Ep 1. Event Horizon

After a long wait, Supergirl is back with its fifth season, and it has taken a different turn than its predecessors in terms of the show's narrative style and depiction of characters.

The premiere episode is called 'Event Horizon' and opens with the explosion of Lena Luthor's (Katie McGrath) evil machine, which in the previous season's finale episode, was intended to control humanity's behavior. It causes an enormous energy release that draws Supergirl (Melissa Benoist), Martian Manhunter (David Harewood), Dreamer (Nicole Maines), and Brainiac (Jesse Rath) to investigate the incident.

As they arrive at the site, they realize that Lena is missing, and to make things worse, the energy release has created a giant cascading wave that has emotional consequences on people throughout National City. Alex (Chyler Leigh) is on high alert and trying to mitigate the city's distress, while Kara is determined to find Lena and uncover what happened to her.

The episode also introduces a new villain who seems to be unfazed by Supergirl's powers. With a bold personality and a fearless demeanor, he calls himself Midnight. He has come to National City with a sinister mission and is responsible for the massive wave of emotional trauma that has affected the people of the city.

On the other side, J'onn J'onzz (Harewood) is dealing with a crisis of his own. A brilliant scientist, Dr. Malefic J'onzz (Phil LaMarr), who was previously banished to the Phantom Zone for conduct during the civil war on Mars, has returned and is on a rampage. The civil war on Mars has a deep impact on J'onn, making it an emotionally taxing fight for him.

The episode also addresses the recent complications in Lena and Kara's relationship. Fans of the show will know that there has been tension there, particularly since Lena found out that Kara had been keeping her identity as Supergirl secret from her for a long time. The episode builds on that tension and teases what could potentially come in future episodes.

Overall, Supergirl season 5, episode 1, has made a formidable start to the series' latest phase. Event Horizon sets up several key plotlines that promise to be exciting to watch as the season progresses. Setting the stage for the new villain, Midnight, the episode hints at the danger that awaits the team as they deal with a potential threat like no other. Moreover, the episode has developed J'onn's character, showing his darker side and revealing how he has dealt with past traumas. On the flip side, Lena's disappearance and her mysterious involvement with the energy machine create intrigue and add to the overall tension of the episode. The stage is now set for Supergirl and the team to tackle the latest series of potentially disastrous scenarios. To that end, it's safe to say that anyone who sticks around for the duration of season 5 will be in for a wild ride!