Supergirl Review: Truth or Consequences (Season 6 Episode 18)

Supergirl Season 6 Episode 18, “Truth or Consequences,” doesn’t set the Girl of Steel’s final bow up for success.

Unfortunately, this episode makes the probability of this show pulling the train back on the tracks in time for a superhero slim to none.

Lex and Nyxly’s quest for the Totems takes them to a place of no return, but the sting of their actions is nonexistent because of Supergirl‘s lackluster build-up to such events.

William’s death is sad because that character never stood a chance this season.

He is a kind and good man, but this season signaled his eventual death as often as possible.

William cheated death too many times before, tensions peaked with Andrea, and Supergirl spent too much time trying to build endearing relationships between William and each member of the Super Friends.

So there is no way Lex’s gun wasn’t going off in that scene. That is as unlikely as believing love changed Lex enough to make him less of a murderer.

Supergirl attempts to flip the script on the trope that sees the death of a female character as a device in a male character’s journey, but it falls short of any real meaning.

This botched attempt results from the lack of focus on the female characters William’s death is supposed to impact.

This show continually sidelines Andrea until it needs an overbearing boss. Not to mention, her video call with Lena is eye-roll-inducing because it has been so long since the two “old friends” acknowledged each other’s existence.

Plus, any appearance of Acrata feels more like a second thought than an intentional decision to develop her character.

The two-hour series finale is all that remains, meaning there is no time to shoehorn Andrea’s redemption arc or Acrata’s origin story.

It is too late in the series’ run for Andrea/Acrata to get a story of this magnitude.

As for the Super Friends, Lex and Nyxly kidnapping Esme will undoubtedly overshadow William’s death.

They will likely remember him fondly and avenge him, but there is simply no time to dwell on his passing. 

It’s bizarre that Supergirl fumbles the ball with William’s death because there is so much raw emotion in “Truth or Consequences,” predominantly due to Jesse Rath’s performance.

This episode tries to find that vulnerable ground with misplaced tension between Alex and Kara that, once again, falls flat.

Brainy is the actual powerful tether of this episode, and it is because of the way Rath comes at every scene with such tenderness. He elevates the material in a way that walks the fine line of heart and humor.

Rath approaches everything with the kind of seriousness and sincerity that grounds storylines that could feel overwhelmingly outlandish.

Brainy often recognizes the absurdity of a situation, the holes in a plan, or pokes fun at a thing he doesn’t understand since he’s from the future.

However, the last few seasons let Brainy explore his vulnerability in a way that allows Rath to showcase his immense range as a performer.

This episode echoes a lot of the residual anxiety from Supergirl Season 5 Episode 10, “The Bottle Episode.” Because of that, it’s touching to watch Brainy lean into Nia rather than turn away from her.

Their relationship is one of the best things to come from Supergirl and the Arrowverse. Their connection is as organic and seamless as it is tried and true.

Nicole Maines and Jesse Rath’s chemistry makes the quiet Brainia moments the standout ones of “Truth or Consequences.”

It’s as though those scenes exist adjacent to the rest of this episode’s drama yet stand as a reminder of the kind of scenes Supergirl dedicated more time to in the past.

The Brainia scenes are the character-driven beats the rest of the episode couldn’t get quite right. However, they prove this show is capable of delivering meaningful stories.

Now, Supergirl deals with the battle of finding a way to promptly deliver such excellence for the rest of the Super Friends. Can it stick its superhero landing?

Stray Thoughts

• Kara protecting Dreamer with her cape is my favorite.
• Let’s not forget Kara Danvers is one of the strongest Arrowverse characters.
• She stands alone opposite Lex and Nyxly, who wield multiple Totems.
• “You have to seize the joy when you can.”
• I’ll never get tired of hearing Esme call Alex and Kelly her moms.
• “Rain On Me” played at Dansen’s bachelorette party. I love them!

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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