Supergirl 5x15 : Reality Bytes review

Be warned there will be *SPOILERS* involved in this review. With that being said let's get into it. 

This week's episode of Supergirl is a vast improvement over last week's as it begins two months in the past. We're inside of a VR simulation with a man named Richard whom upon wanting to leave tries to access his fail safe but is unsuccessful. He eventually gets pulled out by Kelly who says that should not have happened. He should have been able to access his fail safe and get out quickly. She says that she will report the issue immediately. Keep this in mind as it's important a bit later. Back in present day and the first thing we see is a Dominator. The same alien race from the first crossover involving Supergirl a few years back. We see Supergirl fighting the Dominator but leaves the finishing touch off to Dreamer who takes it with ease. This leads to Dreamer garnering lots of media attention just as Kara's date with William is coming up later that evening. We see Kara low-key freaking out about her date as Alex calms her down assures her that it will go swimmingly. And it does go well. William and her have a great night out together. As for Dreamer her night doesn't go as well as she spends it out with her friend who is supposed to be meeting someone. Nia is seen in sweatpants and eating ice cream but she soon gets convinced to go out and go out she does as the two go to a club where Nia's friend meets up with whom she was scheduled to meet. This leads to Nia have visions of what is to come and it's not good. Her friend ends up getting bruised and abused by the guy she met thanks to her social media profile. It turns out the guy didn't actually want to even meet her rather use her as a way to get to Dreamer. Why?? because this guy hates the idea that Dreamer is a transgender hero for the people. There's really no issue with it at all but this guy seems to take it to heart in a message to Dreamer that is incredibly transphobic. 

In last week's episode Alex was giving a Martian weapon by J'onn. A weapon that can morph and change into anything one desires just with a thought. Alex is having trouble dealing with it however as her training with J'onn takes place. J'onn tells her to let the thoughts in and it will become anything she can imagine. Agreeing to this both Alex and J'onn are soon tasked with a missing person's case. At his office J'onn and Alex are greeted by a man whose brother is missing after leaving to go and try out the new Obsidian Platinum lenses which are now able to transport people anywhere and do anything. Turns out that this guy's brother is in Las Vegas thanks to the VR simulation and is there with friends who are all inside of the simulation. Alex knows Kelly of course who works for Obsidian so she goes to her to ask for help while J'onn investigates other options. Back at Nia's apartment and Kara pays her a visit after hearing what happened while Nia and her friend where out. Nia states that she is Dreamer and she is the protector of her community. A community that gets hate like no other community and if this guy wants Dreamer he will get her. Kara tells Nia that revenge isn't really the best option regardless of situation but Nia seems intent on it. Even going as far as to set up her own account on a social media platform as a way to lure the transgender hater out into the open. Brainy sees the account go online and phones up Kara right away telling her that she needs to have a talk with Nia but really it's too late as Nia's intent is strong and her will to get revenge and protect her community is ever stronger. 

The episode draws to a close as Alex enters the exclusive Las Vegas VR simulation thanks to Obsidian's Platinum lenses. Inside she learns of a guy named Richard who is new to a group of friends. A group which includes the missing person she is after named Trevor. As she gets deeper into the building she finds 2 people locked inside of glass boxes filled with water. Kelly who is on the outside that everything plays on the players fears inside of this simulation and as Alex breaks the glass boxes she gets told to go further into the building to find Trevor. And that she does as she finds Trevor who appears to seemingly combust into a giant burst of energy every couple of minutes. The cause of all of this is Richard who turns out to be the same guy from the beginning of the episode. Why is he doing this? well it turns out that his wife whom J'onn has payed a visit to was having an affair through the VR simulation with Trevor and he wants revenge. Revenge is a dish best served in VR?? in summary Alex gets the better of Richard and J'onn too takes him out in his bedroom just as he was about to go back into the simulation. With him downed Alex and Trevor get out of the simulation as Alex awakens next to Kelly. More on Dreamer now and after she gets the meeting she's wanted with the guy who has been targeting her she lays into the guy who in truth did deserve everything that was coming to him but death?? that's not it. Even Supergirl shows up and stops Dreamer and later the two talk where Nia breaks down thinking how she almost killed someone. That could've changed her life for ever but Supergirl was there for her when she needed it most which is what friends are for. The episode has one final twist before it ends though and it's with the unexpected death of Alex and Kara's dad. Upon getting a call from her mom Alex informs Kara that their dad had passed away as we see his body being wheeled into a room full of bodies in bags. A twist that seemingly came out of nowhere truthfully and in a way overshadowed everything else. This was Dreamer's episode no doubt. Nia's ambition to protect her community was nothing short of admirable and the inclusiveness of transgender and it's current dealings with trolls and the like was important too. This isn't Supergirl at it's best but it's pretty darn close. 

★★★★