Nia’s abilities manifest and may be key to stopping Agent Liberty. Manchester Black makes his move. Agent Liberty has a very bad day. Kara has a worse one.

There’s a moment late on in this episode where Kara asks Manchester what murdering people makes him. Manchester bows a little and replies, ‘The intolerant left.’

And it’s that moment where you realize what the show has in David Ajala’s barnstorming turn: not just a successful reinvention of a truly awful character but a phenomenal tool for examining the political landscape of the day. Manchester is driven, obsessive, charming, brutal and raw. He has every idea what he’s doing. He does it anyway. Much of it is monstrous. In his eyes, it’s all excusable.

It’s extraordinary work and it really shines in this phenomenal episode. From the welcome escalation in Nia’s abilities to Brainy being in the field to the Manchester plotline everything works here. The show’s political eye is perfectly married to its adventuring spirit. Kara, Nia and Brainy try to stop Nia’s dream. Instead they almost bring it about. Superhero logic collides with real world problems to tremendous effect and progress.

Because make no mistake, progress is made here. The episode finishes with Liberty in prison. Manchester has J’onn as a jiminy cricket every time he lets him and is not happy about that fact. And Kara? Kara is asked to hand over her identity. And refuses to.

That massive change, that perceived breach of trust on both sides, is going to power the rest of the season. From the government’s point of view, Kara’s an asset. From her point of view, they’re being paranoid. Neither is right enough for it to matter so, for now, Supergirl may be a rogue alien on Earth.

Verdict: It’s a bold decision for a show that’s done nothing but bold plays this season, each one of which has paid off. This is no exception. 9/10

Alasdair Stuart