BWW Recap: SUPERGIRL Helps the Martian Manhunter Face His Past

On this week's episode of SUPERGIRL, Kara helps Hank Henshaw (or J'onn J'onzz or the Martian Manhunter or whatever you want to call him) confront the White Martian and helps Cat Grant confront the son she gave away. The number of heartbreaking moments in this episode was impressive; SUPERGIRL is definitely BECOMING deeper with every episode.

Kara runs into a handsome stranger while picking up Cat Grant's latte who questions her about whether Cat is truly as bad as he's heard. Kara valiantly defends Cat...and doesn't realize she's being flirted with. She's stunned when he shows up in Cat's office: turns out he's the mysterious firstborn of Cat Grant whom she gave away at birth. Cat is surprised to hear that Adam received her letter and wants to have dinner together, but is happy to agree.

Of course, Cat didn't actually send that letter. Kara, after seeing Cat trying and failing to write to her son, decided to finish a letter for her and send it off. Though Cat is mad at her, Kara insists, "Sometimes it's easier to face the past with a little help."

Senator Crane is holding an anti-alien rally in National City. (Didn't know those were a thing, but in this election I wouldn't be surprised.) Hank and Alex are there to keep an eye out for any alien invasions, while James Olsen begged Cat to let him be the photographer for the rally. The White Martian shows up and starts tearing through the crowd; it's clear that Hank recognizes him. Could this alien be the key to Hank's past?

SUPERGIRL rescues Senator Crane and they bring her back to DEO headquarters to keep her safe. When she criticizes Supergirl, Kara retorts, "I guess you forgot the part where I saved your ass." You tell her, girl.

Hank explains to Alex and Kara that the White Martians slaughtered the Green Martians by burning them all. He says that he brought the White Martian to National City because it sensed when he used his powers to investigate Maxwell Lord.

Cat is facing her own past at her dinner with her son. Adam calls her out for talking only about herself and tells her, "It's always been about you." #uhoh

While looking at the photos that James took at the rally, Kara notices that Senator Crane's eyes glow in one of them. I knew she was shady! Meanwhile, Senator Crane tells Hank that he should launch an investigation to find the alien working in the DEO. When she mentions being attacked by the White Martian, Hank knows that something isn't right...he'd never mentioned the name of the alien.

The White Martian, in Senator Crane's form, launches an attack on the DEO. Luckily, SUPERGIRL shows up to defend Hank who seems unable to fight. Alex blames herself for the problem because she was the one who pushed Hank to use his powers against Maxwell Lord. But Hank is adamant that the problem is his alone. Alex tries to comfort him, saying: "I am so sorry about what happened to your planet. I can't imagine what that feels like, but together we're going to protect this one."

Hank tells Alex how the White Martians invaded his home and herded the Green Martians into camps. He reveals that his wife and two daughters were burned to death by them. "I will hear my family's screams until the day I die," he confesses. David Harewood's acting in this scene was so incredible; he absolutely brought me to tears.

Cat returns from her dinner with Adam upset and Kara goes to defend her boss. As Kara defends Cat, Adam realizes that she wrote the letter he received. Kara goes out with Cat and Adam to help them talk to each other. Mother and son finally admit that they missed each other, thanks to Kara's mediating skills. When Cat said, "I never got to put a picture you'd drawn on the fridge," my heart broke!

Hank insists that he's going to kill the White Martian when he finds it, but Alex pleads with him to not become a murderer. "You know nothing about me," Hank insists. (Did anyone else immediately think, "You know nothing of Javert"?)

In a fight, the White Martian takes Alex hostage to use as bait. She arranges a meeting with Hank in the desert. Hank tells Kara to take Alex and get out, but Kara isn't willing to leave him. He tells her, "I'm tired of being the last." Kara says that she thinks her mother didn't come with her to Earth because she felt responsible for what happened on Krypton and dying was easier. I think Hank needed to hear the line from Hamilton, "Dying is easy, young man, living is harder."

Hank is ready to let the White Martian kill him, but Kara steps in. When they manage to beat the White Martian, Hank handcuffs Kara so that she can't stop him from killing it. "Do not throw away who you are. If you do, that thing wins," Kara pleads with him.

Kara wins Hank over (and with Melissa Benoist's amazing acting, how could she not?) and they place the White Martian in DEO prison. Hank tells Alex and Kara that he had two daughters of his own and says, "Any man would be proud to call you his daughters." One of my favorite things about SUPERGIRL continues to be the father-daughter relationship between Hank/J'onn and the Danvers sisters.

Adam comes to Cat's office to tell her that he decided to stay in National City for a while. Kara is stunned when he asked her on a date, but didn't we all see that coming? She confesses to Alex that she's worried about the date going badly. Kara Danvers can fight off any alien, but her love life seems to always be a mess.

It was so great to see Blake Jenner (who plays Adam Foster) and Melissa Benoist on screen together. It's no wonder they have incredible chemistry; they're married on real life!

My one problem with this episode? Jeremy Jordan got very little screen time. Obviously, last week's episode was a big one for Jeremy (and one in which he definitely proved himself as an actor). When Kara told Alex, "I miss my best friend" I couldn't agree more.

It looks like Maxwell Lord's evil creation has finally come to life. Anyone else super worried about how the Real SUPERGIRL versus Fake SUPERGIRL showdown next week is going to turn out?

Don't forget to let me know what you thought about the episode on Twitter at @nicoleackman16 and join me to livetweet the next episode.

Photo Credit: CBS