I enjoy the "Supergirl" series, despite its obvious pandering to specific audience demographics -not the best recipe for creativity. But "Falling", a nicely titled episode reminding me of "Mad Men" thematics, was fresh in its albeit temporary unlocking of actress Benoist from her soggy goody two-shoes performance style.
Yes, this segment can serve as an audition tape for Ms. Benoist as she moves on in her career past super-heroine antics. Coincidentally I had just watched Helen Slater, that adorable big-screen Supe of 3 decades ago, as an aged character actress doing an excellent job in the final episode of "Mad Men", and it is nice that she pops up occasionally on the new series as well.
The sexy, stuck-up, "bad girl" portrayal here under the influence of Red Kryptonite, as manufactured by the erstwhile bad boy of the series played by Peter Facinelli, was surface acting but did show a bit of range for Benoist. It's a lot more fun than her overage teenage angst week after week, as she seems more a case of arrested development (as character) than a real entity. It was a lot more entertaining seeing her opposite powerhouse Flockhart as equals rather than the becoming- tiresome dom/submissive relationship week-in week-out.
Near the finale, I especially enjoyed her co-star transforming into his J'onn J'onzz character. As a kid in the '50s, the Martian Manhunter was my favorite DC personality, and it is nice to see him belatedly getting a moment or two in the sun during our current comic-book craze in pop culture.
