Supergirl Review: The Missing Link (Season 5 Episode 18)
Supergirl Season 5 Episode 18, “The Missing Link,” finally answers some season-long questions while brilliantly setting up new opportunities for characters beyond next week’s season finale.
Lena’s revelation regarding the error of her ways feels so long overdue because Lena is someone who is capable of doing more good for the world than Lex can ever dream of doing himself.
It is aggravating that it’s taken Lena this long to come to terms with the issues of Non Nocere and her partnership with Lex, but it is crucial she came to this conclusion on her own.
As great as it would have been to see Kara and Lena forgive each other earlier in the season, Lena’s journey to this realization shouldn’t be rushed. Lex is a master manipulator, and it isn’t Lena’s fault for being unable to free herself from his web of lies sooner.
It’s going to take more than a long talk across Kara’s dining room table for Lena and Kara to rebuild their friendship, but it’s a start. Hopefully, Kara owns up to her hypocritical ways during their discussion because the only way they’re going to move forward is if they both take responsibility for their actions.
Ultimately, Lena is right that pain is a part of the human experience. Supergirl has the opportunity to tell a beautiful story about two women striving to save a friendship in that pain’s aftermath — to show that human connection can heal too.
Brainy and Nia could use some serious healing as well, or Nia can cut her losses and find someone better for her than Brainy at the moment. Brainy isn’t someone Nia should trust, and he knows it or else Brainy would have told her the truth.
For all Nia knows, he continues to align himself with the enemy and fails to give any reasonable explanation as to why.
It would be beneficial for Supergirl not to rush a resolution between Brainy and Nia. Instead, Supergirl could give the pair time to find their way back to each other if they’re meant to be together.
In the meantime, Supergirl should give Brainy a bigger role in saving the universe than sitting by while he waits for Lex to bring him to Leviathan.
Supergirl hasn’t done Andrea Rojas many favors since Crisis either. There aren’t any references to her reestablished powers, and her endgame for Obsidian Tech is blurry. It’s nice to believe she wants to help people, but Kelly has done more work with patients than Andrea.
As of “The Missing Link,” Andrea’s only driving forces to flood the public with technological initiatives are fame and money.
Andrea is a far more interesting character than those desires posit, but Supergirl hasn’t done the work to prove it. By this point in the series, it’s understandable that she’s not completely on board with the Super Friends. It’s baffling that Andrea hasn’t looked for any answers regarding her powers.
It wouldn’t hurt to throw in a quick scene or two of Andrea trying to understand her powers, like using them by accident and manifesting in a board room or something.
Alternatively, “The Missing Link” makes room for Alex as a vigilante in the future. Now is the perfect time for Alex to suit up because the D.E.O. can’t hold her back anymore. It is exciting enough to see Alex and Kara work together again when they visit Pete Andrews (Sean Astin).
The mere thought of them fighting side by side with Team Tower, free of the D.E.O.’s interference makes the wait for Season 6 more brutal.
It’s a good thing there is one more episode of Supergirl next week!
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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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.