BWW Recap: SUPERGIRL Learns the Meaning of 'Stronger Together'

In the second episode of the season, SUPERGIRL learns that her family's motto of "Stronger Together" is true as she works with James Olsen, Winn Schott, and her sister Alex. She turns to smaller tasks in an effort to prove herself to the DEO and fix her bad reputation with the people of National City, but a bigger threat is lurking...in the form of her Aunt Astra.

A week after revealing herself, Kara is still going through tests for the Department of Extranormal Operations to ensure that she's in full control of her powers. She's excited about embracing her true identity and is eager to solve all of the city's problems. She tells Alex, "For the last twelve years, I hid who I was and I don't have to anymore. I don't want to waste a minute of it."

However, when she saves a ship full of oil from the path of a fire, she causes an oil slick and turns the people of National City against her. Her boss, Cat, calls a meeting to discuss Supergirl's failures, even calling her "#terriblegirl." Though James tries to defend her, Cat insists that they need to "take control of Supergirl's narrative" and asks for an interview with the new superhero by the end of the week. She is determined to beat The Daily Planet's coverage.

Kara has a heart to heart with James, who tries to encourage her. He tells her, "If anybody can fill Superman's boots, it's you." (Awww.) Kara, and the whole audience, is charmed.

Meanwhile, a Hellgrammite monster surfaces at a chemical manufacturing factory. He's an insect alien that can shapeshift and seems dangerous. Kara is eager to help, but director of the DEO Henshaw says that she needs to prove herself first. Alex challenges Kara to a fight and wins...typically sibling fighting, right?

After Cat insults SUPERGIRL (again), Kara asks what advice she would give to the new superhero. "There is a learning curve," Cat responds. "You don't just walk through the door and suddenly own the company." Kara decides that she needs practice and asks Winn and James to help her. The tension between the two, who are clearly both smitten with Kara, is hilarious and well played by Jeremy Jordan and Mehcad Brooks. Jeremy's reaction to Kara's statement of "He's my friend" made me laugh out loud! #poorwinn

With Winn and James's help, Kara solves small crimes and wins back the favor of the city. In addition, Alex interrupts their pizza party to apologize for her earlier doubts about Kara's abilities. But just when everything seems like it's going well...Laura Benanti appears.

Kara's Aunt Astra decides to use the Hellgrammite monster as bait to capture Kara. Henshaw and Alex realize that he was in the chemical plant because he feeds off the chemicals there. They attempt to catch him, but the plan backfires and he escapes with a wounded Alex, whom he brings to Astra. Laura Benanti is as terrifying in the role of Kara's evil aunt as she is lovely in the role of Kara's mother.

Kara overhears Cat give James an ultimatum: get her an interview with SUPERGIRL within 24 hours or be fired. She tells him she'll do the interview to save his job, but James admits that he is upset that he's only valued for his connections to his superhero friends and wants to be his own man. Kara tells him that, "Back on Krypton, no one was their own man" and explains that the S symbol actually stands for their family motto: "Stronger Together."

In the most touching scene of the episode, Kara admits to James, "I don't want to be a hero like him. My cousin, he's so used to going it alone. He doesn't know any other way. But I do." The romantic tension between the two is palpable, but the moment is broken when Henshaw calls to tell Kara that Alex has been taken. She angrily asks if he has a family and he mysteriously responds, "I did." #shady

The climax of the episode is the confrontation between Astra and Kara, in one of the best choreographed fight scenes I've ever seen on a TV show. Kara's confusion and hurt is portrayed beautifully by Melissa Benoist. Astra reveals that she wasn't on Krypton when it exploded because her sister had put her in prison on Fort Roz.

Astra alternates between fighting Kara and trying to convince her to join her side. Just when it looks like Astra might win, Henshaw arrives and stabs her with a mysterious blade. Kara asks Alex to train her in combat and reveals that her mother and Astra were always fighting when she was younger.

Alex leads Kara to a room that she's set up with a hologram of Kara's mother, made with the crystal she used in the previous episode. This hologram is programmed to provide Kara with assistance and it's disconcerting to see Laura Benanti once again as the loving and gentle Allura.

Meanwhile, Astra is confused about the blade that Henshaw wounded her with and concerned about her niece. "She's not just a little girl from Krypton anymore," she quips. Her helpers discover that the blade isn't from Earth, making me wonder...who exactly is Henshaw? A quick Google search revealed that his character is traditionally a villain in the Superman comics. It would appear he's not what he seems.

At the end of the episode, Kara flies Cat's car up to the roof of a building and offers to do an interview -- but on her terms. #girlpower

One of the best parts of this week's episode may have been the cast's live tweeting. Jeremy Jordan is especially hilarious and I retweeted way too many of his ridiculous tweets. Jeremy's is definitely one of the standout performances of the show, as he proves both his comedic and emotional acting skills as Kara's best friend.

This episode left the audience with many questions: Why was Astra really banished to prison? Who, or what, is Henshaw? Are Kara and James ever going to get together? Let me know your thoughts on Twitter at @nicoleackman16 and don't forget to return next week for another recap.

Photo Credit: CBS

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