Supergirl Review: Alex in Wonderland (Season 5 Episode 16)
Supergirl Season 5 Episode 16, “Alex in Wonderland,” takes viewers into the VR world through Alex Danvers’s eyes. This is the first time an established Supergirl character uses the Obsidian Tech lenses to solely cope with their trauma.
Lena Luthor uses the lenses, but her use goes beyond her trauma and leans heavier on the progression of Non Nocere.
Longtime fans of Supergirl are well aware of Alex’s frustration with her father. However, it is extremely different to see an entire episode dedicated to Alex’s journey from overwhelming rage to the acceptance of unconditional love.
Alex is someone who keeps herself pretty guarded in an attempt to protect others because that’s the only role Alex has ever known — the protector.
It is unlikely that her reconciliation with Kelly and her jarring trip into the VR world are enough to eradicate her anger towards Jeremiah, though it does significantly quiet the noise.
However cool it is to see Alex suit up as Supergirl, it is more rewarding to see Alex accept the love she deserves and realize she can only control her own destiny. Alex Danvers is a superhero in her own right.
It’s exhilarating to think about what Alex may do next now that she knows she is a warrior.
Supergirl’s discussion of free will paired with glaring moments of reality, like Jeremiah’s passing, make this season worthwhile, even though all of the technology talk and Lex’s endless charades can be distracting, if not confusing.
These storylines are intersecting into a beautiful story about not only the difficulties and triumphs of reality but the unifying forces of humanity.
With that in mind, it needs to be said that Earth-Prime William Dey is a good man striving for justice. William’s awkward and persistent romantic interest in Kara (and Kara’s weird attraction to William) is predominantly strange because of the perception of Earth-38 William.
It may be beneficial to let go of those prior perceptions in favor of the better man on Earth-Prime. This William is not the same man who treated Kara poorly earlier in the season, and it’s time to accept that.
Alternatively, Supergirl is doing a major disservice by excluding Nia Nal from the investigation of Lex Luthor. William and Kara could easily involve Nia in all the sleuthing, especially because Kelly is involved now.
Not only are Nia’s journalistic talents beneficial to the good fight, but so are Dreamer’s powers. This is a common grievance with Supergirl this season, there is never enough Nia.
It would be much more satisfying for the Super Friends take down Lex Luthor together — with Lena at the front of the fight.
There is also never enough Kelly Olsen. She is more of a major player now than ever, and it looks like her role on Supergirl is only going to expand. It’s fun to see Kelly sport the Guardian gear, but it is refreshing to be reminded superheroes don’t wear super suits all the time.
On a completely different note, Supergirl needs to make some serious moves to spark interest in Leviathan. They’re the bad guys, clearly exemplified by their hoarding of human bodies, but their endgame is still unknown.
It’s hard to be invested in the impacts of Leviathan’s actions when their endgame is so foggy. Trying to connect the dots between Obsidian Tech, Leviathan, Lex, Lena, Andrea, and Non Nocere results in an endless amount of possibilities.
Since Supergirl Season 5 is more than halfway over, it is irritating to have such a small grasp on what Leviathan is really doing in National City.
Hopefully, William can take that medical wristband and discover all of their evil ways before the season’s end because another season of Leviathan does not sound fun.
Stray Observations
- It is so nice to see Eliza Danvers again. Can she come around more?
- Eve/Hope is back. Is she Eve or is she Hope? Can she be both?
What did you think of this episode of Supergirl? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
Supergirl airs Sundays at 9/8c on The CW.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Shelby Elpers
Shelby is a TV enthusiast and pop culture writer. She's an avid podcast listener, green tea drinker, and soccer fan. Her brand can be summarized in rom-coms, superheroes, teen dramas, and workplace comedies.