Manchester breaks out of prison along with Menagerie, a Morai alien from earlier in the season, and Hat. As they wage war on Earth, Kara realizes they may have a point…

At one point in this episode Manchester Black pursues Kara into orbit, wearing a Legion flight ring and John Woo double pistols ablaze. It’s a short scene but one crammed full of such inspired lunacy that you can’t help but smile. It’s also just one part of another really good episode of a really strong season of the show.

The President not only pardons Ben Lockwood but pushes forward on a project to shoot down any more alien ships heading for Earth. The point Manchester makes, and it’s a very good one, is that defending him puts Kara on the side of the very people who would have ensured that and Clark never made it to Earth alive. He’s making terrible choices for understandable reason and that, combined with Kara’s personal stake in matters, gives the episode a real charge.

It also highlights just what an interesting antagonist Manchester is, more so arguably than he ever was in the comics. David Ajala brings the exact right combination of seething rage and measured, sociopathic charm to the role and every one of his scenes sparks with adrenalin and energy. He’s also the best thing that’s happened to J’onn on the show in years and the clash between the two men and their radically different approaches is as central as his clash with Kara.

Best of all though is how this episode continues to tie every thread of the season so far together. The Iron Daughter, the increasingly bigoted Presidency, Ben Lockwood, Manchester, Kara’s loss of support structure. All of it tied into the ragged singularity of this Earth and the issues it raises.

Verdict: Clever, emotionally open superhero science fiction of the first order. 10/10

Alasdair Stuart