BWW Recap: Who is SUPERGIRL Without Her Powers?

On this week's episode of SUPERGIRL, Kara had to learn to be a hero without her superpowers, Alex finally got answers about what happened to her father, and Hank Henshaw's true identity was revealed. (And we learned that James Olsen has some very impressive arm muscles.)

Kara's battle with the Red Tornado drained her cells of their Kryptonian energy and she needs a few days to reabsorb enough radiation for her powers to work again. She's frustrated by her lack of abilities and seeks help from the hologram of her mother who advises her to "lean on those you trust" until she's recovered.

Speaking of trust, it's clear that Alex no longer trusts Hank Henshaw and is determined to find out what role he actually played in her father's death. When an alien in captivity named Jemm (played by Charlie Halford), who has psychic powers and can take control of minds, threatens to expose Hank's identity, Alex is intrigued.

As Kara and James are walking along the streets of National City, an earthquake strikes, causing huge damages. Kara's arm is broken in the fall and James (heroically and valiantly) takes off his shirt to use it as a makeshift. His tank top reveals his arm muscles...#swoon.

At the DEO base, the earthquake allows Jemm to get loose and they seal off the base so he can't escape. Hank asks Alex to remain in the control room with the other agents while he goes after Jemm because he needs someone that he can trust to protect everyone.

Winn manages to restore television to Cat's office, winning her approval. (Okay, that play on words was terrible.) Unfortunately, Maxwell Lord is on air criticizing SUPERGIRL for not helping and telling the people of National City that they need to rely on themselves instead of her. Cat is determined to counter his publicity with some of her own and sets Winn to work.

James and Kara go in search of Maxwell who theorizes that SUPERGIRL may have lost her powers permanently since Superman's always come back within 48 hours. Kara is shaken by this thought, but even more bothered when a girl whose father is dying asks them for help and says that SUPERGIRL is the only one who could have saved him.

Meanwhile, Jemm has killed the two agents who went looking for him with Henshaw. Just as Alex is about to lead another mission, Henshaw appears at the door explaining what had occurred. He tells Alex to stay in the base and trust in him, but it's clear that Alex can't. She decides to go on a mission of her own with another agent, though she soon loses him to Jemm.

The scene between Kara and James in which she shares her fears about losing her powers forever was really touching. She's upset that she couldn't save the girl's father and admits, "These past few weeks have been the best of my life." James comforts her by telling her that not even Superman can save everyone and that the important thing is to keep trying.

Kara sees a robbery occurring across the street and goes to help, despite James trying to stop her. Kara, in her SUPERGIRL costume, tries to talk the armed robber out of committing a crime. This scene was beautifully written as it cuts between Kara talking to the man and Cat's live stream to the people of National City. Kara asks, "Don't you see that we are all in this together?" as Cat reminds everyone that Supergirl's spirit stays with them even when she isn't there and that they must all become heroes.

When Hank finds Alex roaming through the DEO on her own, he's incredibly angry. She turns on him, threatening him with her gun and chaining him to some pipes. She confronts him about her father and then, in a surprising twist, offers him up to Jemm. I understand that she's upset that he was involved in her father's death, but this seemed a bit extreme to me...

James and Kara look at the photo that James took the moment that the robber handed his gun over to her. Kara asks when James started taking photos and he explains that his dad bought him a camera before leaving for the Gulf War. His father never returned and so he "never put that camera down." James tells Kara that she doesn't need her powers to be a hero and they embrace. It seems like everyone on this show has lost their dad in some way.

Winn walks in to see them hugging and uncomfortably tells Kara that he did enough research to figure out that she may need a Kryptonian adrenaline rush to inspire her powers to start working again before awkwardly walking out. Kara runs after him and he tells her that "the superhero never gets the guy" and reminds her that James is dating Lucy. Maybe it was a little harsh, but Winn has a good point: James already has a girlfriend.

Jemm finds Alex and the two fight. It seems certain that Jemm will kill her, before Henshaw appears and fights him off. "I told you, Alex, I'm not the enemy," he insists. I have to admit, I was hoping Henshaw would save her!

An explosion rocks Kara's office building and Winn finds out that people are trapped on the floor above them. James, Kara, and Winn pry open the elevator door and James climbed up to the next floor to open their door so they can all climb down. But then, he falls and is dangling from a rope, When the rope breaks, it's the motivation Kara needs for her powers to start working again and she saves him. Then the boys send her off to help the city and she puts out fires and rescues schoolchildren.

Later, Winn is upset and Kara tries to talk to him. "I'm never disappointed in Supergirl. I was disappointed in you," he tells her. #ouch

Meanwhile, Hank agrees to tell Alex his true identity, but tells her that she can't tell Kara or anyone else. He explains that the real Hank Henshaw and Jeremiah Danvers had been pursing an alien in Peru. When Jeremiah learned that the alien was innocent and the only one left from its planet, he tried to stop Henshaw from killing it. He gave his life to save the alien.

Yep, you guessed it. That alien that Alex's dad died saving? The man we all know as Hank Henshaw. (My mind was blown too.)

He explains that he is a shapeshifter alien and took on Hank Henshaw's appearance after his death. Before Alex's dad died, he promised him that he would take care of Alex as if she were his own daughter. I've always loved the somewhat father-daughter relationship Hank and Alex have, so this made me so happy. Hank (or rather, the Martian Manhunter) shows Alex his true form...and it's a bit scary.

In another touching Kara and Cat moment, SUPERGIRL appears to thank her for her broadcast and for being National City's hero in their time of need. She tells her, "I know you inspired them, because you inspire me."

Just when it looks like things are going back to normal...Astra and her men knock SUPERGIRL out of the sky, ready for a fight. Who's excited to see more of Laura Benanti next week? Who was shocked by Hank Henshaw's true identity? Did anyone guess it? Are you #TeamWinn or #TeamJames?

Tweet me with your thoughts at @nicoleackman16 and don't forget to come back next week for another recap!

Photo Credit: CBS

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