after a brief hiatus with 'Back To The Future' Part 2 episode. There was a lot happening this episode to the extent that it seemed rather chaotic and even confusing at points.
In the midseason premiere, Supergirl and her squad saw the emergence of Toyman, which prompted fan-favorite Winn Schott to return for a while from his travels with the Legions.
With the villain seemingly defeated, Winn could enjoy the reunion with his friends. However, not for too long, though, as obviously Toyman can't be vanquished so easily.
However, that wasn't the only threat lurking in this episode. There were undercurrents of tension regarding the Leviathan and Lex Luthor's (Jon Cryer) plans to overpower them.
Lex is as diabolical as ever and Alex (Chyler Leigh) is not having it anymore and reaches her breaking point at the end of the episode, prompting her to make a shocking decision regarding the DEO.
The episode was exactly the opposite of what the promo showed, which was a romance brewing between Kara and William. Thankfully, this wasn't the focus. The Kara-William relationship is one that no one has time to be invested in — not the characters and least of all the fans.
At the beginning of the episode, the two do a karaoke song at the bar. Later Kara confesses to Winn that she does like William, "but she doesn't want to begin a relationship on lies", as she is still smarting from losing Lena's (Katie McGrath) friendship.
Keeping to that tone, she snubs him at the end of the episode and acts as if she doesn't like him. You know, the whole I-Like-You-So-I'm-Protecting-You tune. *Sigh*.
Cut to the main plot of the story: Winn Schott's evil doppelganger is still lurking around town and has some horrific plans up his sleeve. The AI version of Winn's father (Henry Czerny), which is stored in a backup drive, wants to take him down and seems to have had a change of heart.
He asks Winn to release him. Winn flatly refuses to believe this and waits till a showdown with alternate Winn to finally release his dad. And so, original Toyman redeems himself and dies with alternate Winn.
This quick redemption of a murderous villain just seemed to add to the confusion of this episode which was almost becoming a congealed mess.
Meanwhile, Lena has receded into the background and is only taking orders from Lex or receiving his appreciation grudgingly.
Her friction-filled friendship with Andrea Rojas is brought to the fore again, and Lena does what she does best: Sabotaging those who betrayed her. Brainy isn't having it easy either, he has to obtain the Toyman code for Lex, who wants to use it as immortality against Leviathan.
This episode could have been crisper and far more engaging. And honestly, can Lena have something better to do? The storylines seemed to be knotted and tangled, and it was difficult to engage with any plot. Hopefully, the next episode will be better?
'Supergirl' airs on The CW on Sundays at 9 pm.
