Taking Flight: SUPERGIRL 206 "Changing"

This week's episode of SUPERGIRL explores a very deep topic about discovering the truth behind feelings that were purposely suppressed out of fear. Also, an energy sucking parasite.

***SPOILERS AHEAD***

We start off with a team of scientists doing work on climate change when they discover a dead wolf with an unusual lesion. As it's investigated a parasitic creature infects the lead scientist. The DEO finds him alive and after some questioning, Hank reluctantly lets him go to continue his research.

It isn't long until we discover that the parasite is slowly taking over.

We get a very touching moment between Alex and Kara, when Alex tries explaining that she's gay. There is so much that could've gone wrong but the showrunners did a very good job to ensure they got the scene right. And Chyler Leigh (Alex) is doing an amazing job as she is saddled with the unenviable task of portraying a character who is struggling with her sexuality. I love how they depict Kara's distance as her seemingly not being okay with it, when in reality she just wasn't sure how to continue the conversation.

Kara understands what it's like to keep a part of herself, a part that she's unsure of, shut out from the world.

Winn stands up for himself! James learns of Kara's injuries and storms into the DEO headquarters looking to help. Winn quickly shows him out before James could ruin any chance of keeping his plan, of putting on a suit and being a hero, a secret. James demands to have the suit immediately, so he can help, but Winn refuses to be spoken down to. Refusing to accept that he's an assistant, taking orders with his tail tucked between his legs, he demands James be patient and show him more respect.

When Winn finally gives him the suit, James delivers a line of dialogue that instills confidence in Winn that he's doing the right thing by allowing him to proceed. They both know that this will fundamentally change James Olsen going forward. James insists that it isn't changing him...it's allowing him to embrace who he's always been.

James and Winn share a nice moment at the end of the episode, reasoning with each other as to why they should keep it a secret from Kara. They understand that they'll have to reveal the truth to her eventually, but not until they can prove their worth. The 'Super Friends' are here to stay!

Kara tries explaining to Mon-El how to use his powers to help people, while looking for work to integrate himself into the human population. Unfortunately they have two very different perspectives on how to go about doing it. Recognizing the cultural divide between their two races, the two of them engage in verbal barbs which only hinders their growing friendship.

When J'onn and Kara trick Parasite into revealing himself, it doesn't go so well. They are quickly defeated as Parasite only needs to lay a hand on them to drain them of their energy. While Kara has the ability to regenerate via lamps that imitate the sun's rays, J'onn is losing blood. Realizing there is only one donor candidate in the entire known universe, Alex seeks out M'gan for help. Unfortunately she's not aware that M'gan has been keeping a secret that would enrage J'onn J'onzz if he ever learned of it.

For a shapeshifter, she's not who she leads everyone to believe she is.

While everyone scrambles to develop a plan to stop Parasite and save the lives of Kara and J'onn, Mon-El is busy feeling sorry for himself. Unsure of who he is and what is needed of him he tells Alex to go find someone else to believe in. When he hears that it was Kara who believed in him, he decides to take up arms against the Parasite. Unfortunately, because he lacks the proper training he quickly finds himself out matched.

That's when 'Guardian' steps in to save him from being Parasites next victim.

James Olsen's transformation into the hero known as 'Guardian' was much better than I anticipated. The lead suit keeps Supergirl's x-ray vision at bay and the shield serves a purpose. No longer a sappy love interest for Kara, James finally seems to have found a place in this world. Because secrets don't last very long on the CW, don't be surprised if Kara learns of his identity before the big 4 episode crossover coming later this month.

The final showdown between Supergirl and Parasite is the typical ending for the alien creature. With a plan to overfeed Parasite's gluttonous desire for power, she allows him one last chance to change his ways. Ignoring her pleas, he continues to pursue her and she counters his attack with plutonium. Showing remorse in advance of what fate will befall the creature, she apologizes before he explodes into a burst of energy.

Going back to Alex's personal story, after 'coming out' to Kara, she seeks out Maggie Sawyer to tell her about it. Maggie expresses her joy in seeing Alex embrace who she is, but wasn't quite expecting Alex to follow up with a kiss. This is where the complications of discovering your sexuality become an amplified mess. Maggie doesn't share the same feelings for Alex. So now that Alex finally felt free to express herself, she ultimately becomes humiliated and is now emotionally lost.

The moment she shares with Kara is so moving and powerful at the end of the episode, that you'd have to be a special kind of heartless to not feel her pain and share in her sadness.

SUPERGIRL episode 206 "Changing" spun a well thought out tale of discovering who you are on the inside, while having the power to embrace it. The characters were all tackling a theme that remained consistent, however different from one another.