Supergirl Review: Battles Lost and Won (Season 3 Episode 23)

Supergirl Season 3 Episode 23, “Battles Lost and Won” brings the end of the season—and some changes that will shape the future of the show.

Once again, Supergirl does not want you to forget you’re watching a season finale. We’re reeling within the first five minutes, and not only because of the chaos.

Of course, the chaos is aplenty, with all our heroes trying to protect their city and the world. Superman casually saves all of Madagascar, and M’rynn, in the end, saves them all. Sadly, that requires sacrificing his life.

After everything else, even though the scene is beautifully acted, I felt we’re rushed into our final moments with J’onn and his father. There’s a lot more to it, but this heartbreak we’ve waited weeks for is treated as something that needs to be rushed through to bring relief.

It isn’t the only thing that gets this somewhat dismissive approach. As much as we could predict the end of Imra and Mon-El’s marriage, it’s said and done in a single, short scene. And no, that scene doesn’t mean a future for him and Kara.

Mon-El has been an (often controversial) essential character for the past two seasons. Still, the idea that he may simply leave again is jarring. Even more so is the need to take Winn, too.

Winn Schott has been there from day one. Losing him, more than anything else, is going to make for a very different show, and I’m not sure how I feel about it.

This development doesn’t mean that either he or Mon-El will never be heard from again. As is made very clear, they’re leaving their family. Being heroes doesn’t mean they can’t visit. They sure will be missed, though.

As major as this is, it’s only one thing that happens in the background of the ongoing battle. Alex’s perspective on motherhood is here, as is Kara’s reluctance to ever kill. That reluctance is a moral gray area, and one that must reasonably be questioned.

As we can guess, then, the final battle is brutal, but it is at least against Reign, and Reign only. The few minutes of chaos have set Sam free, even if she can’t immediately return to her daughter and friends.

I really do love the scenes between Sam and her mother that allow her to move forward and back to her own life. Here we get the development that I haven’t quite felt for Mama Arias yet. Now they have both closure and forgiveness.

The cool part of this is that it winds up being Sam who takes Reign down once and for all. Getting to temporarily keep her super powers is a cool twist I hadn’t expected.

…I can’t same I’m sure about that part where they kill everyone, though.

No, I’m not kidding. Reign first appears defeated as she is sucked into a pool of alien lava. But her eye lasers go berserk, shooting Sam, Mon-El, Alura, and J’onn. All are fatally injured.

Now, keep in mind that this next part all happens within about five minutes. Kara realizes she can turn back time and save them all. She shouts instructions to Alex and Winn. She gets the black kryptonite and has Sam use it instead.

It is, frankly, insane. This is the kind of thing that should be the plot of an entire episode. Sure, it’s one way to find true victory, but we handle true devastation—and then solve it again—in “blink and you’ll miss it” style.

Never mind, though. When all this is said and done, it truly is over. All that’s left is a lot of goodbyes.

We already know about Winn and Mon-El. Winn gets a lovely farewell, but he isn’t the only one exploring new worlds. Alura must return to Argon City. J’onn is following in his father’s footsteps, leaving the DEO in Alex’s capable hands.

There are two plot points here. Besides Alex stepping into a role leading all those she’s fought alongside, she will spend less time in the field. That dream of motherhood is a lot more real for her now, and I hope we’ll see it next season.

Among other changes, Brainy will be staying, filling in Winn’s steed, at least for now. They’ll need his intelligence and all the help they can get. Because it turns out goodbyes aren’t all we have after all.

I have no idea what to make of those few last seconds with Kara (or is that even our Kara?) but the few seconds before them? I foresee a lot of debate amongst the fandom over the next few months.

I won’t guess what we’re meant to know about Lena from here on out. If she’s changing in any significant way, we’d better at least get a good explanation for it. Sadly, we’ll be waiting a long time to find out what this all means.

…Enjoy the hiatus, everyone?

 

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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