Supergirl Review: Magical Thinking (Season 6 Episode 14)
Supergirl Season 6 Episode 14, “Magical Thinking,” is an excellent example of what the rest of this season could be if only the show gets out of its own way.
This show is more than capable of being fun and lighthearted while balancing heavier topics through character-driven scenes.
Right now, those character-driven moments are coming in between the plot-driven ones that carry the Super Friends (and Nyxly) from one Totem to the next.
It’s frustrating to watch when Supergirl continues to sweep away the potential for such greatness in favor of pushing along William’s struggles at CatCo and Nyxly’s vendetta.
The Super Friends shouldn’t come secondary to their narratives, not now when only a handful of episodes remain.
The show had ample time to make William an integral part of the team, but it’s too late for that.
Supergirl is so obviously foreshadowing something tragic in his near future, and it’s simply not going to land well because of that delayed interest in his character.
His arguments with Andrea (which are so strange considering she is still his boss) are reaching new peaks that can only push him to more extraordinary lengths to get stories.
William may be doing things on his terms now (whatever that means), but he will surely want to one-up himself to prove to Andrea that he can do the work his way and succeed. But at what cost?
In terms of the bigger picture, it’s at the cost of Kara’s story about the Phantoms’ effects on the National City residents. Unfortunately, that story has fallen so far to the wayside that there’s no telling if it’ll ever see the light of day again.
William unintentionally twists that knife when he tells Supergirl she would make a great reporter. He’s right. If only Supergirl would remember that every once in a while.
Furthermore, the inclusion of William wouldn’t be as odd if the show didn’t give him a heart-to-heart with Lena Luthor during his first stint at the Tower.
Lena is suspicious of strangers and reluctant to trust, rightfully so, and that’s written on her face when he enters the lab.
It’s so bizarre that Supergirl takes an opportunity that could have strengthened her trust in and relationships with members of the Super Friends for a way to make William more integral. Unfortunately, that does not make up for the lost time.
It also doesn’t work for these characters when Nia (who struggles to use her powers as well as her mother did) or Alex (who thought she had to follow in her father’s footsteps to a tee) could have offered Lena advice, too.
Nevertheless, there are some beautiful moments, albeit too short, between Lena and Nia that shine during “Magical Thinking.”
It’s refreshing to watch Lena feel comfortable in her surroundings and let Nia be a positive sounding board when necessary. Their budding friendship is one of the best parts of this season.
Plus, Nicole Maines’ comedic timing is out of this world. Everything about Dreamer in “Magical Thinking” is pitch-perfect.
The same is true of every single beat with Dansen. The story they’re given, even in the middle of a fight sequence, is the kind of stuff Supergirl should have given them a long time ago.
Their unspoken conversations are just as epic as those they find time for while kicking ass and saving the day.
It’s truly outstanding to watch Azie Tesfai and Chyler Leigh convey so much without a word in that final scene of “Magical Thinking.”
Longtime fans of Supergirl know how badly Alex wants to be a mother one day. Kelly is so obviously her person, and Esme is the perfect addition to their little family.
This story is one of the best and well-paced arcs of the season. Every bit of it feels earned for Alex, Kelly, and Esme. Plus, come on, we’ve all been rooting for Dansen to adopt Esme.
If anything, it only points out how ridiculous it is for Supergirl to keep most of their relationship off-camera for the context and our imaginations to fill in the blanks.
The show tells a story about creating a family and love coming from the most unexpected places without sacrificing any of the action or drama of the larger narrative.
Supergirl tries to do something similar with the Nyxly plot, but it continues to fall short. The stakes don’t feel as high as the show is making them out to be.
Lena and her magic change things. They don’t make the Nyxly side of it more interesting, beyond the anticipation of an eventual showdown between her and Lena.
Instead, and despite Lena’s journey being rooted in magic, Lena grounds everything. She grounds the story, Kara and the Super Friends.
Lena Luthor pulls everything back into focus in a way this final season so desperately needs.
Her journey of self-discovery and owning her power are evergreen themes on this show. It’s unfortunate that those themes can get lost in the flashy aspects of the season.
This show is capable of delivering the stories these characters deserve. Most recently, Supergirl Season 6 Episode 12, “Blind Spots,” does a flawless job of that from Kelly’s perspective.
Even after such a brilliant origin story, there are still learning curves for Kelly. She is still trying to find her groove as Guardian.
Nia is starting to understand her abilities more than ever before. Likewise, Lena is beginning to accept a part of herself that defies everything she believes possible.
The potential there for fantastical yet grounded stories is limitless. So there is an opportunity for this final season to stick its landing, but only if it realizes the absolute powerhouses it has in its arsenal.
Stray Thoughts
- Yeah, I cried when Esme saw Guardian and Sentinal walking up the stairs. And what about it?
- Nia got William out of that room so fast!
- Why did J’onn stop that man from stealing that woman’s car and her child with it only to shatter the window?
- Give us more game nights!
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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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.