History Recap / Supergirl2015S2E7TheDarkestPlace

* ViralTransformation: Thw White Martians [[FantasticRacism weren't satisfied with getting rid of the Green Martians through forced labor and death camps]], and had their scientists alter their own blood so it would act as a mutagen. This means M'gann's blood is slowly converting J'onn into a White Martian, and there's no cure as far as she knows.

** Subtle, but J'onn mentions learning meditation from a Shaolin monk in the late 1800s. [[Series/KungFu Was he named Kwai Chang Caine, by any chance?]]

* IAteWhat: Only very briefly. Winn comments that the chicken in the alien bar is quite good, and Kara jokingly asks him how he knows it's actually chicken. His response is a short, worried look.

* ViralTransformation: Thw White Martians [[FantasticRacism weren't satisfied with getting rid of the Green Martians through forced labor and death camps]], and had their scientists alter their own blood ao it would act as a mutagen. This means M'gann's blood is slowly converting J'onn into a White Martian, and there's no cure as far as she knows.

* ImpersonationParadox: The real Hank Henshaw pretends to be J'onn impersonating him as part of a WoundedGazelleGambit to subdue Mon-El during his attempted escape.

* comicBookMoviesDontUseCodenames: Philip Karnowsky is never referred to as "Barrage".

* AndThisIsFor: During his scuffle with M'Gann, J'onn calls out for his family and all the Green Martians that died.

* ButHeSoundsHandsome: James and Winn are both quick to defend Guardian and his backup. Winn is also very clear that the guy in the van for Guardian is a partner, not a sidekick.

* ComicBookMoviesDontUseCodenames: Philip Karnowsky is never referred to as "Barrage".

* HisNameIs: A variant. When Kara mentions how the Daxam prince sacrificed himself so Mon-El could live, he starts to reveal something to Kara before they are rescued. Mon-El may have been ''that'' prince.

* Really700YearsOld: J'onn practices tai chi as a meditation technique, which he learned from monks in the 1800s.

* SeriesContinuityError: Jeremiah mentions that he's been with Cadmus for fifteen years, meaning since 2001. However, it has been established that Kara landed on Earth in 2003, and the mission to capture J'onn where both Jeremiah and the real Hank Henshaw were presumed dead was in 2005, with J'onn's impersonation of the latter happening a month later.

* ViralTransformation: M'gann's blood is slowly converting J'onn into a White Martian, and there's no cure as far as she knows.

* WhatTheHellHero: Alex scolds Maggie for giving her false romantic signals and getting Alex to admit to feelings she has for Maggie but then turning Alex down, effectively breaking her heart.

* ComicbookMoviesDontUseCodeNames: Philip Karnowsky is never referred to as "Barrage".

* AndThisIsFor: During his scuffle with M'Gann, J'onn calls out for his family and all the green martians that died.

* BecomingTheMask: M'Gann doesn't want to die in her true White Martian form as she sees herself as a human now.
* BerserkButton: Once it's revealed that M'Gann is a white martian, J'onn goes absolutely berserk, ignoring her pleas that she tried to stop the genocide.
* BigDamnHeroes: Jeremiah [[TheBusCameBack unexpectedly returns]] to extract the bullet from Mon-El's leg & help him and Kara escape Cadmus.

* BorrowedBiometricBypass: The reason why Cadmus took Supergirl's blood. They needed the DNA of a member of the House of El to bypass the security measures in the Fortress of Solitude.

* CallBack: Lillian mentions the time [[Recap/Supergirl2015S1E7HumanForADay Supergirl depleted her powers fighting Red Tornado.]]
* ClearMyName: VigilanteMan Philip Karnowsky murders a crook that [[Comicbook/JimmyOlsen Guardian]] has just apprehended, the placement of a nearest CCTV camera making it look like Guardian killed the man in cold blood. James has to track down Karnowsky and bring him to justice to clear his own (alter-ego's) name.

* ContinuityNod:
** Since Mon-El is the LastEpisodeNewCharacter for Season 1, Kara has to explain to him the story about Hank Henshaw after he though that J'onn was captured as well.
** Kara's encounter with the Red Tornado is mentioned by Lillian.

* GilliganCut: After speculating that Mon-El is out with some girl and "having fun on Earth", the show cuts away to Mon-El in his cage.
* GoMadFromTheRevelation: J'onn did not take the InternalReveal about M'gann being a White Martian well.
* GratuitousGreek: ''Cadmus'' is derived from a greek hero.
* HisNameIs: A variant. When Kara mentions how the Daxam prince sacrificed himself so Mon-El could live, he was about to reveal something to Kara before they were rescued. Mon-El may have been ''that'' prince.
* IAteWhat: Only very briefly. Winn comments that the chicken in the alien bar is quite good, and Kara jokingly asks him how he knows it's actually chicken. His reponse is a short, worried look.

** J'onn learns M'gann is a white martian.

* LighterAndSofter: The show's treatment of Daxamite lead poisioning is a lot more forgiving than the comics. Mon-El is saved from lead poisoning by removing the bullet from his leg. In the comics, lead poisoning for Daxamites is fatal even if the lead itself is removed, the only cure is a serum created by [[Comicbook/LegionOfSuperHeroes Brainiac 5]], which doesn't exist until the 31st Century.

-->'''Kara''': A superhero's work is never done.

** The bars in the Cadmus cell are made out of Thanagarian Nth Metal, confirming their existence [[Recap/LegendsOfTomorrowS1E15Destiny in this corner of the multiverse as well.]]

** Lillian Luthor's name comes from [[Series/{{Smallville}} the last live action TV adaptation of the Superman mythos.]] Lillian also alludes to the past, where Superman and Lex [[WeUsedToBeFriends were on friendly terms at one point]], which could also be a nod to the same series.
** Supergirl makes a reference to Superman having once worked with [[Franchise/{{Batman}} a vigilante who had tons of gadgets and lots of demons.]]

* OffOnATechnicality: Philip targets people who managed this.
* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: Kara mentions that [[Franchise/{{Superman}} her cousin]] worked with [[Franchise/{{Batman}} an unnamed vigilante with tons of gadgets and lots of issues]].

* Really700YearsOld: J'onn practices a meditation technique he learned from monks in the 1800's.

* SeriesContinuityError: Jeremiah mentions that he's with CADMUS for fifteen years, meaning since 2001. However, it has been established that Kara landed on Earth in 2003, and the mission to capture J'onn where both Jeremiah and the real Hank Henshaw were presumed dead was in 2005, with J'onn's impersonation of the latter happening a month later.

* ShoutOut: Winn says that he won't survive in prison, having seen all seasons of {{Series/Oz}}.

* WeaksauceWeakness: Daxamites are confirmed to be weak to lead, so Mon-El isn't bulletproof despite being super tough otherwise.
* WeHaveToGetTheBulletOut: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]]. Mon-El is lethally allergic to lead, so the bullet had to be removed or it would slowly kill him.

* ShoutOutThemeNaming: Mon-El's girlfriends are [[Series/{{Angel}} Eve, Darla,]] and an unnamed third one (presumably because saying she's named "Buffy" would be a little too obvious).
* ThatManIsDead: Said almost word for word by Hank Henshaw, who nor refers to himself as ''Cyborg Superman''.

* ButHeSoundsHandsome: James and Winn are both quick to defend Guardian and his backup.

* ClearMyName: VigilanteMan Philip Karnowsky murders a crook that [[Comicbook/JimmyOlsen Guardian]] has just apperhended, the placement of a nearest CCTV camera making it look like Guardian killed the man in cold blood. James has to track down Karnowsky and bring him to justice to clear his own (alter-ego's) name.

* InSpiteOfANail: Thanagar exists in this universe [[Franchise/{{Arrowverse}} as well]].

* OhCrap: Kara's look on her face when Hank Henshaw {{NoSell}}'s a punch from her.

** Though this could be a hint that all is not right with Jeremiah, and he has really been working ''with'' CADMUS all along.

* WhatTheHellHero: Alex scolds Maggie for giving her false signals and effectively breaking her heart.

* ContinuityNod: Since Mon-El is the LastEpisodeNewCharacter for Season 1, Kara has to explain to him the story about Hank Henshaw after he though that J'onn was captured as well.

** Lillian Luthor's name comes from [[Series/{{Smallville}} the last live action TV adaptation of the Superman mythos.]]

* {{Expy}} Phillip Karnowsky is quite similar in both motivation and appearance to Vigilante, who appeared on the episode of ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' that aired only five days earlier