Supergirl #3.21 “Not Kansas” Recap & Review

After splitting Sam from Reign, Kara departs Earth for Argo, leaving the DEO to handle an assault rifle threat on their own. Here is a recap and review of the Supergirl episode “Not Kansas.”

OVERVIEW:

This episode should have been a celebration, but it felt like a wake, a goodbye to the characters who taught us about life and love, a farewell to the values this show upheld. But unlike Kara Danvers, I refuse to abandon Supergirl. I refuse to let my disappointment silence my voice. And I refuse to stop holding this series to a higher standard than it holds itself to. If you need a vacation from the series, do what’s best for you. But here I’ll be, grasping to every last lesson I’ve learned and hoping to see the faces of those we’ve loved and lost, because if Supergirl has taught us anything lately, it’s that no one is truly dead.

Kara Danvers gave us a wonderful example of chosen family being just as important, powerful, and beautiful as biological family. Her adoptive sister became her heart and her humanity in a world in which she thought she’d never belong. The Danvers sisters inspired one another to find their way and embrace who they are. But Kara lost her way when she so hastily ran back to the people who abandoned her rather than giving equal footing to those who chose to love her. Regaining a piece of Krypton was everything Kara ever wanted, so of course she’s going to visit Argo, but it came at the detriment of everything Kara now holds near: her sister and her heroism.

While Kara said this wasn’t a permanent move, the lack of a return date spoke to the contrary. This did not require an all-or-nothing decision. It required an acknowledgement that she could represent another faction of children and youth who struggle to maintain a sense of normalcy and acceptance when they’re split between two homes. A faction that, despite fear and insecurities, can be as strong, amazing, and resilient as Supergirl, who deserve a role model as strong, amazing, and resilient as the character Supergirl should be.

Kara has struggled with anger and loss, but even when Kara Danvers sucked and felt broken, Supergirl gave her a purpose, a sense of duty and accomplishment. Over the course of this season, her light has been dimmed as she hasn’t exhibited the joy of saving someone or celebrated a job well done. All she’s celebrated was leaving Supergirl behind. She was supposed to be getting better, but instead, she’s attempting to erase her innate need to help people. The most tragic part is that it’s entirely possible to craft a story that doesn’t actively work against what’s been established and what should be exalted.

As one of two female-led superhero shows currently on television, Supergirl is the role model that Jessica Jones isn’t, whether the writers like it or not. During the first season, the show and the character worked to create her own story independent of Superman’s, but now Supergirl is not allowed to go anywhere without Mon-El. He’s not standing by her side, but in her way and being used to corrupt the honor and integrity of a woman who started out as one of the most honorable and virtuous characters out there. Why has she gone from a woman who stopped a young fan from being bullied to a woman considering disregarding marriage vows for a man still acting selfishly and disrespecting her? Where is my hero who carried her show with grace, who had a drive to be a hero with and without her cape, and who proved that women were just as capable of succeeding? Kara, the world needs you to fly. So do I.

Kara had just left for an indeterminate amount of time, and it wasn’t pictures of the two of them that Alex was scrolling through; it was pictures of Ruby. No matter which storyline Alex has been attached to this half of the season, the writers have found a way to make it about her wanting children to the detriment of her personality and her relationships and everything that made her one of the most admirable characters on television. Her work life has been reduced. Her family life has been reduced. Her scientific intelligence is nearly non-existent. And the prospect of her dating again before having children is actually non-existent. Alex is a woman who re-discovered herself at the age of 28; she has a whole slew of relationship firsts ahead of her before fulfilling this now all-consuming obsession with becoming a mom.

I want to see the first time she struggles to figure out if a girl is straight or not. The first time she actually tries to flirt. I want to see her first date jitters. Her first goodnight kiss. I want to see her and her girlfriend’s first TV night. Their first vacation. I want to see the first time she realizes she can love someone else without erasing her love for Maggie.

But most of all, I want to see the woman who taught so many that we’re going to be okay and that we deserve to be happy. The woman who was brave with her actions and bold with her heart and fiercely loyal to her sister. The woman who was tough and smart and just as much of a hero as Supergirl despite not having any superpowers. I want to see the woman I used to aspire to be because that woman was pretty great and deserves to have her story told as much as the rest of us. Alex Danvers is my favorite person. Where is she?

RECAP & REVIEW:

The episode begins right where we left off. While Supergirl and Mon-El fight Reign, Lena whips up a black rock cure. She slides the syringe to Mon-El, who injects Reign. And in our running tally of times Supergirl has not been allowed to save the day… tick tick tick… three. Splitting from Sam, Reign floats up, up, and away, dissolving into thin air in a rather anticlimactic takedown. Supergirl covers Sam, using her cape the only way it should be used, as protection. Recovering in the med bay, Sam reunites with Ruby. Supergirl takes Lena aside and asks if she can make more of the black rock for Argo, but what she should have said is “Thank you, Lena, for saving the world… again.”

“Not Kansas” had the perfect groundwork for three heartfelt stories about connecting and reconnecting with family, a poignant and universal theme that would have given the episode the sense of emotion that’s been missing from the series lately. There’s Kara spending more time with her not-dead mother. There’s J’onn preparing to take his father’s memories. And there’s Ruby reuniting with her not-evil mother. But this episode opted to sideline all of those stories for an irrelevant threat in Argo and a shoehorned political message in National City.

Ignoring the aftermath of Sam’s return stands as the most problematic of the three, although the lack of scenes between Kara and Alura is the most upsetting. Saving Sam was everything Lena has been working toward for seven episodes, and she succeeded, but she didn’t even receive a moment to share that joy with one of her best friends. Her success was not exalted, and her relief ignored, which stands in stark contrast to a series claiming to elevate female accomplishments, voices, and relationships. Despite her new project from Supergirl, no one can convince me that Lena wouldn’t have taken care of Sam like Sam did for Lena in “Damage” (get to work, fanfic writers). In addition, the ending scene with Sam and the fact that Reign is still alive would have come as a surprise if we were more convinced that Sam was truly okay, if we had seen her resuming her job at L Corp and re-establishing trust with her daughter.

Kara explains that as much as Alex helped her feel at home on Earth, she wants to go homehome. Alex encourages Kara to take care of herself. It’s not goodbye forever, but Kaoshuh (to be continued). When Mon-El asks Kara to message the Legion from Argo for a pick-up, Kara invites him to join her. In a romcom montage, the DEO throws a going away party and CatCo sends Kara off with a “good luck on assignment” banner, but has she even published an article this season? Also, where did she tell CatCo she was going since there presumably won’t be cell service or wifi?

Crime is slow in National City, but Guardian finds a guy using an assault rifle against a cop. Realizing the rifle was DEO caliber, James and J’onn speak with the manufacturer, who also makes a civilian version this perp purchased.

On Argo, Kara revels in how normal she feels until a crane collapses, and she spots a suspicious hooded figure leaving the scene. Thara, Kara’s childhood friend and current peace officer, assures everyone it was an accident; Kara disagrees. Just in case there’s trouble afoot, Mon-El gifts Kara his Legion ring without acknowledgement that she’s the reason the Legion exists.

While there have been more obvious examples working against the series’ original feminist message, such as Kara’s newfound lack of independence and her lack of hero moments, there has also been a more subtle problem as displayed in this scene. Both Alura and Thara, two people who should respect Kara’s words, dismiss her instinct about there being a problem until Mon-El backs her up. Why is Kara’s voice ignored and valued as less? Why is it only after a man supports her claim that she’s heard? Why perpetuate a prevalent problem in today’s society when you have the chance to speak against it?

With four boxes of pizza and (probably) a bag of potstickers (Kara’s most favorite meal), Lena enters James’ office in inappropriate work attire. #GiveLenaPajamas2K18 or pants and a blazer or anything that doesn’t sexualize a woman in a situation where a businesswoman would never sexualize herself #EndRant. James is trying to track down an unregistered weapon, leading Lena to state her pro-gun-for-self-defense stance. James disagrees, but they can see each other’s side if they’re open to listening. Guess James isn’t because he gets distracted by the pizza.

It only took all season, but somebody finally mentioned Clark, although he’s probably still unaware that part of his home planet survived. But why was James trying to figure out how Clark tracked an unregistered weapon instead of just asking Clark how he did it? An IM conversation requires no actor on the other side and supports the friendship they supposedly have. It’s odd that Superman had a stronger presence on this series before he actually appeared. What was surprisingly wonderful about this rendition of Superman was how he understood that this was Supergirl’s city, Supergirl’s story, so I would not be opposed to him dropping by to remind Kara of that fact.

Kara and Mon-El join Thara and her husband for dinner. Bored by their landscape troubles, Kara spots the hooded figure and chases after her with accusations and aggression. Thara sends Kara home, where Alura reminds Kara that she doesn’t have to be a warrior anymore.

James picks the perp out of a photo lineup. They find his manifesto, citing his former law firm for ruining his life and losing his wife. J’onn catches the perp preparing to attack and talks the man down with a speech about how bullying is not the answer and no one needs these types of weapons.

I’m not sure it’s possible to do a storyline about gun control without it sounding preachy, although the “Crossfire” episode wasn’t painfully obvious, so if you tackle this topic, it should at least be discussed thoroughly and well and fit into an episode where it’s going to be the audience’s most discussed takeaway. This lesson felt shoved into the series where they thought they needed a case of the week, but there was not enough effort devoted to the story to have the appropriate impact. Having done an episode about race and bullying not that long ago, it would not have been beyond reason to fold in a conversation about how gun violence affects different races. In addition, it would have been interesting to see how this case affected Alex, who wouldn’t “date someone who doesn’t own a firearm.” It would have been a nice lesson on how James and Lena were able to have a respectful conversation about their differing ideologies instead of shutting down that chance for conversation. It would have been worthwhile to discuss media coverage of these situations when you have a media empire at your disposal. Most importantly, this story should not have ended with J’onn calling the perp “a good man” and then cutting away before he was arrested. I think they missed the mark on this one.

Mon-El joins Kara as she strolls through a garden with her dress and the song from the season premier. She feels off, disconnected. Acknowledging that she’s moved on, Mon-El still tells her that just friendship doesn’t feel right between them. He’s sorry and doesn’t want to burden her, but that doesn’t stop him from burdening her with his feelings because he also doesn’t want to hide things and pretend they don’t exist, except for his wife apparently. Kelex and the hooded figure interrupt their moment. Turns out the hooded lady is a follower of Selena, a high priestess of the old religion, and has been trying to kill Kara, but was doing a poor and indiscernible job of it.

Kara knowingly dealing with someone trying to kill her as soon as she arrived in Argo would have been a fascinating storyline to explore, along with allowing her to have more than surface-level scenes with her mother. What new facets of Kara’s personality has Alura picked up on and how responsible does she feel for Kara’s anger and hesitance to feel safe? Has anything Kara learned about her mother since being back changed the sense of betrayal she felt upon learning Alura sentenced Astra and others to Fort Rozz? How has the relationship between the two changed and are the changes for better or worse?

J’onn addresses the DEO to say they’re eliminating weapons of lethal force and moving to non-lethal weapons because they’ve played a part in a widespread problem. He returns home, ready for “the reach,” in which an elder Martian bestows his knowledge and memories upon the younger before they pass away.

Examining the black rock, Lena tells Eve, schooled in nuclear physics, that it could be revolutionary. Alex flips through photos of Ruby and pushes her drink aside to check out an adoption website. Sam and Ruby have a movie night, but something’s wrong. Sam freezes and drops her glass. Selena steals Kara’s spaceship and meets Coville on Earth to create a new Fortress of Sanctuary.

ODDS AND ENDS:

– I hadn’t noticed that Guardian doesn’t use a gun until I watched this episode. That should have been something made explicit earlier this season or last year even if it was a conscious decision on their part and not a convenient angle they found to use now.

– Everybody’s long lost parents are showing up… where is Jeremiah?

– Since Kara took advanced math and science on Krypton, why is she not portrayed as more intelligent? As capable of talking science with Lena and Alex?

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