“Nevertheless, She Persisted.” That’s the title of the season 2 finale of Supergirl, says executive producer Andrew Kreisberg, and it’s due to air on May 22nd on The CW. It’s a title that sets quite a tone, too. The show has continued to go from strength to strength, following its move from CBS, and has introduced a range of new characters over the course of its 22 episode second season. But the title of the season 2 finale brings with it such connotations that we can surely expect something both resonant and remarkable.
The phrase, “nevertheless, she persisted,” became a rallying cry for feminists and civil rights activists on February 7th, 2017, after Senator Elizabeth Warren was subject to a silencing vote for her remarks during the debate regarding the confirmation of Senator Jeff Sessions as U.S Attorney General. Warren vehemently opposed his confirmation, and made this plain during a lengthy speech – in which she quoted the late Senator Ted Kennedy, and read aloud a famous letter about Sessions, written by Coretta Scott King in 1986. Senator Warren was using the powerful missive as evidence to support her criticisms of Senator Sessions’ civil rights record.
Having been interrupted by Presiding Senate Chair Steve Daines from Montana, who argued that Senator Warren had broken a Senate Rule, she was interrupted once more by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and voted into silence. Later in the debate, Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon read the same letter, without interruption. However, after the vote was taken to silence Senator Warren specifically, Mitch McConnell addressed the Senate and said, “Senator Warren was giving a lengthy speech. She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.”
Across social media, the phrase became immediately synonymous with the common occurrence of women persisting in breaking down barriers in direct contradiction to those who would seek to silence or ignore those women. This particularly resonates for the television series of Supergirl, which survived a potential axing at CBS, only to thrive at The CW. Not only that, but the show has since worked hard to deliver storylines that address issues such as inclusion and diversity, immigration, and social prejudice.
In terms of story, Kara Zor-El (Melissa Benoist) has persisted, despite a gathering storm of adversity over the course of season 2. She’s currently dealing with the wrath of Daxamite Queen Rhea (Teri Hatcher), and is expected to face down General Zod (Mark Gibbon) before the end of the season. Andrew Kreisberg has also recently confirmed that the season finale will feature our first glimpse of the main villain planned for season 3. That being the case, it seems that Supergirl will continue to persist, nevertheless.
Published: May 2, 2017 11:40 am