“This is the biggest thing that has ever happened to you and you shouldn’t have to do it alone.” I’ll be upfront and say that this review is going to largely focus on Alex’s part of the episode. For me, that was the main plot, and it’s the most important and memorable story. Last season I begged and begged for Alex Danvers to get more character development. My request has been answered in full this season as we’re getting an incredible growth story for Alex’s character as she’s learning more about her sexuality. The introduction of Maggie Sawyer has stirred up a long repressed part of Alex that just so happens to be attracted to women. Last week Alex confessed to Maggie that there was some truth to her suspicions that Alex might be gay. Since then, Maggie has become a great support system for Alex, giving advice where she can and just being a good friend. I enjoy watching these two together. Alex is completely smitten with Maggie. There’s this excitement about her when she’s with her that’s almost like watching a teenager around their first crush. It’s kind of adorable. When Alex asks Maggie what to do next with this new information about herself, Maggie encourages her to come out to Kara, promising that she’ll buy her a drink when she does.
“Alex, it kind of sounds like you’re coming out to me.” Kara and Alex pretty much broke the Feels-O-Meter with their incredible sister scenes this week. Alex finally works up the courage to tell Kara that she’s developed feelings for Maggie. It was interesting to see how Kara responded. Initially, she’s not super reactive to the news, just slowly taking in what Alex is telling her, and asking questions to try and figure out how long Alex has felt like this. Given what we learn later, Kara’s reserved response seems to have less to do with Alex’s revelation itself, and more to do with Kara feeling some guilt over the fact that Alex hasn’t been able to reveal this side of herself before now. Alex is also using this conversation to do some more self-discovery, tapping into buried childhood memories of feelings that she remembers having for a best friend, and realizing that her feelings for girls aren’t really as new as she thought. It’s so sad to hear her talk about how those memories scared her so much, and how she just shoved them away and pretended they didn’t happen. Her feelings were and are real and valid and nothing to be ashamed of. While their conversation goes well for the most part, when Kara asks Alex if Maggie has feelings for her, Alex suddenly shuts down, saying she doesn’t want to talk about it anymore. Through all of this, Kara is never unsupportive, but she also doesn’t give Alex any affirmative verbal indication that she’s on board with what she’s been told. As a result, there is an interesting moment between them later at the DEO. An injured Kara is sent home to rest. Alex offers to go with her and make sure that she’s okay, but Kara declines the offer saying that she’s fine. From a story standpoint, I think this moment is meant as a red herring to make the audience question Kara’s feelings. The look on Alex’s face though, you can tell that she thinks Kara is avoiding her, and it’s heartbreaking.