Supergirl Review: Shelter From the Storm (Season 3 Episode 18)

 

Between lies and emotional dilemmas, friends and lovers alike are changing their relationship status to “It’s Complicated” on Supergirl Season 3 Episode 18, “Shelter From the Storm”.

The Supergirl fandom has always been a passionate one, for better or worse. I have a feeling that there are going to be a lot of…well, feelings now. I’m breaking mine down relationship by relationship in completely random order:

James and Lena

Personally, I’ll leave the judgements of this ship to others. The only real one I’m making right now is being a huge fan of Lena’s morning-after hair. The steadfast trust between them has admittedly escalated quickly, but Lena really needs it now. I’m going to wait and see where it goes.

Winn and Brainy

Now, this one just annoys me. Brainy, Winn has come up with a solution you didn’t see AND has tricked with you through “facetiousness”. Taking advantage of his trust doesn’t necessarily make him less smart. It does kind of make you a jerk, though.

Patricia

R.I.P. Mother Arias. Call me cynical, but I remember her last appearance being chock full of stubbornness and only the most grudging of apologies. To see her suddenly be equally full of remorse feels like a last-ditch attempt to drive up the emotion of her death.

I do understand Kara being deeply affected. This will scar Sam more than ever if/when she is saved, and Supergirl takes all deaths she cannot prevent personally. Still, it feels like weight is being forced on a demise many of us have been expecting.

J’onn and M’yrnn

J’onn’s father returns after a brief absence, and his decline is no less heartbreaking. While his memories are temporarily preserved, he feels useless, fulfilling his greatest fear from being put under his son’s psychic control.

The good news is that M’yrnn does get to make a very important impact here. After that, we get a lovely moment confirming the glories of mocha, AKA “chococoffee”. Yet a single hint of the grief to come reminds me how unprepared I am for it.

Ruby and Alex

It starts out so lovely. Alex will do anything to protect Ruby! They have fun even in hard times! Ruby calls Alex Aunt Alex!(!!) And then…

Ruby is too insightful for her own good. She knows when adults are lying to her and acts impulsively out of need for her mother. While Alex understands this, she promises honesty without giving it, not only in regards to Sam, but also to the dead grandmother Ruby’s never met.

That Love Triangle

For those who have been dreading or hoping for Mon-El’s quiet departure into the sunset with Imra, fears are either put to rest or reawakened. There’s a long story being told, and for now, it’s still in the works.

There is more than one reason for Mon-El to stay in the present.  Still, he has a big decision to make, and both the feelings he still has and the fact Imra can see them suggest the choice he will eventually make.

Kara and Lena

This isn’t so much an emotional roller coaster as an emotional bumper car ride, jerking one way and next with tense confrontation. First, Kara is angry about Lena’s kryptonite. Then it proves briefly useful and all is well. Except for the part where it’s not.

The correlation between Lena’s complete trust of Kara and explicit distrust of Supergirl is uncomfortable to say the least. Now, the assumption she will eventually find out they are one and the same carries a lot of potential dread.

A complicated relationship between Kara and Lena has the potential to at least be interesting. It could, potentially, even bring them closer together. Yet there are going to have to be some strong discussions about trust if that should ever happen.

The Luther Mansion

Lex Luthor’s mansion, now in Lena’s care, doesn’t have a relationship with anyone except to act as a safe house. It’s just really, really cool.

 

What did you think of this episode of Supergirl? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Supergirl airs Mondays at 8/7c on The CW.

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