By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)
Disclaimer: Showcase Canada aired the East coast broadcast of TheCW’s Supergirl on Sunday, 5pm PST and is on Free Preview on Telus Optik.
The Crisis on Infinite Earths is beginning tonight, and TheCW’s Supergirl is where it starts! The setup is good enough to resolve a few loose ends never addressed during The Arrow and to make us aware we’re getting a five-act story. That is, we can expect all the rising action happen in The Flash and see the climax in Arrow. Each segment is basically an episode of one of this network’s superhero based shows.
As Barry is convinced he will die in this Crisis, Oliver argues otherwise–especially concerning the deal he made with the Monitor. Most followers know of the demise of the television show that started it all and it’s not surprising that the hero will go out on a literal bang. Spoilers follow. You have been warned.
My biggest question following the East Coast broadcast is in how a piece of quantum entanglement (a string of antimatter) can roam the aether to destroy universes one by one? It’s specifically targeting the Earth than other planets, but it’s said that anything in its wake will be destroyed. The concept is no different than Star Trek: Generations. Are the series writers out of ideas? I can respect them for being faithful to the comic book material and taking a cue from recent theories about how the multi-verse might be constructed–but can’t they inject something new? It has to address how other worlds are just as affected than one world. On a side note: how many spaceships were used to evacuate an entire planet? I suspect maybe 20% of the worlds population was saved.
As each universe is contained in a “soccer ball.” I am wondering how travel between these constructs possible–Black hole? White hole? Do we need to call in the SG-1 team? What exists between each realm, because I’m assuming that’s where the evacuees went. Is this Aether where the Speed Force lay? Instead of existing in a vibrational level where an outside force can affect them all at once, the analogy of balls in an ocean (when two collide, funny things can happen) and floating around until a snake swims in to consume them one at a time is how this crossover event is addressing the threat. The evil is the Anti Monitor wanting the destruction to happen so there’s only one ring–er realm to rule them all.
We get quick cameos. Blink or be distracted long enough, and they will be missed. On Earth-9, Hawk and Jason Todd (i.e. Robin) are afraid of something nasty, and we can safely assume they bite the dust. It’s enjoyable to finally see a Green Lantern type (despite being a villain Supergirl is fighting) and yes, that was Burt Ward (could the 60’s Batman somehow still exist)?
My next query includes how did the Crisis begin? The latest season of Arrow has been setting up the Crisis because of Oliver has been Quantum Leaping ever since the last crossover (Elseworlds) to do more good than usual. But anyone not following all the related series will miss this fact. “Purgatory” sets up the red skies perfectly. The Island of Lian Yu has been emitting some funky energy lately and Lyla seems to know more than she’s telling.
The two part “The Last Temptation of Barry Allen” has no connection to the mid season (several series) finale even though hints have been sprinkled throughout this latest season. Lyla Michaels became The Harbinger and she’s now helping the Monitor. She’s here to hop around the multiverse (known as the Infinitude in the cheeky nod to Legends of Tomorrow’s many intros) to collect specific heroes to say it’s time. Supergirl still has to contend with Leviathan back in her corner of the multi-verse and drops everything to help.
On Earth-38, everyone meets up to fight against a cosmic threat in the same level as the first (and perhaps last) Avengers movie. Even the similarities cannot go unnoticed, especially with how Oliver becomes Tony Stark and feels a certain sacrifice is needed. What he fears is taking place now! Add in a Harry Potter style reference or two (Warner Brothers has a lot of franchise properties rivalling Disney), and we’re getting more than a nerd’s paradise of easter eggs come true.
Has the writing team bitten off more than they can chew? Tonight’s episode deals more with Oliver finally meeting Sara, the Legend of Tomorrow, instead of the kid whom he stole on board that fateful night. The time spent on this scene alone defines this episode a lot more than the other sequences. As for his sacrifice, there are more Oliver’s out there.
This crossover also deals with themes about fulfilling Destiny. However, it’s not unfolding as the Monitor expected. With only one episode down and three more to go this week, the real cliffhanger will be in how next years pieces will resolve the unexpected twists. Arrow is not dead (yet).
As much as I’d love to see The Endless appear in this massive undertaking, that would mean one heck of a shock reveal should they appear. Based on previous reports of who’s coming back to this CWDCVerse (after all, without the Arrow series continuing, what else can we call it?). I’ve been wanting to see Doctor Fate, The Sandman or Death for the longest time. Their appearances would help tie all the various DC properties together. If we’re getting that cough voice actor to appear as Batman, then why can’t anyone who succeeds The Monitor in this hierarchy of cosmic entities be present?
Only time will tell.
The schedule is:
SUPERGIRL – Sunday, December 8, 2019 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT)
BATWOMAN – Monday, December 9, 2019 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT)
THE FLASH – Tuesday, December 10, 2019 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT)
ARROW – Tuesday, January 14, 2020 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT)
DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW – Tuesday, January 14, 2020 (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT)
