#anti alex danvers

[finallyafemalesuperhero]

And yet she did!

In episode 3 of Finally A Female Superhero we almost ruin our friendship (not in the Jenny way, the death fight way) by debating the 'merits' of Alex.

This episode covers Episode 3 Season 1 of Supergirl, Fight or Flight.

[kt-2023]

I agree with this although i have never loved the Danvers sisters (Alex Danvers).

The show is called Supergirl which is a powerful woman with extraordinary abilities and yet Alex treats Kara like shit and in my opinion brings down her character.

Firstly : Alex shot kara out of the sky with Kryptonite and she knew that the bullet itself or the impact of the floor below could have killed her, Alex had the power to say no, no one was holding a gun to her head forcing her to do so.

Secondly: The red K incident, Kara told Alex under the influence about her issues and how Alex was controlling her and forcing her to be something she wasn't so that Kara wouldn't out shine her, which is stupid, of course she outshines her the show is called Supergirl, Kara is better then Alex she is a god damn superpowered Alien who was strong enough to overcome her planets destruction whereas Alex couldn't even handle the though of loosing Maggie.

Thirdly : Astra's death, Astra was on her knees where Alex could have cuffed her and taken her back to the DEO she wasn't in any threatening poses but instead started to talk to Alex about how she wanted to make sure what happened to krypton didn't happen here because her niece had made it her home and how there was no stopping non even if she wanted to (which was said in a way that indicated that she feared him) but Alex still killed astra even know she was basally surrendering and was not a threat (at the moment) and then let John take the fall and lied about it for weeks.

Fourthly: Alex distrust in Lena When Lena came along she gave kara a escape but Alex would threaten her and make digs towards Lena about her last name, which was disgusting, and continuedly undermining kara which would have made kara feel trapped and suffocated. she behaviour was disgusting and unprofessional. when she made kryptonite that is when Lena should have been investigated not before.

Fifthly : Maggie and Alex started a relationship where Maggie made it clear from the beginning that she didn't want kids and she wasn't ready to think about marriage but Alex wouldn't stop going on about it ad then when Maggie broke it off Alex was surprised and didn't understand why when it was obvious.

Sixthly : when Jeremiah was found Alex kept ignoring Kara and when kara brough up suspicions she ignored her even know Jeremiah was captured for years and god know what could had happened and then told kara that she was either apart of the family or she wasn't which was disgusting.

seventhly : Kara had just found out Argo was still there and her mother was alive, and everyone wants to go home at the end of the day but because of Alex continuedly calling her and asking when she was returning her reunion became a trip not a homecoming as it should have been.

Eighthly: when Lena found out about Kara she should have said so to kara and allowed Kara to Explain but she didn't, she made it into an excuse to become a villain and almost kill Kara with the Kryptonite missiles.

Ninthly: When Alex adopted Esme i didn't see it as a happy even i saw it as a worrying one because Alex has killed and experimented on aliens and now she was adopting a alien child, i had chills when it was announced. she should have adopted a human and left the alien children alone.

And lastly there is the continuousness of "i know what your going through" Reality check, you don't bitch.

Thank you for reading and hopefully this can make you see my point of view, i do not nor will i ever like (Alex Danvers) as a character.

Kara Deserves Better

You know what really made me mad about this episode? And I mean, after I heard it I was literally infuriated for the last 30 minutes of the episode.

When said she knew what Kara’s experience growing up as an alien because she was right there next to her.

Excuse me miss “I know the X experience because I have X friends” but no you don’t

Alex may have witnessed it. Alex may have been a bystander. Alex may have been with Kara every step of the way. But it doesn’t matter how close Alex is with Kara, she will never know what that experience was actually like because she is human. She doesn’t know what it’s like to be an alien. Point blank.

You think Alex would be okay if a straight person walked up to her and said “I know what it’s like to be gay in this country because I have gay friends.” No! She would probably punch them. Because that shit isn’t okay.

Don’t assume to know the experience of someone or of a community just because you’re close to someone in that community.

And if you do, then get fucked you piece of shit.

The fact that Alex said this wasn’t addressed in the show literally infuriated me. I’m not saying Kara is perfect, but the way this show treats it’s main character is bullshit. Kara was literally so guilty for trying to offer advice and Alex blew up at her and then gave some bullshit apology. Like, at least address the fucked up shit that was said to her.

I love the Danvers sister. They’re the heart of the show. But that doesn’t mean Kara always has to take Alex’s shit like that.

[karaspal]

you honestly don’t need to like every queer character that exists, and i truly mean it. at the end of the day, if you don’t like them, you have every right to. but you don’t get to say they are bad representation simply because you don’t related to them. not every character will appeal to you, but that doesn’t make them a bad representation. feel free to critique them and their personalities, it’s your right to, but don’t be a jerk about their queerness unless they are falling under a harmful stereotype.

some people take it on the next leave too, and say that a character who isn’t queer in canon is better representation. in what world? you might feel connected to them and see your queerness in their journey, the same thing has happened to me too, but that’s not the same as having a literal queer story. queer characters are there to make you feel seen, but not only that. they are also here to challenge the status quo, to normalise queer people just existing and to make bigots uncomfortable. remember when jon kent was first announced to be bisexual with the cover of him kissing his boyfriend? yeah, a headcanon will never have such reaction.

my point isn’t made to attack people for seeing parts of themselves in “straight / allo / cis” characters. it’s wonderful that you found a character you could relate to and make you feel less alone. it really is. like i said, i see parts of my queer identity in characters who “don’t” have my sexuality too. but don’t put down actual queer representation for characters who have never been confirmed queer. it’s wrong of you to. at the end of the day, these are the characters who actually make the difference.

[kent-farm]

Now you're just bringing Chinese food so you don't get in trouble?

—Kara Danvers, Supergirl, "City of Lost Children"

[hitchell-mope]

Kara: call me osha the way I’m demanding a railing.

(Two minutes later)

Mon El: once again we have been written up by HR.

Kara (seething): Alex is such a fucking killjoy.

[mrowmrowmrow9]

Intelligent Title

I didn't even rewatch the last episode of s4, it was just taking me forever to finish and I have things to say so anyway.

I get that it's obvious to the audience that xenophobia = bad, but it sure wasn't to the people of National City. So where were the actual arguments? When did they actually address the public's concerns? Superfam just kept going "This is not the time to fight" and *insert completely unrelated hope speech here*

And I really just don't understand why they gave the new villain of the season a whole ass episode for his sob story. I think it's good when villains are somewhat sympathetic, but they really went far with this one. Aren't we supposed to hate him? I sure did.

Kara's whole characterization kind of...confused me this season. First, we had inexperienced and optimistic Kara, then we had somewhat experienced but still optimistic Kara, and then depressed but experienced, intelligent and serious Kara in s3. Which I know the depressed part wasn't that fun to watch but it felt like a logical character progression, at least to me. And then we have...somehow really dumb and irrationally optimistic Kara? How did this happen? She's basically her season 1 self, but more arrogant and way more willing to let her friends walk all over her, apparently.

And please don't get me started on that whole scene where she apologized to LENA for being upset that LENA consistently lied to her (and her mother) about something that originally belonged to her people and she probably has some trauma about. Just don't :)

As for the ending, I have two main issues with it. First of all, I really hate when they redeem characters by having them sacrifice themselves. Dying is easy. Understanding why you sucked and getting better is hard. And they made it look like Red Daughter only saved Kara because she didn't want Lex to win, which is likely what happened but it's certainly not much of a redemption.

And lastly, the Alex-remembers-and-Kara-comes-back-to-life scene. Ho boy. One of the things I find compelling about action shows is the suspense. You're actually worried for the characters. I rarely felt like this for Supergirl, but now the show guarantees we never will. Why? Because Kara pretty much can't die, apparently. Electrocuted? Touch some grass! Poisoned with kryptonite? Roll out the sun lamps and she'll be fine! From now on, there's literally nothing they can do to her that will permanently kill her, as long as there's sunlight or plants around.

Whatever you say, show.

[swifteforeverandalways]

The “but definitely not Kate’s sister.” gets me EVERY DAMN TIME.

Heroes reacting to Lena's behavior

Kara: *ties to explain to Lena why she didn’t tell her about her secret identity and apologize a million times.*

Barry: “Look, I get that you’re upset, but you got to let it go. Kara loves you. Like, super platonically, but she loves you. And you don’t have enough love in your life to turn your nose up at it.”

Kate: *looks Lena over for a minute*

Kate: “Damn, you’re gorgeous. It’s a shame about your face though.”

Lena: “What about my face?”

Kate: *breaks Lena’s face with her armored kneecap*

Sara: “You made Kara cry. So, you know, I kind of have to kill you now.”

Sara: *Proceeds to beat Lena within an inch of her life*

Sara: “Now, I’m only letting you live because if you died, Kara would be sad, and then I’d have to kick my own ass, and the time bureau gets pissed when I meet myself in an time loop, so try not to fuck it up again.”

Jefferson: (who doesn’t even know Kara) “Are you kidding me?”

Jefferson: *hits Lena with 50,000 volts*

Jefferson: “Rich white bitchs, always thinking the world owes them.”

Oliver: “Lena Luthor, you have failed this friendship.”

Oliver: *puts an arrow through both of Lena’s lungs, then sits there and watches as Lena drowns in her own blood*

Sara: *looks at Lena, then at Oliver*

Sara: “Good job.”

Oliver: “Thanks”

Sara: “Kara will be sad.”

Oliver: “I know.”

Sara: “You know I have to kick your ass.”

Oliver: “Yes. Just… Not the face this time, okay?”

Sara: “I can do that.”

Kara: *finds out Lena is dead*

Kara: “Who killed her?’

Oliver: "Malcolm Merlin!”

Barry: “The Reverse Flash!”

Kate: “Someone who isn’t my sister!”

Jefferson: “Tobias Whale!”

Sara: *looks at all of these idiots*

Sara: “The Legion of Doom, which is made up of Eobard Thawne, Damian Darhk, Tobias Whale and Malcolm Merlin, but definitely not Kate’s sister.”

Alex: *facepalms*

Alex: “Every one of them is a moron.”

[fazedlight]

Reflection (Kara reveals herself to Nia)

It felt like looking in a mirror.

When the frantic brunette stepped into the elevator, chattering distractedly at a mile a minute, Kara had to bite back a laugh. The nerves and the coffee and the horror of realizing that the new reporter had stepped into an elevator with the Kara Danvers brought some amusement to Kara. But Kara soon learned that there were other similarities - a passion for social justice, a reluctance to make waves - and Kara felt some kinship with her.

Nia’s average body temperature was 94F. Kara knew what it was like to hide.

Kara didn’t know that seeing her reflection would happen almost simultaneously with her own world falling apart. It wasn’t just the turmoil of anti-alien bigotry that felt like a kick in the gut. She was a stranger in Alex’s eyes - untrustworthy and suspect, drawing apprehension from the agent’s eyes whenever she wore the red and blue. Her strongest defender, the sister who protected her and stood by her… was gone.

The only other person she could be herself with - even if she did still have to hide - was busy with work. And when Lena wasn’t busy with work, she was busy with James. It killed Kara to watch them curl up together on the rare game night when Lena came by.

Nia’s hometown of Parthas was a breath of fresh air, but even that wouldn’t last long. In a town where naltorians and humans lived in harmony for ages - a town where Nia’s transness didn’t warrant commentary either - Kara found herself feeling hopeful. Until Liberty’s men came to destroy it, until she had to heatvision a gun out of her sister’s hand and received distrust in return.

The drive back home was a long one.

Her heart broke as Nia mourned the death of her mother, the destruction of her town, the you’re not even a real woman that her sister had thrown so callously in her direction. What seemed like simple similarities, like first-day jitters or an instinct for journalism, shifted to something stinging and sharp. Their stories weren’t the same - Nia had grown up in peace, Kara had grown up in turmoil - but they were both adrift in an unwelcoming world, without the people they cared about most to help them.

Kara pulled her car over.

It was Alex’s and Lena’s faces that flickered in her mind as she stepped out. The sister she had lost, the would-be lover that was in the arms of someone else, with no one left she could feel open with. She told herself - and Nia - that it was a logical decision to come out to Nia, because Nia wouldn’t be in danger, because she was a fledgling hero in need of mentorship.

As Kara turned and whipped off her glasses, as she temporarily took to the skies, she knew that this wasn’t entirely about logic. She was wrapped up in the wishes for her childhood, in the mourning of her present. If she couldn’t help herself, she could help someone who echoed her.

“I just need you to know now that you’re not alone,” she said when she landed. I just need to know that I’m not the only one.

[thatonebirdwrites]

DEO: Department of Extra-normal Operations

This will be an essay that looks into the ethical problems of the DEO. For the purpose of this essay, I am not concerned about the showrunners reasons for their decisions for how the show presents the DEO. I care only about examining the worldbuilding and stories inherent within the world created. So let's dig into some philosophy and theory. Whee! [Minor spoilers]

To start, this department was first created within the Superman/Supergirl universe in order to analyze alien activities after Superman reveals himself on Earth. It's made in retaliation to the appearance of powerful aliens that those in power deem possible threats. Already, the DEO's beginnings are rooted not in true protection but in stopping and eradicating what those in power deem a threat. It's roots start with dubious ethics.

Let's examine it's history:

It was led by Hank Henshaw, who is vehemently anti-alien. Henshaw is also slated to have ties to Cadmus, which experimented on aliens and attempted several rather horrific and genocidal attacks on aliens. (Note that in Supergirl: Season 2, Kara and Lena thwart Cadmus' activities. Lena Luthor saves the day by modifying an alien killing virus to be harmless to all living creatures. Bits and pieces of the worldbuilding around Cadmus showed that the aliens experimented on came from DEO facilities.)

Henshaw dies when Jeremiah Danvers "kills" him when saving J'onn J'ozz, who then takes Henshaw's place until exposed. He recruits Alex sometime before his exposure (Season 1). After J'onn is exposed in Season 1, Lucy Lane takes control. Then after J'onn helps Supergirl defeat the murderous Kryptonian Non, J'onn received a presidential pardon and was reinstated as director. He kept Henshaw's guise for publicity sake.

The show makes it clear that J'onn choses to be the Director to change the DEO. Yet, what evidence is there that this actually happens?

So that's the basic history.

We have a clandestine agency that has unethical procedures that doesn't change under a new director.

The DEO picks up aliens and throws them in a cell to never be seen or heard from again. This would likely terrorize the alien neighborhoods. This is never truly address in any meaningful manner by the Superfriends or Kara.

In fact, if anything, the show positions the DEO as being Good if Alex, J'onn, or Lucy are in charge (Kara, ironically is not in charge of the DEO at any point). However, the DEO becomes Bad if Lex Luthor or Lauren Haley or the real Hank Henshaw are in charge.

This creates a rather large ethical problem.

First of all, the worldbuilding builds up the argument that certain people are good and certain people are bad. The person we see skirting between those two extremes, and living in a morally grey area the most, is Lena Luhor. For the purposes of this essay, I'll put a pin into Lena's characterization and focus only on the DEO.

Secondly, we are told again and again what Kara/Supergirl's ethics are: justice and truth. Yet when we examine Kara's actions within the context of her DEO Supergirl duties, we are confronted with the following:

She must hide her identity, even from her best friend Lena, and thus deceives regularly. Her reasons for not telling Lena are rooted in the pressure from those at the DEO to not tell Lena but also in Kara's intense fear of loss. However, Kara will demand truth from others despite her hypocritical actions. This doesn't seem to fit solidly in the "good" category.

Her "justice" is defeating criminals. Humans go to the police to eventually have a fair trial. However, aliens are not afforded that same right. Her justice for aliens becomes judge and jury. Since she professes to "not kill," she at least doesn't extend that to executioner. This again doesn't fit solidly in the "good" category.

Thus, by examining Kara/Supergirl's actions, we see a disconnect with what the show claims is "good:" truth and justice. Yet, there is no true justice for the aliens fought and captured; their rights are rescinded (if they had any at all).

This is why the show must tell us who is "good" and who is "bad," because people's actions do not fit the show's claims of what "goodness" is versus what "badness" is. Thus the worldbuilding ends up defining Kara's actions as always "good" even if those actions cause harm to those around her.

[Side note: This isn't to say that Kara is "bad." It is to say that the binary within the show's worldbuilding lacks nuance for the complexity within Kara's understanding of the world and how she acts within that understanding. This binary simply cannot allow for such a complex examination as there is no room for it.

Because of this binary, the show actually butchers Kara's character to make her past "not good" actions as somehow "right" and "good" in the end. We see this with how Kara's harmful actions toward Lena (the lying, duplicity, deception etc) is turned into "I did just one mistake" when it wasn't one mistake. It was years of harm, but because the show paints Kara as "good," Kara is not allowed growth.

This binary of good versus bad is already nonsensical in the worldbuilding since Lena Luthor's very existence throws this entire frame out the window. Her actions, always with the intention to do the least harm and try to improve the world, don't fit neatly into the binary. The story often punishes her for this. (She breaks the binary too much I suppose.)

Yet when other people's actions fail to fit neatly into the binary, the show whispers: "Hush, don't look or think, believe us when we say this person is good and this person is bad.']

To reiterate: It's okay to capture aliens and disappear them without any right to trial If the Superfriends are doing it. This good/bad definition collapses ethics into meaningless words since the activities and procedures of both the "good" people and "bad" people don't differ in terms of impact on alien communities. This lack of differentiation is why we must be told who is good. Otherwise, how would we know?

To dig a little deeper, in Season 4, when Kara is on the most wanted list, she learns very little about the true plight of aliens. During this time, the DEO becomes "bad" under the control of Lauren Haley. Lena Luthor and Alex Danvers, who are both working with the DEO still, also work against the DEO but only to clear Kara's name. So justice is done for Kara's sake but not for the other impacted alien communities.

Once Kara's reputation is restored and she's no longer deemed an "enemy of the state," Kara returns to working with the DEO, as it is now labeled as "good" again because Alex is back in charge.

Ironically, the only person in Kara's friendgroup that questions the DEO is Lena Luthor. (Who in Season 5 will have her 'villain arc' only to be redeemed to the good side again at the end of Season 5. She's the only character, who is labeled a villain at one point, that is allowed true redemption.)

We learn very little about what alien communities actually think about the DEO and about Supergirl in particular. The most we get is the Children of Liberty plot line of Season 4; however, this plot line doesn't ever give us a solid viewpoint from impacted alien communities. Instead, we are confronted with:

We are told what alien communities are like and how lacking in rights they are. Very little of this is shown directly outside of "criminal aliens." Or the brief glimpses within Manchester's arc. However, Manchester is viewed as 'in need of redemption' despite having very real grievances with the state of things. The show then tells us that Manchester is 'bad' and the 'good' J'onn and friends must stop him.

The second time we see alien daily lives is Nia's return to her hometown, which is attacked by supercharged humans. This blended town of aliens and humans serve as an outlier. Nia actually admits that the town is unique and not representative to most aliens' experiences. So again, we don't see a direct experience of alien life in National City or other major cities.

Aliens either have significant powers that humans can justifiably find scary or they are human-like with little to no powers. Both are treated the same for the sake of the Children of Liberty plot line, which serves as an immigrant allegory. @fazedlight and @sideguitars did excellent analysis on this and the problems of these allegories based on the worldbuilding and story itself. (Note: thank you to fazedlight for finding the post in question! Click here o read their analysis.)

This makes it easier for the show to pretend that the DEO is "good" when the Superfriends are in charge. Since we don't meet alien families harmed by the DEO's actions, we never truly get an alternate perspective. Even Lena Luthor's critique of DEO is spat upon by the story, where her alien friends fail to truly counter her valid points. Instead, it's presented in the good/bad binary, which erases all nuance and ethical considerations.

Let's also consider the start of the Supergirl career. Kara is captured by the DEO 12 years after her initial appearance on Earth. However, prior to this moment, we had learned that Kara had nearly been taken by the government -- specifically Henshaw's control of the DEO. Jeremiah Danvers agrees to work for the government in exchange for Kara's freedom from being a government asset.

However, her saving Alex's flight puts her in the crosshairs of DEO, and eventually she is captured. Upon which she learns J'onn is in charge (not the original Henshaw), and J'onn's goals are revealed. He allows Kara to fight her first alien fights as Supergirl. Here we see that J'onn's methods have not actually changed anything about the DEO. The alien fight results in that alien being captured. Supergirl/Kara never hears what happens to the alien she fought and captured. No thought is given to the rights of that alien or if a fair trial will be given. Instead, we are told the alien is a "criminal' as if that somehow justifies the brutal treatment.

After Alex reveals she's an agent with the DEO, Kara fully trusts the agency.

So Jeremiah gave up his life to make sure Kara wasn't being used by the government, only for Kara later on working for the DEO, which is part of the government. Thus Kara ends up used by the government after all. The irony here.

Kara's blind spot here is:

she's privileged. A white-passing, human-passing alien. It's easier for her to hide as a human and not be clocked as an alien. Also, she's white, so less likely to deal with the complications of racism. The most she has to deal with is sexism and the DEO's procedures. This means she doesn't experience the worst the DEO and the systems that uphold it dish out to aliens.

Kara hasn't really interacted with aliens outside her friend group. She's relatively sheltered since coming to Earth due to Kal placing her with the Danvers and having to hide herself. She has no real knowledge of how aliens survive on Earth. This means she has nothing in which to compare the DEO's claims.

She blindly trusts Alex when it comes to DEO.

We don't see Kara questioning what happens to aliens until Season 3 (if it happens in season 1, I apologize as that season is a bit hazy for me). Here Psi saves Kara's life during a perilous mission. Kara then asks about her accommodations and finds out she has no window in her cell. She then demands Psi be given a cell with a window.

However, notice who Kara takes with her on that Season 3 mission: LiveWire (human but due to an accident became Livewire, so she's not an alien but a meta-human) and Psi (who is labeled a meta-human). So the two incarcerated people that Kara chooses are meta-humans and not actual aliens.

So again, we never see Kara interact with aliens outside her friend group unless she is interrogating them. Once the DEO is done with interrogations and the case "closed," those aliens disappear into these windowless cells. Which, need I remind that solitary confinement is labeled as torture for a reason?

Yet that is where aliens that are dubbed "too dangerous" end up by those with power. No rights given; left trapped in solitary confinement with (likely) no windows to never see the light of day again. Of course, because we are told the "good" people do this, it is thus "okay," despite it not differing in methodology with what the "bad" people did.

2. DEO's procedures don't match law. This is especially true when alien amnesty is put into law.

DEO changes NOTHING about their procedures after alien amnesty is put into law. This means that although aliens now have a legal right to a trial, the DEO does not provide this for them. No captured alien is given this right.

This means the DEO doesn't operate within the law.

So if the DEO can disregard laws if they so desire, then what is to stop them from terrorizing any citizen regardless of whether that citizen or alien or human?

What exactly is the ethics of the DEO?

Is the ethics dependent on who is in charge? But if one compares the tenure of the directors: Henshaw, J'onn, Lucy, Alex, Lauren, and Lex -- we see no difference in how the DEO acts.

They all target aliens and give them no rights. The aliens vanish into the cells never to be seen again. This includes some meta-aliens.

Some will claim that while the Superfriends are in charge only criminal aliens are thrown into solitary cells with no hope of release.

But that begs the question: Why do the Superfriends get to be judge and jury and/or executioner? What makes their decisions good but Lauren Haley's or Lex's or the original Hank Henshaw's decisions bad?

Why do the Superfriends get to decide that criminals get no right to a fair trial? Why do they not interrogate what is causing the criminal behaviors in order to change the conditions to avoid aliens resorting to "criminality" as defined by them?

In the end, it does not matter why an alien or meta-human engages in what the state has deemed "criminal" behavior; the methods used in capture and the end result is the same regardless.

The families of captured aliens see the same results regardless of whether "good" people or "bad" people are in charge of the DEO.

While alien amnesty is in law, the DEO, who is under Superfriend control at the time, does not alter their procedures to give the aliens they capture any rights. We never see the aliens or meta-humans captured ever given a fair trial. Nor do we see any programs to reform "criminals" or give them any chance at parole or redemption.

The only method for dealing with aliens and meta-humans uses a carceral prison system that is based in solitary confinement torture. Even the interrogation procedures used have elements of torture to them. In fact, many of the "interrogation" procedures use leading questions to entrap and force a confession under duress. None of these methods are conducive toward reform or fixing a system that deprives those captured of all rights.

Alternate systems for dealing with criminals are never explored. We never see transformative or restorative justice utilized. Both systems would require extensive dialogue with the communities harmed by the "criminals," and if there is one thing the DEO fail at consistently is dialogue with the impacted communities. Instead, their approach is top down, where their ideas of what is right and best is pushed down upon the communities they claim to serve.

Part of this lies with the fact the Superfriends can't engage in dialogue as long as they adhere to the oppressive methodology and practices of the DEO. Reform has failed to alter the ethical violations within the DEO. Alex Vidale wrote an excellent book called The End of Policing, which digs into the attempted reforms for police and how they have consistently failed. Vidale writes:

“At root, they [reformers] fail to appreciate that the basic nature of the law and the police, since its earliest origins, is to be a tool for managing inequality and maintaining the status quo. Police reforms that fail to directly address this reality are doomed to reproduce it.”

The DEO at its root was created to manage the inequality inherent between human rights and the lack of any rights for aliens. It was also created to control aliens and maintain a human status quo. The Superfriends attempt at reform fails to address this reality, and thus were doomed to repeat it.

Vidale continues:

“Police argue that residents in high-crime communities often demand police action. What is left out is that these communities also ask for better schools, parks, libraries, and jobs, but these services are rarely provided.”

Services to better the conditions of so-called "high-crime" communities are not shown to be rendered in the Supergirl world, while the Superfriends are in control of the DEO. It is not more policing that is needed, but more services which do not get provided for most of the show's story and worldbuilding. Thus, the communities that struggle with survival, who often must resort to "illegal" or "criminal" ways end up with only punitive measures that continue the cycle.

It's only in Season 6 when the Superfriends are no longer with the DEO that we start to see them engage in dialogue with the community in general (Kelly's arcs in particular touch on this for the lower income area that she tries to help, which is shown to be a mixture of nonwhite humans and some aliens).

If J'onn and others truly are seeking to reform the DEO, then that requires them to be in dialogue with the affected communities and to put forth new procedures that provide rights to those impacted. This is never done.

3. The DEO suffers no consequences for its actions.

The "Bad things" that happen under the "Bad" directors -- original Henshaw, Lauren Haley, Lex -- aren't ever addressed. Nothing really changes; instead the "Good" guys get back in control and things continue.

Was any reparations made for those harmed by the bad actors? Are the families impacted ever given compensation? We see some aliens rescued from Cadmus in Season 2 and Lex's Power Plant in Season 4, but what of the families of those murdered by Lex and Henshaw? The show fails to address this.

Instead, we are told that the "good" people are now in charge again and only "criminals" are being taken and incarcerated with no rights.

The concept of "criminality" depends entirely on who is in a position of power to dictate what constitutes "criminal" acts. One of the biggest problems with "criminality" as a concept is that it fails to interrogate the why these behaviors happen. What led to the "criminal act?" Are the people engaging in the act just "bad" people?

Often when basic needs are not being met, people may engage in acts of desperation to meet those needs. These actions may fall under what that society deems as "criminal." However, if the people's needs were met, then they wouldn't need to engage in desperate acts to meet their needs.

Another reason for "criminal" behavior stems from people who lack rights in a society. The oppressed will often fight against their oppressors using a mixture of methods (sometimes nonviolent, sometimes violent) in order to win their rights and transform society for the better. Until they win that fight, their actions are labeled as "criminal" by those in power.

Some rarer individuals may engage in acts of harm because they enjoy it such as Lex. However, this is actually very rare. Property crime and burglary is far, far more common. Yet, even those engaging in horrific violent crimes are still afforded a fair trial. Something aliens in the Supergirl universe are never given.

There's quite a few scenes where the aliens fought by Supergirl are engaging in robberies/burglaries or other property crimes. Those that seek to violently mass murder is actually rarer, and often the big villain of the season. At no point does anyone in the show reckon with the reasons someone may choose to engage in "criminal" behavior. Instead, all "criminals" are painted as "bad" regardless.

J'onn professes to be "reforming" the DEO to stop its reign of terror among alien communities. Yet, the most crucial components in changing an oppressive system? We don't really see him utilize them until Season 4, but by then the DEO is in the hands of Alex, who continues the procedures put into place by J'onn,

Paulo Freire writes in Pedagogy of the Oppressed concerning the "radical" as in the person seeking to end an oppressive system:

"The radical, committed to [human] liberation, does not become the prisoner of a 'circle of certainty' within which reality is also imprisoned. On the contrary, the more radical the person is, the more fully he or she enters into reality so that, knowing it better, he or she can transform it. This individual is not afraid to confront, to listen, to see the world unveiled. This person is not afraid to meet the people or to enter into a dialogue with them."

J'onn recognizes that the DEO's methods are wrong and unethical. When he takes over and poses as Henshaw, he wishes to transform the system. Except, this is where he fails, because he justifies his changes by claiming that now the DEO only locks away forever criminal aliens.

No thought is given as to why these aliens are making these decisions. What pushed them to rob a store? What pushed them to attack? Did they feel like they had no other choice? Was there no opportunities other than to rob for what they needed? Or to fight against a system that they deem is harming them and their communities?

These questions are not analyzed at all by J'onn or the Superfriends. They do not listen to those most impacted by the DEO. The only time we see J'onn seem to listen is when he is trying to work with Manchester in Season 4, but that results in Manchester being presented as bad in the end, while J'onn is shown to be good. Where he tried to redeem Manchester.

Yet Manchester had valid points about the treatment of aliens. His methodology in fighting back against what he saw as oppressive system is problematic, but he listens far more than Kara and the Superfriends to those being harmed by the systems that created the DEO.

So J'onn and the other Superfriends are failing to engage in dialogue with those harmed by the DEO. They fail to unveil what is truly horrifying with the DEO: incarcerating aliens in solitary confinement with no fair trial and no hope of ever seeing the light of day again.

The justification that because they are "criminals" this is somehow okay erases all the contributing factors that may make up the circumstances that lead to the "criminal" behavior. Nothing is truly done to remedy the situations that may drive someone to what the state labels as "criminal" behavior. It also unveils a horrible truth. Any alien (or meta-human or even human) can be marked an "enemy of the state" and thus a "criminal," where all rights they had prior be rescinded. We see this happen to Supergirl in Season 4. The only reason she isn't locked away in a cell with no windows is because Alex and Lena don't allow it. Unlike most aliens the DEO fights to find and capture, Kara has people fighting for her. But what about every other alien? Who is actually fighting for them?

J'onn's attempt to reform the DEO falls into the biggest trap for all radical liberators: it is all too easy to become complicit with the system at be and justify this than it is to actually change it from within.

As Paulo Freire puts so succinctly:

“Oppression is domesticating. The gravest obstacle to the achievement of liberation is that oppressive reality absorbs those within it, and thereby acts to submerge human beings' consciousness.”

Thus the DEO fails to be reformed. It's reign of terror in alien communities is not truly diminished. Nor does those fighting to "reform" the DEO engage in any dialogue with those communities to determine their needs or ways to improve conditions to decrease the need to resort to "criminal" activities.

In the end, the DEO stays an oppressive, clandestine agency that has no transparency, answers to apparently no one, takes away the rights of those they catch, and disregards laws as they please.

What the Superfriends have failed to learn and understand is that oppression cannot be defeated by reforming the system that causes the oppression. In other words, liberation cannot be achieved be reform alone.

This is why the destruction of the DEO in Season 6 is perhaps the best result at least within the rules of the Supergirl world. The Superfriends could not reform it from the inside, and by trying to do so, they ended up complicit to a harmful system. As long as they were tied to the DEO, the Superfriends would never be able to live out justice and uplift the rights of aliens and humans alike.

ADDENDUM: However, the Superfriends decision to go full vigilante is a whole other can of worms. They do attempt to be transparent in their actions for the communities they serve, but is there a way for people to hold them accountable? That isn't fully addressed. However, that would require a full essay, and this essay is only about the DEO.

[commander-heart-eyes]

Supercorp fics if you hated the identity reveal & reconciliation

some alternate identity reveals...

A Girl From Midvale | ThisOldThing

L-Corp CEO Lena Luthor thinks her girlfriend, journalist Kara Danvers, is just a girl from Midvale, and not telling Lena the truth about her identity as Supergirl is eating away at Kara. She doesn't tell Lena because Alex and the DEO have asked her not to, because they are suspicious about L-Corp's possible ties to Lex, Lillian and their anti-alien terrorist activities. What happens when their truths come out? Can they all forgive each other when things fall apart?

We Deserve Only Good Things | ThornedRose44

“Are you Lena?” The girl jolted in her spot on the sofa, hugging the bear closer to her chest. “Yes.” Even though Kara had known it from the second she had laid eyes on the child, the confirmation still managed to take her by surprise. “Who are you?” Lena asked, trying to sound as confident as she could. “Oh, my name’s Kara.” Kara replied warmly, taking a step forward, eager to move closer to offer reassurance before halting the second she saw the younger version of her once best friend flinch. “It’s okay,” Kara quickly soothed, “It’s okay. I won’t hurt you.” Lena peered over the top of her bear’s fuzzy head, “Promise?” Kara knelt down and smiled brightly, “Promise.”

or

Following Lex’s defeat, Kara and Lena are struggling to rebuild their friendship and let go of the hurt caused on both sides when Kara and Lena work together to help an alien return home. To show their gratitude for being saved the alien provides the two of them a chance to close the rift still between them. How? By getting them to meet each other's younger selves.

neon signs | contagiousiridescence

It’s not that Kara doesn’t want to repair the broken bridge between Supergirl and Lena-- quite the opposite, in fact, but Lena had been excruciatingly clear with how she felt about Supergirl now. Kara had reeled from those words days after. They settled deep in her chest and crackle with pain every time she breathes. They are a grim reminder of what Kara had done, and what she continues to do. Mrs. Arias had been right; she could bury it deeper and deeper, but it would always come back to blow up in her face at triple the strength. She’s caught between love and hate, and it’s a very odd position to be in.

Maybe We Were Destined For Tragedy | Me

You’ve never been just Kara Danvers to me… You really were my hero.

Post season 4 identity reveal, Lena deals with the reality that her best friend has been lying to her for years. Her champion. Her home. The one person who she felt truly understood her in this cruel world. Her person.

In which Kara and Lena make their way back to one another - aka the season 5 replacement.

[bigbangsanvers]

Confidential

written by @roadien60

Rating: Mature

Warnings: None

Summary:

Was it only three months ago that the story had come out in Confidential magazine? It felt like so much more time had passed. The headline was burned into Alex’s memory: ALEXIS D’ANVERS AND MAGGIE SAWYER: BOSOM BUDDIES OR BEDROOM BUDDIES?

They met in 1952, they fell in love in 1953, they fell apart in 1954.

Alex and Maggie are movie stars in the waning days of Hollywood's golden age. Against the backdrop of the House Un-American Activities Committee's anti-communist witch-hunts, the Hollywood blacklist, the rise of Technicolor cinema, the virulent early days of celebrity tabloids, and a (literally) underground gay bar, this is a story of how they find each other again in 1955.

Additional tags: Alternate Universe - Historical, Alternate Universe - No Powers, Alternate Universe - Hollywood, Alternate Universe - 1950s, 1950s, Jewish Alex Danvers

With art, included in the story, by ViviWrites

These works were part of Sanvers Big Bang 2020 and were revealed on October 30.

[cardcaptorsakura96]

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes-Chapter 24

Fandom: Supergirl

Characters: Kara Danvers, Clark Kent, Samantha Arias, Lena Luthor, Lillian Luthor, Ruby Arias, Oliver Queen, John Stewart, Diana Prince, Bruce Wayne, Barry Allen, J'onn J'onnz, Alfred Pennyworth, Lois Lane, Cat Grant, Lucy Lane, Damian Wayne, Felicity Smoak, Streaky the Supercat, Martha Kent, Selina Kyle, Talia Al Ghul, Lucius Fox, Maggie Sawyer, Alex Danvers, Jason Todd, Otis Graves, Lex Luthor

Summary: What if superheroes had to pay a property damage tax every time they had a fight in the city?

Lillian sighed as she watched the clock at Noonan’s gradually tick away the time. She felt a sudden squeeze of her hand. She looked to the seat next to her at the restaurant to see Martha smiling back at her. 

“Everything is going to be okay. The worst that can happen is that Amanda won’t tell us anything and send us on our way.”

Lillian gave her a soft smile. She reached down and kissed Martha’s hand and said, “I’m more concerned that she will rat us out to Lex more so anything else.”

Martha raised an eyebrow and asked, “Is that why you suggested meeting at Noonan’s instead of the office?”

Lillian sighed and said, “Lex is lax with watching over me, but you can never be too careful. Both Amanda and I frequent this restaurant enough that it wouldn’t be unusual for us to bump into each other and have a few words.”

Martha looked at Lillian baffled and asked, “Wait? You guys see each other here often?”

Lillian leaned back in her chair and said, “Yes. Amanda and I are usually around here late morning or early afternoon. However, we tend to avoid each other.” Lillian shook her head and sighed. She continued, “Amanda and I used to be best friends in college. We came up with the idea of Cadmus during our senior year as a capstone project. We thought that there should not only be an organization that studies the extraterrestrial lifeforms that were already on Earth but also learn how to coexist with each other. I focused more on the business side of things whereas Amanda worked towards networking and getting funding. Everything went well until Zod came into the picture several years ago.”

Martha winced and said, “I hate that name with a passion.”

“You are not alone in that sentiment. It reshaped Amanda’s perception of aliens as a whole. She viewed every one of them as a threat and that they needed to be removed from Earth. Lex provided her with options to achieve that and in return, she provided him funding to support his research efforts on the subject. I objected to all of this, but she still pushed me out. Fortunately, enough people from Cadmus didn’t like Amanda’s new direction and decided to come with me as I formed my own company.”

“If you think she has so much hatred against aliens, why do you think she would talk to us.”

Lillian leaned her head back and stared up at the ceiling thoughtfully. 

“There have been rumors of Leviathan changing direction for a while now. They have always been anti-alien, but their choices in political candidates have been interesting to say to least.”

Martha looked at her quizzically and asked, “How so?”

“Well, the candidates they have supported so far are pro-alien rights and making reforms to help aliens become citizens. It is a complete 180. Lex wasn’t willing to cooperate with their changes so he was cut off. Amanda has used funding from Leviathan in the past. I am curious to see if she followed the road Lex took in regards to them, or if she fell in line to their new policy. If she did, we may be able to get something out of her.”

Martha nodded and said, “I like that particular theory. Hopefully, it doesn’t take that long to get information out of her. I have so much to do to prepare for tonight.” 

Lillian smirked and asked, “Worried about meeting the children I see?”

Martha pouted which caused Lillian to smile. She loved teasing Martha just a tiny bit. 

Lillian caressed Martha’s face and said, “You don’t have to worry. Sam, Lena, and Ruby will adore you as much as I do.”

Martha looked down while twiddling her thumbs and said, “Well, Lena has kind of avoided me with everything with Clark. I just worried that she might…”

Lillian kissed Martha’s hand which caused her to blush.

“Lena is more than okay with everything. All three girls are happy that I have put myself back out there.”

Martha smiled and said, “Still, I want to make a good impression and make sure that everything goes smoothly.”

Lillian smiled and said, “It will darling. I am just as eager to meet Kara. I have never seen Lena this happy before. It is like she is floating on cloud nine everyday.”

Martha chuckled and said, “I am not surprised. Kara is a bundle of sunshine that will brighten anyone’s day. I just wished that some of that would rub off on Clark. He used to be so optimistic, but now….”

Lillian squeezed Martha’s hand and said, “Hopefully this stuff with Lex will give us insight into Clark. I don’t have any proof, but I am willing to bet money that Lex has something to do with Clark’s behavioral changes.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he did,” said a woman’s voice. 

Lillian and Martha nearly jumped out of their seats. They turned to see a black woman of medium build and short black hair staring at them. She had on a blue business suit. Lillian quickly change her expression to surprise to passive. 

The woman smirked and said, “You are losing your touch Lillian. It is nice to see that I can still take you by surprise.” 

The woman pulled up a chair and sat down with them. 

Lillian sighed and said, “It is nice to see you too, Amanda.”

Amanda smirked while she turned towards Martha and said, “I am assuming that since you brought Superman’s mother that you are wondering about if Lex had anything in store for him.”

Martha looked at her startled and asked, “How….”

Amanda chuckled and said, “Lex wasn’t very subtle about his infatuation with your son.”

Martha glared at the woman while gripping the table until her knuckles went white. 

Martha growled, “Yet you help a mad man hurt my son over and over again.”

Amanda sighed  while leaning back in her chair and said, “Would you believe me if I told you it was never my attention that he got hurt?”

Martha scoffed and said, “Don’t insult my intelligence.”

Amanda chuckled and said, “Well, I did want your son neutralized after the events with Zod.”

Martha winced at that statement. 

Amanda sighed and said, “And before you say anything, I realized that your son was being controlled by Zod. However, that fight between them caused over 200 people to die. Most had the nuance of separating Superman from that. He was drugged after all. However, your son isn’t normal. What if he is drugged or mind controlled again? Who is there to stop him. The Justice League was barely able to contain him the last time. We need measures in place for if that were to occur.”

Read the rest on AO3

[ao3feed-supercorp]

Artificial Heart, Real Feeling

by OnceLittleGlee (ALittleGeek)

Kara was 13 years old when she arrived on Earth. Abandoned by her cousin, then known as Superman, Kara hated him. There was no justification, no succinct explanation for her being left in the Danvers family without the presence of her only living family member.

Eliza tried, Alex tried, but her closed heart was not embraced by love. Kara didn't care, the loneliness slowly eating away at her, breaking her spirit and seizing her blood. Years later, Kara was a cold, ruthless, soul surrounded by hopelessness and ferocity.

In need of something, someone to make her feel at home again, Kara used her remaining Kryptonian technology, a little of her saved money and her extraterrestrial genius to generate Lena, a beautiful android made to help Kara in her loneliness.

She just didn't imagine that she would fall in love with her creation. And that a robot, a machine without the least feelings, reciprocated her passion, teaching her that love will always be enough and that she, even a being of wires and metals, would be capable of falling in love.

Words: 2616, Chapters: 1/24, Language: English

Fandoms: Supergirl (TV 2015), DC's Legends of Tomorrow (TV), Injustice: Gods Among Us

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: F/F, Multi

Characters: Kara Danvers, Kara Zor-El, Lena Luthor, Sara Lance, Ava Sharpe, Alex Danvers, J'onn J'onzz | Hank Henshaw, Cat Grant, Astra (Supergirl TV 2015), Non (Supergirl TV 2015), James "Jimmy" Olsen, Clark Kent, Brainiac (DCU)

Relationships: Kara Danvers/Lena Luthor, Alex Danvers & Kara Danvers, Kara Danvers & Lena Luthor, Sara Lance/Ava Sharpe, Alex Danvers/Sara Lance/Ava Sharpe, Lena Luthor & Ava Sharpe, Kara Danvers & Cat Grant, Kara Danvers & Sara Lance, Alex Danvers & J'onn J'onzz | Hank Henshaw

Additional Tags: Kara Danvers Needs a Hug, Alternate Universe, Kara Danvers Has a Penis, Endgame Kara Danvers/Lena Luthor, Protective Kara Danvers, Cat Grant Finds Out Kara Danvers is Supergirl, Anti-Hero, Kara Danvers Being an Asshole, Sara Lance Needs a Hug, Protective Sara Lance, Insecure Ava Sharpe, Established Alex Danvers/Sara Lance/Ava Sharpe, Lena Luthor Is A Android, Fluff and Smut, Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Fluff and Hurt/Comfort, Supergirl (TV 2015) Season 1

from AO3 works tagged 'Kara Danvers/Lena Luthor' https://ift.tt/iGrcyuY via IFTTT https://ift.tt/iGrcyuY

[hitchell-mope]

It’s done. When it was good it was good. When it was bad it was utter HORSESHIT. But all that I can say right now is. Stay tuned for the fix it au folks. Because it’s gonna be a doozy.

[x-mencomics]

The Uncanny X-Men #154 - Reunion

Storm and Cyclops are playing... a really interesting game of handball in the mansion gymnasium. Neither can seem to get ahead of the other, so they declare a draw.

Meanwhile, in space - Major Christopher Summers aka Corsair, US Air Force, father of Scott and Alex Summers, and leader of the Starjammers flies a Shi'ar ship toward Earth. (See issue #104 for his first appearance [I think] and #107 for more details on Corsair.) And then a Shi'ar Dreadnought shows up on his scanners, and Corsair is very alarmed by this.

And then at Magneto's island base from issue #150, the X-Men (except Cyclops and Storm) and Dr. Corbeau are moving around a bunch of supplies. Colossus carries a couple huge boxes of computer parts. Nightcrawler wonders if this island is safe for the X-Men to be here. The Professor reads Nightcrawler's mind and responds that it's no safer back at the mansion since anti-mutant sentiment is growing. The team is now using the island as a base.

Outside, Carol Danvers struggles to remember her past. Since the Avengers fought the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and Rogue absorbed Carol's powers and memories (Avengers Annual #10), Carol has been powerless and memoryless. She does seem to remember Wolverine, who confirms that they met when Carol was in the Air Force and Wolverine was with the Canadian Secret Service. Carol can't remember the details. Kitty comes outside and says the Professor wants to see Wolverine.

Quick scene in space where the Shi'ar ship is firing at Corsair's.

And then we're back at the mansion. Scott makes dinner. Ororo gets the mail, which includes a postcard from Kitty. They discuss the X-Men's leadership role. Ororo asks if Scott wants the role back. He doesn't. Ororo says she has come to enjoy the leadership role. And then -

CRASH!

Corsair's ship crashes into the lake at the mansion. Ororo and Scott rush outside and dive into the lake and pull Corsair out of the wreckage. Ororo thinks she should tell Scott the truth about Corsair... (Scott still doesn't know that Corsair is his father.)

Flashback to the plane crash where Corsair's wife and two sons jump out with the parachutes...

And back to the present. Corsair just tells Scott who he is. Scott doesn't believe him. Ororo says that Corsair is telling the truth. Scott asks how she knows this. But there's no time to explain anything because these weird spider-looking robots show up and start trying to kill them all. Corsair calls them "Sidrian Hunters." Corsair realizes that the Hunters must not be from the Shi'ar Empire, but from the opposition Shi'ar, the traitors who kidnapped Lilandra.

Storm and Cyclops decide to split up. Cyclops and Corsair will go get the Blackbird and Storm will hold back the Hunters. The plan pretty much works. Storm creates a monsoon to push the Sidrian Hunters back, then flies up to join Cyclops and Corsair in the jet. As they fly over the mansion they see HUNDREDS more Sidrian Hunters. They've completely destroyed the house.

Cyclops flies the Blackbird away from the mansion. The hundreds of Sidrian Hunters join all together to form their own jet! And then they start chasing the Blackbird. Cyclops uses optic blasts straight through the Blackbird cockpit. Storm flies outside and creates a tornado. They pass an oil field, which Corsair says is a great thing because heat will kill the Hunters. Corsair shoots several oil storage tanks, setting off a HUGE explosion. The Hunters are dead. Cyclops is furious that Corsair would cause such damage, and he screams at his father about the danger to the workers and the environment. Corsair says he's trying to save the Earth. Cyclops asks what he means. Corsair explains -

10 days ago terrorists attacked the Shi'ar Grand Council, kidnapped Lilandra, and headed to Earth. The rest of the Shi'ar, led by Chancellor Araki and the Shi'ar Admiral Samédar followed the terrorists and they're prepared to do anything to get Lilandra back, even if it causes the destruction of the entire world!

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

A Single Moment In Time

by SamanthaMQuinn

When Kara confesses her identity at the award ceremony, she doesn't just stop there. Those three little words alter everything.

Chapter 3 will define the story, no tags will be posted before that chapter.

Words: 4711, Chapters: 2/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Supergirl (TV 2015)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Major Character Death

Categories: F/F

Characters: Kara Danvers, Kara Zor-El, Mar Novu | The Monitor, Anti-Monitor (DCU), Alex Danvers, Maggie Sawyer, Samantha "Sam" Arias, Querl Dox, J'onn J'onzz | Hank Henshaw, Kate Kane | Batwoman, Kelly Olsen (Supergirl TV 2015), Lillian Luthor, Lex Luthor, Nia Nal, Bruce Wayne, Diana (Wonder Woman), Oliver Queen | Green Arrow, Mia Queen | Green Arrow, John Diggle, Cisco Ramon, Caitlin Snow, Killer Frost, Laurel Lance, Sara Lance, Joker, Harley Quinn, Clark Kent, Superman | Kingdom Come, Nyssa al Ghul

Relationships: Kara Danvers/Lena Luthor

Additional Tags: No Tags - Spoilers

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/43619376