'Supergirl' Season 5 Episode 15 Preview: 'Reality Bytes' sees Nia step up to protect the transgender community
The CW has released the preview for 'Reality Bytes', the upcoming episode of 'Supergirl'. It sees Kara Danvers (Melissa Benoist) take a break from her superhero life leaving Nia/ Dreamer (Nicole Maines) to save National City. However, in what comes across as a surprise, the show has conjured up a threat for her in the form of a rather conservative villain who attacks her for being transgender.
While this may seem like a bold step, 'Supergirl' has explored Nia's trans identity before in Season 4. According to a Comicbook report, Maines has spoken about her character when she was cast in the series. "Nia's transness is a big part of her identity. I think for all trans people, it's not our only defining feature but it is a defining feature, so it's a big part of I know who I am and who Nia is, so it would be inappropriate to completely ignore that. But like I said, it is not the only part of her identity.
"Not every episode or every Nia storyline is focusing on her transness, which I like, but we do have episodes coming up where her transness plays a big part. And her transness plays a really big part in her powers and how her powers manifest and her relationship with her family."
The official synopsis reads: "Dreamer steps up to protect her community after her roommate is viciously attacked" – Nia’s (Nicole Maines) roommate, Yvette (guest star Roxy Wood), is attacked by a man targeting Dreamer because he doesn’t like that Dreamer is transgender and wants her to quit being a superhero."
"Determined to protect her community from additional harm, Dreamer refuses to give in to his threats and puts herself in the line of fire to stop him. Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) stands by Dreamer and enlists additional help from Brainy (Jesse Rath). Meanwhile, Alex (Chyler Leigh), J’onn (David Harewood) and Kelly (Azie Tesfai) attempt to rescue a man stuck inside a virtual reality escape room. Armen V. Kevorkian directed the episode written by Dana Horgan & Jay Faerber."
'Supergirl' airs at 9 pm ET/PT (8 pm with daylight savings in effect) on Sunday nights on The CW.