Supergirl – For the Girl Who Has Everything

By: Jay Ruymann

“I also remember saying goodbye to you on that launch bay and promising to take care of Clark—Kal-El—and hugging you so tight, never wanting to let go.”

Kara Danvers (Melissa Benoist) is incapacitated when Non (Chris Vance) sends Black Mercy to take control of her consciousness, leeching onto her heart and projecting her into a fantasy world: a world in which she never left Krypton. On this world, her family is intact, Astra (Laura Benanti) is good and she is the protector of a teenaged Kal-El. She’s finally gotten the perfect family she deserved, but at what cost?

Unknowingly controlled, Kara slowly forgets all that she’s learned on Earth, forgetting she was ever on Earth. Her world slowly becomes the implanted fantasy: Krypton was never destroyed, nor was Kara’s family. She lived the life she was “destined” to have. Non was banished and the House of El was peaceful – father included.

“All Kara wanted was a family. And that’s what she is to me: she is my sister. And she needs me now, more than ever. So please, tell me how to help my little sister!”

While Kara is undergoing this alien psychotherapy, Alex (Chyler Leigh) is angry and willing to risk everything to save her little sister – even confronting Astra and Maxwell Lord (Peter Facinelli) to find answers about this infestation that attached itself to Kara’s heart. This search leads her to an interesting encounter with Astra, bonding over their attachment to Kara, each searching for answers in their own way.

Things seem bleak when the only solution to getting Kara out of this mess is Kara herself. In order to destroy the beast, Kara has to break the fantasy herself. But Alex interjects herself into the situation, having Lord put Alex into Kara’s consciousness – into her fantasy. This puts Alex on Krypton to drag Kara back home, back to Earth with her new family. It’s a struggle, but Alex breaks down trying to convince Kara that she is her sister, that this life isn’t real because it’s too perfect. Life is full of heartache and loss, none of which Kara deserves – something resonates with Kara.

“Life isn’t perfect. I know it can be hard and be lonely, especially for you, you have sacrificed and you have lost so much. I wish you could have a life with your family, but even if you had Kara, it wouldn’t be this. Because this isn’t real.”

Chyler Leigh’s performance this week was spectacular and Alex’s mission was so heart-driven that it was impossible not to choke up, especially as she was pleading with Kara in her fantasy. Alex dealt with her long-standing, unspoken resentment toward Kara (at least when she was younger) and how far they’ve grown as sisters. But even blood isn’t thicker than Alex and Kara’s bond so Astra’s influence was little to Kara’s wellbeing. Instead, it made her angry and Melissa Benoist shined this week, too, channeling angry Kara, who had to suffer through losing her family and her world, again.

“You made me lose them again! My parents, my whole world! And you think that I’m gonna let you take this world away from me, too? You think I’m gonna let you hurt them like you hurt me? NEVER.”

Dear old Uncle Non was behind this week’s attack, but with an ulterior motive to create a solar storm. Non, Astra and their team set out with part of their plan: taking down satellites and communication. But when Alex is forced to kill Astra, will this put a damper on those plans? It’ll create some tension with the sisters, especially since Henshaw (David Harewood) told Kara he did it, to protect Alex. For now, their plan has been halted, but a crucial step seems to be taken toward destroying Earth.

What did you think of Astra’s death? Was it too soon? And now that J’onn has all but revealed himself to the alien population of Earth, when will he reveal himself to the humans? How will this twist dampen Kara and Alex’s relationship?