For the first time in over 40 years, a Supergirl movie has hit theaters. And if you weren’t put off by its middling reviews – check out mine Supergirl review to see what I thought of it — and having already seen it in your local theater, you might need some clarification on what happens in its finale.
Below, I’ve answered your biggest questions about the DC Universe (DCU) movie ending and how it sets up next year’s Superman successor. So this is your only caveat: full spoilers immediately follow Supergirl. Come back now if you haven’t seen it yet.
Does Krypto die in Supergirl?
Rejoice, dog and animal lovers alike, because Krypto does not die.
As you know, part of this movie’s plot revolves around the titular Kryptonian – real name Kara Zor-El – retrieving an antidote to neutralize the effects of a poisoned arrow that Krypto was shot with.
Did James Gunn Direct Supergirl? And who wrote it?
No, Gunn did not write or direct Supergirl.
It was directed by Craig Gillespie, who some readers may know as the filmmaker behind the Margot Robbie starrer I, Tonya and 101 Dalmatians live-action prequel Cruella.
Meanwhile, actor-turned-screenwriter Ana Nogueira was in charge of the script. Nogueira is also confirmed to write the DCU’s Wonder Woman movie, which is still in very early development.
The problem? The only cure is in the possession of top villain Krem of The Yellow Hills, who happened to be the person responsible for seriously harming Krypto in the first place. And as Kara learns, she only has 72 hours to track down Krem, obtain the necessary cure and administer it, or Krypto will succumb to the toxin.
To make a long story short, Kara succeeds in her mission. Returning to the planet she left Krypto on, she delivers the medicine to the local doctor, who injects it into Krypto, and within seconds he is back to health. Phew!
Why does Kara kill Krem in Supergirl?
On the surface, the answer is simple: Krem is responsible for Krypto’s near-death experience. Her Kryptonian cousin – Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman – notwithstanding, Kara’s only tie to the duo’s obliterated homeworld of Krypton is her super-powered pup. So considering Krypto’s life was in serious danger, you can understand why she ultimately decided to take Krem’s life.
However, there are also other factors that come into play. First, Kara kills him because he murdered the family of the young warrior Ruthye, who enlists Kara’s help in getting revenge on Krem. But instead of letting Ruthye kill him and carry that weight for the rest of her days, Kara convinces Ruthye not to go through with it, and after sending Ruthye away, Kara delivers the killing blow instead.
Then there’s the fact that Krem and his criminal enterprise, also called the Brigands, hop from planet to planet to kidnap teenage girls and use them to create the next generation for this all-male gang. Furthermore, the killing of Krem means that he will not be able to revive the brigands and, by proxy, his reign of terror. Add these reasons together, and it’s no wonder the honor-bound Kara rebuffs him.
Nevertheless, Kara’s decision to assassinate Krem is sure to polarize viewers.
IN Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrowaka the 2021 graphic novel that this movie is based on, Krem gets to live. This is because Kara wants to teach Ruthye that revenge is never the answer and breaking the cycle of violence is the only way to process your trauma and heal from it.
Supergirl follows the same thematic line right up until Kara kills Krem – and despite the reasons I outlined earlier, it still doesn’t sit right with me.
Of course, the narrative justification for Krem’s death is sound. Despite the similarities that exist between Kara and Supes, it not only proves how different their worldviews are, but also positions her as something of an anti-hero rather than a traditional champion of the people.
That said, Kara murdering Krem completely undercuts the thematic purpose of the entire story, and I’m willing to bet there will be many viewers like me who wished this specific part of the DCU Chapter One movie had ended differently.
Does Supergirl have any scenes with credits?
No, there’s not a mid-credits and/or post-credits stick to stick around for once Supergirls end credits sequence begins.
So if you don’t want to stick around and appreciate how many people worked on this project, you can quickly exit your viewing without worrying that you missed the setup for DC Studios’ next big screen offering.
How does Supergirl set up the Man of Tomorrow?
Supergirl doesn’t set up any specific story threads for The man of tomorrowalso called next year’s follow-up in the 2025s Superman film. If you were hoping for even the tiniest tease of its plot via a first look clip or otherwise, then you’re going to be sorely disappointed.
Regardless, Supergirl‘s final scene confirms that Milly Alcock’s Kara will be a part of The man of tomorrow‘s cast.
Actually before Supergirls credits roll, we see Kara and Krypto return to their Metropolis-based apartment, just as David Corenswet’s Supes checks in on the place in their absence. As Krypto goes through Kara’s trash, Kara and her only surviving relative sit down for a quiet and brief chat, which ends with Kara telling Clark that she plans to stay on Earth for a while.
We already knew that Alcock’s Girl of Steel would return The man of tomorrow – DC Studios co-head Peter Safran revealed as much in a recent chat with The Hollywood Reporter. Still, it’s nice to see Supergirl acknowledge that Kara is back on Earth before she appears in next year’s Superman sequel, and that she doesn’t just appear out of the blue at some point in the film.
For more information on what will be the fourth DCU film, you can find out everything we know so far about The man of tomorrow.
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