"Better a fallen rocket than never a burst of light."
~ Tom Stoppard, The Invention of Love

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Relationship Spotlight: Kara Zor-El, Alex Danvers & J’onn J’onnz (Supergirl)


It seems like, on this blog, a reoccurring adage is, “When in doubt, write about a character/relationship on Supergirl!” Because even though I recognize that the show can be silly and the writing can be heavyhanded, I continue to love it pretty wholeheartedly, and a major component of that is my love for so many of the characters and the relationships between them. I’ve already written about Kara and Alex as the major heart of the series, but I want to circle back around and look at the dynamic of adding J’onn into the mix (some spoilers, including from the most recent season 5 episode, “In Plain Sight.”)

It’s wild to stop and think that J’onn, under the guise of DEO head Hank Henshaw, is initially brusque and short with Supergirl, and that Kara and Alex go through a period of thinking J’onn is shady before he reveals his true identity to them, a Green Martian who fled the genocide of his people 300 years ago. Because looking at them now, you’d never think there was ever a time when these three didn’t love each other.

Alex and Kara may be adopted sisters, but in a way, J’onn is the man these two fatherless young women have chosen to adopt as their father. The series features so many warm, loving moments that show how J’onn cares for both Kara and Alex. He and Alex have had numerous heart-to-hearts at the DEO about Alex’s career goals, her personal heartaches, and her moments of self-doubt, and he encourages and champions her every step of the way. He and Kara relate to another one as aliens on Earth, both from races that have been all but wiped out, and he gives her support and advice on her hero’s journey.

J’onn is definitely like a surrogate father to Kara and Alex, but the fact that they don’t meet until all three are adults help Kara and Alex simultaneously approach J’onn more as equals. Just as they come to him when they need a sounding board or an empathetic ear, they’re there for him to lean on when he has troubles of his own. That can mean support (Kara giving her blessing to his vow of non-violence and excitedly checking out his new alien P.I. digs,) a loving push (Alex helping him come to terms with his father’s dementia,) and, most recently, gentle understanding and validation.

This last point is what prompted me to talk about these three now. One of the main plots of this season is the return of J’onn’s long-lost brother Malefic, a White Martian collaborator who was erased from the collective Martian consciousness. J’onn works to uncover his hidden memories of Malefic and learns that he was the one to erase his brother from memory. Although he did it in a desperate bid to ease his father’s guilt at Malefic’s war crimes, this is the worst sin a Martian can commit, and J’onn beats himself up with shame when he realizes what he did. He at first hides this knowledge from the others, convinced that they’ll feel as disgusted with him as he does with himself, but when he confides in Kara and Alex, both respond lovingly, pointing out the compassionate motivation behind his actions them and reminding him of the honorable man he is today. Such beautiful expressions of understanding and accepting, making my heart swell for this wonderful little intergalactic found family.

No comments:

Post a Comment