Supergirl season 6, episode 12 review: Azie Tesfai stuns in Guardian’s powerful origins

A new hero rose in this week’s remarkable episode of Supergirl season 6.

Supergirl is no stranger to powerful episodes. In its six season run, it has delivered some truly remarkable installments that shine a light on a number of issues that just aren’t talked about enough. Its commitment to the causes it represents is one of the reasons that its devoted fans have adored it throughout all this time. For that reason, and so many more, it’s nice to see that hasn’t changed in its final season.

The second half of the season has seen that passionate strive for change reignited, with the majority of the episodes focusing on the communities and people of color that are often forgotten about. It also used its titular hero to highlight that, with Supergirl wanting to use her platform as National City and Earth’s primary protector to shine a light in places that people refuse to look.

The real force for change, however, is Kelly Olsen. That comes to forefront of the show in “Blind Spots” as a truly outstanding episode, co-written by Azie Tesfai herself, spotlights Kelly and her decision to take a stand against injustice, becoming the Guardian that will do just that… and so much more.

Here’s what went down in “Blind Spots”.

Supergirl season 6, episode 12 recap: Blind Spots

Following Nyxly’s escape in the closing moments of last week’s episode, this week’s decides to take us back in time to when the troublesome Imp destroyed the Ormfell. Just as the previous installment overlooked the damage that the building’s collapse had on the people, “Blind Spots” highlights that the Super Friends neglected to understand how those in The Heights were impacted by the building’s destruction and how the community isn’t getting the help that it needs from those who can give it.

Someone who doesn’t neglect to understand it? Kelly Olsen, of course, as she comes to the aid of Joey, Orlando and others in need. But she’s not as alone as her friends inadvertently make her feel because one phone call to her brother James brings Arrow‘s John Diggle to town. And together, the two bond over their own experiences of racism, making them vow to help those in need at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the Super Friends’ desire to find Nyxly blinds them to what’s really going on here, as it’s Kelly and Diggle who discover that the source of the Fifth-Dimensional energy making the victims of the attack sick is none other than Councilwoman Jean Ranking. The councilwoman had taken an experimental new drug that mixed with the residual Fifth-Dimensional energy in her body, allowing her manifest anything that she wanted – all while draining the power from the others who were injured in the Ormfell’s collapse.

Enough is enough for Kelly, who is understandably tired of fighting this relentless fight, as she emotionally voices her anger and disappointment at her friends for missing the community of people who desperately need their help. And this is what ultimately forces her to take a stand, becoming the next Guardian – because, yes, National City needs superheroes to stop stop the supervillains, but it also needs them on the ground to protect the people.

With the Super Friends backing her up, Guardian manages to use the magical orb to siphon Ranking’s stolen energy and return it to the injured, restoring their energy and renewing their faith. It marks the beginning of a battle that she vows to fight to the very end.

Supergirl season 6, episode 12 review: A Guardian of the people

We’ve talked about how Supergirl thrives off its powerful episodes, and “Blind Spots” is a shining example of that, with a strong script beautifully co-written by Azie Tesfai and J. Holtham that refuses to shy away from shining a spotlight on the racism and discrimination that still takes place under everyone’s noses. It also isn’t afraid to call out those who overlook it, expertly using Supergirl’s idealism to highlight that, even if your heart is in the right place, change can only be accomplished through action. That’s action that Kelly Olsen isn’t afraid to take in this episode.

The show has been slowly building Kelly up to become the next Guardian for some time now, with the back half of this final season focusing on her development more consistently than it ever has. It’s paid off too because Guardian didn’t just surface out of nowhere, she was born out of a series of thought-provoking and compelling storylines that drove Kelly to do what the people around her wouldn’t do: Care for the communities in need.

The evolution into that hero was accomplished really well, as she finally got the Super Friends to look and see what was going on as they arrived to support Guardian in her battle. However, it was important that Kelly be the one to ultimately defeat Councilwoman Ranking because, no matter how many capes joined the party, she was the hero here for saving those that nobody else would.

The best scene of the episode might just go to the closing one, in which Alex apologized for overlooking both the reality of the discrimination still happening in the world and how much her beloved Kelly was hurting because of it. It was a moving and authentic close to a genuinely powerful episode, reinforcing that, even with progress, work needs to be done.

Azie Tesfai was nothing short of remarkable – here and throughout the whole episode. Kelly is a character that could have easily been overlooked in the show’s final season, but the writers thankfully didn’t take that route in the back half, using her depth of character to make a statement. And Tesfai thrived with that material, showing us all just how phenomenal – an actress and writer – she is.

Super Sentiments

• David Ramsey’s direction did not go unnoticed. He once again proved why he’s become one of the Arrowverse’s most consistent directors, delivering an episode with some really fantastic camerawork.
• This Supergirl episode ends Ramsey’s multi-episode Arrowverse return (for now), as Diggle’s presence was also felt in episodes of Batwoman, The Flash and Superman and Lois (with Ramsey also appearing in DC’s Legends of Tomorrow as a different character). That said, it’s clear we’ll be seeing plenty of him in the future.
• Does Brainy know what the future holds for John? Being from the 31st Century does have its perks and that look after Diggle said “Worlds Await” seems to suggest that he’s aware of what’s next for Green Lantern.
• It was important that David Harewood also got a powerful moment in this episode and the conversation that J’onn had with Alex about feeling like an alien due to the color of the skin he chose to wear was very thought-provoking.
• It’s quite interesting to see Kelly and Brainy interact given that they’ve barely done so before and the conversation that the two shared was an incredibly moving one.
• Apparently Guardian and Spartan are now superhero besties and why haven’t we had this crossover yet?

Supergirl season 6 returns to The CW next Tuesday, September 28, at 9:00 p.m. ET.

What did you think of Supergirl season 6, episode 12? Let us know in the comments below!