'Supergirl' Season 5 Episode 12: Lena Luthor deserves better than receding into the background post Crisis
It has been a turbulent season for Supergirl and squad as they've had to overcome the 'Crisis On Infinite Earths' as well as deal with threats like the mysterious Leviathan, Winn Schott's evil doppelganger and Lex Luthor.
However, Supergirl doesn't face threats just from her enemies, her former best friend Lena Luthor isn't entirely pleased with her either. Lena was furious after she learned that Kara is Supergirl and that she had kept her identity hidden from her all this while.
So, for the first half of Season 5, up until the Crisis at least, Lena was seething with rage and not missing an opportunity to attack Kara.
Prior to the Crisis, Lena had taken on the reins of the season, almost sidelining Kara and making her feel like a supporting character in the show. A majority of the episodes were focussed on Lena and what led to her to become the woman hiding behind her numerous walls.
There was a broken woman behind the frigid mask. She had become bitter and cold after her close friend Andreas Rojas did not give her the medallion of Acrata. Later, Lena allowed herself to trust Kara only to realize she is Supergirl, and once again, Lena retreated into her shell.
Lena's dynamics with Kara and Andrea were examined, and it added to the emotional value of the season. The confrontation between Lena and Kara was icy in the seventh episode, where she drops a bitter line, "I wasn't a villain, Kara. You shouldn't have treated me like one."
However, in the post-Crisis world, after the return of her brother Lex Luthor, Lena seems to have receded into the background, except to serve Lex's purpose, answer his orders albeit grudgingly.
We haven't seen much of her, and she's used rather sparingly. Honestly, Lena's story has overshadowed all else in this season, so it's rather sad to see her with just a handful of dialogues.
The beauty of Lena's character lay in the fact that you were never sure to whom she actually swore allegiance, and when she could turn. While one side was virtuously good and stuck to the path of moral values, Lena's track provided much interest in the show. Can we have that back, please?
No doubt, it would be exciting to see the two Luthors work together again to supposedly bring down Leviathan, but at the moment, Lex seems to have taken centre stage. Always great to have you back, Lex, but give Lena a chance too.
'Supergirl' airs on The CW on Sundays at 9 pm.