Ep 7. Rather the Fallen Angel

Supergirl season 4 episode 7, titled "Rather the Fallen Angel," brings a fresh perspective to the series. Opening with a flashback to when the President of the United States was an alien with the power to heal people, the show transitions to a current day where a young woman goes by the name of Agent Liberty. Her group of anti-alien vigilantes, the Children of Liberty, have caused trouble for the National City aliens before, but this episode turns the focus on their leader's life and motivations.

As the Children of Liberty members continue their violent crusade, Agent Liberty's backstory is revealed, and it turns out that she follows her father's ideology that supersedes humanity's rights. A parallel plotline follows Manchester Black as he tries to avenge the death of his murdered wife and goes against moral grounds to do so.

The tension between the two characters and their respective causes culminate into a face-off that echoes the deeper themes of the episode. The episode cleverly explores the gray areas that exist in between right and wrong, moral and immoral, and asks tough questions about whether the ends justify the means.

There is plenty of action in this episode as Supergirl tries to thwart the Children of Liberty from labeling aliens as the enemy. Notably, the episode incorporates some stunning visuals when Supergirl uses her powers to pull an alien spaceship out of orbit and save it from crashing onto Earth. Additionally, J'onn J'onzz aka Martian Manhunter makes some tough decisions to defend his fellow aliens' rights.

Furthermore, the episode provides insight into the relationship between Nia Nal and Supergirl. The budding reporter, Nia Nal, endures the pressures and prejudice that come with being an alien in National City. But she finds solace and guidance in Supergirl, and this serves as a reminder of the power of female solidarity.

"Rather the Fallen Angel" fits nicely into Supergirl's ongoing central theme: the importance of tolerance and acceptance. This episode tackles these heavy topics with depth and intensity. The stakes are high, and there are no clear answers. The episode is nuanced and has prevalent allusions to the reality we live in today, making it a superb piece of superhero TV.