After what felt like a dreadfully long eight-week break, the CW’s critical darling and socially groundbreaking Supergirl is back and packs as hard of a punch as it did the first half of the season.
We rejoin Supergirl as she’s taking down a group of jewel thieves in their getaway van, only to be interrupted assisted by a significantly more seasoned than we last saw him, Guardian. The next morning, Kara and James get competitive, both trying to serve up news coverage of the takedown of the thieves, each glorifying their own alter egos. I don’t like secrets, and this whole James as Guardian deal is driving me nuts, particularly since Winn is in on the masquerade. As we catch up with Kara, she expresses her restlessness and desire to make more of a difference than just stopping petty theft. Kara’s superhero slump spawns an overly enthusiastic reaction to a woman who arrives at Catco for help finding her missing daughter Izzy.
Kara’s superhero slump spawns an overly enthusiastic reaction to a woman who arrives at Catco to seek help finding her missing daughter. Meanwhile, despite Kara’s boredom, the other Danvers sister is flying high on cloud nine thanks to her blossoming new relationship with Maggie. Happiness looks good on Alex, and she’s glowing more than we’ve ever seen her,
Meanwhile, despite Kara’s boredom, the other Danvers sister is flying high on cloud nine thanks to her blossoming new relationship with Maggie. Happiness looks good on Alex, and she’s glowing more than we’ve ever seen, her normal expression usually painted with guilt and worry. Cut to the morning after Alex’s date to see Maggie has slept over, and just like that Alex breaks her own record for happiest, most giddy, in love expression on the planet. Alex prances into the kitchen, gushing over seeing Maggie there wearing Alex’s t-shirt. Ladies, we all know how that moment feels, am I right? Life can’t get any better for these two, and we fade away after some pre-work smooches. Swoon.
Kara heads to a bar to meet up with Maggie for some missing persons intel, only to discover Mon-El as the new bartender. They trade adorable banter as he gives her what appears to be vodka instead of a club soda as Maggie fills Kara in on a sudden influx of missing persons. While Kara begins to dive into this tangled web, it’s revealed to us that Roulette is behind these sudden disappearances, luring them to a clinic that’s a front for a transport to who knows where.
Winn, feeling down and useless as a contributor in the field, begrudgingly sticks to what he’s good at, and discovers all of the millennials who keep vanishing had attended the same clinic to receive testing in exchange for money. Kara, along with her new sidekick, the lovesick Mon-El, head to the clinic “undercover” only to learn that the doctor at the clinic is an alien who escapes through the transport. Always the hero, Kara follows and Mon-El follows her, but they promptly realize their rescue mission might be futile as the planet they suddenly find themselves on as a red sun. Red sun equals no powers.
The love bubble Alex has been floating in suddenly pops as she realizes her sister might be in trouble. Panicked, Alex suddenly reverts back to the guilt-ridden big sister, ashamed for taking a moment to enjoy her own happiness. She abruptly ends things with Maggie, convinced that she cannot have any relationship that could distract her from protecting her sister. Oh Alex, you’re so adorable with your new relationship melodrama. Maggie is too seasoned to play games, so she shrugs off the rejection and leaves.
As Alex and the rest of the DEO assemble for their own rescue mission of Supergirl’s rescue mission, Kara and friends find themselves on Slaver’s Moon confronted by Roulette and a Dominator, who wants to purchase all of them as slaves. Kara, even without her powers, is determined to not give up, so she attempts to fight back. After she’s nearly electrocuted to death by the Slaver’s Moon weapon of choice, Izzy and the gang put all of their resources together to take down their captors. The group is ruthlessly and recklessly trying to fight its way out of Slaver’s Moon just as Alex and the rest of the DEO show up to save the day. A fun sequence of aliens and ass kicking ensues, leading to the group’s escape, but not before we get a glimpse of the Dominator recognizing and bowing to Mon-El. Winn also beats up an alien, which gives him the boost of confidence he needs to jump back in as Guardian’s sidekick.
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Everyone goes back into their normal, superhero-saturated lives and as the dust settles, Alex invites Maggie over for some groveling. As Alex apologizes for her irrational behavior and explains that she feels like she’s being selfish for being happy when she was raised to put her sister’s safety first, Maggie reveals that’s she has deduced Supergirl’s true identity. As the two reconcile, Maggie mentions that Kara’s haphazard glasses disguise is pretty transparent, which is one of the most organic and funny moments the show has ever had. This scene is one of the most vital turning points in Supergirl, behind Alex’s beautifully portrayed coming out process.
Alex and Maggie are laying the foundation for a real, imperfect, nuanced relationship that is now free of secrets. For all intents and purposes, every weight has been lifted from Alex’s shoulders and she can finally be exactly who she is with Maggie. Supergirl continues to excel at its portrayal of their budding romance, focusing on moments and milestones that are relatable without slipping into any lesbian stereotypes. The focus remains on their connection and journey with respect and poignancy, rather than exploiting the pairing in a way to draw in mainstream audiences with the male gaze.
Kara and Mon-El have a pretty adorable moment after this, but let’s get real, the other events in this episode pale in comparison to the growing pains and pleasures we get to witness between Alex and Maggie. The underlying theme in “Supergirl Lives” is one of conquering your fears during a time of vulnerability, and Alex, even though she stumbles, manages to face her fear with grace and strength. That, in my eyes, makes her a superhero too.
