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Sometimes I write things, but mostly I watch movies.
Brainiac is here and all hope seems lost, but there’s always a way to win in “My Adventures with Supergirl”. Director Diana Huh and writers/co-creators Jake Wyatt, Brendan Clougher, and Josie Campbell deliver a top-tier episode that beautifully wraps up the storylines of this season of My Adventures with Superman and highlights what works about Superman, Supergirl, and the DC Universe as a whole.
Better Together
This episode doubles down on the previous episode’s theme of being stronger together. A whole host of returning characters—whom I won’t spoil here—help Clark Kent (voiced by Jack Quaid) and Kara Zor-El (voiced by Kiana Madeira) against Brainiac (voiced by Michael Emerson). We even see General Sam Lane (voiced by Joel de la Fuente) pop back in to assist Amanda Waller (voiced by Debra Wilson), despite their differences.
More importantly, at the core of this struggle are Clark and Kara. As the last two Kryptonians in the universe, they are the only two who can take on Brainiac. However, Brainiac has contingency upon contingency in place. Brainiac engages the Eradicator protocol and pits Kara and Clark against each other. This is a fun nod to the character from the comics and leads us to the heart of the episode.
The Last of the House of El
At the core of this episode is Kara Zor El. Kiana Madeira provides her best voice performance of the season. The heartbreak and the struggle in her voice during some of the heated moments are so emotionally moving. Of course, Jack Quaid nails it as Clark/Superman. Instead of physically fighting Kara, at least no more than he has to, he appeals to Kara’s emotions, trying to talk her out of Brainiac’s control. Madeira’s delivery is so heartfelt and genuine. It was tough not to cry during this whole episode, especially during their exchanges. Oftentimes, we see these two cousins visually represented as children, demonstrating that even as adults with the powers of gods these two are just scared children who want a home.
Home is a great thematic ending for both of these characters. They have spent this whole season searching for a place where they belong and find it in each other. Not only that, but they realize that home is with the people you love. Speaking of that, while Jimmy Olsen (voiced by Ishmel Sahid) and Lois Lane (voiced by Alice Lee) are not present in the episode much, they are so key to it. They serve to ground all the high-stakes end-of-the-world action in real and relatable human stakes. Not that Clark and Kara do not have those stakes; it is good to have non-superhero characters feel that too.
Lastly, after all the “saving the world” business is done, it’s great to see these characters spend time together—rebuilding their lives, and reflecting on the events of the season. It helps us feel closer to them, and makes the characters more well-rounded. While all that is fantastic, I would be remiss if I did not mention the action. This episode is almost non-stop action, and all of it is incredible. The sequences are all so dynamic and quick, feeling very much like a comic book put into motion. There are some especially epic moments on Kandor featuring Brainiac that I can see clearly happening in the pages of a Superman issue.
Final Thoughts on My Adventures with Superman Season 2
After the events of this episode and overall, this season, I can confidently say that Diana Huh, Jake Wyatt, Brendan Clougher, Josie Campbell and everyone else involved have crafted one of, if not the best, Superman adaptations. The whole season is full of love, reverence, and appreciation of the Superman mythos. Thankfully, My Adventures with Superman has been renewed for a third season. Yet, if the show had to end then “My Adventures with Supergirl” would make an excellent conclusion.
Score: 5/5
My Adventures with Superman Season 2 airs on Sundays at midnight via Adult Swim and the next day on Max!
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Sometimes I write things, but mostly I watch movies.
This article was edited by John Tangalin.