Some of our favorite shows are going on hiatus after this week, but that means they're going out with a bang. We get some fantastic new characters making their TV debut (VIXEN!), jaw-dropping bad guys, and even a musical number. Let's get to it!
Small Screen Supes
Speedy Synopses
Supergirl 1x14: Truth, Justice, and the American Way
After a rocky couple of weeks at work, Kara is shocked to find that Cat has hired a second assistant (a little out of spite). The new girl, Siobhan Smythe, is ambitious and ruthless, not only eyeing Kara's job, but eventually Cat's.
Meanwhile, Kara says goodbye to her Aunt Astra in a ceremony with her fellow Kryptonians. Non informs her that once their two weeks of grieving is over, he's coming for her. Dun dun DUN.
The DEO, while investigating Non and whatever his "Myriad" plan might be, also has their hands full with a vigilante hunting down the escaped prisoners of Fort Rozz. Master Jailer won't let anyone, not even Supergirl, stand in his way of capturing and punishing the criminals.
Cat has noticed that Maxwell Lord is missing, and puts James and Lucy on the case. When Lucy uses her contacts in the government to uncover evidence of the DEO at Lord's labs, James lets slip that he knows of their existence. Lucy is fed up with James keeping secrets, especially ones related to Supergirl, and storms out. James realizes that he can't keep lying to her if he wants a shot at a relationship with her.
The DEO figure out Master Jailer's next target, and when Supergirl attempts to save him, she ends up captured herself. She wakes up in his lair (he's a bad guy, it's a lair) powerless, but in no time Alex and the DEO arrive and free her. Master Jailer is defeated and Kara learns that justice isn't as black and white as she thought it was. She convinces the DEO to set Maxwell Lord free.
Lucifer 1x5: Sweet Kicks
This week opens with a bang (sorry, couldn’t help it) as Lucifer and Mazikeen are front and center for a shooting at a posh fashion show. The fashion fiasco turns into a case for the police when fashion designer Benny walks out for a bow and ends up dodging gunshots - and in the resulting panic, an innocent woman is trampled to death.
Lucifer manages to get himself assigned to the case by sweet-talking Chloe’s boss, using his demonic wiles to convince her that she needs his particular brand of help. Conveniently, Ms. Lieutenant desires something; for political reasons, she wants to whole-hearted approval of the Latino communities in her jurisdiction. And as it happens, Lucifer is great at striking deals. Agreeing to deliver her the results she wants, Lucifer manages to get himself assigned to the case - much to Chloe’s annoyance.
On the case together once again, Lucifer and Chloe are met by Benny - the beleaguered designer himself - who implies that a few grouchy gang members might be responsible for the shooting at the fashion show. Meanwhile, our other favorite earth-bound demons Amenadiel and Mazikeen enjoy a coffee klatch, where we learn that good old Maze is actually very interested in leaving Earth - as soon as possible. They realize that everyone’s favorite Lord of Hell hasn’t been sharing very much recently - well, not with them; but he has been sharing (a lot) with his sexy therapist. Disguised as a fellow practitioner, Amenadiel seduces her into agreeing to share more information about “their patients.” Combined with Mazikeen’s reluctant pledge to help, it’s starting to look like Amenadiel might have a shot at dragging Lucifer back to Hell.
Hot on the trail of the grumpy gangsters, Chloe and Lucifer track a few down. They discover that poor designer Benny isn’t as innocent as he seems - he’s free and able to design today because another gangster, Yellow Viper, ended up in prison. Positive that this colorful gangster has to be the shooter, the Dynamic Duo Luce & Chloe track him down - only to discover that he’s actually a pretty nice guy. Things get heated when even more gangster show up, and in the ensuing chaos, Mazikeen swoops in to kick some butt and help Chloe and Lucifer out of a sticky situation.
After a false start of thinking that Yellow Viper is the fashion show shooter, Lucifer and Chloe quickly realize their mistake - the gentle gangster-turned-art teacher was framed by Designer Benny! Using his horrific demonic visage, Lucifer manages to reel him in, just in time for Chloe to arrest him. Back at the station, their happy boss is promoted to chief of police, and Lucifer snags a role for himself as “official civilian consultant.” Hey, now he has a reason to be hanging around the police department! Lucifer is thrilled, but still can’t manage to close the deal with Chloe. And in the midst of his euphoria, Mazikeen has to remind him: she’ll be around to protect him... even if he turns mortal. Ominous, much? (Savannah)
The Flash 2x15: King Shark
This week brings Diggle and Lyla to Central City as A.R.G.U.S. looks for an escaped metahuman prisoner, King Shark. We saw him for just a few moments earlier in the season, but now he's back to find the Flash and fill out his mission for Zoom.
Barry, Caitlin, and the others are struggling to find their new normal now that all of the breaches to Earth-2 are closed. Cisco is keeping a wary eye on Caitlin, unable to get the image of Killer Frost out of his head. Caitlin has been acting icy and standoffish since seeing Jay Garrick impaled before her eyes, and when Cisco confronts her, she says if she lets herself give into her feelings, she might never stop crying.
Barry is also consumed by his emotions, wracked with guilt and grief over what happened to Joe and Iris on Earth-2. He attempts to bond with Wally, but he's dealing with so much already that it doesn't go well. Barry decides to concentrate on finding and stopping King Shark, but the metahuman makes it easy for him by showing up to Joe's house and ripping. the. roof. off. Dude is big and angry.
STAR Labs and A.R.G.U.S. team up to track and set out bait for King Shark, who shows up, still on the hunt for Flash. Barry stops King Shark with his lightning and A.R.G.U.S. takes him back into custody.
Barry calls Team Flash for a meeting, having made up his mind that he's not willing to leave Earth-2 in Zoom's clutches. They will find a way to open a breach and defeat him once and for all.
Back on Earth-2, Zoom drops Jay's body on the floor, and pulls off his mask for the first time to reveal... Jay Garrick. TWIST!
Agent Carter 2x08: The Edge of Mystery
Jarvis is beside himself with worry; Ana has survived her operation after being shot by Frost, but she still hasn't woken up. Never have I seen a man so put together come so completely undone (well done, Mr. D'Arcy) and it was DEVASTATING. When Ana finally does wake up, Jarvis decides that his need for vengeance precedes staying by his wife's side, and the doctor's news that Ana will never be able to conceive only stokes those flames.
Team Peggy is off to rescue Wilkes, but they're too late; Frost manages to open up the Zero Matter Gap in the desert, only to find herself having a BIT of a temper tantrum when Wilkes is the only one "chosen" to go through. Howard Stark "faxed" designs for a Gamma Cannon to stop zero matter, and Samberley (who's really the Jerry Girgich of the SSR, only less likable) manages to whip up a prototype with just one shot/chance to stop zero matter. And it does, spitting out Dr. Wilkes who's writhing in pain and looking a bit...off. Peggy manages to rescue him by making a swap with fake uranium rods, but he pulls a gun on her (GASP!) because he wants to go back, believing that only Frost can help him. Oh yes - and Jarvis shot Frost at point blank range... and NOTHING HAPPENED. She absorbed that bullet like it was just another day. Sousa, Thompson and Samberley are still back at the Gamma Cannon and don't see Frost pile Jarvis and Peggy into her van.
Meanwhile Thompson has been sent on a fool's errand to the UK where he buddies up with an old uni pal. He convinces him to get a file on Peggy's supposed work during the war, and it's mostly blacked out. We know it's pile of trash, PEGGY tells him it's a pile of trash when he confronts her, and when Thompson realizes he's nothing but Vernon's pawn things start to get very interesting.
Also, the chemistry between Sousa and Peggy is so intense that I may have needed a handkerchief to mop my brow. This build-up is TOO MUCH! (Amanda R.)
Agent Carter 2x09: A Little Song and Dance
Musical number! I'm sure this opening dream sequence was hit or miss with most of us; I confess that as much as I liked seeing our cast sing and dance it was a bit jarring, perhaps due to the fact that I couldn't tell if they were actually singing or if they were voiced over by other actors. At any rate - Jarvis in tails! Ana, Whitney and Dottie as showgirls! And Angie! I hope we see more of you again, girl!
Peggy manages to untie herself and Jarvis from the back of Frost's van and they tumble out into the California desert. Things get HEATED and Jarvis unloads all of his anger on Peggy, and Peggy gives it right back to him because he's not the only one who's suffered loss; he needs to realize that this isn't a Penny Dreadful novel, this work that she does is risky, and people get hurt and die. Peggy and Jarvis's (pardon me - Miss Carter and Mr. Jarvis's) friendship is the real MVP in this episode. They come out of it at the other end, still friends and still having each other's back, ALWAYS.
Peggy pretends to be passed out when Manfredi's goons double back to get her and Jarvis, and as always, men underestimating her ends up being in her favor.
Thompson double and triple crosses everyone this week, and in the end it turns out he's only looking out for himself. Vernon wants everyone to trust him and no one does, and at this point the episode got a bit messy and I think I may have zoned out. I definitely woke up when Peggy stormed into the SSR and PUNCHED VERNON IN THE FACE. It was magnificent.
Whitney Frost solidifies her place in The Supervillains Hall of Fame as she takes a giant syringe and plunges it into Jason's chest. YOW. She really wants ALL of the zero matter. Jack makes a deal with her, offering her the Gamma Cannon AND Vernon, in exchange for a seat on the council. Thompson is SO AWFUL, you guys. He lies to Peggy and she's instantly suspicious. Samberley slips and tells them that Jack had them turn the Gamma Cannon into a BOMB but he thought Peg and Sousa knew that already. WAY TO GO, SAMBERLEY.
Ana finally pulls the truth out of Jarvis; about what's happening with Peggy, and eventually, what has happened to Ana as a result of her being shot. Ana tells Jarvis that he must help Peggy, because who else will if he does not?
Peggy drags Jason from where's he's being kept by Frost, even though he pleads with her not to because his entire self is now basically a bomb. Peggy doesn't want Jack to detonate the bomb so he pulls a gun on Samberley, forcing him to, except then Peggy pulls HER gun on Jack. The credits roll just as Whitney fails to kill Vernon and Jason walks in, ready to literally explode. (Amanda R.)
Arrow 4x15: Taken
Darhk tells Oliver to drop out of the mayoral race and endorse Ruve if he ever wants to see William again. Felicity is shocked Ollie has a son and even more shocked at the long list of people who knew before her.
Ollie brings in Vixen for the rescue, hoping she can fight magic with magic! Short version? She can’t. But after getting her butt kicked, she does have a bright idea. Since her necklace gives her power, perhaps Darhk has a similar item? Captain Lance confirms that Darhk’s always surreptitiously playing with some sculpture. Team Arrow attacks his compound and Vixen steals the totem, breaking it just before Darhk magically chokes the life out of all present. His powers fail and Ollie cold-cocks him, rescuing William.
Earlier in the episode, Malcolm tried to gaslight Thea, accusing her of being heartless when she said she was pretty sure he’d helped Darhk take William. After the boy fingers Malcolm as his captor, Thea tells him, for once and all, to go screw himself. Malcolm responds by calling her a selfish brat and taking credit for all her accomplishments. Woo. This show has daddy issues.
Speaking of, after listening to some pretty terrible advice from Vixen (who asserted it was better to grow up in foster care than face the truth about her magical heritage), Ollie decides not only not to tell William the truth about his parentage, but to actually send him away entirely. With the crisis over, Felicity tells Oliver she can’t handle his lies anymore, and Curtis’s spine-device thing kicks in just in time to allow her to stand up out of her wheelchair and walk out on him. (Amanda K.)
Legends of Tomorrow 1x06: Star City 2046
Team Legends ends up in Star City in the year 2046 after being tossed about in the time-stream by Kronos the Mercenary Plot Device. Star City looks like your local community theatre decided to adapt Mad Max. Garbage fires! Destitution! And a man in a green hood! Except this green-hooded vigilante isn't Oliver Queen, it's John Diggle, Jr. who goes by the name Connor Hawke. He refuses to use his father's name, blaming himself for John Sr's death. (Sounds like he's taken more than just fashion advice from Oliver Queen because that is some seriously misplaced guilt.)
While Sara is off looking for a part from Smoak Industries that can get the Wave Rider up and running, Cold and Mick run into some local goons. They don't have the tech that Cold and Mick do, and so their leader writes a check his butt can't cash and Mick takes his (hideous) Fur Coat of Leadership. Mick wants to stay, Cold wants to leave, they fight, Cold knocks out Mick and drags him back to the ship and, honestly, couldn't you just have left Mick there? He's a grown-ass man, let him do what he wants!
Dr. Stein meddles in Jax's personal life by "helping" Ray realize that dating Kendra wouldn't be in the interest of the team - only Ray never saw Kendra like that until Stein mentioned it. Thank GOD Kendra shut it down; she's not trying to be anyone's girlfriend right now. (And we all know that no one can hold a candle to Cisco.)
Smoak Industry's tech is being stored in the old Team Arrow Lair, which is now as run down and decrepit as, OH WAIT, Oliver Queen! He's not dead, which is what everyone in Star City believes, but he IS missing an arm, sporting a beard, and feeling VERY sorry for himself. Sara starts to feel responsible for the state of Star City, and when Connor gets himself kidnapped by Grant Wilson, son of SLADE Wilson (the new Big Cheese) she tells an adamant Rip to stuff it and launches her own rescue mission. Rip finally realizes that his "rules" about what can and can't be altered, and what timelines are finite or flexible are sort of ridiculous. He sends in the rest of the Legends to take down Wilson and rescue Connor. Teamwork! (Amanda R.)
Hero of the Week: Vixen, Arrow
Mari McCabe, AKA Vixen, doesn't disappoint in her live-action debut. Well, she does dispense some sketchy advice to Oliver, but other than that she is a character I'd love to see on my TV every week. She's fearless and kicks butt, even without the magical help of her necklace.
Honorable mentions: Barry Allen, The Flash, Peggy Carter, Agent Carter, Sara Lance, Legends of Tomorrow
Villain of the Week: King Shark, The Flash
He's a shaaaaaaaarrrrrrk! Not only is this guy big and bad, King Shark's appearance on The Flash this week felt like a huge step forward in the effects department. He gnawed on some dudes, ripped the roof off Joe's house, and even had a short conversation or two. What a time to be a comic book fan, guys!
Honorable mentions: Whitney Frost, Agent Carter, Damien Darhk, Arrow, Siobhan Smythe, Supergirl
Comic Relief
They're dressed as FLAMINGOS, GUYS
Biff! Bam! Pow!
set via http://dailydcheroes.tumblr.com/
Pull List
Top Titles
Chaos Arena: Crystal Fighters #1 by Tyler and Jen Bartel
A free new comics app, Stēla, released this week, and along with it came several new intriguing titles. The first one to catch my eye was Chaos Arena: Crystal Fighters, a unique take on the magical girl genre. In a nutshell, it's a magical girl fight club. Stella's parents give her a new VR game to play with, and at first she's dismayed with its sugary sweet look and characters. But she stumbles into an underground arena where there are no tiaras barred, and she's (literally) dragged into their world. Stēla offers the first chapter for free and the rest (along with all other titles) can be read with a monthly subscription. An ongoing comic filled with Jen Bartel's glowing art every month? Tempting! (Kelly)
X-Men: Worst X-Man Ever #1 by Max Bemis, with art by Michael Walsh
Bailey is a high school kid who spends his lunch times scrolling through Facebook with his gay BFF, Steve, trying to find a prom date. He's not goth enough for hardcore Jennifer, not cool enough for it-girl Amanda, and not "cool" enough for hipster Kate. In fact, Bailey can't think of a single personality trait that might make him attractive to the opposite sex and tries a slew of new hobbies to find a way to connect before settling back - defeated - into video games. Enter his parents, who have some news to share: they're mutants and he might be carrying the X-Gene. Um, awesome *high five*. Problem solved. Sort of. Bailey makes his way to Xaiver's School for Mutants, where Beast tests him. Bailey's wish has come true...He's a human firework! Like, he can totally explode. Once. And die. Worst X-Men brings us an out of continuity humorous story, complete with a ton of fan favorite X-Men. Can't wait to see what kind of trouble they get into in future issues. Bonus: if you're wondering why the name Max Bemis sounds familiar, he's the lead singer of punk alternative band, Say Anything, and Marvel is already courting him for future projects! (Christy)
Jacked #4 by Eric Kripke, with art by John Higgins
We've seen Josh transform from middle-aged, balding regular-ol-Joe to butt-kicking (but still balding) superhuman thanks to Jacked, a pill that promises to enhance the human experience. In this week's issue, we see how this metamorphosis has impacted his wife and children, who genuinely miss their husband and father as he's gone on a mission to save his attractive, young neighbor from her abusive boyfriend. "Turns out kicking a** isn't like the movies," Josh ponders after reflecting on the murders he's committed (duh). Along the way, Josh runs out of Jacked and goes on an adventure to find the creator, who is in prison for violating FDA rules. Turns out 1. Josh is the only person who's ever had the intended effects and 2. The limited supply of Jacked has dried up so Josh has to bail inmate #454 out to cook up some more. Very ethical guy, you see; I'm sure he has great intentions. You're making great decisions, Josh. Thinking just like a superhero. What could go wrong? *snicker* (Christy)
Pick of the Week
We Are Robin #9 by Lee Bermejo with art by Jorge Corona
Every day, some things end...and others begin. The Robins are all over the place, splintered after the Robin War, and this issue is a glimpse into how everyone is fairing after disbanding. Duke, Izzy, Riko (shout out to those of you who remember her from Gotham Academy; hopefully we see her back some day!), Dax, and Dre feel like failures while trying to return to teenage "normalcy". Of course, just because the Robins aren’t actively being pursued by the GCPD doesn’t mean they get a break. Instead, Affluenza-affected, makeup-wearing Joker-fanboy villain, Smiley, is wreaking havoc on Gotham. We got a glimpse into Smiley's modus operandi - a complete lack of regard for everyone - when he murdered his parents in the last issue. Will the Robins be able to turn that frown upside down and put a stop to Smiley and his band of clowns (literal clowns) or will Gotham be once again warned to stay indoors after dark? (Christy)
As Seen in the Daily Planet
News
Zack Snyder posted a behind-the-scenes photo of Justice League with a few hints hidden in the background.
Finn Jones (Loras Tyrell in Game of Thrones) has been cast as Netflix's Iron Fist.
Y'all, The CW's Archie is FOINE and Josie (of The Pussycats) will be played by a black actress in Riverdale.
Upcoming DC Comics show Powerless has added Vanessa Hudgens, Danny Pudi, and Alan Tudyk to the cast.
Commander Riker is playing Star-Lord's dad in the Guardians of the Galaxy animated series.
Stephen Amell wants to do a Supergirl crossover (oh I bet you do with the way your show is seriously slipping this season).
Everything you need to know about Harley Quinn before Suicide Squad in one handy place.
Host your own Doctor Who comic book event. Allons-y!
Catch a glimpse of Trajectory in a new extended The Flash teaser.
A Supernatural actress moves to Star City to star on Arrow.
Grab your crayons (I know you have some) and unleash your creativity on these Marvel Women of Power coloring books.
A $100 ultimate Batman v Superman ticket allows you to see the movie as many times as you want.
All the Punisher comics you need to read before you see him on Daredevil.
There's some serious desparity in the number of women writing comics released this week.
What is Marvel's Most Wanted?
Get to know Vixen as part of Black History Month. Bonus: black comic book artists you should know.
Trailers
Our best look yet at the new season of Daredevil:
What did you think of Vixen? Could this be Agent Carter's last season? (Nooooo!) Let's chat in the comments below!