Supergirl season 4, episode 19 review: American Dreamer

David Harewood makes his directorial debut with the season’s most emotionally resonant episode. As Supergirl lays low, it’s up to Dreamer to protect National City.

Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) has temporarily hung up her cape to ensure that President Baker and Ben Lockwood’s marshal law doesn’t harm aliens. In her absence, Nia Nal (Nicole Maines) has taken on the mantle of National City’s protector. As Dreamer, she has her work cut for her.

Meanwhile, Brainaic-5 (Jesse Rath) is on a mission to help James Olsen (Mehcad Brooks) who is suffering from the side effects of Harun-El. With David Harewood in the director’s chair, this episode of Supergirl will resonate with many on an emotional and political level.

Kara Danvers, Hero-at-Large

In the previous episode of Supergirl, Kara realized that under the current state that the country is in, she would do better as a journalist hunting for Lex than as Supergirl. In this episode, she combines her investigative skills with her power to inspire.

Kara doesn’t need a cape to help people – it’s always the little things that make her such a compelling character. Kara’s ability to accept her failings, see beyond her myopia, and her inherent generosity are the reason why the world needs Supergirl. She is desperate to protect Lena Luthor (Katie McGrath), but encourages her friend’s trust in her by her actions.

The scene between Lena and Kara was packed with emotion and did so much for Lena’s characterization. Seeing female friends in popular media is not as uncommon anymore, but seeing these two characters bond as sisters again was a highlight in this episode. And it all leads to them discovering a part of Lex’s plan. Trust really does go both ways.

Some Characterization for the Olsen Siblings

Now that James knows his condition is more than just PTSD, he has turned to Lena to help solve the problem. But Lena hits a dead end, so Brainy steps in with a plan to uncover the source of James’ trauma using a mind palace. What he ends up uncovering is a truth that James has buried deep down. How will this affect his relationship with his sister, Kelly (Azie Tesfai)?

Supergirl — “American Dreamer” — Image Number: SPG419b_0265b.jpg — Pictured (L-R): Jesse Rath as Brainiac-5 and Mehcad Brooks as James Olsen/Guardian — Photo: Diyah Pera/The CW — © 2019 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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James has been shortchanged for far too long on Supergirl, and an emotional, personal story arc for him is a fitting way to honor a character that has been around for a very long time in the comic books. This entire episode hinged on the actors accurately capturing the depths of their character’s emotional states, and Harewood brought out the best in all of them. Seeing Brooks capture James’ struggle to face his own personal nightmare was distressing yet cathartic. It will be interesting to see how the showrunners use Harun-El in the rest of James’ arc henceforth. But seeing James back in his authoritative form in the climactic fight was spine-tingling.

Nia Nal, the Hero We Need

Nia Nal is a gem. Nicole Maines plays her with a passion and effervescence that is so often missing in superhero fare, especially with regards to female characters. Nia loves being a hero, and she does it with plenty of style. It is fantastic how the showrunners have embraced this character and how important she is. Step aside Supergirl, Dreamer can make some inspiring speeches of her own.

In this episode, we get to see how Nia manifests her Dreamer powers, as well as her penchant for punchlines. Yet Dreamer isn’t comic relief. She struggles with the enormity of the task at hand, and when given the chance, lays bare her soul. Nia is so relatable and likeable, and the fact that now National City and the whole world of Supergirl know that there’s a trans alien-human hero to protect them, that fictional world is one step closer to acceptance.

Super Sentiments

• Despite being at odds with each other during their initial encounter, Kelly and Alex Danvers (Chyler Leigh) have bonded well. In this episode, especially, it seemed like Kelly was able to get a lot of strength from Alex championing her cause. Are the showrunners hinting something more about their connection? Not every relationship needs to be romantic, but these two seem to be headed that way.
• The parallels on this show regarding hate crimes and systemic bias was especially hard-hitting in this episode. Giving Ben Lockwood, of all people, carte blanche over alien rights, is almost disturbing to watch given the kind of news that arises from the U.S. everyday.
• Speaking of Lockwood, the denouement suggests things are going to go from bad to worse for aliens. What happened to the Lockwood family is unforgivable (and probably the only negative in the episode), but one can guarantee that the backlash against aliens will be tantamount to anti-immigrant sentiment and Islamophobia that we see in the real world everyday.

David Harewood and writers Daniel Beaty, Jessica Kardos, and Dana Horgan all deserve a round of applause for making one of the most memorable episodes of Supergirl. Imminently quotable with powerful messages about togetherness and hope, this episode is one for the ages. It’s hard to imagine how this show will ever top this season, but if there’s one thing Supergirl has taught us, it’s that we should never lose hope.