- For the eponymous character, see Ben Lockwood.
- For other uses, see Man of Steel (disambiguation).
- "Ben Franklin's fears have come to pass. The modern immigrant cannot assimilate, and it's not a question of desire, it's not a question of culture. It is a question of biology, and from that context... from that context, I should be proud if you were to call me a nativist."
- —Ben Lockwood's new rhetoric
"Man of Steel" is the third episode of the fourth season of Supergirl, and the sixty-eighth episode overall. It aired on October 28, 2018.
Synopsis[]
Ben Lockwood didn't always hate aliens. Through a series of incidents, and input from his anti-alien father, Ben slowly transforms from a mild-mannered professor into the villainous Agent Liberty of today.[src] |
Plot[]
The DEO is in tumult — a Kryptonite identifier alert is going off and Alex and Brainy are attempting to reach Kara.
J'onn's attempting to move toward Agent of Liberty when Alex considers him to educate him that kryptonite has gone airborne in the air. J'onn races off to attempt to discover Kara. Brainy finds the area of Kara and transfers that data to J'onn, who spares her before she hits the ground. He returns her to the DEO.
They take Kara into the medical bay and start presenting her to yellow sun radiation, in order to reverse the impacts of kryptonite.
The scene goes flashback to two years back: an elderly Peter Lockwood is upset that the news continues demonstrating a persuasive discourse by Supergirl. Disturbing his family, including Ben, he goes to call all aliens as cockroaches.
Peter shows up at his work site to see his representatives revolting against two alien associates. The elder Lockwood's son Ben takes a stab at quieting them down and in an attack of anxiety and one of the aliens inadvertently shoots Peter's son. Alex and Kara before long show up to stop the mob. Ben awakens and is examined by Alex concerning the assault.
At some point later, Ben Lockwood finds Lena Luthor to discuss potential business openings. Lena terminates him as a result of his father's preservationist views.
Almost a year later, Lockwood gives a talk about advancement to his school class.
Ben shows up at his family home to discover his father was denied a credit that'd spare the privately-owned company. Ben's son George calls the aliens bugs and accuses the family's disasters on aliens. Similarly as the family begins discussing, Rhea's TV discourse from "Resist" goes ahead the TV. The family consents to empty their home and as they're leaving during the Daxamite invasion, J'onn collides with the home while battling a Daxamite.
J'onn's ready to stop the Daxamite and take them away, but the Lockwood family house lights on fire, as do a few other objects.
Ben Lockwood goes to talk with James Olsen and why the paper doesn't enough cover the aftermath from alien assaults. Lockwood is baffled that casualty stories generally get pushed to the back and James cut their discussion off in light of the fact that Lena is calling.
Lockwood is addressing his class on nativism, which includes a few aliens. Lockwood starts getting burnt out and begins addressing how American citizens should contend with aliens who can fly.
Without a vocation, Lockwood goes to the streets to pass out anti-alien handouts. Lockwood can't arrive at his father, so he goes to the production line to discover his father caught underneath a shaft. Lockwood's father uncovered he deliberately went to the industrial facility during the Worldkillers' assault with the goal that he'd get squashed. Hence, Lockwood's dad dies.
At his dad's memorial service, Lockwood helps the group to remember a "Never surrender" quote by Winston Churchill. Ben sees that Lena is in participation and he pulls her aside after the administration is finished. Ben is disturbed that L-Corp has developed picture actuating innovation and he reveals to Lena that the aliens aren't individuals.
The flashback goes ahead ten additional months and Lockwood is conversing with an enemy of aliens gathering in the city. Lockwood sees the senior member of NCU getting espresso and he moves toward her. The two visit and she uncovers that her and her significant other have lost their home and have fallen on harsh occasions. Lockwood welcomes her to his "bolster gathering" of anti-alien individuals.
Strolling down the road, Lockwood is drawn nearer by a limo with Mercy Graves. Lockwood enters the limo and Mercy discloses that they have to cooperate. She gives him body protective layer so he and his group can do better assaults.
Mercy specifies her arrangements of divulging the President as an alien. She acquaints Lockwood with her driver, who happens to be Otis Graves. Mercy at that point shows Ben a picture of Iona and requests him to slaughter her.
The course of events advances to present day and Brainy tells the remainder of the group that the yellow sun radiation isn't working. Alex brings in Lena, who brings some L-Corp innovation which she uncovers they'll have to put Supergirl into until they detox the air.
Back at the safehouse of Lockwood and the Graves, Agent Jensen tells the gathering he can get them into the DEO.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Melissa Benoist as Kara Danvers/Supergirl
- Mehcad Brooks as James Olsen
- Chyler Leigh as Dr./Director Alex Danvers
- Katie McGrath as Lena Luthor
- Jesse Rath as Querl Dox/Brainiac 5
- Sam Witwer as Professor Ben Lockwood/Agent Liberty
- Nicole Maines (credit only)
- David Harewood as J'onn J'onzz/Martian Manhunter
Guest starring[]
- Xander Berkeley as Peter Lockwood
- Rhona Mitra as Mercy Graves
- Robert Baker as Otis Graves
- Andrea Brooks as Eve Teschmacher
- Sarah Smyth as Lydia Lockwood
- Graham Verchere as George Lockwood
- Anthony Konechny as Raymond Jensen
- Abby Ross as a National City University student
Co-starring[]
- Timothy Lyle as Frank
- Kareem Malcolm as Another Student
- Jaren Moore as Thack
- David Quinlan as Quill
- Iris Quinn as Dean Warren
- Raf Rogers as Earl
- Gary Starkell as Gary
- Julia Tortolano as Friend
Uncredited[]
- Rahul Kohli as Jack Spheer
- Teri Hatcher as Rhea (archive footage)
- Calista Flockhart as Cat Grant
- Erica Durance as Alura Zor-El
Gallery[]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- This is the first episode of Supergirl to not feature Nicole Maines (Nia Nal) after signing on as a series regular.
- Kara Danvers/Supergirl's time in this episode was limited due to Melissa Benoist's role on Broadway in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. To accommodate her schedule, Season 4 began filming with the third and fourth episodes in mid-July as Melissa's run on Broadway didn't end until August 4.
- The episode's title is a reference to Superman's nickname. This reference is further nodded to with Ben Lockwood being referenced in the synopsis as a "mild-mannered professor", having a demeanor initially similar to Clark Kent, and his family owning a steel factory.
- Historical figures Benjamin Franklin and Benito Mussolini are referenced in the episode regarding Ben's rhetoric.
- This episode reveals that Mercy and Otis Graves, the ringleaders of the Children of Liberty, are being backed by another unknown entity (later revealed to be Lex Luthor).
- The flashbacks in this episode take place chronologically from the end of Season 1 to the beginning of Season 4, with references to events in the interim:
- A mob of Lockwood Steel employees attacking a Brevakk takes place during "Crossfire", as Supergirl is called away to deal with Chet Miner's gang using alien weapons. Furthermore, sometime after the incident, Lena Luthor mentions throwing a fundraising gala for the Luthor Family Children Hospital, which happened in the episode's climax.
- Beforehand, Supergirl's speech from "Better Angels" is seen on TV in the Lockwood house.
- After Peter Lockwood reveals his factory closed down, Rhea's message from "Resist" broadcasts on TV, with Daxamite ships invading Earth.
- Before the message, a news report shows Jack Spheer and covers the fallout of Spheerical Industries' marketing of the Biomax from "Ace Reporter".
- The Lockwood family trying to flee the city during the Daxamite invasion and J'onn J'onzz accidentally destroying their home takes place during "Nevertheless, She Persisted".
- Ben talking with James Olsen at CatCo Worldwide Media takes place around "Triggers", with James mentioning that Lena is the new owner of CatCo.
- Ben being fired from his job and encountering Kara at Al's Dive Bar takes place several hours before "Schott Through the Heart". Kara even asks Ben if she should sing something by the Beastie Boys for karaoke night, or else she'll have to resort to "Africa" by Toto. A National City University student eventually suggests Kara sing Beastie Boys, which she did in the episode.
- Also at Al's Dive Bar, the student and her friend discuss Reign's attack on the convicts at Albatross Bay from "Legion of Super-Heroes" before Ben interrupts.
- Peter dies during Reign's terraformation of Earth in "Battles Lost and Won".
- Ben attacking Fiona Byrne from "American Alien" is shown.
- A mob of Lockwood Steel employees attacking a Brevakk takes place during "Crossfire", as Supergirl is called away to deal with Chet Miner's gang using alien weapons. Furthermore, sometime after the incident, Lena Luthor mentions throwing a fundraising gala for the Luthor Family Children Hospital, which happened in the episode's climax.
- Nth metal plays a major role in this episode's flashbacks. In the comics, the metal originated from Thanagar, the home world of the Silver Age Hawkman and Hawkgirl.
References[]
Supergirl season 4 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
"American Alien" • "Fallout" • "Man of Steel" • "Ahimsa" • "Parasite Lost" • "Call to Action" • "Rather the Fallen Angel" • "Bunker Hill" • "Elseworlds, Part 3" • "Suspicious Minds" • "Blood Memory" • "Menagerie" • "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?" • "Stand and Deliver" • "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" • "The House of L" • "All About Eve" • "Crime and Punishment" • "American Dreamer" • "Will The Real Miss Tessmacher Please Stand Up?" • "Red Dawn" • "The Quest for Peace" |