Supergirl Review: The Gauntlet (Season 6 Episode 13)

Supergirl Season 6 Episode 13, “The Gauntlet,” lets the Super Friends be their most courageous selves, but that spotlights the continual problems of this final season. 

There are so many fun elements in this episode that the series should continue to explore in more depth than a fleeting side effect of a magical totem. 

David Harewood steals every scene he’s in due to J’onn’s overwhelming encouragement and quippy one-liners. It’s so nice to see him uncross his arms and have a little fun. 

The fact that his courage lets him be vulnerable is something Supergirl could only benefit from exploring more as the season progresses. J’onn is someone who holds so much close to his chest to protect his loved ones and himself. 

The events of “The Gauntlet” could be even more worthwhile if Supergirl lets there be some fallout from the way that the extra dose of courage affected the Super Friends.

The show teases that something along these lines is possible because William makes moves after his extra dose of courage. Still, it would have been better had Supergirl spent more time with William and his trauma before this moment. 

Let Nia be more courageous in her dreamscapes, but do it on screen. Let Brainy be less afraid of making miscalculations that he believes will immediately put everyone’s lives at risk. Let Alex see the perks of optimism every once in a while.  

The stakes are high, apparently, because of Nyxly’s plans to rule the world and seek revenge on her father, but they don’t have to be that high all of the time. 

Those moments where the heroes catch their breath would give the show the chances it needs to develop relationships like Brainia and Dansen.

The former does have more scenes together in the first half of the season than Dansen can say for themselves. 

The little things between Alex and Kelly stand out so much because of the way Chyler Leigh and Azie Tesfai work with each other, but it’s unfortunate that Dansen’s moments are so few and far between. 

Plus, they’re always too short — way too short. Their scene at the start of “The Gauntlet” is a fine way to touch base after the events of Supergirl Season 6 Episode 12, “Blind Spots.

However, it points out something else the show needs to be better at moving forward — showing, not telling.

Supergirl can’t stress the importance of street-level heroes and super-villain level heroes needing to support each other only to show Guardian showing up for a super-villain fight in the next episode. 

Alex and Kelly talk about the importance of what’s happening in the Heights, so what would it have hurt to spend even the slightest bit of time there with Guardian? 

Even if it is a single scene of Guardian telling Orlando she has to go help Supergirl would have been sufficient. There’s still time to strike a thoughtful balance there.

“The Gauntlet” thrives when it focuses on Kara and Lena’s friendship. It’s poetic to watch their separate test of courage collide in a way that will deepen their connection and save the world. 

No one’s ever doubted the power of SuperCorp, and now that there’s magic involved, there’s surely no stopping them. 

It’s quite moving to watch how they intrinsically inspire bravery in each other. It’s hard to give the Paragon of Hope a pep talk, and Lena Luthor succeeds in spades. 

Who are we kidding? The exchange where Kara asks Lena if she really doesn’t believe in magic and Lena responds by saying she believes in Kara is one of the best SuperCorp moments ever. 

It solidifies so much about their dynamic and how it has evolved over the years. Kara has defied all the odds, with a few hiccups along the way, that Lena was taught about superheroes and more specifically Kryptonians. 

We are all well aware of the immense character development of Lena Luthor breaking all the boundaries set of her as a Luthor. She’s a brilliant friend, hero, scientist, and now maybe even a witch. 

It matters immensely that Kara is the first person Lena opens up to about witchcraft, and Katie McGrath is so great in this scene.

For an episode that skirts around the idea of letting its characters be vulnerable, McGrath harnesses Lena’s vulnerability in nearly a split second.

There’s a moment just after Lena tells Kara the truth that the fear starts to creep into her expression, that maybe her best friend will find all of this to be too weird or too much. 

It’s easy to sigh in relief alongside Lena when she is met with the exact opposite from Kara. Their friendship is so supportive and such a breath of fresh air in an otherwise underwhelming episode. 

There are only seven episodes left in Supergirl‘s final season, which doesn’t leave the show much time to redirect the focus where it’s needed.

It’s concerning to think that the final episodes will center around the totems and stopping Nyxly rather than the more grounded problems National City’s residents face. 

Moreover, that means there are only seven more episodes to meaningfully wrap up the stories of the Super Friends we have come to love over the last six years. 

There is such potential hidden in the smaller moments of “The Gauntlet” that could be the seeds for a necessary sharp turn in the storytelling of the second half of this season. 

Hopefully, Kara and Lena can find a way to combine superpowers, science, and magic to stop Nyxly and let Supergirl get out of its own way.

Stray Thoughts

• I still don’t care about Nyxly as much as I think Supergirl wants me to care about Nyxly.
• Nia being the first one to check on Brainy after Vita leaves his body is the kind of crumbs I’ll gladly take. 
• The same goes for Alex (and Lena!!!) being by Kara’s bedside when she wakes up.
• Why is Andrea being so hard on William when he’s actually in the office and Kara hasn’t shown up in days?
• Seriously, every line J’onn says during this episode is pure gold. 
• We don’t deserve Jesse Rath as Brainy. He’s just too good!

 

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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