Supergirl Review: Nightmare in National City (Season 6 Episode 16)
Supergirl Season 6 Episode 16, “Nightmare in National City,” is a standout episode for Nia Nal as she fully steps into her power as Dreamer.
Nicole Maines delivers one of her best performances of the series that solidifies the potential longevity of Nia and Dreamer in this universe.
However, the rest of the episode falls short as it juggles too many moving parts and contradicts preexisting rules and narratives as a result.
The immediate nostalgia resulting from the classic Supergirl intro, being at CatCo, and simple things like seeing J’onn as a Martian are enough to make any long-time fan’s heart flutter.
Unfortunately, those warm and fuzzy feelings don’t save the episode from itself.
The odd inconsistencies with rules regarding secret identities are easier to overlook with a child as perceptive as Esme.
However, it’s impossible to ignore when someone experienced in this field, like Alex, speaks to a political leader from The Tower and does so not as Sentinal.
Not to mention, Kara rips off her glasses and becomes Supergirl in a shot that frames William over her shoulder, looking in that direction, therefore suggesting he could have seen it.
At the rate Supergirl is going, it wouldn’t be a shocking twist for William to be aware of the Super Friends’ secret identities.
This show is doing everything it can to reframe William as someone with an influential role on the team, but sometimes that comes at the detriment of the titular character.
Kara Danvers is a Pulitzer-winning journalist, yet the show presents Kara as someone who needs tons of training (from William) on how to do her job.
That depiction of Kara’s capabilities stings considering her decision to quit the media empire, despite Kara always finding a way to balance her super life with work in the past.
In the early seasons, CatCo is a haven where Kara realizes the power she can wield without suiting up. It became a safe place for Kara to reconnect with her friends and write about truth and justice.
It’s an odd choice to introduce this storyline with only four episodes left. An arc like this would have been compelling to follow had it been introduced seasons ago.
That decision would give the show ample time to explore the Super Friends’ work/life balance in a way that isn’t rushed.
Now, Supergirl is stuck between a rock and a hard place for a few reasons. First, there is no way Cat Grant will hear about Kara’s departure and do nothing about it.
Plus, Kara is now one of many heroes in The Tower who aren’t employed, which is a weird practical issue.
Furthermore, it’s difficult to imagine how Supergirl can wrap up this story and presumably let Kara realize she doesn’t have to sacrifice one part of herself for the other in a way that doesn’t give us whiplash.
If the final season needed to take this turn, Andrea could have fired Kara since her attendance record is spotty, and she never turned over that Phantoms story.
Thankfully, Nia Nal cuts through all the noise of “Nightmare in National City.” As a result, the major-level politics and plotholes fade into the background when Nicole Maines is on our TVs.
Nia’s story is the kind of excellence this final season needs. It is a character-driven, grounded narrative that elevates the stakes of the overarching plot in a believable way.
This episode hones in on the consequences for heroes with the dome that endangers the lives of National City residents. However, Nia and Maeve’s interactions carry the actual weight of the episode’s themes.
It’s vital that Supergirl never presents a narrative in which Maeve’s transphobia is forgiven. As a result, Maeve’s immediate redemption is never on the table.
Instead, the focus remains on Nia — her actions, her decisions, her power.
J’onn tells the team that Dream powers would make Nyxly unstoppable. That sentiment alone presents Dreamer as the strongest hero on Supergirl. It’s wonderful to see how the episode exemplifies her strength.
Nia goes on a solo mission, confronts Maeve, claims her power as Dreamer, stands against Nyxly, and allows herself to be vulnerable.
Nicole Maines rides the waves of Nia’s complexities so brilliantly that it’s easy to get swept up in her blue tide.
Nia contains multitudes, and this episode lets us intimately see that. It’s equally moving to watch Nia hold back Nyxly as it is for her to come home to Brainy and find comfort in his embrace.
Such a spectrum of strength is rarely represented for female superheroes, especially in a confined time. That’s partly why episodes like Supergirl Season 6 Episode 12, “Blind Spots” stand out.
There’s an impressive range to Nia and such rich mythology attached to Dreamer that it’s impossible not to dream up a way for Nicole Maines to stay in our lives in this role beyond the upcoming series finale.
Stray Thoughts
- I love Jon Cryer as Lex Luthor as much as the next person, but did he need to come back now?
- Esme’s drawings are spot on! Supergirl has her hands on her hips and everything.
- Lena is doing her best and is mere weeks into witchcraft. Can everyone stop asking her to do spells?
- William’s name tags while pretending to be the world leaders are pretty fun.
- Kara calling Esme her niece and J’onn calling her his granddaughter will never get old.
- That brief Danvers sister moment was nice. Guess we won’t get another one before the end of the season.
- Brainy’s green pancakes aren’t as impressive as Domestic Brainy’s attire. Let’s be honest.
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.