Supergirl’s Katie McGrath Reflects On Getting To Punch Jon Cryer’s Lex Luthor

Katie McGrath as Lena Luthor and Jon Cryer as Lex Luthor in Supergirl.

Supergirl’s final season is making sure its main characters are getting their chances to shine. In the recent episodes of The CW's superheroine series, Lena Luthor tore away from both her family name and her brother Lex, as portrayed by Jon Cryer. Katie McGrath, who has portrayed Lena since the Season 2 premiere, recalled a fun memory on set that involved getting to smack her on-screen brother.

Lena Luthor has gone through quite a lot over the years on Supergirl, especially when it comes to Luthor Corp and her ever-devious brother Lex, so it's always great when Katie McGrath's character gets to let off some steam. In speaking with TV Guide about on-set stories from the final season, she brought up just such a moment involving Jon Cryer's dubious supervillain, and why it was so epic:

This is the first time I've been part of the Super Friends. I usually come in and say something sassy and do something and walk out. I did love getting to punch Jon Cryer. That was kind of epic because, you know, it's Jon Cryer. And I decked him...it was great. . . . She's obviously fought before, but that was just fun for me. Poor Jon.

Katie McGrath and Jon Cryer have obviously gotten close over the years ever since Cryer signed on as the Arrowverse’s Lex Luthor in the back half of Season 4. As wholesome and healthy as that real-world relationship is, though, Lena and Lex’s on-screen kinship has been very toxic and very manipulative, courtesy of both Luthors. But Lena has now officially joined the Super Friends in the fight to get Kara out of the Phantom Zone and also still battling evil. Moving forward, it will be interesting to see how scenes including both siblings are different the closer we get to the end, as Lena has completely (and justifiably) turned against her brother. (Vaguely ironically, Cryer spent over a decade playing the less-punchable brother on Two and a Half Men.)

Recently it was reported that Lex Luthor will be absent for a brief time in Season 6, but that he will have an even bigger presence in the second half. Thus, it's possible he will be inevitably be the final Big Bad of the Arrowverse series, which would make sense since he’s been one of the core recurring villains since Season 4. Lena and Lex’s relationship has also been a key storyline throughout the years, and Lena’s struggles with her family, especially lately, have been big for the series. I think we can all agree that after bringing the fists to Lex in the premiere, Lena needs more scenes like that in the near future.

Meanwhile, for the remainder of the season, on top of seeing Lena teaming up more with Team Supergirl and awaiting Lex’s big return that will no doubt end disastrously, more familiar faces will be returning, and a younger version of Cat Grant will be making an appearance in a future episode. Just don't expect to see every familiar face. But with this season being the final one, Supergirl will most likely go out as big as possible when it’s time!

As we head into TV finale season, new episodes of Supergirl air Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on The CW, following new episodes of The Flash.

Megan Behnke
Freelance TV News Writer

Passionate writer. Obsessed with anything and everything entertainment, specifically movies and television. Can get easily attached to fictional characters.