Into The Arrowverse: Supergirl celebrates its 100th episode!
By Ariba Bhuvad
Pictured (L-R): Thomas Lennon as Mxyzptlk, Melissa Benoist as Kara/Supergirl and Nicole Maines as Nia Nal/Dreamer — Photo: Katie Yu/The CW
Supergirl Episode 513: “It’s a Super Life”
Congratulations to Supergirl for hitting the 100th episode mark this week! It’s a huge accomplishment in this day and age for a superhero show to come this far, especially since the series first premiered on CBS and then made the switch to The CW. And we’re so glad it did, since it belongs with the rest of the Arrowverse family!
In honor of the 100th episode, Supergirl brought back fan favorite character (and Melissa Benoist’s real-life husband), Mon-El (Christopher Wood). It was nice to see the gang back together again just in time for one of the silliest yet most profound episodes we’ve gotten from the series to date.
There was something about the episode that just stood out. It was simple, but it dove deep into Kara’s life as Supergirl, and how certain decisions paved the path she eventually took.
This episode reflects heavily on her and Lena’s friendship, and the regrets she harbors for not sharing her secret with Lena sooner. But it’s through the journey with Mister Mxyzptlk (Thomas Lennon) that Supergirl learns she can’t change what has happened. Thanks to Mister Mxyzptlk’s powers, Kara is able to forgive herself.
Mister Mxyzptlk shows up out of regret for trying to force Kara to marry him back in season 2, and to make up for it, he gives Kara the option of going back in time and telling Lena about her Supergirl secret earlier. This offer is hilarious because we get to revisit some of Supergirl’s biggest, best moments. It’s a sentimental way of celebrating 100 episodes.
If Kara revisits a memory and likes how it pans out with Lena, Mister Mxyzptlk will make that reality true. But it’s not as easy as it looks and almost always ends up in some sort of chaotic mess. In fact, during one of the back-in-time visits, Mister Mxyzptlk and Supergirl find themselves stuck in a very gloomy, dire reality.
You see, Kara didn’t know at what moment in her and Lena’s past would have been the best one for her to share her secret. Ultimately, every scenario Supergirl tries ends up failing or ending up worse than it was originally. So she thinks to herself: what if she and Lena were never friends?
Uh, well, that was a reality no one wanted to see, and it’s the one that finally gives Kara clarity. It’s in this reality that Kara reunites temporarily with Mon-El, alongside the usual crew.
The only way for them to get out of this reality is for Mister Mxyzptlk to use his powers, which unfortunately he is stripped of temporarily. Luckily, getting their hands on a Fifth Dimension hat allows for him to get the powers back and restore things back to the present timeline. Mon-El might not be a part of it, but it was sure nice to see Wood back!
Kara’s journey through the episode finally makes her realize one thing: she made a mistake and she can’t just go changing it. It’s what happened, and she has to fully embrace it, no matter the consequences. It prompts a visit to Lena, and quite possibly the best scene Supergirl has ever had.
She confronts Lena as firmly as she can and tells her that she can’t be held responsible for Lena’s actions anymore. If Lena wants to be her friend, she’ll always be there for her, but if Lena continues to work with evil brother Lex, then Supergirl will go to the ends of the Earth to stop them.
Mic. drop.
This is such a powerful moment for Kara because it illustrates how far she has come. In fact, I might say she caught on quicker than Barry ever did on The Flash. She’s ready to move on, with or without Lena, and that was something I never thought we’d see.
Happy 100 episodes, Supergirl!