Supergirl – Resist

By: Michelle Lopez

Lena (Katie McGrath) wakes up in an unfamiliar bed to an unfamiliar hand caressing her face. Noticing it’s Rhea (Teri Hatcher) she flinches away and demands to know where she is. Rhea tries to convince Lena that she’s been taking care of her after Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) rudely attacked them and their portal. Lena recalls Supergirl rightly trying to stop Rhea, but Rhea justifies her actions like some sort of Commander of Death claiming it was “for my people.” Lena wants out, but Rhea is still feeling maternal over Lena and wants Lena to help her preside over New Daxam.

Down on Earth, Daxamites are everywhere shooting folks left and right as a recording of Rhea explaining the new world order plays on loop. Maggie (Floriana Lima) boldly runs out of the police station without a bulletproof vest, grabs the shotgun of a fallen officer and takes out a bunch of Daxamites like the freaking Terminator. When she’s found some cover, she calls up Alex (Chyler Leigh) to update her on the invasion. Alex wants to know if Maggie is ok, but the call cuts out before she can get any confirmation. Winn (Jeremy Jordan) wants to know if Maggie’s fine, but Alex isn’t sure and panic begins to set in. Suddenly a bunch of Daxamites apparate into the DEO forcing Alex to order a complete evacuation. Alex let’s Supergirl know the DEO’s compromised and Supergirl agrees to meet Alex outside. With all the exits blocked Alex sprints across the room dodging Daxamites and takes a running leap off the balcony while firing one final shot. Supergirl swoops in to catch Alex mid-fall and they fly off to find somewhere safe.

Back on the ship, Mon-El (Chris Wood) has all the salt to throw at his mother for invading Earth. Rhea believes the people of Earth will submit and become her minions, but Mon-El doesn’t agree. He’s been on Earth longer and knows that it’s full of people who are much stronger than even they realize. Plus, Kara’s going to stop her. Rhea is not concerned with Kara since Mon-El is the key to her plan. She’s going to marry Mon-El and Lena to “unite” Daxamites and the people of Earth.

The Superfriends have chosen the alien bar as their new base of operations. J’onn (David Harewood) is out of commission, still suffering the effects of Rhea’s White Martian gadget. James (Mehcad Brooks) shows up to give them an update on the conditions in the streets. It’s not looking good with Daxamites instituting martial law. Kara has been trying and failing to get ahold of Clark (Tyler Hoechlin) and much to Alex’s relief, Maggie shows up uninjured. Lillian (Brenda Strong) and Cyborg Superman (David Harewood) also show up with a plan and offer a temporary truce. None of the Superfriends are open to working with Cadmus so Lillian leaves Supergirl with a cell to call her when they change their minds.

President Olivia Marsdin (Lynda Carter) has had enough of Rhea’s nonsense and calls her up from Air Force One. The DEO picks up the signal and tunes in to watch the fireworks. Marsdin tries to intimidate Rhea, which leaves her chuckling. She condescendingly menaces the President until Earth’s greatest weapon shows up. Cat Grant (Calista Flockhart) saunters onto the call and puts both the President and Rhea in their place. They’re three strong, independent women who should be above the traditional pettiness of “testosterone-driven windbags,” who occasionally resemble Cheetos. Rhea wasn’t prepared for Cat since she wasn’t aware that Earth’s had a Queen of Media, Feminism and Smashing the Patriarchy. Cat is not buying Rhea’s claim to the throne because anyone trying that hard is fake royalty. Rhea can’t handle Cat so she hangs up and sends some missiles to take out Air Force One. Cat gets tossed out the plane and caught by Supergirl before the plane explodes. They land in the wreckage, terrified to find the President dead.  Not to worry! The leader of the free world happens to be an alien. They’re shocked, but Cat is more concerned with confirming Olivia’s party because Earth really needs a democrat at the helm right now.

Kara safely brings Cat and Olivia back to the alien bar. Olivia heads to the bathroom to freshen up while Cat realizes that her oddest college experience of seeing E.T. in the dorm bathrooms wasn’t due to pot brownies. Rather it was her RA, Olivia Marsdin, being an E.T. Nobody believes Cat until Olivia enters in her alien form. It’s awkward until Cat smooths everything over with a hug and reassurance that she loves her friend for who she is. Olivia pulls Alex and Kara aside to explain that she’s an alien refugee and only wants what is best for Earth then gets down to business. Since J’onn is out of commission, Alex is the director of the DEO and the President instructs her to commandeer the positron cannon at the DEO and blow Rhea’s ship out of the sky. Kara’s got an issue with that because Lena and Mon-El are aboard the ship.

Speaking of Lena and Mon-El, Rhea has summoned them to discuss their pending nuptials and future heir. Lena scoffs at the idea of producing an heir with Mon-El and neither is keen on going through with the marriage, but Rhea threatens to blow up a few hospitals to get them in line. They have no choice but to get married.

Alex has sent the President back to DC and is preparing to execute her orders to blow up Rhea’s ship. Kara can’t believe that she’s willing to kill Lena and Mon-El, but Alex is duty bound. Kara tries to appeal to Alex playing the “what if it was Maggie” card, but it’s not Maggie so Alex is going through with it. Kara heads outside for some fresh air and life advice from Cat. She explains that two people she loves are trapped on the ship. She feels like she’s being selfish and letting Earth down by wanting to protect them over eliminating the threat. Cat explains that she left National City because she wasn’t happy. She travelled to a place where the people are so happy that they throw festivals to celebrate a couple’s first date. Despite being in such a happy place, Cat didn’t feel happy and she realized it was because she was lacking human connection. Life isn’t defined by what you do, but rather who you love. Kara wanting to save her people isn’t selfish, it’s human. Kara thanks Cat and flies off seek help from Lillian because beggars can’t be choosers.

Kara brings Lillian and Hank back to the alien bar to plan their attack. Nobody is keen on this team up, but Lillian’s got a plan that might work. They’ll use the Phantom Zone projector in the Fortress of Solitude to beam up to Rhea’s ship while Alex and Maggie break into the DEO and take control of the positron cannon. The key to the entire plan is Cat distracting Rhea while everyone acts. Alex pulls Kara aside and begs her to move quickly because she doesn’t want to kill her sister.

At the Fortress of Solitude, Kara asks Lillian why she hasn’t told Lena that Kara is Supergirl. Lillian is waiting for the big payoff when Lena figures it out for herself. She’s sure Lena will hate Kara and that’ll bring Lena one step closer to joining Cadmus. Kara is nonplused, but Lillian is quick to remind her that this truce is temporary once Lena is safe they’re back to being enemies. Hank turns on the projector and they beam themselves onto the ship.

At CatCo, Cat is concerned with the state of her office. Yeah, the building is in ruins, but what James has done to her precious office by filling it with free weights and sports memorabilia is unforgivable. Winn sets up his camera and asks Cat if she is ready. Dumb question Winn, Cat is always ready.

Alex and Maggie check in with the President to update her on their progress. They’ve breached the HVAC system at the DEO and are on route to the cannon.

On the ship, Rhea begins to preside over Mon-El and Lena’s marriage ceremony. Before she can get too far and make their marriage official, Cat Grant starts broadcasting a speech so timely here it is verbatim: “Good evening, National City. It’s Cat Grant. Yes, I’ve been away for a while, but I’m back. Now, I can imagine that you’re feeling afraid and feeling like your world is spinning out of control. But, believe me, you have power. And right now, you have a job to do. Resist. Resist these invaders with everything you’ve got. They come with empty promises and closed fists. They promise to make out world great again, and yet they know nothing about the people who make this world great. They think they can con us. And if that doesn’t work, what? They’re going to beat us into submission? They have no idea who they’re up against. Aliens and humans, we need to band together and we need to stand up and fight back. Everyone needs to be a superhero. Everyone needs to get up and say, “Not in my house.” Let’s prove to these thugs that we are strong, and we’re united, and we are not going to be conquered. And tiara woman (or Cheeto), if you and your little minions happen to be listening you have come to the wrong town.” Rhea is pissed that Cat just rallied humanity and interrupted the wedding so she sends a squad to kill her.

Elsewhere on the ship, Kara, Lillian and Hank hunt down the only other human heat signature, Lena. While being escorted to their room, Mon-El attacks the guard and doesn’t fare too well until Lena picks up the guard’s gun and puts an end to Mon-El’s tussle. Lena uses her tiara to break through the door locks and they run into Kara, Lillian and Hank. Lena is shocked her mother teamed up with Supergirl to rescue her, but Lillian’s over the temporary truce. She beams herself, Lena and Hank back to Earth while stranding Kara and Mon-El. Lena is pissed that her mom betrayed Supergirl, but Lillian doesn’t care. She gives Alex, who’s just gotten control of and fired up the cannon, the go ahead claiming everyone is clear of the ship.

Kara and Winn planned for Lillian’s betrayal, so Kara activates the failsafe which happens to be brain-jacking Hank’s cybernetics and having him reactivate the projector. Mon-El is set for them to get to safety, but Kara’s Hufflepuff heart can’t leave Rhea to die without giving her a chance to surrender and save her people on the ship. Mon-El knows it’s pointless to argue with Kara so he peaces out and heads back to Earth where he lets Alex know that Kara still onboard. Alex doesn’t know what to do, follow orders and kill her sister or let Rhea’s invasion continue. The decision is taken away when the cannon gets destroyed.

At CatCo, Rhea’s death squad arrives and attacks Cat and Winn. Guardian shows up and takes all the Daxamites out. With the threat eliminated Cat pops out of her hiding spot and thanks James for the rescue. James tries to keep up the Guardian persona, but Cat can see his eyes through his silly mask. If she knows James is Guardian she knows Kara is Supergirl.

On the ship, Kara confronts Rhea and tries to appeal to her good side, but Rhea doesn’t have a good side. She admits that she murdered her husband when he went against her and mocks Kara for thinking she won. Before Kara can respond she gets knocked across the room by a zombified Superman.