When Alex Danvers realized in the season 6 premiere of Supergirl that she had to explain her sister’s absence to her partner, Kelly Olsen, a long-standing plot hole was closed. Fans had been debating, almost since Kelly’s arrival on the show, if she knew Supergirl’s secret identity and how it would affect her relationship with Alex. Time after time the show placed Kelly in the Tower with the other superheroes but left it unclear if she was in on the secret. Now, with Kara being trapped in the Phantom Zone, Alex is going to need Kelly’s support more than ever, which means Alex Danvers will now have to reveal her sister’s biggest secret.
This is not the first time that Alex has struggled with sharing her sister’s identity with an important woman in her life. In season 2, when Kara was missing, Alex’s panicked behavior meant she had to tell her first love Maggie Sawyer who Kara was to save their relationship. Yet she never got to confess as Maggie, being the great detective she was, had already figured out Alex’s relationship with Supergirl.
The circumstances this time are entirely different. Her relationship with Kelly has been ongoing for nearly two seasons and Alex is a far more confident and self-assured person. Losing Kara, even temporarily, to the Phantom Zone in Supergirl season 6 will shake Alex to her core, and as pointed out by both J’onn and Lena, she will need someone for support. While Alex wishes she was revealing the truth to Kelly under better circumstances, it is a further testament to the security and mutual devotion of their relationship that Alex doesn’t worry Kelly will have a negative response.
A key thread running through the Supergirl series has been the protection of Kara’s identity, for her safety, and for that of others. In the pilot, she revealed herself to Winn, in large part to share her enthusiasm for being Supergirl with someone else. Alex had long cautioned Kara to keep her powers hidden. James Olsen, already knowing about her connection to Superman, also responded positively. Lucy Lane had a very different reaction, initially lashing out in response to being left out of the loop when Supergirl shared the truth to get Lucy’s help saving Alex and J’onn who had been taken by Cadmus. The longer she has been Supergirl, the more protective Kara has become over her identity. The need to keep those closest to her safe motivated her to walk away from the DEO and put off sharing the truth with her best friend Lena.
Kelly is unlikely to respond with anger or a desire for revenge over a perceived betrayal. Time and again, as a psychologist, a friend, and a partner, she has shown her extremely generous heart. If Kelly does have feelings of disappointment at not being trusted sooner, she will set those aside to help Alex process the loss and pain of Kara’s disappearance. Kelly will understand quickly why she was kept in the dark, but the revelation will underline how Kelly is on the outer fringes of her girlfriend’s superheroic profession. As a result, Kelly will decide she wants to take a more active role going forward, perhaps using her brother’s Guardian shield again, as she did during Crisis.
Supergirl has kept fans guessing as to whether or not Kelly knew Supergirl’s true identity. It was unclear if the omission of that information was deliberate or accidental, but it was a plot hole nonetheless. Having Kelly learn the truth now fills in that hole and also opens up an exciting story direction for Kelly, one that sees her solidify her relationship with Alex and embark on her own hero’s journey to become the new Guardian.
