History Recap / Supergirl2015S2E15Exodus

* NotSoDifferent: At the end, Alex notes how similar J'onn and Jeremiah are in doing the wrong things for the right reasons.

* JackBauerInterrogationTechnique: Alex becomes absolutely ''brutal'' when interrogating a CADMUS agent, to the point that [[RealityEnsues J'onn has to drag her out and suspend her from the DEO, since this case is clearly emotionally compromising her]].

* RealityEnsues:
** Alex rushes to the bridge of an alien ship... and has utterly no idea how the controls work.
** Kara pulls a ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight by publishing her article on a blog when Snapper won't let her run it. Unfortunately, she used [=CatCo=] resources to get the story and her publishing it on her own was a breach of contract, so Snapper fires her.
** With Luthor Corp. being a family corporation, it's no surprise that Lillian still has connections there.

* DeadManSwitch: Alex sets up explosives around the CADMUS base and rigs them to explode if she releases the button in her hand. When Lillian refuses to shut down the spacecraft, Alex does so anyway and uses the chaos to get to the ship.

* YouWouldntShootMe: A variation. Lillian goads Alex when it is revealed that there is no override code for the launch of the spaceship by telling Alex that in order to stop the spaceship, she'd have to drop the DeadManSwitch, detonating all the bombs in order to be able to run over to the spaceship, smugly believing that Alex wouldn't release the switch. Guess what Alex does.

* TheBusCameBack: James returns after missing the two previous episodes.

With the alien database in her possession, Lillian orders CADMUS to begin rounding up aliens. Kara tries to convince Snapper to publish a story warning the nation's alien population to be on their guard, while Alex attempts to track down her father and try to get through to Jeremiah to return to the DEO.

* AccidentalMurder: Almost happens to Lena Luthor by two CADMUS goons, who were only supposed to rough her up, but accidentally push her over the balcony. Luckily Kara saves her.

* BittersweetEnding: The aliens are rescued, but Kara loses her job for blogging her story after Snapper rejects it and Jeremiah is MIA after losing a fight against Hank Henshaw. The alien hunters, who are apparently Daxamites, have also reached Earth.

* CowboyCop: ''Alex.'' She pushes the boundaries of protocol so far that J'onn has to actually suspend her from the DEO.
* DeadManSwitch: Alex sets up explosives around the CADMUS base and rigs them to explode if she releases the button in her hand. When Lillian refuses to shut down the spacecraft, Alex does so and uses the chaos to get to the ship.

* HumanShield: Alex is held at gunpoint by a CADMUS agent when she tries to stop Lyra from being taken away. Maggie comes over to try to shoot the CADMUS agent, but the agent holds Alex in front of him and keeps his gun aimed at Alex's head. [[TakeAThirdOption Then James uses a grappling hook to pull the CADMUS agent away from Alex.]]
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Jeremiah once again stresses how working with CADMUS was necessary to keep his family safe. Alex is not amused.

* JackBauerInterrogationTechnique: Alex becomes absolutely ''brutal'' when interrogating a CADMUS agent, to the point that [[RealityEnsues J'onn has to drag her out and temporarily suspend her from the DEO, since this case is clearly emotionally compromising her]].

** Kara saying that Supergirl is what she can ''do'' and Kara is who she ''is'' nearly quotes Clark from ''Series/LoisAndClark'' word for word.

** The goons sent to dissuade Lena from pursuing CADMUS further freak out when they accidentally push her off the building, since Lillian didn't want her killed. Supergirl shows up to make the save.

** Kara pulls a ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight by publishing her article on a blog when Snapper won't let her run it. Unfortunately, she used [=CatCo=] resources to get the story and her publishing it was a breach of contract, so Snapper fires her.

* TrashTheSet: The alien bar the main cast regularly frequents this season is trashed by CADMUS at the beginning of the episode. In a dose of LaserGuidedKarma, Alex later rigs CADMUS's current base of operations with C4 during the episode's climax.

* WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys: The interstellar ship CADMUS is using to deport all the aliens is a Hoshin Frigate, the best of the Kazark fleet and thus not Terran-built. How on Earth did CADMUS get its hands on it?

With the alien database in her possession, Lillian orders CADMUS to begin rounding up aliens, leaving Alex to track down her father and try to get through to Jeremiah to return to the DEO.

!!Tropes in this episode:
* AccidentalMurder: Almost happens to Lena Luthor by two CADMUS goons, who were only supposed to rough her up and accidentally push her over the balcony. Luckily Kara saves her.
* AndStarring: "Special Guest Stars Creator/DeanCain and Creator/TeriHatcher[[note]]The titular leads of ''Series/LoisAndClark'' never had any scenes together, sadly[[/note]]" , plus the regular guest stars lineup ends "With Kevin Sorbo and Ian Gomez".

* BittersweetEnding: The aliens are rescued, but Kara loses her job for blogging her story after Snapper rejects it and Jeremiah is MIA after losing to Hank Henshaw. The alien hunters, who are apparently Daxamites, have also reached Earth.

* CorruptCop: A cop under CADMUS's payroll helps them with their abductions, by stopping the cars of aliens under false pretenses.

* GilliganCut: When questioned if Snapper will approve of Kara writing a report about CADMUS's plan, she says she's sure he will. Cut to him disapproving.
* GotMeDoingIt: Despite Kara correcting him, Mon-El thinks blog is pronounced blob. After posting her article, Kara says, "There! It's blobbed!"

* JackBauerInterrogationTechnique: Alex becomes absolutely ''brutal'' when interrogating a Cadmus agent, to the point that [[RealityEnsues J'onn has to drag her out and temporarily suspend her from the DEO, since this case is clearly emotionally compromising her.]]

*** Kara can't just publish a story based off one person's word, even if in this case that story is true and the public needs to know about it, and given what's happened in recent months with biased and fraudulent news stories, a 'two independent sources rule" isn't a bad idea. The rules ''do'' exist for a reason, and Kara can't just ignore them even if what she believes she's doing is right. A good reporter can't just go publishing stories until they have all the facts and can prove what they're saying.

** J'onn was right to test and then bench Alex when there was strong evidence that she was emotionally compromised. She brutally beat up a Cadmus agent the DEO had captured in an attempt to get info and J'onn's test proved that she was willing to break protocol and help an enemy agent who could have been lying to her without checking his story just because it was her father. Though J'onn does end up agreeing that necessary as it was, his methods were still needlessly cruel with how far he pushed the deception before she gave in.

** Takron-Galtos, the planet where Lilian intended to send all the aliens, is a notorious [[PenalColony prison planet]] in the comics.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Lena and Mon-El's respective advice to Kara regarding her work ultimately got her fired (Lena for suggesting to make a blog, Mon-El for pushing through with it when she's having second thoughts).
* NothingPersonal: Snapper is sad about having to fire Kara, he was actually secretly rooting for her, but he stresses that following the rules is an absolute must for a reporter, so he still goes through with it.

* RogueAgent: Alex is suspended from the DEO due to J'onn judging her to be too emotionally compromised due to her father's involvement with Cadmus, so she strikes out on her own (with some help from Maggie) to search for Cadmus.
* SecretTestOfCharacter: J'onn disguises himself as Jeremiah to test Alex's focus and loyalty after her father's betrayal. She failed, much to J'onn's dismay.

* TakeThat: Snapper says that one misattributed quote from a candidate can put a fascist in the White House. He also states that there are way too many "fake news" out there and wants to avoid being counted among them.
* TitleDrop: Lillian dubs the interstellar frigate escorting the alien prisoners as "Project Exodus".

* TortureAlwaysWorks: Zig-zagged. Alex's savage beatdown of the CADMUS agent gets her nothing, though only because, like the thieves in "Crossfire", he'll die if he tries to talk.
* TrashTheSet: The alien bar the main cast regularly frequents this season is trashed by CADMUS at the beginning of the episode. In a LaserGuidedKarma, Alex later rigs CADMUS's base of operations this episode with C4s during the episode's climax.

* UncertainDoom: Jeremiah is hit with Hank Henshaw's [[EyeBeams eye beam]], and is last seen flat on the floor, unconscious.
* WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys: The interstellar ship CADMUS was using to deport all the aliens is a Hoshin Frigate, the best on the Kazark fleet and thus not Terran-built. How on Earth did CADMUS get its hands on it?

* YouWouldntShootMe: A variation. Lillian goads Alex when it is revealed that there is no override code for the launch of the spaceship by telling Alex that in order to stop the spaceship, she'd have to drop the DeadManSwitch, detonating all the bombs in order to be able to run over to the spaceship, smugly believing that Alex wouldn't release the switch. Guess what Alex does.

* AndStarring: "Special Guest Stars Creator/DeanCain and Creator/TeriHatcher[[note]]The titular leads of ''Series/LoisAndClark'' never had any scenes together, sadly[[/note]]" , plus the regular gust stars lineup ends "With Kevin Sorbo and Ian Gomez".

* TrashTheSet: The alien bar the main cast regularly frequents this season is trashed by CADMUS st the beginning of the episode. In a LaserGuidedKarma, Alex later rigs CADMUS's base of operations this episode with C4s during the episode's climax.

* AndStarring: "Special Guest Stars Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher[[note]]The titular leads of ''Series/LoisAndClark'' never had any scenes together, sadly[[/note]]" , plus the regular gust stars lineup ends "With Kevin Sorbo and Ian Gomez".

** J'onn was right to test and then bench Alex when there was strong evidence that she was emotionally compromised. She brutally beat up a Cadmus agent the DEO had capture in an attempt to get info and J'onn's test proved that she was willing to break protocol and help an enemy agent who could have been lying to her without checking his story just because it was her father. Though J'onn does end up agreeing that necessary as it was, his methods were still needlessly cruel with how far he pushed the deception before she gave in.

*** When he speaks to Supergirl himself but then refuses to go ahead with the story, his reasons are quite valid. Supergirl was withholding facts, and even though she had a good reason for doing so, she might as well have not talked to him if he couldn't checkout her story. From Snapper's perspective, she could have been making it all up.

* YouWouldntShootMe: A variation. Lillian goads Alex when it is revealed that there is no override code for the launch of the spaceship by telling Alex that in order to stop the spaceship, she'd have to drop the DeadManSwitch, detonating all the bombs in order to be able to run over to the spaceship, smugly believing that Alex wouldn't do release the switch. Guess what Alex does.

** Kara's explanation to Mon-El about why she want to be an ordinary reporter as well as Supergirl is the same as the one Clark has given in the comics as to why he bothers to be a reporter and takes pride in being a good one: it's something he can do to make a difference that doesn't depend on his powers and happenstance of his origin. Flying and super-strength won't win him a Pulitzer.

* AntagonistTitle: Referring to CADMUS' EvilPlan.

* CorruptCop: A cop under CADMUS' payroll helps them with their abductions, by stopping the cars of aliens under false pretenses.

* TokenGoodTeammate: While it was speculated since last episode's reveal, this episode confirms that Jeremiah made efforts to soften CADMUS' {{Evil Plan}}s if he was presented with an opportunity to do so.

* TrashTheSet: The alien bar the main cast regularly frequents this season is trashed by CADMUS st the beginning of the episode. In a LaserGuidedKarma, Alex later rigs CADMUS' base of operations this episode with C4s during the episode's climax.

* TokenGoodTeammate: While it was speculated since last episode's reveal, this episode confirms that Jeremiah make efforts to soften CADMUS' {{Evil Plan}}s if he' presented with an opportunity to do so.

* UncertainDoom: Jeremiah is hit with Hank Henshaw's EyeBeams and is last seen flat on the floor, unconscious.

* TakeThat: Snapper says that one misattributed quote from a candidate can put a fascist in the White House.

** The people looking for Mon-El are the rulers of Daxam.

* CowboyCop: ''Alex.'' She really pushes the boundaries of protocol so far that J'onn has to actually suspend her from the DEO.