Supergirl Show 620: Kara

On November 9th of this year, the last episode of Supergirl aired, episode 620, titled 'Kara'.

Here we are 7 weeks later and I am just getting around to reviewing it.

Why has it taken so long?

Well, I will admit that these last two months of my life has been about as hectic as my life has ever been.

Also, I have been trying to figure out how to review this episode which stands as both the season finale and the show finale.

In the end, I am probably more forgiving of this episode than I should be, particularly the end of the Nyxly/Lex story because it is the end of the show.

One thing that I think is thought provoking about this episode is the theme that Kara has felt weighed down with having to defend the entire world. She wants to empower and inspire people to be their own hero (good idea). She wants to lead a full life for herself (also a good idea). 

But it makes it sound like she finds being Supergirl a burden. It is hard for me to feel like she has felt that weight given she is one of 7 heroes on this one show! Plus there is Superman, Flash, and the Legends. But okay, maybe it is being the 'premier' hero that weighs on her. And I also think while it is great to empower people this way, I don't know if she can feel less pressure because people are stepping up if the world is facing a threat like the Anti-Monitor.

I suppose one of the central themes of this entire show has been discovering who you are, accepting yourself, accepting others, and thriving. So I suppose this final idea hammers it home. I just wish we had one more season (or even a half season) to explore this new reality of Kara.

Lastly, I am glad the show runners and writers made sure to stuff this finale with cameos and history,

I am sad to see this show go. Melissa Benoist captured Kara perfectly. She will be missed.

On to the details. 

We start out right where episode 619 ended. Lex and Nyxly are using their Totem gauntlets to battle and in doing so are draining humanity of those essential feelings of hope, courage, etc.

The news is reporting how humanity is powerless as hope is fading. And I like how that is shown as well as told, the color draining away from people as they become ashen black-and-white.

Meanwhile, we get a deathbed chat between Lillian and Lena. Lillian admits that she knew Lena's mother was a witch, she saw how Lex's father loved Lena for her light and intuition. So, in classic Lillian fashion, she blunted Lena's ability. She placed talismans around the mansion to stifle Lena's powers and she drove Lena to science. That all sounds cruel and completely in line with Lillian's persona.

But now, dying, she tells Lena she wants to set her free. She wants Lena to own her power fully. 

It's a very good scene as these two have always had great chemistry. I especially love how in the middle of this speech, Lena assumes Lillian wants absolution and is disgusted. But eventually they forgive.

I will say that Brenda Strong as Lillian Luthor was a revelation here and always incredible.

Last episode, Kara was so overwhelmed by what was unfolding that she flew off to 'process'. 

Here she returns to talk it over with the team. I include the top pick because I still remain tickled that for 6 years I got to see a live action Supergirl do a dramatic hero's landing. I will miss those.

But here is where that odd sentiment is spelled out.

Kara says her whole life as Supergirl is based on a 'deeply flawed' premise that people need to be rescued. Instead of being Earth's hero, she needed to partner with the people of Earth. And maybe if she calls on people to be the hero in their own life, she will empower them, drawing back the power from the totem and de-powering Lex.

So let's start first with the idea of Kara hindering humanity by being their hero. I just don't know if I could be my own hero against Myriad, the Daxamites, Reign, or the Phantom Zone phantoms. At some point when the threat becomes a super-threat, you need super-heroes. 

Now let's start with the notion that people need to be their own hero and save themselves. It also seems odd coming from this show which has preached about governmental aid to the disenfranchised throughout the last two seasons and sometimes loudly. So it is 'be your own hero ... unless you need a bailout?'

I am troubled more with the former than the latter.

It does lead to the idea that we need a Supergirl hope speech. 

But how can she get the speech to everyone?

Well, first we get a Colu Ex Machina! Brainy's 'Legion Crown' can communicate with as many people as possible. But he needs to have people take in the words.

So we get a Lena Ex Machina! She has a spell that will breakdown people's natural defense mechanisms to let Supergirl's words resonate.

Kara gives a decent speech. She talks about people's innate strength. She says together the can heal the world. It can flourish. She wants people to own their own magnificence.

On a show which has really talked about understanding your personal truth, and has had role models to showcase that in people like Alex and Nia, this speech rang true. And it works. The color floods back into people.

I was glad that Lena got closure with Lillian.

The totem gauntlets do lose power leaving Lex and Nyxly without magic.

When the super friends show up, the two forget they were squabbling and decide to unite once more against the common good.

Using science and magic, they bring some troops to fight for them.

And what a nice nod to the past. We see the dragon and the junk kaiju from this season. But we also get Red Tornado, Overgirl, and Metallo from the past. Very nice nods.

Still, I thought that Nyxly had no magic! Unless somehow she manifested her troops with whatever residual power was left in her totem.

It's a decent skirmish as the heroes square off with rivals. I love seeing Supergirl brawl with Overgirl again. 

I don't know if I needed Alex to say 'no touching without consent' in the context of battle but giving this show's focus on social concerns, I'll allow it.

Now I would have loved if our heroes were up to the challenge on their own. But they aren't. 

Luckily some back-up arrives. That includes Mon-El and Winn from the future, Andrea with her shadow powers, James Olsen in his Guardian uniform, and ... Eliza Danvers with a pump shotgun?

Okay, I'll allow any excuse to see Helen Slater on this show. But it does come with a groan-worthy like about how maybe in another life she was Kryptonian. And if that wasn't on the nose enough, Alex responds 'only in the movies'. Okay! Okay! I saw what you did there!

The evil troops are scattered and disappear leaving Nyxly and Lex alone again. 

So Luthor does a slick move. He opens up a gateway to the Phantom Zone and lets the Dementors fly in. 

Even our heroes steel themselves knowing these things are powerful. 

But in a very nice nod to Kara's hope speech, the people of the city rally and join the heroes. They aren't fighting alone.

Turns out that there isn't much fear in the heroes or the crowd.

Instead the Dementors turn on Nyxly and Lex and drag them into the Phantom Zone and close off the gate. It is explained that the hubris of the villains equals fear. 

I don't know if hubris is the same as fear.

I don't know why the gateway would close or be closed.

But most importantly, I was hoping that somehow there would be some redemption for Nyxly in this season. She was wronged. She should have been exonerated. She should have been helped to move through this and heal. Instead she has to suffer for an eternity.

And Lex! In the Phantom Zone! I suppose that is an apt punishment given he sent Kara there last season.

Just like that the Allstone saga is over.

So we have about 30 minutes to wrap up the show and give characters some moments to shine.

I didn't like William last season but this season I thought he was a much stronger character.

I am glad we get to see his funeral, people mourning him. He isn't an afterthought.

Andrea recognizes he lived by his convictions and should be remembered.

And J'onn announces that given the latest skirmish, the government will re-establish the DEO but to fight extra-normal threats, not just extra-terrestrial. Moreover, they will have complete authority without the red tape.

Suddenly everything old is new again.

Once more we hear Kara's thoughts about how the super friends need to work with humanity, not as vigilantes but as civil servants. They can't be super heroes; they need to be friends.

So what does that mean?

We see the DEO announced with J'onn, Alex, and Supergirl. (Seriously, look at Benoist with hands on hip, looking off to the horizon, smiling ... she is Supergirl.)

Lena opens a foundation.

Andrea opens up the William Day Journalism School.

And Nia opens up the Dreamer Center for LGBTQ Outreach.

Three weeks later, everyone is prepping for Alex's wedding.

While everyone else seems to have solidified their identity in this world, Kara is still struggling. She even is denied the opportunity to save a cat in a tree when the fire department manages it.

Out of the blue, she gets a call from Cat Grant. On a beach, in a wet suit complete with leg knife, Cat talks about how the Earth is being slowly destroyed and CatCo needs to tell it to people. She has bought CatCo back and she wants Kara to be its editor-in-chief.

How great was it to see Calista Flockhart as Cat again!

But does this offer help or hurt Kara's personal crisis?

Initially it makes it worse.

Kara has already struggled between her role as Supergirl and having a life as Kara Danvers. She can't take the job. 

She heads to the Danvers couch to talk it out with Alex.

I feel one of the successes of the show was the relationship between the Danvers sisters. It was rocky at first but grew. I came to love moments on the couch. Over the last two seasons as Alex's personal issues took screen time and Kara became a sideshow in her own show, that relationship has faded.

So I was thrilled ... THRILLED ... that we got another couch scene, And how great to have Alex say that Kara is amazing and that she knows Kara will choose the right path.

And so we get to the wedding. 

Alex gets ready with Eliza and Kara.

James helps Kelly get ready.

All talk about how proud they are.

Brainy, who had returned to the future to save his world, returns to be with Nia. Colu be damned! He loves her! So I guess self-sacrifice isn't allowed in this new world of being your own hero. 

But the best part of the pre-wedding scenes was seeing Winn and Kara sing some Pat Benatar as the brides walk down. 

We should have had more musical episodes!

Pat Benatar!

J'onn does the officiating and wells up as he talks of Kelly being Alex's missing puzzle piece. 

Then the two say wonderful vows, too wonderful to paraphrase.

It's official!

I love how Kara is the first to stand up and clap!

Nice touch!

Time to celebrate.

J'onn hears from Winn that the DEO will be a beacon of peace in the future. Winn heard it from M'Gann and J'onn's son. So much for keeping information from the future a secret!

I said it before and I'll say it again. Melissa Benoist is a star. Tremendous to see her just having a blast dancing!

One of my favorite moments in the episode was a reunion of the OG super friends.

I forgot the chemistry these three had. Seeing James, Winn, and Kara together, hearing them reminisce about the creation of the super suits, the old ops room at CatCo, and realizing how far they've come was great.

I might just have to revisit those early seasons again. 

While Alex and Kelly literally take off for their honeymoon, Kara gets another call from Cat. Why hasn't Kara accepted the editor-in-chief offer.

Kara says she has felt split recently, unable to lead a full life.

Cat unravels the whole thing by revealing to Kara she knows that Kara is Supergirl. That shouldn't be an excuse. And imagine what Kara could do if she became 'one being'?

In a scene that most certainly fanned the flame for a subset of this show's fandom, Kara talks to Lena about her issues. 

Perhaps Kara failed the courage gauntler because she created a different identity. 

Lena talks about her own struggles trying to figure out who she was given she was a Luthor. Now she knows it isn't about a name. She gets to decide what she wants to be. And she will help Kara. After all 'El Mayarah', stronger together.

The two hug. Kara says of all her friends, Lena has pushed and challenged her the most. (Also, of all her friends, Lena has tried to mind control and kill her the most too!)

I do think these two have a very complicated and interesting history. But I never saw them as potential romantic partners. But as a fan I do know what it is like to want something to happen. 

The show ends with us watching the friends enjoying game night and talking about their next adventure.

At the same time, we see on a nationally televised interview, Cat reveals to the world that Kara is Supergirl. 

Now that is a solid ending to the show. We all now get to write in our minds what we think would happen next. It also links nicely to the current DC continuity of Clark revealing his truth. I do wish we could see how it all plays out.

Was this a good season finale? It nicely wrapped up the season's villain and completed each character's arc. But I feel it was more of a series finale. That last half hour really had a 'we may never see these characters again so let's finish their stories' feel to it.

I liked the cameos, homages, and nods to the past. I loved how Melissa Benoist again showed what a star she is. 

I can't say I thought this season made a lot of sense. From episode to episode and even sometimes from moment to moment there were plot gaffes and leaps. 

But I will miss it. It made Supergirl a household name. It always showed her as a hero. Here's hoping we get to see her on a CW show at some point in the future.

And thanks for all who waited for this! Sorry it took me so long!