Supergirl‘s fourth season is weeks away, and we’re cataloging five burning questions for the upcoming season.
When Supergirl season 3 ended, the threat of the Worldkillers was concluded while Kara had discovered her mother was still alive, living on the remnants of Krypton, Argo. Alura returned home, though she wasn’t the only departure. Both Mon-El and Winn traveled to the 30th century while Brainy stayed behind.
Meanwhile, Supergirl’s relationship with Lena was broken. Lena, for her part, held on to some Black Kryptonite to run experiments on. James outed himself to National City as Guardian, and J’onn stepped down from the DEO, placing Alex in charge.
And in the final moments of the finale, another Kara approached a military base in Russia. See a breakdown of that reveal here.
The synopsis for Supergirl season 4 reads:
Season 3 saw Supergirl stop Reign and the other Worldkillers’ threat to humanity and our planet, and in the process Kara was shocked to find her mother Alura alive and living in a salvaged Argo City that survived the destruction of Krypton. Reconnecting with her past caused Kara to realize that her true home is now here on Earth, where big changes are taking place for her and all of her friends in National City and also, it appears, for a doppelganger in Russia! Season 4 promises to be full of surprises, action, adventure, and lots of big revelations for Supergirl, Alex, James, J’onn, Lena, and Brainy.
With this in mind, we have five questions for season 4:
How will ‘Supergirl’ adapt the ‘Red Son’ storyline?
Supergirl season 4 will pay homage to the Superman: Red Son storyline. Showrunners Robert Rovner and Jessica Queller confirmed this: “For fans of the comics, I think they might recognize that the story we want to tell is inspired by the iconic DC Comics’ Red Son, which told an alternate origin story for Superman,” Rovner told TVLine in June.
“What happened if — as a baby — Superman landed in Russia and became a hero there instead of in America?” Queller added. “It’s an homage to that.”
So, how much of that story will Supergirl season 4 borrow? And how will Kara deal with coming into conflict with yet another doppelganger of herself?
What will happen to James now that National City knows he’s Guardian?
James outed himself as Guardian in the season 3 finale. Prior to doing so, he contemplated what it would mean for there to be a black superhero in the public eye — both for good and for ill.
While it would be wonderful for young black kids to see themselves represented among the good guys, James also knows how badly things can go for black men in public. Add to that a high-tech suit and fighting abilities? Things could get messy.
So, what will it mean for James to be a known vigilante? Will it affect his work at CatCo? And what will that mean for his relationship with Lena?
How will Brainy fit into the cast full time?
With Winn departing to the 30th century to join the Legion, Brainy stayed behind because the future is no longer safe for his kind. It looks like he’ll be taking Winn’s place at the DEO. We’ve previously seen him in a part-time capacity as a member of the Legion.
Now that he has to get used to being on his own and living in the 21st century, what kind of dynamic will he bring to the DEO and the show as a whole? Will we see more depth in his character, or will he remain comic relief?
Will Lena and Supergirl remain at odds?
The relationship between Lena Luthor and Supergirl seemed to break irreparably at the end of season 3, as Supergirl asked James to spy on her because she had been making Kryptonite. They continued to work together to save Sam and stop the Worldkillers, but with that threat gone, will the two women mend fences?
Further, how will the distance between Lena and Supergirl affect the relationship between Lena and Kara? And how will Kara (and Supergirl) react when she learns Lena kept some black Kryptonite to conduct experiments on?
How will Nia, aka Dreamer, fit into the story?
One of the most highly-publicized new characters in Supergirl season 4 is Nia Nal, played by Nicole Maines. She is described as a soulful young transgender woman with a fierce drive to protect others. Nia’s journey in season four means fulfilling her destiny as the superhero Dreamer, which is similar to Kara’s journey to become Supergirl.
Besides being television’s first transgender superhero, Nia will also be a new addition to CatCo, having worked under Cat Grant in Washington, D.C.
The character’s comic counterpart is Nura Nal aka Dream Girl. An alien from the planet Naltor, she is also a member of the Legion of Superheroes in the 30th century. Supergirl‘s version of the character is human and in the 21st century, so it remains to be seen how much the show will borrow from the comics.
So, how will Nia fit into the story? Will she learn Kara’s identity, as both Kara and Supergirl take her under their respective wings?