The third season of the American television series ''

Supergirl Supergirl is the name of several fictional superheroines appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The original, current, and most well known Supergirl is Kara Zor-El, the cousin of superhero Superman. The character made her fir ...

'', which is based on the

DC Comics DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with thei ...

character Supergirl / Kara Zor-El, focuses on a costumed superhero who is the cousin to

Superman Superman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, and debuted in the comic book ''Action Comics'' #1 (cover-dated June 1938 and publi ...

and one of the last surviving

Kryptonians Kryptonians are a fictional extraterrestrial race within the DC Comics universe that originated on the planet Krypton. The term originated from the stories of DC Comics superhero, Superman. The stories also use "Kryptonian" as an adjective to refe ...

. The season was ordered in January 2017. It was filmed from July 2017 to April 2018, and filming took place in Vancouver. Alongside

Melissa Benoist Melissa Marie Benoist ( ; born October 4, 1988) is an American actress, singer and producer. Her first major role was Marley Rose on the Fox musical comedy drama ''Glee'' (2012–2014), where she was a series regular during the fifth season. S ...

, who stars in the titular role, principal cast members

Mehcad Brooks Mehcad Jason McKinley Brooks (born October 25, 1980) is an American actor and former fashion model. He is known for his roles as Matthew Applewhite in the second season of ABC's series ''Desperate Housewives'' (2005–2006), Jerome in '' The Gam ...

Chyler Leigh Chyler Leigh West (pronounced ; '' née'' Potts), known professionally as Chyler Leigh, is an American actress, singer and model. She is known for portraying Janey Briggs in the comedy film ''Not Another Teen Movie'' (2001), Lexie Grey in the ...

, Jeremy Jordan, Chris Wood and

David Harewood David Harewood MBE (born 8 December 1965) is a British actor and presenter. He is best known for his roles as CIA Counterterrorism Director David Estes in ''Homeland'' (2011–2012), and as J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter and Hank Henshaw / C ...

return from the second season. They are joined by

Katie McGrath Katie McGrath () is an Irish actress. In television, she gained recognition for portraying Morgana Pendragon in the BBC One series ''Merlin'' (2008–2012), Lucy Westenra on the British-American series ''Dracula'' (2013–2014), Saskia in the ...

, who was promoted to a series regular from her recurring status in the previous season, and new cast member

Odette Annable Odette Juliette Annable (; born May 10, 1985) is an American actress. She is known for various roles in film and television, including as Dr. Jessica Adams in the Fox medical drama series ''House'', Beth McIntyre in the monster film ''Cloverfie ...

. Former series regulars

Calista Flockhart Calista Kay Flockhart (born November 11, 1964) is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for portraying the title character on the Fox television series '' Ally McBeal'' (1997–2002), for which she received a Golden Globe Award in 1998 ...

and

Floriana Lima Floriana Lima (born March 26, 1981) is an American actress and model. She played Maggie Sawyer on The CW's ''Supergirl''. She began playing recurring character Darcy Cooper in season 2 of the ABC drama ''A Million Little Things'', and was promo ...

return as guest star and recurring respectively. The season premiered on

The CW ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

on October 9, 2017, and ran until June 18, 2018, over 23 episodes. The series was renewed for a fourth season on April 2, 2018.

Episodes

Cast and characters

Main

as Kara Danvers / Kara Zor-El / Supergirl *

as James Olsen / Guardian *

Alex Danvers Alexandra "Alex" Danvers Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D. Doctor of Medicine, M.D., also known as Sentinel, is a fictional Character (arts), character from the Arrowverse television series ''Supergirl (TV series), Supergirl'', portrayed by actress Chy ...

* Jeremy Jordan as Winslow "Winn" Schott Jr. *

Lena Luthor Lena Luthor is a fictional comic book character in DC Comics. She is the sister of Superman's nemesis Lex Luthor. She was played by Cassidy Freeman in the television series ''Smallville'' and by Katie McGrath in the Arrowverse series ''Supergirl ( ...

as Samantha Arias / Reign * Chris Wood as Mon-El / Mike Matthews *

as J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter

Recurring

Erica Durance Erica Durance (; born June 21, 1978) is a Canadian actress. She is known for her role as Lois Lane in the WB/ CW superhero television series ''Smallville'' and as Dr. Alex Reid in the CTV medical drama ''Saving Hope''. Early life Durance was b ...

Alura Zor-El Alura In-Ze is a fictional character, fictional comic book character appearing in publications by DC Comics, usually those featuring Superman and related characters. Alura is the Kryptonian daughter of In-Zee, wife of Zor-El, mother of Supergirl ...

Emma Tremblay Emma Tremblay (born April 21, 2004) is a Canadian actress. Tremblay is known for her roles on the television series ''Supergirl (TV series), Supergirl'' and ''Wayward Pines'', and the films ''Elysium (film), Elysium'', ''The Giver (film), The Give ...

Ruby Arias ''Supergirl'' is an American television series developed by Greg Berlanti, Ali Adler, and Andrew Kreisberg based on the characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in the Superman franchise and Al Plastino and Otto Binder's character Su ...

Adrian Pasdar Adrian Pasdar (born April 30, 1965) is an American film, television, and voice actor. He is known for his roles in '' Profit'', ''Near Dark'', ''Carlito's Way'', ''Mysterious Ways'', ''Heroes'' and as Glenn Talbot on ''Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.''. ...

Morgan Edge Morgan Edge is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Originally a supporting character, he is a media mogul who acquires ''The Daily Planet'' and employs Clark Kent as a television journalist for his WGBS ...

Maggie Sawyer Margaret Ellen Sawyer is a fictional character that appears in stories published by DC Comics, and has been a supporting character in both Superman and Batman comic books. The character appeared in the live-action series ''Smallville'', played b ...

Andrea Brooks Andrea K. Brooks (born March 3, 1989) is a Canadian actress and model best known for portraying Faith Carter on the Hallmark series ''When Calls the Heart'' and Eve Teschmacher in The CW series ''Supergirl''. Early life Born in Brantford, Ont ...

Eve Teschmacher Eve Teschmacher is the name of multiple fictional characters appearing in DC Comics–related media. The character was portrayed by Valerie Perrine in the Christopher Reeve Superman films and by Andrea Brooks in the Arrowverse series ''Supergi ...

Carl Lumbly Carl Winston Lumbly (born August 14, 1951) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Dick Hallorann in '' Doctor Sleep'', NYPD detective Marcus Petrie on the CBS police drama ''Cagney & Lacey'', CIA agent Marcus Dixon on the ABC espiona ...

as M'yrnn J'onzz *

Chad Lowe Charles Davis Lowe II (born January 15, 1968) is an American actor. He is the younger brother of actor Rob Lowe. He won an Emmy Award for his supporting role in '' Life Goes On'' as a young man living with HIV. He has had recurring roles on '' E ...

Thomas Coville Thomas Coville (born 10 May 1968) is a French yacht racer. Coville was born in Rennes. He participated in significant offshore races and record attempts. In April 2012, he achieved 7 circumnavigations of the world, on mono or multihulls, sing ...

* Amy Jackson as Imra Ardeen (Arrowverse), Imra Ardeen / Saturn Girl * Jesse Rath as Querl Dox (Arrowverse), Querl Dox / Brainiac 5 * Anjali Jay as Selena (Arrowverse), Selena

Guest

"Crisis on Earth-X"

* Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen (Arrowverse), Oliver Queen / Green Arrow ** Amell also portrays Dark Arrow, Oliver's Earth-X counterpart * Victor Garber as Martin Stein (Arrowverse), Professor Martin Stein / Firestorm * Jesse L. Martin as Joe West (Arrowverse), Joe West * Emily Bett Rickards as Felicity Smoak (Arrowverse), Felicity Smoak * Caity Lotz as Sara Lance, Sara Lance / White Canary * Tom Cavanagh as Harrison Wells, Harrison "Harry" Wells ** Cavanagh also portrays Eobard Thawne (Arrowverse), Eobard Thawne / Reverse-Flash * Dominic Purcell as Mick Rory (Arrowverse), Mick Rory / Heat Wave * Candice Patton as Iris West (Arrowverse), Iris West * Franz Drameh as Jefferson Jackson (Arrowverse), Jefferson Jackson / Firestorm * Danielle Panabaker as Caitlin Snow (Arrowverse), Caitlin Snow / Killer Frost * Carlos Valdes (actor), Carlos Valdes as Cisco Ramon (Arrowverse), Cisco Ramon / Vibe * Grant Gustin as Barry Allen (Arrowverse), Barry Allen / Flash * Keiynan Lonsdale as Wally West (Arrowverse), Wally West / Kid Flash * Patrick Sabongui as David Singh (Arrowverse), David Singh * Isabella Hofmann as Clarissa Stein (Arrowverse), Clarissa Stein * Christina Brucato as Lily Stein * Danielle Nicolet as Cecile Horton (Arrowverse), Cecile Horton * Jessica Parker Kennedy as a caterer

Production

Development

On January 8, 2017,

renewed ''Supergirl'' for a third season. Series co-creator Ali Adler decided not to return as showrunner for season 3, and instead remained as a consultant. Jessica Queller and Robert Rovner served as the showrunners alongside series co-creator Andrew Kreisberg.

Writing

Jessica Queller described the theme of the season as being "What does it mean to be human?". Robert Rovner and Queller also said that the season would continue to explore Lena Luthors struggle with her family's legacy, with Rovner explaining, "I think one of the central issues about Lena is that she comes from this family of bad guys and I think her journey is – and we've see her grapple with it in Season 2 – is she on the side of good or is she on the side of bad?". The season also sees

breaking up with Maggie Sawyer, who she met in season two. Kreisberg said the writers chose Alex wanting children and Maggie not wanting them as the reason for the breakup since he felt it was a "true human experience", considering that some employees in the writer's room broke up with their lovers because of differing views over wanting children. He also said that despite the breakup, Alex and Maggie still love each other, evident by them sleeping together after breaking up. The season also sees Supergirl (Kara Zor-El), Kara Danvers / Supergirl and Lar Gand, Mon-El again parting ways; Queller compared this separation to that of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman's characters in the ending of Casablanca (film), ''Casablanca'' (1942), saying, "They both have destinies in different times as heroes. What they did was the sort-of ''Casablanca'' decision of putting what's most important to them – which is saving the world – first."

Casting

Main cast members

, Jeremy Jordan, Chris Wood and

return from previous seasons in their respective roles as Kara, Jimmy Olsen, James Olsen, Alex, Winn Schott, Mon-El and Martian Manhunter, J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter. They are joined by

and

, playing Lena Luthor and Samantha Arias / Reign, respectively. McGrath was promoted from her recurring status in season two.

, who portrayed Maggie Sawyer as a regular in season two, was demoted to a recurring role in season three as Lima wanted to pursue other opportunities. She had been contracted only for one season (the second), but agreed to appear in five episodes of the third season. This is also the final season to feature Wood, who Rovner said was intended to appear in only two seasons. Jordan too exited the series as a regular with this season, as he wanted to begin "a new chapter in [his] life".

Filming

Filming for the season began on July 6, 2017 and ended on April 28, 2018, taking place in Vancouver.

Arrowverse tie-ins

In May 2017, The CW president Mark Pedowitz officially announced plans for a four-show Arrowverse Crossover (fiction), crossover event, crossing over episodes of the television series ''Supergirl'', ''The Flash (2014 TV series), The Flash'', ''Legends of Tomorrow'', and ''Arrow (TV series), Arrow''. The crossover, ''Crisis on Earth-X'', began with ''Supergirl'' and a special airing of ''Arrow'' on November 27, 2017, and concluded on ''The Flash'' and ''Legends of Tomorrow'' on November 28. The crossover also sees Benoist, Brooks and Jordan playing the Earth-X versions of their characters.

Release

Broadcast

The season premiered on The CW in the United States on October 9, 2017, and ended on June 18, 2018. It premiered on October 16, 2017 in the United Kingdom on Sky One.

Home media

The season was released on DVD on September 17, 2018, and Blu-ray on September 18, 2018.

Reception

Ratings

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gave the third season an 80% approval rating from critics with an average rating of 7.32/10, based on 13 reviews. The site's consensus reads, "Heavier themes lead to higher stakes, but ''Supergirl'' gives its eponymous heroine and her fellow supers plenty of room for growth, creating a well-balanced, engaging third season." Jesse Schedeen of IGN rated the season premiere 7.5 out of 10, saying it "largely focusing on what's worked best for the show in the past – emphasizing Kara Danvers' never-ending struggle to balance her personal and superhero lives and the inspirational symbol Supergirl has become to National City", but added that "the lackluster debut of new villain Morgan Edge does little to suggest the series will improve on its perpetual villain woes". In his review of the season finale he said, "''Supergirl''s third season ended on a fairly mixed note. The season has taken a recent downturn thanks to the shift in focus regarding Reign and her mistresses, and [the season finale] wasn't able to repair that damage. However, it did benefit from some great, emotionally charged scenes and a generally strong emphasis on Kara and her supporting cast."

Accolades

, - ! scope="row" rowspan="9" , 2018 , 44th People's Choice Awards, People's Choice Awards , The Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show of 2018 , ''Supergirl'' , , , - , rowspan="3" , 44th Saturn Awards, Saturn Awards , Best Actress on a Television Series , data-sort-value="Benoist, Melissa" , Melissa Benoist , , , - , Best Superhero Adaptation Television Series , ''Supergirl'' , , , - , Best Supporting Actress on Television , data-sort-value="Annable, Odette" ,

, , , - , rowspan="5" , 2018 Teen Choice Awards, Teen Choice Awards , Choice Action TV Actor , data-sort-value="Wood, Chris" , Chris Wood , , , - , Choice Action TV Actress , data-sort-value="Benoist, Melissa" , Melissa Benoist , , , - , Choice Action TV Show , ''Supergirl'' , , , - , Choice Scene Stealer , data-sort-value="McGrath, Katie" ,

, , , - , Choice TV Villain , data-sort-value="Annable, Odette" , Odette Annable , , , - ! scope="row" rowspan="1" , 2019 , Leo Awards , Best Stunt Coordination in a Dramatic Series , data-sort-value="Brooks, Dustin" , Dustin Brooks, Simon Burnett, James Michalopoulos ("Shelter from the Storm (Supergirl), Shelter from the Storm") , ,

Notes

References

External links

* * {{Arrowverse 2017 American television seasons 2018 American television seasons Supergirl (TV series) seasons