The second episode of Supergirl season 4, "Fallout," raises disturbing questions about whether or not Kara really can pull her country back together. The episode title is an apt one, as the bulk of the story is focused upon the fallout of the season 4 premiere. The president has been outed as an alien, and the political consequences are massive.
As the United States falls into a state of chaos, Kara and her friends struggle to stem the tide of hate. But by the end of the episode it's clear they're outclassed on every level; Mercy Graves has done her homework, she knows just which members of the D.E.O. can be corrupted, and she even has a strategy to take down Supergirl.
Related: Supergirl Reveals The President Is An Alien - Predicting What Happens Next
So what questions does "Fallout" pose for the future of Supergirl? Here, we explore some of the most dangerous issues of all - including whether or not the time is coming for Kara Danvers to reveal her secret identity to the world.
- This Page: The Politics of Supergirl
- Next Page: Should Supergirl Reveal Her Secret Identity?
8. Could Supergirl's Politics Be Any More On The Nose?
Supergirl has never exactly been the most subtle show when it comes to handling its politics, but "Fallout" takes that to a new extreme. The episode kicks off at the White House, with President Marsdin listening to cries of "lock her up." Within moments, Supergirl is intervening to stop a riot at the gates of the White House, stopping only to catch a flag the mob have unwittingly toppled. In terms of political symbolism, this is about as subtle as a sledgehammer. Dialogue running through the rest of "Fallout" drives the point home. "They go low, we go high," J'onn observes. Towards the end of the episode, you have the throwaway question, "If the President lies, who can we believe in?"
Supergirl's speech calls for the United States to unify, and for people to put aside their fear and reach out to one another across the political divide. James Olsen, current editor-in-chief of CatCo Worldwide, wrestles with the question of whether or not to editorialize in the current political climate; will it lead to CatCo being viewed as biased, and thus dismissed as a partisan source of news? "Fallout" attempts to hold up a mirror to American society, to challenge it with the same message Supergirl delivers to her nation in-universe.
Rather appropriately, "Fallout" aired on the same day it was revealed that thhe Trump administration is considering instituting a narrow definition of gender under biological terms, rolling back recognition and protection of transgender people under federal civil rights law. This episode sees the new character Nia Nal reveal that she's transgender to James. She's destined to become Dreamer, the first transgender superhero we've ever had on TV. The timing of this episode couldn't be more opportune.
Related: Supergirl Season 4: Cast & Guest Star Guide
7. How Does Brainiac-5 Know Nia Nial?
When Brainiac-5 meets Nia, he's puzzled because she seems vaguely familiar. There's a simple reason: he knows one of her distant relatives. According to USAToday, the character is "inspired by and an ancestor of 30th Century DC Comics character Nura Nal/Dream Girl." That's one of Brainiac's colleagues in the Legion of Super Heroes. No wonder he had a sense that he knew her somehow.
6. How Bad Are These "Riots?"
As mentioned, the episode opens with a violent clash between protest groups outside the White House. Later in the episode, though, we learn that fear and anger is running unchecked and that riots blaze across the US. We don't see any indication of their scale, Supergirl herself doesn't seem to be busy trying to shut them down, and every time we see a street it really does seem safe enough. It's quite hard to say just how bad things are getting in "Fallout."
5. Just How Political Is Supergirl Herself?
The last two episodes have suggested that Supergirl has become closely associated with the current administration. She appeared to have open access to the White House, and that's presumably set to continue under President Baker. That may not be wise, especially given Kara knew Marsdin was an alien for quite some time, but chose to keep that fact secret from the American people. It's interesting to see that it's Supergirl who takes to the TV in order to make a speech, not her cousin Superman. It suggests that the two cousins have taken a slightly different approach to superheroics; Kara is a political figure, while Superman possibly tries to keep out of the politics as much as possible.
Page 2 of 2: Should Supergirl Reveal Her Secret Identity?
4. Should Supergirl Reveal Her Secret Identity?
There's an interesting parallel between Supergirl and President Marsdin - one implied in that opening scene where the two aliens talk about the strain of keeping their identities secret. Marsdin has felt the crushing burden of pretending to be human all these years; Supergirl struggles to balance her personal life at CatCo and her work as a superhero. In the case of Marsdin, her secrecy has ultimately proven to be her undoing, and everything she has achieved is threatened. It's not hard to imagine a situation in which Supergirl's secrecy causes the same issues for Kara and her friends. After all, she's a tremendously powerful alien too, and the public have no idea what she does in her private life. For all they know, Supergirl could be a political figure in her secret identity as well - someone who's carefully gaming the system so as to gain power and pursue their cause. If Supergirl is to win the trust of the American public, it's possible she'll have to go radical lengths. We could be talking a scene in which Kara reveals herself to the world.
3. Has Lena Figured Out Supergirl's Secret Identity?
One of the strangest plots in "Fallout" is Mercy Graves' attack on LexCorp. Kara is interviewing Lena Luthor at the time the attack kicks off, and Lena just won't let her friend out of her sight. This means that Kara can't suit up as Supergirl, and she's left increasingly frustrated, desperately attempting to find ways to push Mercy's soldiers back without revealing her powers. It's only when Mercy herself appears on the scene that Lena encourages Kara to run, getting her to head out of sight so she can change into Supergirl.
Related: Melissa Benoist: Why Supergirl Trusts Lena Luthor
It all seems suspiciously convenient, especially given the odd dialogue. "I'd ask how you got past my security," Lena begins. "But you're happy to see me," Supergirl interjects. There's an interesting look on Lena's face when she answers, "Sure." It raises the distinct possibility that Lena at least suspected Kara is Supergirl, and - knowing Mercy would come for her - kept the superhero at her side until Mercy had revealed herself.
If Lena has figured out that Kara Danvers is Supergirl, then it's likely to leave her very conflicted. After all, she loves Kara, but she has a troubled history with Supergirl.
Where Is The Kryptonite On The Dark Net Coming From?
Previous seasons of Supergirl had suggested there was no more Kryptonite on the planet. Clearly that isn't the case; in fact, Mercy is even able to purchase a chunk on the dark net. Where did this Kryptonite come from, who sold it to Mercy, and do they have any more?
2. Did Mercy Really Betray Lex Luthor?
The Supergirl season 4 premiere revealed that Mercy was the one who'd gotten Lex sent to prison, as she'd turned State evidence against him. That story is fleshed out substantially in "Fallout," with Lena revealing that Mercy was so close to her she was almost like an older sister. It again raises the curious question of why Lena's mother would hire Mercy again straight after she'd betrayed Lex. Something feels decidedly off-note here - and, given that Mercy is of course connected to Lex Luthor, it seems highly likely she's been working for Lex all along. If that's the case, perhaps Lex had himself sent to jail so the world would stop watching him, and since then he's been manipulating events from the shadows. It's recently been confirmed that Supergirl season 4 will indeed feature Lex Luthor at last, so this theory seems increasingly probable.
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1. Is President Baker Working For The Graves Twins?
It was inevitable that President Marsdin would have to stand down, with her Vice-President taking over. We only see President Baker for a brief scene, in which he seems to want a good relationship with Supergirl, but he probably shouldn't be taken at face value. Whoever is truly responsible for the chaos sweeping across America is clearly a consummate Chess player, and they're working on a pretty grand strategy. It's not inconceivable that part of their plan was getting a stooge inside the White House. If that's the case, we should expect to see President Baker begin to carefully manipulate events to his own political advantage. It's surely only a matter of time before the Alien Amnesty Act is struck from statute, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see a move towards some sort of Alien Registration Act as well. If the new President is himself secretly an ally of Mercy Graves, then he'd be perfectly positioned to ensure the worst laws passed.
More: Supergirl Takes First Step Towards Introducing Darkseid Into The Arrowverse
Supergirl airs Sundays at 8/7c on The CW.
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