I should start by saying that I watched the first 3 episodes of the new series, but I wasn’t impressed nor hooked enough, so I never returned. And it looks like I certainly wasn’t the only one, because, after a very strong 13 million viewers for its premiere episode in October, the series’ pull has been hovering in the 7 to 8 million viewers range. So, still healthy, but about a 40% drop from its debut, and not the kind of numbers CBS is used to as the top-ranked network in terms of average ratings for its primetime weeknight series.
All that said, "Supergirl" is a show that I might revisit as a binge-watch, after the season ends. Some shows are just better consumed that way, and this may be one of them.
And maybe those who also left the show, or haven’t watched any of it at all, may be enticed to start tuning in given what I only just learned was revealed during last night’s episode.
In short, the truth behind the character that David Harewood plays – Hank Henshaw – was finally revealed. My research tells me that Henshaw is actually a super villain in the DC Comics universe; but in the CBS series, the character is a government agent who is the head of the Department of Extra-Normal Operations (DEO), who goes on high alert when Supergirl reveals herself, worried that her otherworldly abilities pose a threat to humankind.
However, in last night’s episode, it was revealed that Henshaw is actually not Henshaw, but J’onn J’onzz, aka the Martian Manhunter, and, as I assume DC Comics geeks would know, a founding member of the Justice League.
According to the narrative the CBS series has written for the character, the Martian Manhunter first encountered the real Hank Henshaw while he was on a mission to capture the alien. J’onn J’onzz then took over Henshaw’s body and thus his identity, and returned to earth to run the DEO and save mankind from bad aliens… or something like that. You can watch the "big reveal" from last night’s episode below.
Of course with this came speculation on what this means for the series, specifically, whether the Justice League is coming to the TV show (there is a Justice League movie set for a November 2017 release at WB). TV Guide spoke to David Harewood after last night’s episode, and this is what he had to say: "That’s really a question for Andrew [Kreisberg, executive producer]. I just get these scripts every week. Obviously, I would love for it to be heading in that direction. There is a wonderful moment in Episode 12 where I say to [Kara], ‘It would be great if you could come work for us full time.’ There’s a smidgen of, ‘Let’s form a group.’ You think to yourself, these guys are the Justice League. We’ve seen how successful The Avengers have been and just looking at the Batman v Superman trailer, you’ve got Wonder Woman there. We are living in an age where DC characters are starting to come together. It’s a very exciting prospect, but right now I just have to concentrate on the scripts that are infant of us and leave those decisions to the people that are paid far more than we are."
My research tells me that the original members of the Justice League were, in addition to the Martian Manhunter, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Aquaman, and Green Lantern. The team roster has rotated throughout the years, consisting of many superheroes from the DC Universe. But what Harewood said certainly seems appropriate, given what Marvel/Disney have been doing on their end, gradually building and expanding the Marvel universe from one project to the next, as well as linking their characters on the big and small screens.
Watch the Henshaw/Martian Manhunter reveal below:
