Maybe it's also a pop music reference, but I could not ignore the obvious Shakespearean nods to "The Tempest" – the episode title pays homage the famous line "O brave new world. / That has such people in't!" The biotech program Project Caliban references the character from Tempest. Bizarro is essentially the surrogate of Caliban in this episode. There are many interpretations of the brave new world line but I think given Dr. Binder's lessons, this episode is meant to provoke optimism in the face of the fears faced by the cast - Clark's fear of the future, Lois's fear of change, Jimmy's fear of not being worthy, Kara's fear of who she really is, and Lex-Slade-and-Hank's xenophobia.
Nice to see a modified title sequence and lol, didn't expect an expanded scene for the credits roll, heh.
Okay, Halloween. So if season 2 was Valentine's Day and a few weeks at most then they jumped eight months and in that time, the Fortress of Solitude is looking good. Superman and Supergirl have better looking suits now. Supergirl goes to "spread the ashes" of Brainiac. I guess whatever remnant is left, essentially powerless (we hope) is being archived and locked away in a file in the Fortress? Shrug. However, mighty suspicious that the robot stewards are also voiced by Michael Emerson so maybe we're not totally done with Brainiac OR just a red herring. But the chief steward seemed rather ominous about Superman having to learn to honor the Kryptonian way eventually. Still, this Brainiac is still not beneath some trolling to get under Supergirl's skin.
Seems like Superman has not been checking in at the fortress, lol. Some interesting bits if you try to listen to the robots. Mention of Kandorian crystals and Rao's son. Rao's son?! Needs to be tamed?! I wonder if this is a nod to All-Star Superman, Superman used the Cosmic Anvil to make mini suns to feed his Sun Eater. But I believe in the comics, Kandor had the mini red sun, too.
Not as many references as I expected at the pumpkin patch festivities but food for thought for sure. Especially the Challengers of the Unknown having a TV show (or they're just a fictional TV show in this canon?). Lois and Clark as Dr. Frankenstein and Frankenstein's monster, cute. Pa and Ma Kent as a bee hive and bee, cuter. Girl carving the Batman symbol on a pumpkin. Hmm. Does Batman already exist? We already saw Bludhaven and Gotham City name dropped and well a new big easter egg this episode. Supergirl gushing over the dog in the pumpkin. Given the live action movie coming, wonder if that was a subtle wink for Krypto - not the dog that appears, that they might get to Krypto this season. Clark even suggested getting a dog. Supergirl remains charming as hell. Rescuing Jimmy from the corn maze or explaining to Lois it was her. Heh, heh. What did annoy me is that it appears no progression has happened between Jimmy and Kara and he thinks she can do better. Like c'mon, bro. Change is good. And doubly, love how that got returned to Lois. Best line of the episode goes to Lois, "So that's why you two have bunk beds."
Though I do have to admit I side with Lois, co-habitating after barely a year of them knowing each other seems impulsive. Clark implying he's thinking of children, that's like hey pump the brakes there but well in line with his stream of thinking we saw like when he was planning the date. Lois being immediately skeptical of Sam being there, lol. And yep, it was to pass along a tip. It was a little annoying we a vague-as-heck update on Sam, "with the Pentagon." No real clue on the statues of Task Force X or the Human Defense Corps. Or what that means, does Sam now over total oversight of both and even Checkmate? That aside, great metaphor for the father to arrive to give his daughter a compass of all things in this moment. And lol, Sam. You really thought only Superman would look into it?
Nice to see a bit of a homage to "My Adventures with Mad Science" - i.e. Lois' outfit returns, checking out a base in the forest, finding freaky stuff, a robot battle. Project Caliban setting up the fake campus with empty buildings with no utilities and some with no doors sort of reminded me of the mock ups of Pripyat and other things. No one ever expects a deer wolf. Freaky. Though they were dressed as Ace and June, the look, the flashlights, the freaky unknown bunker entrance - had to be a hat tip to X-Files, too. Everyone being gung ho except Clark, then Lois rubbing it in "they have Superman to keep us safe" and Clark's frown – priceless. Although first mentioned in the tie-in comic, nice to see Jimmy's thoughts immediately fall to the Subterranosauri and instantly have a rebuttal to Lois and Lois once again takes the chance to elbow Clark a little and point out Jimmy's Bigfoot was a French gorilla, lol. Given the trailer for season three, seems like another one of Jimmy's theories will be proven right.
OK. Like that's not subtle. "Subject B-1-Z" Make sense the government considered Kryptonian clones as a counter to the possibility of another invasion. Curioser they were able to clone a Kryptonian animal (since they only say that's Kryptonian DNA) and Kryptonian flora from Zero Day. And like Krypto in the comics, no surprise this creature also gets powers on Earth. Well, freeze breath at least. But lol at Supergirl asking if it was a dog. Love how the scene has scary elements, humor, drama, action all in sync. From the sudden battle to the humorous decontamination foam to the awe of a forest of plants from Krypton. And yes, they're from the comics, too. Supergirl mentions Oregus, which from Action Files #149 denotes the plant as a giant orchid and its juices were used for cooking. Or the Blood Bloom which was from Superman: Secret Files 2009, it secretes flammable fluid which contributes to the Fire Falls. "Dr. George Otto Binder" was a nice combo of George Papp, Bizarro's creator, and Otto Binder, Supergirl's. And Bizarro turns out to be a man-made Kryptonian clone of not-Clark but isn't too talkative but was nurtured and loved and taught to be a good person. Doesn't look to be deteriorating into what we visualize as Bizarro. The creature being his friend reminds of STAS. And what timing, Supergirl is not so sure about her identity and one of Binder's videos playing happens to be one where he's telling Bizarro to have agency and choose who he wants to be, not go along with being told what he should. So shine a good deed. The act of Superman defending Bizarro and his pet from the Lex drone was all Bizarro had to see to know. I guess he will be a potential ally and/or join the Super Family this season. "Fear makes people act irrationally. Aggressively. But you can help them past their fear." Laying it on pretty thick but I think this will be a through line for the season.
Lot of interesting easter eggs on the buildings... but not sure what the heck W.O.R.M.S. is. Had to look it up and in a random Super Friends comics, it was a coalition of mad scientists led by Lex Luthor. Obviously that's not going to be the case here. Maybe a government think tank? Definitely know what Big Belly Burger, Wayne Enterprises, Kord Industries / Kord Tech, STAR Labs, and Princess Amethyst is. Love Blue Beetle can be in the mix eventually along with Batman. Amethyst was a surprise. Most likely a hat tip to Josie Campbell who is working on the Starfire! series where Amethyst is a co-star. But in-universe, idk, maybe she's a pop idol or a YouTuber or a Twitch gamer?
Lex was interesting in Kryptonian cloning and sent the drone to procure Caliban's single success story after he found out by hacking the Pentagon but then he's not too keen on Bizarro and decides to move onto his other idea, Hank Henshaw. Gruesome display of him all hooked up to machines just to breathe but there's our answer of what happened to him at the end of season two. Guess Lex turns him into Cyborg Superman. No doubt that will backfire on him cuz in the comics... Hank isn't exactly... stable mentally.
The expanded scene of Clark droning on with his ideas of fun and them being gone. Priceless. The look Jimmy and Lois gave each other. Ha ha ha. I wonder if this was a one time thing or we'll see more expanded stuff in end credits. Or if it's the same end credits as season 1 and 2. Or a brand new one. We'll see. Also of note, this episode was animated by Studio Grida rather than Studio Mir who did all of season 1 and 2.
All in all, impressive season premiere. It's like no time has passed. The writing, the heart, humor, action, romcom element, voice cast, quality animation, anime and DC inspirations with a twist are all in step. I would say they have a better handle and balance of the serious, humor, romcom, and action in this premiere than past episodes. I wouldn't go so far to call it a symphony but you see the beats and sudden turns from funny to action done so well. Themes of identity and fears leading to worst things are clear cut. Wouldn't think it's been nearly two year wait for this show to come back.
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