SUPERGIRL - SEASON 5.14

REVIEW:  SUPERGIRL - SEASON 5.14:  "The Bodyguard"



After we had spent Episode 100 with Myxy trying to help our Girl of Steel come to grips with the fallout of her friendship with Lena, we now see what happens now that Kara has drawn the line in the sand, and put the ball BACK in Lena's court.  Will Lena actually stop and reconsider Kara's words, or will she just continue on with her project, knowing it's going to put her in the crosshairs of our heroine?  And in the background, mind you, is Lex and Lillian...pulling on her strings.  And in the shadows, another threat:  Leviathan.  Meanwhile...what will Alex's future be now that she's not a part of the DEO anymore?  Let's find out what's shaking in National City, shall we?


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As we check in on our Super Friends, we see Alex, Kara, and Nia out for a stroll, as the new ad for Obsidian Tech's VR lenses is playing on the video billboards, where they describe the lenses as being more realistic than before.  Alex describes the fact that now you can actually feel, eat, drink, and touch in this virtual reality.  Kara comments that it makes people seem detatched from the real world.  The conversation switches to Alex, who is now readjusting to life outside the DEO, and not sure what she's doing.  She feels naked without her sidearm.  Out of nowhere, she notices William coming up to them with coffee, and Nia and Alex nudge Kara about asking him out, but she's uncomfortable.  Kelly had just shown up as well to bring Alex lunch, and they take off.  William, Kara, and Nia make small talk for a minute, then he's off.  It all comes off as awkward.  

At Obsidian Tech/CatCo, Andrea is hyping up the release of the Obsidian Platinum Lenses that will be dropping at 9 pm tonight.  She gets into her elevator to head to her office, and out of nowhere, this pink energy siezes control of t he elevator and shortens the electrical out.  The elevator starts plummeting towards the ground.  However, she is rescued in the nick of time by Supergirl.  After the rescue, they find a manifesto that was sent to CatCo, indicating that bad things will happen if Andrea goes through with the release of the VR lenses.  Andrea says she will not bow down to fear, and the launch will go on as planned.

We check out Lena doing some experimenting with her Non Nocere Project using animals to see if she can get them to behave.  She finds success, as Lex walks in.  Her animal trials have worked well.  She tells Lex that she believes she's doing good work, and that what she's offering she believes will make humanity be the absolute best of themselves.  Lex prods her, and says that Supergirl and her friends are jaded, and don't share their vision.  He tells her that they're afraid the she will become like him--or their mother.  He does, however, provide her with good news:  he has arranged for human trials for her lenses at the prison they own.  He tells her they have willing participants for her experiment.  Just then, he gets a call from Brainy, and he takes off.

Arriving at the DEO, Lex is informed by Brainy that he has managed to invert Toyman's code into finding more about Leviathan.  Brainy says their origins are close to Krypton, so therefore they cannot get any injections into them.  Lex surmises that they would need THEIR version of some kind of Kryptonite, in order to get what they want.  Lex has been down that path, and it doesn't work.  Braiy says that they need to find their headquarters, but have no idea where it's at.  Lex finds an opportunity---by getting using the attack on Obsidian Tech earlier in the day to their advantage:  by having Supergirl be her bodyguard.  With Supergirl on hand to protect Andrea from potential attack, it will look good in the eyes of Jemma Cooper, and thus allow Lex to get closer to them.  Brainy surmises that the attacker might be Clorphyllian.  Lex calls Supergirl, and assigns her the task of protecting Andrea.  Supergirl isn't fond of this, but Lex uses his leverage by threatening her with exposing her secret ID.  She then takes off to ensure Andrea's safety.

Alex and J'Onn are back at the Tower, trying to piece together clues as to what Lex's big plans are, but are coming up empty.  J'Onn sees that Alex is struggling with her new reality, and offers her some advice.  She'll find her way, she just needs time.  Supergirl arrives, and she says that she's gotta play bodyguard to Andrea.  She also describes the energy that destroyed the elevator had pink energy.  It's suggested that it could be the  Clorphynians.  J'Onn dismisses it, and says that  they are a peaceful race, and they use their powers for agricultural purposes.  They will, however, work on who's behind the attack on Andrea, as Supergirl will be her bodyguard.  They'll also keep looking into Lex as well.  

Jemma Cooper shows up at Obsidian, and just happens to run into Lex.  Lex give his faux concern over the incident, and Jemma isn't really impressed, nor does she have the time for Lex.  Lex, however , offers a chance to earn Jemma's good graces:  Supergirl to be Andrea's bodyguard.  This way, they can keep their anonymity, and no one is the wiser, but Obsidian will be protected.  

Lena is with the warden of the prison, where they have volunteers to be a part of her project.  He tells her they're of various kinds of criminal.  She witnesses one prisoner, our old pal Steve, begin to get bullied by another inmate named Toby.  Toby is then haulted off, and Lena comforts Steve, and says that if she can make them all docile, she'll make it easier on him and some of the others.  She tells the warden that she wants to get to work.

Andrea arrives for the launch of Obsidian Platinum, but is surprised there is no press or people in attendance.  Supergirl says she cancelled the press conference, to ensure the safety of others.  Andrea says she refuses to bow down to fear, and just then, her friend Natalya shows up, and they begin to comiserate.  William shows up, and introduces himself to Supergirl, much to her surprise.  He's covering the event.  She fears for his safety, but he says that's part of the job.  And---like it or not---it's a huge event.

Alex and J'Onn check out a bar that has alien clientele, and ask the bartender if they know anything about a Chlorphylian, and he doesn't know, but points to a gentleman at the end of the bar.  They approach him about the info, and he's reluctant to cough up any information because Alex had previously roughed him up.  But they do eventually get what they need:  He had military grade tech, and can be found on a farm outside of highway 89,  Outside of that, he's got nothing else.  Alex apologizes and they leave, calling Brainy to find out the location of this Clorphyilian.  He says there's no information, and the farm had been liquidated.  Tracking down the location of the farm, Brainy finds out who owned it.  He discovers the location and who owns it.  But he his a quagmire, when he feels that he must betray Alex.  He calls upon one of his alters, and he informs him that he needs to continue working with Lex, and if it means betarying Alex, that's fine.  In order for the future to be secure, Brainy must continue to work with Lex.  He tells Brainy to do the math...the percentages are high if he continues to work with Lex to save the world, and preserve their future.  

Lena's experiment seems to have the desired effect.  After having been using the leneses, and then removing them.  Toby comes up and asks Steve if he wants to hang out and grab lunch.  Steve is so happy, he then tells Lena that she is a hero.  

Supergirl is doing her duty, overwatching Andrea, who is giving interviews about the launch of Obsidian.  William asks her about the manifesto.  Supergirl says that while she cannot condone the violent aspects of it, she DOES, in some way, agree with what the manifesto represents.  William talks of his time with Kara, doing simple things like playing games, and for him, the thought of getting away via VR, takes people, and detatches them from the real world.  Pink energy swirls, and it's Andrea's assassin, and Supergirl goes into rescue mode.  The assailant attacks, but Supergirl repels the energy blast headed for Andrea.  The assassin flees, and Supergirl checks in on Andrea.  She feels that it's best for Andrea to cancel the launch today because of the immenent threat.  And again, Andrea refuses to step back.  She discusses that the company is her father's legacy, and she aims to uphold all that she's worked for to protect it.  She admits to alienating friends, and even some questionable things to help her father's company grow, and she would do it all over again....and Supergirl takes her to her next appearance.

Lena observes her work at the prison, and everyone seems docile.  Toby comes up to Steve, and asks him out it's going, but Steve all of the sudden gets a panic attack, and then eventually tries to punch Toby, but to no avail.  He passes out, and when he awakes, he tells Lena that he's been afraid for so long, and it's because of that, that he wanted to thit Toby for all those years oppression.   He wants to know WHY she didn't fix HIM.  Lena apologizes, and will see what she can do.     

Alex and J'Onn make it out to the farmhouse on Highway 89, and start checking out what's in there, they discover the blueprints to gauntlets that can control the Clorphyilian power.  Just then, the assassin shows up, and attacks J'Onn and Alex.  A fire starts, and J'Onn goes to subdue the perpetrator, only to have his powers stripped, and he's knocked out.  The assassin then takes off, leaving Alex and J'Onn to burn in the barnhouse.  At this moment, Supergirl is with Andrea, as she's about to open up the store to all the customers for the launch of the Obisidian Platinum Lenses.  Supergirl then hears Alex's cries for help, and she grabs Andrea and takes off.  She drops Andrea off at the DEO, and heads out to the barnhouse to rescue Alex and J'Onn.  She puts out the fire, and both are saved.  With Andrea safe at the DEO, the trio then begin looking for clues as to who the assailant is.  

Lena is getting frustrated because of the setback with the Non Nocere, and she didn't account for the years of abuse that Steve had taken, and thus his building rage within.  She's begun to thave doubts, and that she's diluting herself into thinking she's doing the right thing, and saving humanity.  Lex immediately goes into spin mode, and relays to her how he had let his obsession with Superman nearly destroy him.  But now he has been given a second chance to be a better person, and make the world a better place.  He says that it also means a second chance to work with her.  The last thing she wants to do is take away people's free will.  He says that she is helping them, and that they will figure it out.  With that, he takes over where she's left off, to try and help solve her problem.

Alex is once again feeling helpless.  She believes that maybe leaving the DEO was a mistake, and that it was the one thing that propped her up.  Again, he tells her that patience is required, and that it's a process.  At this moment, Supergirl finds a clue - the owner of the farm:  Todd Sapphire.  He apparently became addictied to VR, and sought retaliation against it.  There is also a suicide note.  He apparently killed himself a year ago.  They put the clues together, and discover that his wife Amy is the culprit behind the assassination attempts on Andrea.

Speaking of Amy, she has arrived at Obsidian, and yells at everyone to run if they don't want to die.  She then uses the powers of the gauntlets to begin destroying the building.  William is caught in the crossfire, but Supergirl arrives in time to save him.  She goes to fight Amy, but, like J'Onn, she loses her powers.  Dreamer shows up to assist, but Amy disappears into the elctrical systems, and starts causing blackouts across the city.  The building is also now catching fire.  Kelly tries to appeal to her to stop, but Amy is relentless.  J'Onn begins evacuating the staff.  Back at the DEO, Andrea demands to go back to her building for the launch, but finds out they're under attack.  Brainy is looking to access the failsafe to take the building offline.  Andrea wants to go, but Brainy has her tucked away in one of the cells.  She's angry for not being let go, and at that point, her shadow powers activate, and she vanishes through the wall, and into her building.  

Amy is about to bring the house down, and Supergirl tries one last ditch effort to save the day, by reaching Amy.  She says she understands that the VR can be an addiction, but asks Amy is this what Todd wanted?  She says she truly understands.  Amy finally sees the light, and she relents on her attack.  Amy says she misses her husband daily.  In the aftermath, as Andrea surveys the damage, Supergirl suggests that she hold off on the rollout, and Andrea says that people went into their VR lenses as Amy was making her attack.  She was actually a hero tonight.  Supergirl's heard THAT diatribe before.  Andrea heads to her office, and cracks open her safe, finding the medallion she took all those years ago.  She reads the inscription on it, and her shadow powers activate yet again, and she disappears.  

J'Onn and Alex are at the tower, and he gives her props for handling herself out there during this fracas.  However, they still have no new leads on Lex.  But on the GOOD side, J'Onn presents Alex with a gift.  A Martian weapon that can mimic any weapon she wants.  

Lena has given Steve the Non Nocere to ease his mind.  For the first time in a long time, all his pent up rage and fear are gone.  He feels safe and content.  He wonders how she did it, but she gives the credit to Lex.  He calls Lena a hero.  Lena hopes that someday, there will be no heroes.  

Alex and Kara talk, and she shows Kara the weapon J'Onn gave her, and he needs to teach her how to use it.  The topic of William comes up, and Alex calls Kara out on her avoidance.  Kara knows she's right, and she figures that ONE date won't hurt.  She goes to see him, and formally asks him out on a date.  

Lex comes into the DEO to congratulate Brainy on his work, but Brainy is upset with Lex.  When he needed to get access to the failsafe to save the city, Lex was not available for assistance.  He knows that people could've been killed out there, and Lex mildly passes it off as a few people misplaced, and maybe a few houses burning, but nothing serious.  Besides, he said, Supergirl saved the day.  Brainy wonders if she couldn't---but Lex reiterates that she DID.

Lex is late for his meeting with Jemma, and she isn't fond of it.  But he says that Andrea is okay, Supergirl saved the day, and all is well.  Jemma isn't impressed with how things were handled.  He said the result was the same, just handled with a little pinache'.  Best of all, her name, and that of her friends, were kept out of it.  He feels they can be GREAT friends. He can also be an excellent ambassador for Obsidian Tech. She wants him to get to the point.  He spells it out:  he wants to meet HER friends.  She says that if he behaves, and is a nice boy, she will.        


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This episode seemed a little flat coming off the 100th episode.  WE didn't get A LOT of Supergirl action here, and she had to rely on her ability to give compassion in order to take down the villain of the week.  The villain DID have an axe to grind with Andrea, and it took this little crisis for Andrea's shadow powers to finally emerge.  Now we'll see what she will DO with them down the road, now that she knows she HAS them.  Another villain for Supergirl and the Super Friends to handle.  There was just A LOT of exposition in this one.  While the action was next to nil, and rather "Meh", the plot was taken a couple of steps further...which I'll take, even if the Supergirl action this week sucked.

Lex is VERY good at manipulation---mostly with Lena.  Despite her intelligence, and somewhat wariness of Lex, he's has still played on her doubts about using what she knows to make her project a reality.  She continues down her path of darkness, even though she gets a moment of doubt, when she realizes she might be controlling people with the lenses.  However, Lex is quick to stamp that out, by building her up, making sure she continues her project to ensure that everyone else is subdued.  He also is working his puppeteering overtime on Jemma Cooper, by worming his way into her confidence, so he can get a meeting with Leviathan.  But, Jemma isn't fooled by Lex, and is doing her OWN puppeteering on HIM.  Lex has no idea what he's up against, but it will come to light before the end of the season.  

Another person who feels extremely justified with what she's doing is Andrea.  It's bad enough she's a horrible boss, but the fact that she cared only to make sure Obsidian launched is more important that someone's feelings.  She has sacrificed everything for her father, as he did for her when he built the company.  People retreated into their VR fantasies during a major crisis, and it helped them cope---according to HER.  Now SHE feels that she's the hero of the day.  Plus, with her now having her shadow powers activated, we'll see how far that takes her, or will it take her down by season's end.

Alex is adjusting to civilian life---and she HATES it.  She doesn't feel purpose---even though she did her part this episode by saving J'Onn, and she was rewarded.  I am curious as to what Alex's role will be from here on in.  Right now, she almost feels useless...so I can understand where she's coming from.  She is Kara's anchor in the storm, and biggest support system outside of J'Onn...but with her abilities, she needs to be MORE.  Maybe SHE can wear the Guardian armor?  Just a thought....

Kara dealt with frustration at having to play bodyguard this week,and being powerless against the villain, who really wasn't a villain.  Amy is a tragic character who went to extremes to get revenge on Andrea for her VR lenes, that caused her husband to become addicted, and kill himself.  It took Kara's understanding of how BAD these VR lenses are, to convince Amy not to kill anyone or destroy anything.  She pulled out that compassion card that every superhero has---and it worked.  It managed to save the day.

As for her asking William out on a date---can't say I'm a FAN of this couple, and I DON'T think it will last, but for now, we gotta see how the cards play out.  PLUS...I WANT to see them begin to put the picture and story together to bring Lex down for good.  We need more movement on that front.  And it needs to be done in a way where Kara's double life isn't exposed.  I want to see them look for clues, investigate, and start putting the pieces together.  Have to find some time for balance.  

Brainy is having a hard time working with Lex...especially when he knows, deep down, that he's being double crossed in a way.  I feel he's beginning to have doubts about working with Lex, despite his alternates saying that he MUST to save the world.  Problem is:  it was THEIR worlds that fell for NOT working with Lex.  There is NO GUARANTEE that THIS Earth falls beause he worked against Lex.  Plus...just what WAS their worlds like?  These other versions of Braniac have me suspicious.  

That's what we got out of this episode.  Lemme know what YOU think!  Subscribe, leave a comment, and definitely tell your friends about us.  

PS - Congrats to Chris Wood and Melissa Benoist on the pregnancy of their first child!

Until next time...Up, Up, and AWAY!