'Supergirl' season 5 episode 1 review: 'Event Horizon' sees Lena Luthor nurse revenge while Midnight attacks Kara and her team
This review contains spoilers for 'Supergirl' Episode 1: 'Event Horizon
The trailers and promos of the latest seasons of al The CW's Arrowverse shows promised high-octane action, formidable foes and the 'Crisis'. The network kicked off with a new season of 'Supergirl' this fall and it is clear tougher challenges await the Girl of Steel. 'Event Horizon' picks up from the previous episode and surprises await team Supergirl from every corner. There are enough subplots to set the tone for what will most probably be the most intriguing series to date.
For starters, Lena Luthor (Katie McGrath) is hurt and feeling betrayed after realizing that her best friend, Kara Danvers (Melissa Benoist) kept her superhero identity a secret. The trailer showed her plotting revenge, "I'm not a villain," Lena says. "I don't want to kill Supergirl. I just want her to experience the same hurt she inflicted on me. Soon enough, she will."
The revenge begins when she sells off CatCo to Andrea Rojas (Julie Gonzalo) who has major plans to revamp the way the media house works. She prefers monetizing content, the type CatCo have never reported so as to project more colorful, glossy news telling— a suggestion that irks James Olsen (Mehcad Brooks) and Kara. Rojas' character was created as part of the Planet DC annuals event. Her first appearance is in Superman Annual (vol.) 2 #12. Also known as Acrata, her powers came from an ancient Mayan symbol which represents the shadows in the night, which allows her to teleport whenever in shadow. Her alter-ego, however, doesn't make an appearance just yet.
Even as Lena makes meticulous plans, evil is brewing in the form of Midnight (Jennifer Cheon Garcia) a foe sent to the Phantom Zone by J'Onn J'Onzz (David Harewood). She attacks the team at their base the first time and her immediate target to take out isn't Kara, but J'Onn. The ensuing scrimmage damages Kara's cape. While the team looks to counter Midnight, the story shifts to Kara getting ready to receive the Pulitzer for her investigative work on Lex Luthor, where Lena plans to expose her identity to the world via CatCo. Kara, however, confesses her identity and Lena is forced to change plans. The revenge though is yet to be exacted as Lena later reveals that she has no intention of forgiving Kara and concocts a new plan.
'Event Horizon' promised a new outfit for Supergirl and this time it's Brainiac 5 (Jesse Rath) who comes up with a cutting- edge suit. The time to test out the new outfit comes soon after when Midnight strikes during the award ceremony. The ensuing scrimmage sees Midnight being subdued, but not before she tosses J'Onn in a black hole that she creates. The Martian, however, is saved by Kara and things look like they are to end on a happy note for Kara, except it really doesn't and she's unaware of it.
It was revealed well in advance that Brooks would be leaving the show midway and the season premiere hints at it when he resigns as Editor-in-Chief of CatCo. The episode also has no subplot to the 'Crisis' just yet. The final few minutes also show Malefic J'Onzz facing off against J'Onn.
'Event Horizon', in fact, is a great start. More than the action, the new suit, it is the emotional angle that would please fans. Lena will surely have a major role to play this season. Midnight doesn't really get a lot of screentime but packs a wallop when she takes on J'Onn. Her supervillain role isn't an easy write-off and the same template may be followed in the episodes to come.
'Supergirl' airs Sundays, 9 p.m. ET on The CW.