Supergirl Review: Stand and Deliver (Season 4 Episode 14)
Did Supergirl just kill off James? Probably not, but the final scene of Supergirl Season 4 Episode 14, “Stand and Deliver,” certainly leaves his fate in question. In perhaps the biggest and most unexpected twists of the season “Stand and Deliver” ends with James Olsen being shot in the back by an unknown assailant, leaving him bleeding out on his office floor.
It seems unlikely that James will actually die but it is a rather unexpected development I did not see coming. The bigger question, if we assume James survives, is who shot him and why.
I wouldn’t put it past either the Children of Liberty or the Elite to shoot James given that photos he takes during a confrontation between alien right activists and the Children of Liberty significantly impact the conversation about alien rights, and softening feelings towards aliens isn’t helpful to the agenda of either group (despite the Elite’s claims to be fighting for alien rights).
But those are questions for next week as the bulk of “Stand and Deliver” focuses on the clash between the Elite, the Children of Liberty, and the peaceful alien rights protest that gets caught in the middle.
After the Elite try to assassinate Ben Lockwood during a public speech, Lockwood, in his new role as Director of Alien Affairs, announces that he’s going to work to repeal the Alien Amnesty Act which would strip most of the aliens on Earth of the rights it grants them. This prompts a response from alien rights supporters and an online activist named American Alien (who we later learn is Brainy) to organize a march to protest Lockwood’s plan.
As expected, things don’t go peacefully. Lockwood uses the march to stoke more fear among his followers, framing it as aliens taking over the country in an “us vs. them’ binary, and the Elite crash the protest to incite violence and chaos from both groups.
But by the end of the protest, people’s better angels prevail and the efforts of the Elite and the Children of Liberty to stoke hate are for naught. In the midst of all the violence, moments of humanity come through as people help each other and show compassion to those around them. These moments, that James captures on film, start to change some hearts and minds and eventually force Ben Lockwood to abandon, or at least slow down, his plan to repeal the Alien Amnesty Act.
Most of “Stand and Deliver” leading up to the protest drags a bit, but the big confrontation between the protestors and the Children of Liberty is very well done and saves what was otherwise a passable but lackluster episode.
It’s perhaps a little naive to believe that one instance and a few photos could actually change the conversation so dramatically or that in the midst of all that emotion people would suddenly abandon the fear and resentment that had been driving them up to that point, but it works within the context of the show.
Even if it requires a little suspension of disbelief (though not as much as is required to believe that people like Alex and Lena don’t recognize Kara as Supergirl because of a pair of glasses) it works because it stays true to the perspective Supergirl has always had and feels organic to its consistent themes that hope will win over fear and that compassion and shared humanity are our greatest strengths.
Ultimately, what starts off as a rather unimpressive episode ends on a strong note. Even if it’s not as good as some of the other episodes that have aired since Supergirl returned from its winter hiatus, it’s solid and continues the trend of better storytelling in Supergirl’s second half.
Stray Thoughts
- Nia’s excitement about being a superhero has gone from 0 to 100 very fast. Her excitement about everything is fun and charming. It’s great to have a character remind us that being a superhero is pretty darn cool.
- I love Nia’s response to James calling her Supergirl’s sidekick and her interaction with Kara after that. It was a cute little moment that showcases the rapport Nicole Maines and Melissa Benoist have and further develops Nia and Kara’s relationship, even in a small way.
- If it wasn’t clear already, Lena’s final scene in “Stand and Deliver” made it clear that whatever caused her to accept the government’s offer to work for them was more than just the state of the world and rising tensions about alien rights. With Lex Luthor making his big Supergirl debut next week, it seems pretty likely that whatever has her worried is related to him and that we’re going to find what it is very soon.
- Like Brainy and Alex, I am totally perplexed by Col. Haley. Since the events of Supergirl Season 4 Episode 10, “Suspicious Minds,” where it was all but confirmed she was terrible, Col. Haley has been reasonable and even slightly sympathetic. I may be in the minority on this, but I would really like to learn more about Col. Haley and possibly get some backstory to understand her better (or is this a J’onn J’onzz / Hank Henshaw type situation where the Haley that came back from a trip after “Suspicious Minds” isn’t actually the same Haley?).
What did you think of this episode of Supergirl? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Supergirl airs Sundays at 8/7 c 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.