The episode starts with an homage to John Carpenter’s “The Thing.” In a frozen and isolated locale, scientists find a wolf that has been frozen for centuries. But it’s still warm, almost like it’s alive. So the head scientist cuts it open and sticks his hand into the carcass. Which is a bad move because something inside clamps down on his hand, infecting him with an alien parasite. Then Doctor Jones proceeds to suck the life out of everyone else on the base. No wonder the DEO is called. But the DEO has been really dumbed down this season. Last year they studied situations, made plans and contingencies, and then acted. But now they just rush in, uneducated. They bring dangerous Doctor Jones back to National City. Then without much thought they release him. No quarantine or anything, which should have been the standard procedure, given that all the other members of his team died, freakishly drained and prune-faced. And then, AFTER he’s released, Winn checks the security tapes from the facility, and discovers that the Doc is an alien-infected killer. Come on DEO, get your smarts back!
Supergirl is called into action to stop Doctor Jones, aka The Parasite. But again, the DEO doesn’t give her any instruction, even though that dude is basically an energy vampire. So Supergirl blazes into action with her Kryptonian fists of fury, but is quite easily defeated, and drained. She’s taken back to the DEO to recover, and then James shows up for moral support. He’s upset that Kara was hurt, and demands that Winn give him his new super-suit, ready or not, so that he can go after Parasite. But Winn verbally back-hands the over-eager James, letting him know that rushing in unprepared could get him killed. Too bad nobody gave Kara that advice before she rushed in unprepared. And what about Mon-el? Can’t he help pick up the slack until Supergirl is 100%? Nope! He’s off being the hired muscle for some low-life Bookie. Way to stay classy Mon-el.
In the midst of the Parasite crisis, Alex comes out to Kara. Timing is everything. And surprisingly, Kara doesn’t seem too thrilled. Which is indeed a surprise since Kara has always been so supportive. Why not now? But by episode’s end, Kara is onboard, and ready to support her sister. Which is as it should be. And as for the Parasite, Supergirl and the Martian Manhunter go after it, with no clear plan of action. Remember what I said about the DEO? Well once again, they are pretty useless. Instead of coming up with a way to attack Parasite, without getting absorbed, they send the two heroes into the fray, fists flailing. So once again, the Parasite easily defeats them and sucks them both dry. But this time, due to the fact that it has absorbed so much raw alien energy, the man-monster mutates, becoming a full on ‘Pepto Bismol’ colored Monster. Yikes! So Supergirl and the Martian Manhunter are close to death. Who’s left to save the city? Obviously the police don’t seem to care anymore. We don’t see them this entire episode. Well relax National City, because Mon-el and James Olsen are on the case. Mon-el has come around, thanks to a pep talk from Alex. And James makes his debut as Guardian, backed up by Winn, who is operating remotely in a van.
Meanwhile, Supergirl is recovering, thanks to her Kryptonian biology. But Hank is going to die without a transfusion. But there are no other green Martians, right? Alex goes to M’gann and asks her to help, not knowing that she is really a White Martian in disguise. M’gann reluctantly agrees and gives Hank a dose of her blood. And it appears to be helping. But who knows what mixing the two blood types will do. Hank does wake up from his coma, long enough to thank M’gann. But he’s obviously got a bit of the shakes. Lets just hope that this doesn’t sideline our favorite Martian for good. And when is M’gann going to come clean about what she truly is? Also think about this; Green Martians and White Martians are both shape-shifters. So during their war, how could you really tell who’s who? I guess they are both telepathic, so there’s that. But it must have been a bit confusing.
Mon-el is the first to come up against The Parasite, but his fighting skills are lacking. He throws a parking sign at it, like a superhero sissy, and then he’s easily defeated. But before he can be absorbed, Guardian shows up and saves him with an explosive devise and a powerful shield. But that’s pretty much all he’s got. Guardian is no match for the Parasite. Luckily Supergirl arrives with a chunk of plutonium. And when The Parasite tries to absorb the plutonium, it has a power overload and explodes. Bye Bye Parasite. Supergirl thanks Mon-el for stepping up, and she also thanks Guardian. She doesn’t know it’s James, cause he has a voice modulator that disguises his voice, and his suit is lead-lined so she can’t use here x-ray vision to see through his mask. Good thinking Winn. So all is right with the world. But when Mon-el heads home and stops to help a homeless man, he gets tasered and kidnapped by Lady Cadmus, aka Lillian Luthor. STAY TUNED!!!!!
LAST WORDS: Maggie Sawyer urged Alex to come out to Kara. And Alex did that and finally began to feel better about herself. But then Alex goes back to Maggie and lays a big kiss on her. And that doesn’t go well. Maggie wants to keep things in the friend zone. So Alex experiences rejection and humiliation, and doesn’t take it very well. Showing personal hurt and vulnerability in a way that she hasn’t in the past… Maggie should have dropped that friend bomb first, before urging Alex to come out. That way she would have done it for her own wellbeing, instead of as a prelude to a relationship with Maggie. Now Alex is all jacked up.
