Supergirl Review: Rebirth (Season 6 Episode 1)

Supergirl Season 6 Episode 1, “Rebirth,” simultaneously resolves the lingering issues of last season while launching the show into its final season.

This episode refocuses Supergirl on what makes it so great, rather than holding on to the cliffhangers of Season 5 as the momentum heading into Season 6. 

“Rebirth” allows the series to remind itself of the fantastic relationships that have helped this show succeed. The Super Friends have always been stronger together. All of that got a little lost in the Lex Luthor of it all last season. Now, it’s back in full force. 

Speaking of Lex, his demise should come after he finally gets what he wants — to be a god. He will likely show up again before the series finale, but the events of “Rebirth” signal that this is the end of his majorly maniacal ways, at least on Supergirl. 

As for his sister, Lena’s making amends for her mistakes, and it’s reassuring to see that Supergirl doesn’t let her off the hook. Not only Lena, but Brainy is also recked over the decisions he made. It’s refreshing that Nia doesn’t instantly forgive him or take his feelings as her responsibility after everything he did. 

Brainy and Nia feel like they could be endgame if Brainy can learn to give Nia what she needs for their relationship to succeed — honesty. That’s not something that either of them can fix overnight, and it appears that Supergirl will follow their journey through that. 

Similarly, Kara and Lena have a ways to go, but they’re both doing the work. It’s a little nerve-wracking to watch Kara entrust Lena with Myriad after everything, but those nerves pale in comparison to Lena’s remorse for what happened the last time that device was in her hands. 

Like Lena tells Brainy, they both have to reckon with their pasts and be thankful that their friends love them despite those things. 

Supergirl’s driving forces are hope, help, and compassion for all, and that message is supposed to extend to us as we watch the show. That mission statement lends itself to both Lena and Brainy in this episode.

Even though they’ve both done bad things, they’re still good people. They still want to help people, so they shouldn’t be denied hope, help, or compassion. 

This sentiment appears again when Kelly stops in the middle of a world-saving plan to console Andrea. Andrea needs a pep talk at that moment, and Kelly swoops in with the sincerity and honesty that Andrea needs. It’s such a calm moment in a rather busy episode that it stands out. 

It’s also never tiring to see women supporting women on screen. 

“Rebirth” comes together in the heartbreaking reality that National City is without its biggest champion. It’s easy to assume that Supergirl would never permanently kill its titular character. Still, it is moving to be reminded that Kara would give everything up, including her life, to help people. 

It becomes an even more moving moment when the realization strikes that Kara knows that National City (and the rest of the world) will be safe because of the Super Friends. There are other heroes than Supergirl, like Alex Danvers as Sentinel (!!!), but we’ve never seen them exist without her for a prolonged period. 

Kara’s time in the Phantom Zone is sure to have lasting effects on her and the people in her life. She’ll have to cope with her time there just as they will have to cope without her in National City. 

That’s why it’s so essential that “Rebirth” took the time to refocus on these core relationships. Without them, without those people to lean on, our favorite characters might face more troubles than they can bear on their own. 

People need people because, after all, we’re stronger together. I can’t think of a better message for Supergirl to, once again, instill in its characters and us as it begins its final season. 

Stray Observations

• Dreamer’s powers are so cool! Did we always know she could astral project like that?
• Can we keep M’gann again? It’s the final season. I don’t want her to leave just yet!
• I’m not convinced Kara would call William, but they tried to convince me. 
• There were so many name drops in this episode. Malefic! Cat Grant!
• Andrea’s sudden appreciation of hard-hitting journalism caused some major whiplash. 
• Jon Cryer is such a great Lex Luthor. His dance sequence with the weapons in the Fortress is perfect.
• It was so random and wonderful to see Otis again.
• The fight sequences in this episode were super cool!

 

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

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

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