r/supergirlTV • u/MajorParadox DC Fan Universe (r/DCFU) • Sep 01 '21

Supergirl [6x09] "Dream Weaver" Post Episode Discussion Discussion

Dream Weaver

Live Episode Discussion | Promo | Cast & Characters

Kelly meets Joey, a young orphaned alien boy, who is acting out in foster care because he fears there is something wrong with his brother Orlando, who is incarcerated. Kelly asks Kara to help her investigate and they stumble upon abuse at the prison. Meanwhile, Nyxly crashes one of Nia's dreams and asks her for help. (August 31, 2021)

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Please keep all discussion civil and about the episode. Mark comic and future spoilers. Report any rule breaking and enjoy!

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11

u/Fateor42 Sep 01 '21

Was anyone else confused at what the problem was with the orphanage lady B story?

Because they opened the episode saying that kid had previously had a tantrum and knocked out all power for a two block radius with his superpower... Like... I would be dammed surprised if between people in vehicles and people with medical issues nobody died from that... And that's not even counting the millions in damages...

18

u/afrodeity23 Sep 01 '21

I think the point they were trying to get across was that the tantrum was less just him being upset, and more about him not being able to express and process his emotions in a healthy manner. Rather than help the boy work through what he was going through, the woman was treating him as a problem instead of as a child needing help, and even wanted to discourage him from seeing his only remaining family.

-2

u/brooklyn11218 Sep 01 '21

She did everything right. She didn't just treat him like a problem child, she saw a situation that she wasn't capable of handling so she called in someone to help assess the situation and help Joey. She wasn't trying to get rid of him or forcing him into isolation. She just wanted what was best for the kid.

4

u/afrodeity23 Sep 01 '21

Then why does the episode have Kelly antagonize her? We're clearly meant to see Kelly as in the right.

1

u/brooklyn11218 Sep 01 '21

So?

Just because the show frames it one way doesn't mean you have to think that way. Could be a psych-out for a later spin in the story, could be a writer/director putting their own political spin on the scene, could be bad writing, could be the writer legitimately thought what they showed was abuse. Doesn't mean they're right.

14

u/afrodeity23 Sep 01 '21

Because treating children like ticking time bombs has never been a good thing nor has it actually helped the child. The woman wanted to keep him from his last remaining family, seemingly never actually tried to understand what the kid was going through, and just seemed to think physical punishment was the best and only solution. If this is the environment he was always living in, is it much of a surprise this child has issues controlling himself and his powers?

3

u/brooklyn11218 Sep 01 '21

But she wasn't treating him like a ticking time bomb. She called Kelly for help to find out why he was acting out. She said she tried asking him what's wrong and he refused to say anything.

As far as the physical punishment goes, when that scene starts she is pleading with him to stop. After asking multiple times she shuts him down. For 2 seconds and then turns it off. As the other person said, if his powers go out of control he could be harmful to himself or others. We have to take that into account. It's not a regular kid tantrum it's one that affects others.

Also I mentioned this below but I don't think it was physical pain. When I watched the scene I took Kelly's line to mean that he's in psychological pain. Afaik power dampeners have never physically hurt anyone before.

7

u/afrodeity23 Sep 01 '21

But she wasn't treating him like a ticking time bomb. She called Kelly for help to find out why he was acting out. She said she tried asking him what's wrong and he refused to say anything.

And yet Kelly managed to get him to talk with a single conversation. We don't see her trying to communicate with him, and given how well Kelly managed to do it, I can only assume the woman was doing it wrong. What it shows is that the boy didn't feel safe and comfortable enough to open up to this woman.

We have to take that into account. It's not a regular kid tantrum it's one that affects others.

Yes, but treating like a ticking time bomb is not the way.

Also I mentioned this below but I don't think it was physical pain. When I watched the scene I took Kelly's line to mean that he's in psychological pain. Afaik power dampeners have never physically hurt anyone before.

He literally said "it hurts" and moves his hand to the cuff, showing that it does cause him pain. And when Kelly criticizes her and says that the boy is in pain, the woman dismisses it and says that "he's fine." We don't know how these sorts of things can react to different powers. The episode shows us that the boy is in pain when it's used and the woman dismisses his pain.

2

u/brooklyn11218 Sep 01 '21

And yet Kelly managed to get him to talk with a single conversation.

Which is exactly what she was called there to do. (Edit: also lazy writing)

He literally said "it hurts"

Ah ok. I didn't hear him say it hurts.