Supergirl season 1, episode 15, “Solitude,” explored what happens when our heroes try to work alone.
In this episode, the effects of the divide between Kara and Hank were felt far and wide, especially when a new villain, Indigo — aka Brainiac 8 — arrived on the scene.
Kara sans DEO
Still believing Hank killed Astra, Kara has officially left the DEO. Despite Alex’s pleas for her to return, Kara refuses. However, Kara leaving the DEO also means she has no access to the DEO’s alien-hunting resources. This becomes a major problem when another Fort Rozz escapee, Indigo, hacks an Ashley Madison-esque site with an ulterior motive of getting access to nuclear missiles.
Without the DEO, Kara tries to use the resources available to her, including James, Superman’s Fortress of Solitude and Lucy Lane. (Winn was conscripted by the DEO, so she lost her most computer-savvy ally.) While these resources give Kara a lead on who she is dealing with, they’re not quite enough to deal with the threat alone.
This is also a heartbreaking loss emotionally, which Alex points out to Hank. She knows what Hank is sacrificing by allowing Kara to believe he killed Astra — a relationship with a daughter figure after losing his Martian family — but he’s willing to do it so Kara and Alex remain on good terms. His dedication to doing what he believes is right for Kara and Alex shows how much he has come to care for them.
Kara with the DEO
With a nuclear missile flying toward National City, it takes the combined efforts of the DEO’s knowledge and Supergirl’s abilities to eventually disable the bomb and save the city. Winn is also able to upload malware into Indigo, which temporarily disables her. It’s clear that Supergirl is a better hero with her allies around her, as they all bring their different strengths and specialties to the team.
Kara realizes this as well and is prepared to return to the DEO and have a work-only relationship with Hank. However, Alex can’t stand seeing the undeserved cracks between Hank and Kara, so she tearfully confesses the truth despite Hank trying to stop her. Kara, though, rather than desert her sister, hugs her. Hank tries to leave the sisters in peace, but Kara grabs him, making him part of the family embrace.
The confession scene is incredibly powerful, as Alex looks destroyed as she tells the truth. She admits she not only killed Astra to protect Hank, but that she let Hank take the blame because she was afraid of losing Kara. After hearing all the reasons Kara has been upset with Hank for killing Astra, no wonder Alex would feel like she is about to lose Kara as she confesses.
But both Hank and Alex underestimated Kara. Kara’s capacity for love and forgiveness are greater than either realized, as Kara doesn’t push Alex away. Undoubtedly, Kara will have to address how she reacted to Hank now that she knows the truth, but the upside is that Kara finally knows the truth so the secret storyline won’t be outstaying its welcome.
James and Lucy
Also in this episode, Lucy continues feeling like she is coming in second to Supergirl — which is the same thing she felt in Metropolis when James was working with Superman. However, it’s not until Kara tries to convince Lucy that she should stay with James that Lucy realizes the truth: James is in love with Kara and vice versa. Neither, however, is quite ready to admit it.
While it’s a bit disappointing to see Lucy hurt like this, it’s refreshing for her not to take her pain out on Kara. Lucy has liked Kara since they met, so her pain is more at the situation than at the people involved. Too often a plot like this pits the women involved against each other, but Supergirl is quite aware of its treatment of female characters and avoids this pitfall.
The question now becomes what becomes of Lucy. She left her job with the military and is currently working at CatCo, so will she stick around despite the break up? Kara gave James permission to tell Lucy that she’s Supergirl, so it would be great to see Lucy join the team.
Also worth noting
- James and Kara visit Superman’s Fortress of Solitude, which is some comic book-y goodness. Furthermore, in the Fortress there is a Legion of Superheroes ring. One also showed up on The Flash when Barry traveled to Earth-2 and saw a shot of Supergirl.
- We get some background on Siobhan; her father was a serial cheater, and his name was on the hacked website. Winn tries to find common ground with her since he has his own daddy issues, and the two end up making out in an elevator.
- Indigo has a connection to Non; the two had a relationship in the past, and Indigo did not like Astra. She believed Astra was foolish for believing the Kryptonians could live alongside the humans. She’s only shown herself now because Astra is dead.
- Indigo reveals that she is the reason Kara and Fort Rozz escaped the Phantom Zone. She started Kara’s pod and helped her escape, thus pulling the prison with her.