Every week, Fangirlish writers will be discussing new episodes of Supergirl and sharing their thoughts, feelings, and speculation about the hour’s hot topics in a little something we like to call Fangirlish Roundtables.
Today, we’re breaking down episode 13 of Supergirl, “For the Girl Who Has Everything” where we discuss Kara’s journey into her dream world, J’Onn J’Onzz getting a little taste of being Cat Grant’s assistant, and whether Alex was justified in killing Astra and how her lying will affect her and Kara moving forward.
What were your overall thoughts on “For the Girl Who Has Everything?”
ALYSSA
This was an episode that proved to be a pleasant surprise for me. I feared that this episode would be all about exploring Krypton and such without any significant storyline, but this episode was able to really dig deep emotionally on several occasions. Once again Supergirl proves that family is its greatest strength as we saw Kara reunited her own in this dream world and saw her other family back in reality fighting to save her life. There was also a lot of set-up for the remainder of the season with Astra’s death, Non’s sole power as leader, and Alex lying to Kara about being the one who killed Astra that is really setting the stage for what’s to come. Supergirl is a show that has vastly improved since its pilot and evolved into something that is truly inspiring.
LIZZIE
Supergirl is that one show that, when I’m not watching it, I think it’s good but not great, and then when I’m in the middle of an episode, I just get very into, completely forget my reservations. Sure, the rational side of me can come up with things that would make it better, storylines I dislike, or character development that’s needed, but all in all, I really, really enjoy the show.
This episode was no different. My favorite part of Supergirl has always been the Alex/Kara dynamic. I have a younger sister, and I felt what Alex was feeling all through this episode, that desperate need to do something – anything. If only for that, this would have been an enjoyable episode, but add to that the increasing focus on the family that you choose, and this week’s Supergirl was one of my favorite episodes this show has done to date.
LYRA
I thought it was another punch in the gut for Kara and I loved it. Not that those two are mutually exclusive. I don’t want her to be in pain but for the development of her character it’s brilliant! She’s been struggling with the thought of her family since the start, particularly her Kryptonian family. This episode taught her that wishing doesn’t change things. Her family on Krypton is gone and she needs to let that go. Her focus should be, and will be from now, on her family on Earth. This episode also showed Kara that her enemies are cruel. They will use the things she holds dearest against her, even people that are dead. It’s time for Kara to change aka become a little more hardened in a misguided attempt to protect herself.
Kara was thrown into her dream world once that Black Mercy attacked her. She fought it for a while, but why do you think Kara eventually gave into this faux reality?
ALYSSA
This is the life that Kara could’ve had so of course it was appealing to explore. And the more that Kara got to experience it – filled with all of the love and support from her family – the more she wanted it to be her reality. That’s all it took for Kara to get lost in this world and for her to forget her real reality. I understand why Kara chose to accept it. When her family was killed and she was sent away as a little girl her entire world was rocked. She lost a part of herself. And then there’s that constant thinking of “what if?” that is always in the back of Kara’s head. It’s not because she doesn’t love her family on Earth, but her family back on Krypton was tragically ripped away from her at such a young age. Then there’s the whole living in bliss in a dream world is a lot harder than accepting the pain of your real life. But that’s what makes life worth living – the pain that you experience but knowing that there are people in your life that are there to catch you and build you back up.
LIZZIE
Because it was good? It’s easy to fight when you’re in a bad place, but when you have people who love you, when you’re living the life you always thought you’d get to live? That’s much harder. Especially because, like Kara said, lately, with all her Winn/James issues and after that whole mess with Cat, she was really and truly feeling out of sorts. Kara didn’t feel like she belonged, and then, she opened her eyes and she was in Krypton, where she’s always belonged. I don’t blame her for giving in. I commend her for getting out.
LYRA
Kara gave into the faux reality because the reappearance of her aunt reignited her desire to be with her family. She’s been on Earth long enough to go through the motions of missing her family. It was still inside of her but she’d worked hard enough where it didn’t plague her every waking moment. But then here comes her Aunt to muck things up. All of a sudden everything she’d buried deep down comes surging up to punch her in feelz! Throw on top of that the news that her mom was warned about Kryptons possible destruction and how she imprisoned her sister, and you’ve got a recipe for inner turmoil! Kara was an easy mark for the Black Mercy. If not for her sister she would have died and never come back. Not because she was weak but because she was happy.
Alex fought hard and tirelessly to bring Kara back into her life – even vowing not to return from Kara’s consciousness without her. What were your thoughts on Alex’s determination in this episode?
ALYSSA
Alex Danvers is one hell of a soldier but an even better sister. Her love for Kara knows literally no bounds and she’s willing to risk her life to protect her. This relationship is hands down my favorite on the show, and it’s because of the deep love and respect between the two. Alex has proven time and time again that she’s the unsung hero on this show – and the titular hero’s hero, as J’Onn J’Onzz pointed out. One of the things I love about Alex is that when it comes to Kara there’s literally no hesitation when it comes to protecting her. Running head-on into danger? No problem. Subjecting yourself to your sister’s consciousness and putting your life in danger in the process? Worth it. And the thing is that this relationship goes both ways. We’ve seen Kara do the same for Alex in the past and will continue to see it. And we’ve seen Alex risk her life to save Kara before and will continue to. They’re sisters. Alex might not always have appreciated Kara when she was younger, but that’s why you have to grow up and mature. And there is no bond on this show like the one between Kara and Alex.
LIZZIE
This was, without a doubt, my favorite part of the episode. I especially liked the glimpse at how Alex felt when Kara arrived in her life, because that is real, it’s exactly how a teenage girl would feel in her place. That she grew to love Kara, to consider her family, speaks to the relationship they managed to develop after. And now, in the present, it’s clear that Alex sees Kara as just her sister, period. No qualifications. And Alex would do anything, sacrifice anything, for family. Wouldn’t we all?
LYRA
I think it was a little over the top. She kept on saying that she was a bad sister to Kara when she first arrived on Earth. The problem is she’s not selling it and I’m not seeing evidence of this ‘bad sister’ behavior. From what I’ve seen Alex has loved her sister dearly. They had a couple moments in flashbacks but nothing serious enough for me to go, “Wow, what a horrible sister.” Kara probably doesn’t think she was a horrible sister. She’s understanding enough to know and see that she put her new sister in a difficult situation. Alex is looking back at all her interactions with Kara negatively because she feels like she is failing to protect her sister since becoming Supergirl. I can’t wait until she shakes that off and realizes that Kara is her own woman who loves her unconditionally…well until she finds out that she killed her Aunt. A storm is coming because of that decision!
J’Onn J’Onzz had to pose as Kara at CatCo for a little bit. What were your thoughts on him believing he could easily work as Cat’s assistant and what pursued?
ALYSSA
In an episode that was so serious we really needed some humor to fill the space, and throwing an overconfident J’Onn J’Onzz to the wolves, so to speak, was a great way to do it. When you hear the word assistant you probably don’t think too much of that job – how hard could it be? Damn hard. And if you’re Cat Grant’s assistant really damn hard, as J’Onzz learned. But J’Onzz really got the brunt of it considering that Kara had just broken her son’s heart in the previous episode so she wasn’t her usual less-angry self towards Kara. The fact that J’Onzz was missing his alien prison at one point in comparison to this was hilarious. Cat Grant can break anyone.
LIZZIE
I thought it was a good way to bring some lightness into the episode. Just like a man who’s never been in that position to think that Kara’s job is easy. No, Kara’s job is not easy, not even a little bit, and the fact that he had so many problems with it probably means he’ll have a deeper respect and appreciation for what being not just Supergirl, but Kara Danvers means, from now.
LYRA
It was hilariously insightful. I think he’s always frowned at Kara’s day job. He saw it as an extension of the false life that she was trying to create for herself. I also think he thought it was an easy job. How hard could it actually be to take care of Cat Grant’s need? Well, really hard he comes to realize almost instantly. Kara’s life at CatCo is a part of her life. It’s not an extension of a play thing for her to waste time. Her position grounds her and makes her feel like a normal girl and it’s important. (Heck maybe J’Onn will now go out and try to get a life of him. Maybe stop separating himself so widely from the people of his new home.) Working for Cat is also really hard. Emphasis on the really. He was cursing being there in no time! After his time as Kara I think he’ll give her a little leeway and respect her dedication to her job.
Alex made the difficult decision of killing Astra in this episode, and J’Onzz immediately covered for her. Was she justified and how do you see this affecting her moving forward with Kara? Will it be a non-issue?
ALYSSA
I believe this has the potential to be an issue although I’m not necessarily convinced it will be. Of course anytime lying is involved between two people that love and trust each other it’s hard not to believe that something won’t happen, especially when this episode made it a point that Alex is conflicted in keeping this secret and J’Onzz is covering for her. But this is television — drama, no doubt — so a part of me does expect this entire thing to blow up because of a lie that shouldn’t have been instigated in the first place.
With that said, Alex is completely justified in killing Astra. With J’Onzz’s life on the line there was really no choice for Alex to make. It was J’Onzz, a good man, or Astra, a bad woman (for the most part). Alex made the right decision. Was it difficult? Of course. But it was the right decision for Alex to make.
LIZZIE
Every time I think things will end up being a big deal in this show, they somehow aren’t. I think it’s mostly because of the tone, this is not a big drama show – even things that would linger on other shows tend to get resolved quickly and much more easily than we’d expect here. That being said, I do think Kara will be at least a bit upset that Alex lied. Astra was fighting a war, and there are casualties in war. I think that part Kara can understand. The lie, however, and coming from her sister? That one’s much more complicated.
LYRA
Oh it’s going to be a mega issue that’s going to tear them apart and cause all the tears. Alex killing Astra was justified. She was going to kill J’Onzz and she was vastly superior to both of them in strength. If she didn’t take out Astra they would have both died before Kara got there. Now the big mistake came when J’Onzz covered for her. Why cover? If anything Kara would have understood. She would have been mad for a little bit but she would’ve respected that her sister and friend could have died at the hand of her family. Kara might have even felt a little guilt at bringing Astra into her sisters life.
Lying to Kara was the wrong move. Now Alex is going to feel this weight on her shoulders anytime the other Kryptonians come up or when they talk about Astra. It’s going to eat her up until Kara starts noticing that her sister is more quiet and withdrawn than usual. Kara will find out eventually and we’ll see that hiding the truth will hurt more than anything. She’ll question why they hid it from her and if this is the family she wants to work with from now on. Storm is coming!
At the end of the episode Kara mentioned that while she dreamed of her old world as her “dream world” that Alex, Winn, and James are her family. What did you think of what she said?
ALYSSA
To be honest I hadn’t even really thought of how Kara essentially chose her old life as the life she’d most want to live over her life on Earth. I’d just always assumed that Kara carried her family and that tragedy with her every day, as well as the possibility of what could’ve been, which led to her getting to explore that in her dream world. And what she told her friends made sense – Kara had been feeling lost for these past couple of weeks – as she had when she first arrived on Earth – and so she yearned for Krypton and her family. But this life is good in that you aren’t limited to just one family. These are people that truly and deeply care for and support Kara in what she does, and she in turn does the same for them. They might not be blood, but make no mistake this is a damn accurate representation of family.
LIZZIE
I found it to be so poignant and so …well, true. Family is what you’re born with, yes, but sometimes, it isn’t. Sometimes family is more than that. Family is the people you choose to have by your side, the people who have your back in good times and bad times. Kara lost one family, and she found another, and that doesn’t mean that one is better than the other, it just means she’s lucky to have found so many people who care. And I think she knows this. She appreciates it. That’s why she came back.
LYRA
I understand Alex and Winn being her family. Alex is her adoptive sister and Winn has been her friend for years. Best friend even. The real problem emerges when you get to James. How is James being included in this ‘family’? During the last scene I felt like he was an interloper hanging out with Kara’s actual family. As of now he’s just a guy she kind of likes and that no understands why. James is handsome, no denying that, but what else is there? Where is the connection with…anyone on the show? Where is this bond that makes him part of her family? Most importantly, where is his girlfriend??? I’ve got a major problem with his making heart eyes at Kara while still with Lucy. Break up with her and then we’ll talk James.
What are your thoughts on “For the Girl Who Has Everything?” Sound off in the comments to keep the discussion going!
Join us for another Supergirl roundtable next Sunday.
Supergirl airs Mondays at 8/7c on CBS.