Supergirl Vs. Lex Luthor

I haven't mentioned the Supergirl TV series in this space in awhile.  I think season four has been a marked improvement over the previous season with its meandering Reign plot. This season with the focus on human and alien tensions in a world where people use fear and hatred of "the other" to propel themselves into power has been stronger although it does seem we're getting hit over the head way too hard with the obvious message.

Yes, we live in a Trumpian world where immigrants are made into scapegoats and fears propel small men into power and yes, we get the metaphor already. 

What has kicked Supergirl up a notch is the arrival of Superman's arch nemesis, Lex Luthor. What has kicked up Supergirl several notches is just how surprisingly good Jon Cryer is as Lex Luthor. 

There was a lot of eye rolling on the internet when it was announced that Jon Cryer was cast to play Lex Luthor on Supergirl. What? The wimpy guy from Two and a Half Men? Really? Oh come on! 

Well, bring it on!  Jon Cryer from the jump completely owns Lex Luthor in a way that Jesse Eisenberg can only dream about. In turns sincere and sinister and sometimes at the same time, Cryer's Luthor is wickedly intelligent, a razor sharp mind constantly in motion, racing ahead of everyone in the room. Sometimes he patiently plays out the string to manipulate someone and other times, he will straight up murder someone because he's bored and ready to move on to the next thing.  

Lex has brought a level of threat and menace that raises the stakes significantly for Supergirl.  I can't wait to see what Lex does next.