Supergirl Review: Rather the Fallen Angel (Season 4 Episode 7)
One thing that Supergirl Season 4 Episode 7, “Rather the Fallen Angel” makes clear is that is that both James Olsen and Lena Luthor are more interesting separately than they are together.
Coming off Supergirl Season 4 Episode 6, “Call To Action” which introduced a rather frustrating conflict into a relationship that felt forced to begin with, “Rather the Fallen Angel” puts both James and Lena at the center of the episode in separate storylines. The result is something much more compelling for both characters.
Following his cloak and dagger rendezvous with The Children of Liberty at the end of “Call to Action,” James finds himself a prisoner of the group with Agent Liberty himself trying to convince him to speak for his group and inspire people to join their movement.
James initially refuses but eventually agrees to do and say what the group wants if they spare the life of a Children of Liberty member named Tom, who turns on the group in order to help James.
James’s insistence on understanding the Children of Liberty is a bit frustrating. Early in his conversation with Agent Liberty, James asserts that he is not a threat to the group and says:
I came here on my own accord to talk to you. To listen. I’m prepared to hear your side of the story.
It’s hard to understand what he feels is worthy of listening to when the “side of the story” he’s there to hear is one of hate and bigotry.
After “Rather the Fallen Angel” though, after seeing their ruthlessness and their attempt to once again use him to advance their agenda, I wonder if James is beginning to learn his lesson. I hope he is.
It’s one thing to believe there are individuals within the group that can be reached and made to see beyond the fear driving their hate. It’s something else entirely to believe that the answer to hate and bigotry is to empathize with a group of domestic terrorists.
I hope that James starts to heed Nia Nal’s words from Supergirl Season 4 Episode 2, “Fallout” when she tells him:
When innocent people are being attacked it’s not about balance, it’s about justice.
That’s the more interesting story to tell anyway. Rather than telling a story about building understanding with bigots the more relevant story is about standing up for the most vulnerable and exposing the lies and rhetoric of people who stoke resentment and fear.
Elsewhere on the episode, Lena moves forward with a human subject in her attempt to cure human frailty and give people abilities on par with aliens. Lena has identified one person, a young man we later learn is named Adam, as a suitable test subject for her new serum.
Lena’s attempt to give humans superpowers is wrong even if it comes from the best of intentions. Eventually, that will come to a head, but this episode is less about advancing that plot and more an exploration of Lena’s character and motivations.
At the beginning of the episode, Lena is determined to see Adam as nothing more than a test subject and avoid becoming emotionally invested in case her experiment fails.
Lena struggles to keep her “boxes of emotions” at bay. Despite her best efforts to protect her heart, Lena wears it on her sleeve. As tough as she is, she is the most vulnerable character on the show and “Rather the Fallen Angel” underscores that.
Lena utterly fails in her attempts to be dispassionate and detached. She bonds with Adam as she sees herself in his self-recriminations and guilt. Through Lena’s interactions with Adam, we learn more about her past and how guilty she feels over her biological mother’s death drives her fear that she is not a good person.
Katie McGrath shines in this episode. She expresses so much shame and sadness as Lena slowly reveals herself to Adam and struggles to compartmentalize.
It’s heartbreaking to watch her carry the weight of the guilt she feels and devastating at the end when she turns in on herself after the audience learns Adam did not survive the trial.
It was also great to see Lena get some screen time that wasn’t defined by her relationship with Kara or James. I love Lena’s relationship with Kara and can generally tolerate her relationship with James but as “Rather the Fallen Angel” reminds viewers, Lena is a rich and complex character in her own right. I hope we get to see that more as the season progresses.
Stray Thoughts
- I loved the scene between J’onn and Kara when J’onn breaks down after finding out his faith in Manchester Black was misplaced. David Harewood was excellent in the scene and it was touching to see Kara act as J’onn’s emotional support this time.
- The scenes from next week suggest that we are going to get some of Nia Nal’s backstory and get more interactions between Brainy and Nia. I think this is the most excited I’ve been for an episode all season.
- I’m starting to get a little bored with Agent Liberty. The Children of Liberty storyline has been a good springboard for a number of character arcs but as a villain, and despite solid performances in each episode by Sam Witwer, he is becoming rather uninteresting.
What did you think of this episode of Supergirl? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Supergirl airs Sundays at 8/7c on The CW.
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Sarah Fields
Sarah is an obsessive geek who likes to get into the weeds and over think things. She is passionate about Sci-Fi and comics and is a giant classic film nerd. Sarah cares deeply about media representation and the power of telling diverse stories. When she's not writing or watching her favorite shows she spends her days working in the non-profit world trying to make life a little better for those that need some extra help.