In many ways, Supergirl season 5 is the best it has ever been by balancing the supporting cast without taking the focus off of Kara Danvers as both a reporter and as Supergirl… except with Alex.
Supergirl season 5 is proving to be an incredible season full of stories including and revolving around characters that we haven’t really seen much from, like Kelly Olsen and her mental connection to Malefic, but how the show is handling one character in particular is bringing down the quality of the season.
Alex Danvers is getting short-changed because of the boost in focus on everyone else, which is by no means a bad thing, but it’s disappointing to see the series’ second leading character (since the very beginning) falling behind in order to do this.
Of the season’s six episodes, one has focused on Alex (slightly), but her importance is being drastically reduced and has been since a moment on Supergirl season 4.
Kara and Alex Danvers
The important relationship between Kara and Alex Danvers faded away, aside from a few crucial moments (Take the grass!) after the brutal mind wiping of season 4. On Supergirl season 5, the show is struggling (or failing) to bring these two sisters back together, leaving the heart of the show noticeably missing. Lest we forget, these two sisters are the stars of the show, and this world full of incredible, impeccable characters we have now would not be possible without them.
If there was anything I’d ask for more of this season, it’s the little moments where Kara and Alex have a movie night on the couch, just the two of them, and talk about what’s going on (preferably with pizza and potstickers).
While these moments might be more relaxed, they have often been the most impactful because the relationship between these sisters is just too damn good. They were so lucky to find each other, and their relationship is, above all, the relationship the show is about. However, we aren’t seeing that and haven’t seen very much of it for far too long.
Kelly and Alex
First and foremost, let me just give the Supergirl writers props for what they’re doing with Kelly this season. Instead of Kelly solely being written as Alex’s love interest, they’re taking the time to explore her, her world, and have placed her near the center of the season’s conflict with her job at Obsidian North and her mental connection to Malefic. Kelly’s proving to be one of Supergirl ’s strongest characters, and quite quickly; it’s clear that Alex is such a lucky woman to have found her.
However, now it feels like Alex is being diminished to the love interest instead. The focus Alex has received this season has been centered around her relationship with Kelly, and Supergirl season 5, episode 2 saw her confront feelings that were in the way of moving their relationship forward.
There are so many stories that could be told with Alex aside from her relationship with Kelly, especially when two of the most important people in her life are dealing with tough situations, particularly J’onn with Malefic right now.
Both of these women deserve to be, and feel, like main characters, intertwined in the story and in their relationship, but not falling behind solely to support their romance. Alex Danvers is such a badass and works in a position of such high importance, which has frankly been glossed over since her promotion.
Alex Danvers: Director of the DEO
Since J’onn left the DEO and Alex took charge, it feels like she hasn’t actually been in charge. During Supergirl season 4, Colonel Haley and the President of the United States took over, relinquishing Alex’s importance fairly immediately. Alex basically still felt like the Assistant Director of the DEO, despite supposedly being responsible for the entire organization.
At this point, it feels like promoting Alex was ineffective in changing her story, and more so about changing J’onn’s. Especially because Kara no longer works for the DEO, we don’t see much of Alex at work, and when we do, it’s for things like Acrata breaking in.
Please, just let Alex run this highly important, supposedly covert government agency. Give her stories that don’t involve Kara busting in to save the day. There used to be entire stories centered on Alex and J’onn at the DEO on Supergirl, where their skills would be tested and showcased to prove that Kara wasn’t the only one capable of stopping aliens. Why can’t we see more of those moments, this time focused on how Alex handles the situation as the person in charge?
‘Supergirl’ season 5
In short, I just want to see more from Alex Danvers this season. Everyone else, for the most part, is being treated so wonderfully and has very interesting stories, but Alex is being excluded from that and feels more like a supporting character than the second most important character on the show. Give Alex everything and every story she deserves, and work to find a way to balance it with the other incredible stories that this amazing cast of characters are receiving.
Alex is more than a love interest, more than Supergirl ’s sidekick at the DEO, and more to many of these main characters than just another friend. She deserves more, and this season is failing her. Where are Alex’s individual stories?
Supergirl season 5 airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on The CW!
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