Unity (Superman: The Animated Series)
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| Characters | Episodes | Movies | Comics | Video games | Cast and crew | Broadcasting | Awards | DVD releases |
| Superman: The Animated Series episode | |
|---|---|
| “Unity” | |
| Image:Stas051.jpg Reverend Howell preaching "Unity" to the people of Smallville | |
| Episode no. | Season 03 Episode 51 |
| Writer(s) | Paul Dini Rich Fogel |
| Director | Shin-Ichi Tsuji |
| Production no. | 053 |
| Original airdate | May 15, 1999 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "A Fish Story" | "The Demon Reborn" |
"Unity" is the fifty-first episode of Superman: The Animated Series. It depicts an alien plot to take over the world by infecting everyone with a hive mind. After the aliens have taken over Smallville, Supergirl finds herself in the middle of this conspiracy. Now she and Superman must find a way to stop these aliens before they manage to take over the world.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
It is a peaceful day in Smallville and today is extra special for Kara. It is the start of spring break and she is going to spend it in Metropolis. After speeding through her chores (literally) she is taken to the bus stop where she is given comic books by a young boy interested in her. Just before she gets on the bus she bumps into a tall, dark man dressed as a reverend who creeps her out.
As the week ends Supergirl sends a letter to Ma and Pa Kent telling them about how she has met celebrities and been around the city. She also explains that she has been Supergirl in Metropolis and beat Volcana. Nevertheless, now that the week has ended she has to go back to Smallville much to her dismay.
While going on a bus ride she is bored into action and runs home. When she returns to her house Streaky greets her but is afraid of the Kents. The Kents tell Kara that they wish to take her somewhere special and take her to a circus tent. The reverend emerges and explains that he's preaching unity, "the one true source of universal bliss," and Kara is to join them. Upon entering into the tent Kara sees that the people are connected to an alien creature by tentacles emerging from their mouths and foreheads. Kara runs out and Supergirl arrives; however, when Kara hits the reverend everyone in the room is hurt. Supergirl grabs Martha and flies off.
In the hospital, Superman arrives and the Kryptonians learn that an alien parasite has wrapped around Martha's brain stem and cannot be removed without killing her. Just then, Martha starts to stir and recognizes Kara; however, she slips back into a coma and Superman takes Kara out of the room. In the meantime, the Doctors learn that the parasite feeds off of the electrical impulses in a beings brain. Just as they realize this, Martha awakens glassy-eyed and pale. She then approaches the Doctors.
Wishing to learn more about what he is fighting, Superman examines a fragment of the parasite taken from Martha and uses his x-ray vision through a microscope. The parasite dissolves under the radiation. While Superman examines the parasite, Supergirl decides to check up on Martha. However, when she returns the doctors’ claim she's better and that "there's no greater healer than unity." They too have been infected and attack. Kara fights back but is afraid due to the fact her actions hurt everyone. She is captured and almost forced to join. Fortunately, Superman arrives and kills off the parasites with his x-ray vision.
Together Superman and Kara head off to stop the rest of the Smallville citizens who are preparing to spread out and infect more of the world. A silo is pushed over and the road is blocked preventing their exit. The group attacks Supergirl but she manages to defeat them with her x-ray vision. Superman decides that he'll deal with the reverend himself. Angered, the reverend reveals his true form, a huge tentacled monster much like the one Kara saw earlier. Superman tries to use his x-ray vision but it's not strong enough. The reverend and the other alien try to force superman to join them but Kara blows up the subjugating alien and superman rips the reverend in half. He then destroys it with his x-ray vision.
Later, Kara is back at home and now appreciates the peace of Smallville and her normal life.
[edit] Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Tim Daly | Superman/Clark Kent |
| Nicholle Tom | Kara/Supergirl |
| Brian George | Eugene |
| Stephen Root | Reverend Howell/Unity |
| Murphy Cross | Female Technician |
| Michael Donovan | Additional Voices |
| Shelley Fabares | Martha Kent |
| Mike Farrell | Jonathan Kent |
| Dennis Haysbert | Doctor #1 |
| Miguel Sandoval | Doctor #2 |
| Jason Marson | Owen |
| Peri Gilpin | Volcana/Claire Selton |
[edit] Trivia
- When Kara is reading comic books on the bus she says "Spider powers? Ew!" A reference to DC's rival superhero Spider-Man.
- Last appearance of Volcana in this series, though she does return in Justice League Unlimited episodes "Hereafter" and "Only a Dream."
- It's possible that Jonathan and Martha Kent know the secret identity of Batgirl since Kara makes a reference to her.
- This episode takes place after the crossover episode "Girl's Night Out," since Kara knows Barbra's secret identity.
- Since the Reverend Howell doesn't seem to know Kara and Supergirl are one in the same, it can be assumed the parasites don't extract information from their victim's minds.
- First time Superman has been shown to be willing to kill.
[edit] Quotes
Kara: "Spider powers? Eww!"
Kara: "The Metropolis Meteors made me their honorary bat girl. Won't Barbra be jealous?
Reverend Howell: "Nations fall and demigods fade, but only unity is absolute, all encompassing, and eternal."
