Supergirl Review: Tremors (Season 5 Episode 7)

Supergirl Season 5 Episode 7, “Tremors,” does not hold back on the emotional punches. From Alex and Kelly’s relationship to Lena and Kara’s friendship, there are plenty of heartbreaking moments that feel almost impossible to get over.

Luckily, one duo comes out stronger together by the end of “Tremors.” 

Lena is officially in villain territory. Lena stealing Myriad, a device used by Kara’s Aunt Astra to make citizens “mindless zombies,” is hard to look past. Lena’s actions are villainous and unjustifiable, but her feelings are justifiable. 

Lena is finally honest with Kara about how Kara hurt her’s feelings, but Lena crosses the line when saying that she killed Lex for Kara. Earlier in “Tremors,” Kara tells J’onn that he cannot feel guilty for the decisions that Malefic makes on his own accord, and that is no different in this case.

Kara is not to blame for Lex’s death, and Lena shouldn’t lay that at Kara’s feet. All Kara did is betray her friend’s trust. She did not force Lena to wield a gun and shoot her brother. In doing this, Lena rids herself of any accountability for Lex’s death and the actions that follow it. 

This episode feels like the push Supergirl needed to advance the plot, as Lena has been doing a lot of the same suspicious and dangerous things for the past few weeks. She finally interacts with someone she knows, who truly cares about her, in “Tremors,” and it is this interaction that proves how far gone Lena is. 

Lena says, “I’m not a villain. You shouldn’t have treated me like one,” but no one has yet. Kara keeping her identity a secret isn’t treating Lena like a villain. It isn’t treating her like a Luthor. It’s standard superhero protocol. 

Kara should have been honest with Lena sooner, but that doesn’t mean that Kara views Lena as a villain or has treated her like one. Matter of fact, no one has even called Lena a villain. That’s a term that has only been used against her by herself at this point.

But now that is going to change. Lena positions herself in a compromising position by the end of the episode, when she walks out of the Fortress of Solitude, Myriad in hand. There is no coming back from that, or at least there shouldn’t be an easy road back from that. 

Hopefully, Supergirl will take the time to tell this story in its entirety. It doesn’t deserve rushed moments of forgiveness. If Supergirl wants to prove that, even as a villain, Lena is different than Lex, that she isn’t like the other Luthors, then they will have to push her to the brink and bring her back. 

Lena will have to prove that even after everything, she can come back and be changed for the better, rather than slip away from soul and become the worst.

Lena is one of the most interesting characters on TV, and she deserves this rich arc. Lena deserves to be seen for all that she can become, even if that does get lost in her master plan for a bit.                      

On the other hand, with the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover right around the corner, “Tremors” looks like it’s the first glimpse into how Supergirl may be involved. The parallels between Earthbender and the Monitor are uncanny. While the Monitor tampers with entire universes, Earthbender is fine with just messing up Kara’s Earth. 

The Earthbender’s power-hungry attitude and connection to Leviathan makes him all the more dangerous when thought of in association with the Monitor. Just as the Monitor tests various Earth’s superheroes, the Earthbender wants to stop the destruction of the planet, and threatens the planet’s survival with different calamities. 

It would make logical sense for these storylines to meet in a catastrophic way by the time the crossover rolls around in a few weeks. If so, this would make for a much subtle lead up to the crossover than the routes Arrow and The Flash are taking. 

Some fans may become impatient as Supergirl doesn’t directly reference the upcoming “Crisis” in so many words, but this may be because it is carefully weaving it to the larger Leviathan plot. It wouldn’t be all that fun if Supergirl revealed its entire hand this early in the season. 

For now, it is nice to sit back and watch it all fall together.

The theories are endless. Lena could partner with Leviathan and the Earthbender to change the world for what they believe to be the better. Andrea Rojas could team up with Supergirl and the Super Friends to stop the impending doom that is likely to unfold with that much force. 

It is even more intriguing to imagine this happening in a National City that is different from the one we know because there will surely be major changes after “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” There is so much to be seen. 

Stray Observations

• It is so nice to be in the Fortress of Solitude again even though things weren’t as cheery as they usually are there. 
• Brainy and J’onn are both dealing with some trauma, and hopefully, we get to see the two of them work to heal as the season progresses.
• Alex and Kelly are the cutest couple ever. I mean, they found a home in each other. If that’s not love, then what is? 

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

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Supergirl airs Sundays at 9/8c on The CW.

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