The episode had some enjoyable moments, Brainy is adorable and charming in ways that Mon-el never was and he is a great addition to the cast, and his interaction with Nia was adorable. Nia is also an amazing character and her relationship with Kara is great, and it's lovely to see such mentorship (which again, completely failed with Mon-el in season 2).
Where the episode fails, and has done so all season and last season too, is James, and his relationship with Lena. I Loved James in season 1. While he had absolutely zero chemistry with Kara, he was a very likable character and was a great example of how someone can be a hero, even if it isn't through superpowers and I loved that they chose a MOC to portray him. Then the whole Guardian thing started and man, they missed their mark. James being Guardian could have worked really well, they could have shown what a human who is not a 'super soldier' like Oliver Queen, can do in a universe full of superpowered individuals, but they didn't and then they visibly have no idea what to do with his character so he continues to waste valuable screentime. Before, he refused to give Lena the benefit of the doubt for having a bad family, but now he does to Agent Liberty even though he is a raging xenophobe. Why?? Also, why would Lena want to be with him?? As with most of its romantic relationships, the show fails to show why they are interested in each other (especially with Lena's side) and instead tells it to us through other characters telling a woman she likes a man (they've done the same with Kara and Mon-el). The whole relationship seems to be pulled out of thin air to give the characters something to do that is not organic at all. They have their female characters say feminist lines ('i stand behind no man' 'i am no damsel in distress, i am supergirl, and i will handle it') and then continue to act the opposite, and let the men in their lives pull BS and then just accept it. This is a disgrace. James says Lena is his co-pilot yet fails to respect her, and by the way, how is it that last season he told Lena to step down because she might have, accidentally, did something to shine negative light on CatCo, yet he has no problem doing it when it's him, and just chases his own ego?
I loved James as the character he used to be, but now he is just a waste of time and I roll my eyes everytime he is o screen, and I am sad to say I'd rather have him leave the show than continue to steal screentime from characters who could use it much better. And as for Lena, she does have some good stories, and it saddens me to see her to be forced into such a silly relationship and being reduced from the BAMF feminist powerhouse she is for the sake of giving James something to do, and for the show to wave a big shining NO HOMO sign because fans are shipping her with Kara. I get that they are not going to go there (a shame, if you ask me) but they could just let the characters be themselves instead of dumping them in relationships with random men who are clearly inferior.
And honestly, the show tackling the xenophobia topic in such a tone-deaf way in today's political climate is is incredibly disappointing. They have a black character helping out and trying to patiently show a dangerous xenophobe he is wrong...Agent Liberty is clearly the equivalent of a white supremacist and James is at his back and call? Really?? God, they really need to start to think these things through.
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