Supergirl--
"The Fanatical"
SG/Kara: "I thought we talked about this?" (to Lena). Once again, Supergirl seems to think free human beings must report their business to her under the idea that it might be harmful to Kryptonians. Apologizing to Lena only read as SG trying to clean up a mess
"At my expense?" (to James) Is she kidding? What James decides to tell Lena is his business, and he would not be in any compromised position at all if Supergirl did not cross the line and ask James to break into Lena's vault.
James: Okay, the show was trying to make a real world statement (this late in the game) about the idea of a hero not being accepted with a black face behind it, and the police automatically considering a black male the suspect/criminal instead of the white people who were clearly identified as a threat (the scene with Tanya). This should have been explored long ago on the series with it happening to James as just a regular black man on the street--the situation innumerable black males face, especially in Western countries. The impact of its message would have worked using that approach early on. In the way it was presented here, it leaned in the "Very Special Episode" direction, even with its dramatic moments.
"Racism is the oldest form of bullying" No. That's an incredibly gross underselling of racism as one of the only forms of genuine evil in human history, with mass murder, enslavement and propaganda keeping entire populations in a constant state of being dehumanized / suppression being just a few of its hallmarks.
James deciding to go public was--frankly--the most heroic moment of the entire series. As a regular human--and a black male, he has everything to lose if he exposes himself. He does not have superpowers to fall back on for protection, no Fortress of Solitude to run to if society turned on him. He would just be a target with no serious protections in society.
Nice Guardian moment as James sort of Batmans his way into the secret room holding his costume.
Tanya, Coville and his cult: Olivia and her henchmen were as irritating as they needed to be,
Lena: "We don't have a friendship" Well, its good Lena still has the moral high ground in reminding SG about her control and ethically challenged actions.
Lena & James' moments were solid. It feels like the showrunners are trying to make it the real deal...at least for now.
Mon-El: Best use of the character so far.
NOTES: The fight scene...nice, thanks to the conflict actually feeling like all was hanging in the balance.
GRADE: B