'Supergirl' Season 5: The scattered focus of the stories make the superhero feel like a side character on her own show
‘Supergirl’ is about the journey of the last daughter of Krypton, juggling her responsibilities as a journalist, friend, sister, and superhero. It is also about a Martian and his dark family secrets. It is also about DEO Agent Alex Danvers and her relationship with Kelly Olsen. It is ALSO about an alien from the 31st Century and HIS relationship with a psychic superheroine half-alien. That is, of course, when it’s not about Lena Luthor’s descent into villainy. The CW shows have always been inclusive of an extended cast, but this season of Supergirl may be taking things too far by minimizing the story of the superhero everyone came here to see.
It’s not that ‘Supergirl’ doesn’t have a fun cast, whose stories are worth telling. J’onn’s storyline alone gives us more insight into Martian history, which is always fascinating. The guilt that he bears for everything that’s happened with Malefic is what makes more Malefic a more compelling villain than another White Martian with a grudge. It’s great that ‘Supergirl’ has a diverse cast, including more people of color and sexual orientation. The problem is when that inclusiveness comes at the cost of stories involving the protagonist herself.
Kara hasn’t had a lot to do this season - she’s been reactive. Sure, she’s gotten herself a new costume(pants!), but most significant action this season - revealing her identity to Lena Luthor - served to further Lena’s plot more than it did Kara’s. After all, what’s another person who knows Supergirl’s identity, considering the extensive list of everyone else who does? Kara’s been wandering from one plot point to another, using her powers when powers are called for in such a perfunctory manner that it feels like it wouldn’t make much difference if the show replaced her with one of Superman’s spare robots.
What is Kara thinking? What is Kara feeling? What is Supergirl fighting for? Is there even a romance in the works with this season’s token Handsome Male, William Dey? It’s frustratingly hard to say for sure. There’s nothing beyond the shallow positivity of a superhero who wants all of her friends to be happy and for people not to be hurt. Every serious conflict in the show belongs to someone else. Even Brainiac, trying to find the balance of being himself without that self overwhelming those he cares about is a more relatable, heartfelt story than anything that Kara has been given so far.
It’s unclear whether or not the show has run out of ideas when it comes to Kara, but maybe there’s a deeper plot brewing. Perhaps the season has Kara’s story on a slow burn. After four episodes, however, interest is growing cold. If the show is holding anything in reserve, it’s time to bring it out. It shouldn’t have to take a multiversal ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’, or the lead-up to a season finale for the show to find a way to tell the story of its titular character.
The next episode of ‘Supergirl’, ‘Dangerous Liaisons’, airs November 3, on The CW.