The more I watch and re-watch the shows from both Seasons, I begin to view Kara as a tragic figure. Perhaps not in the Shakespearean sense of tragedy, as she is happy and enjoys herself. Nonetheless, she is tragic. As she noted in the Martian Chronicles, she fears abandonment and "putting herself out there." Let me explore that further.
Regardless of what we think, Kara reluctantly left Krypton to look after Kal. A parent didn't join her. Strike one: she's abandoned by her parents. She finally arrives and arrives too late. She is no longer needed. Strike 2. Alex points out Strike 3: Kal abandoned her. Another blow.
Here is my controversial one: she feels responsible for Jeremiah's loss because she flew when she was forbidden. Strike 4. It weighs heavily on her conscience.
We have seen that up to now how really alone Kara feels and is. Yes she has some friends and she loves them and it is returned. But there is a hole within her; she cannot replace what she has lost (Krypton, family, etc.). Is she really attracted to James? It seemed to me that he dangled her about. For example: the call he made during the first Thanksgiving episode, I thought particular demeaning and cruel, as he is busy snogging with Lucy.
Mon-El. Clearly she is attracted and is perhaps the person that comes closest to understanding her because of their similar backgrounds. Yet, again she's afraid and she is afraid of being abandoned again.
This theme resonates through the show and this last episode certainly presented it clearly. Alex is her lifeline and without it, she is scared and lost.
It's not that I think she cannot become truly happy. It's not that I think she needs a man to complete her. What I believe is that Kara needs to find away to become comfortable in her own skin and destroy her demons. Once she is able to achieve that, then she truly become the Kara Zor-El she was meant to be when she was 13 and before she left Krypton.
Just my thoughts and I would very much enjoy hearing your opinions, no matter what they may be.
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